Burn My Dread Complete
By Iain R. Lewis
Disclaimer: Characters and concepts belong to Nickelodeon, some of the concepts are similarly inspired by Atlus's Persona 3 and 4.
Author's Note: This chapter turned out monstrously long, but I felt like I couldn't really cut anything out. Sorry for the delay, but this "month" is drawing to a close fast, so I hope this extra-special chapter will make up for it.
"Far in the mist a tower awaits like a merciless tomb, devouring the moonlight."
- "Burn My Dread"
Month 1: The Moon
The Tower in the Mist
Another morning passed, and the clocks ticked past midday. The group met on the roof for lunch. Azula passed out individualized lunch boxes to everyone, and sat, cross-legged, on an airduct.
Sokka ate his lunch ravenously, "So, you can detect Spirits now?" he asked, while the others ate quietly. Azula nodded. "How does it work, exactly?"
"The Phoenix Group's experimental All-Purpose Propulsion Accelerator acts as a power-source for the system, which allows it to work in the Spirit World while normal electronics just shut down. The range is limited, but we were able to shrink down the sensors we use to monitor spirit activity in our world." Azula took a breath, "It's really quite complicated, and I doubt you'd understand, but the important part is that it allows us to see their movement."
"It was amazing. Azula was able to warn us before we ran into them," Katara said. "We were able to fight back!"
Aang nodded, in agreement.
Azula shook her head, "But we'll need to improve the range before we can really explore. The mist being so thick is another problem."
"I wonder what's causing it," Katara said.
"Perhaps something was bending it," Aang suggested. "A water spirit!"
"It's possible," Azula added, "That it's been created to stop outsiders from exploring. And didn't you say that the Spirit World seemed different from the last time you'd been there?" Katara nodded, "Explain."
"Well," Katara said, "The swamp wasn't so drained the last time we were there. It was hot, but humid. Now, it felt really dry and those creatures were different. We ran into a big plant spirit last time, instead we just had some bird-creatures hanging around."
"Bird-creatures are good," Sokka said. "I'd rather have those than big ugly plant spirits that don't seem to want to die."
"But something changed it," Katara said. "I think that's something to be concerned about."
"Maybe. We're going back in, right?" Sokka asked. "Maybe we can explore a little more tonight."
"That's up to Aang," Azula answered.
"I think we should," Aang said, looking up at them. "It's dangerous, but, we can't just sit around and do nothing."
"Precisely," Azula said. "All right. We'll meet there tonight."
"Hey, who made these lunches anyway?" Sokka asked, stealing a vegetable roll from Aang's box. "They're great."
Azula paused, arching her eyebrow, "What if I said I prepared them for you."
The three all looked up at Azula suddenly. Katara hesitated, then asked, "You really made these?"
"Yes, it only took me an hour," Azula said, "You're all very welcome." She took her leave from the group, and the others all looked at the lunch boxes suspiciously. Sokka poked one of Katara's rice balls.
"Why is Azula being nice to us?" he asked.
"I don't know." Aang scratched his head, "Maybe she's trying to be more friendly?"
"She has a really weird way of showing it," Katara muttered. "Still, it was nice of her. I'm going to thank her when I get back to class."
"Yeah! I'll wait for her after school to say thanks!" Aang said.
"I just want her to make more."
"Then thank her, Sokka. I swear, you can be such a dummy sometimes," Katara said. Aang laughed. It felt like the first time the club really felt like a group of friends, as far as he remembered, and he knew even then that after the battle was won, he'd always think back to it as one of his fondest memories.
The afternoon passed slowly. Aang fidgeted anxiously through Math. Toph smacked him for being distracting. The passage of time crept slowly until after school. When the bell rang, he headed to the second floor and stood by Katara and Azula's class room. The students milled about outside aimlessly.
The Treasurer from the Student Council was waiting outside, looking bored as she always did. Aang noticed Katara come out of the room, and she smiled at him and waved at him. "Azula's already left. She said she had some important family business to see to before tonight. I said everyone really appreciated lunch before she went, though."
"Oh," Aang said. "I'll see you tonight. I'm going to see what Mai needs."
"All right," Katara said, "Aren't you just a responsible student council representative?" Aang blushed in embarrassment. "I'll see you tonight, then. Don't be late. We have a lot of work to do tonight!"
"I won't be, see you, Katara," he said. He approached Mai, who looked at him almost as though he wasn't there, then turned back to the doors. "Are you waiting for Azula?"
"None of your business," she said.
"Well, I'm just wondering since she's already left. She had family business." Mai frowned, and looked at him, appraisingly. "What?"
"You know, I still don't get why she wanted you to join the student council."
"You don't? She said you were understaffed, and wanted me to help out at least until the fundraiser is over with."
"Yeah," she said, "How boring. We're not understaffed, they just don't show up. Sometimes I don't want to show up."
"Is it really that boring?"
She nodded.
"Why? It's fun! Ty Lee really knows how to make things exciting, too," he said, "You're her friend too, right? She talks about you a lot."
"I guess."
"Hey, I'll tell Azula you were looking for her tonight when I see her."
"Don't," she said. "Never mind. It's not important."
"You're sure?"
"Yes." Mai frowned. "Just go away. You're boring," she shooed him away, before turning and walking in the opposite direction. Aang cocked his head, furrowing his brow, and frowned. Whatever ties he tried to make with her were thin and vague.
Sokka stewed at his desk and lingered as the rest of the class hurried to leave. The massive pile of homework in front of him mocked him, as did the looming threat of entrance exams. Suki tapped his shoulder, and he shot her a look. "Suki, why am I drowning?"
"Drowning? It's time to go home, you know."
"How am I going to go home with all of this!" he showed her his neat pile of homework, which she frowned at. "It's like a little tower. A tower of demise!"
"Oh grow up," Suki said. "If you weren't always slacking off you'd get through it in five minutes flat."
"You say that now, but," he pulled out one and cleared his throat, "And I quote, 'A train leaves Ba Sing Se at Six-Thirty. At Seven thirty, a train leaves Omashu. Assuming the Ba Sing Se train is traveling at 100 kilometers an hour, and the Omashu train is traveling 120 kilometers an hour, when will the two trains collide in a horrifying firestorm which will have no survivors.'"
"You're kidding, right? It doesn't really say that, does it?" she looked at the sheet.
Her face turned white.
"This is like some kind of nightmare math homework," she said. "Who'd write questions like this? At least the problems themselves aren't really hard. Want to go to the library and study a little?"
"Yes. Yes I would. Teach me, oh Sifu Suki."
"Sifu Suki? Oh man, where do you pick up this stuff?" she laughed. The two of them headed downstairs. Many students were heading to the library, and the first floor hallways were crowded from students straggling around afterschool.
At the front door, Yue stood looking lost and unsure. Sokka stopped suddenly, seeing her, and Suki stopped a second after, looking back at him, then, following his gaze, to Yue. Biting back jealousy, she asked him, "Does she look even sadder than yesterday, or is it just me?"
"I don't know, something looks up," he said. "Hey! Yue! You want to come help Suki overcome Mission: Make Sure Sokka Finishes his Homework?" Suki jabbed him with her elbow, but put on a bright smile for Yue.
"Yeah! It'll be much easier if we both help this guy."
Yue smiled, faintly, "I'm sorry. I really should be getting home. It's getting awful late, and I think Hahn had plans for us to go out tonight."
"Hahn, huh? Okay, uh, keep safe, Yue."
"I'll try, Sokka," she said. She walked nervously towards the door. The two of them watched her, and Suki shook her head.
"We should follow her."
"What?"
"I'm just saying, Sokka, that now that her and Hahn are officially an item, the paparazzi are probably all over her. It's too dangerous for her to go walking alone. I've read the papers, I know what kind of vultures they are."
"Suki, I think you're overreacting," Sokka said, "Still, I guess it'd be all right if we just happened to be heading to the embassy a few minutes behind her just in case. You know, better safe than sorry."
"Wow, I had to really twist your arm there,' she said, jabbing him again with her elbow. "Come on. She's going to leave us behind."
Katara's walk home was uninteresting. The city seemed warm and welcoming, so she walked around the shopping district. Passing by the tea house where Jet took her for his ill-advised run-in with the Prince, she smiled.
"Well, Katara, it isn't like you got a chance to enjoy any tea last time," she said to herself, and walked into the small tea house. The business was largely the same as last time. It was quiet, but the tea smelled good, and she sat at a window stall and waited patiently for her server to come.
About ten minutes afterwards, she hadn't been served and looked a bit irate. The door was flung open and she looked over at the commotion. Zuko walked in, looking none too happy. "Again, Zuko? You have a customer waiting already. Where have you been?"
"Sorry, something came up. I tried to call," he said. He ran back, and put on his apron and bowed to the store-owner. "It won't happen again, I promise."
"Yeah, well," the store owner looked at him, frustrated, but finally relenting, "Just serve that poor girl before she walks out."
"Yes, sir," he said. "Welcome to the Painted Lady Tea House, how can I help you today?"
"Zuko?" she asked, "I thought you got fired because of me. I'm so sorry about last time."
"Don't mention it," he said, coolly. "Really. I guess I got lucky. My clock was fast or something," he said. It was clearly a lie. But he continued, "I recommend the Jasmine tea. It's our most popular blend."
"That does sound tempting," she said. "I'll try it. And do you have those little cookies with the wafers?"
"This is a traditional Earth Kingdom tea house," Zuko said, "Sorry, we don't."
"That's all right," she said, "I'll just have the tea." He nodded. When he returned a while later with her tea, she smiled, "Would you like to sit down for a minute, Zuko?"
"I just got here," he said, "I really shouldn't be slacking."
"No one else has come in since me," she said, "I'm sure it'll be okay. Come on, just for a minute."
Zuko, awkwardly, sat down. "What do you want?"
"Why were you so late to work? Isn't that treading on thin ice?"
"Couldn't help it," he said, "Someone ambushed me."
"Rival gang trying to squeeze in on the Prince's territory?"
"No, nothing like that. I'm used to that by now."
Katara nodded. "So," she said, pensively, "If it wasn't some gang trying to beat you down, it must have been the police?"
"I keep my nose clean. They don't bother me much."
"Not the police, not rival gangs," she said, tapping her chin. "I give up. Tell me."
He shook his head, "I don't want to talk about it."
"That bad, huh? Did you lose?"
"No!" Zuko said, "It wasn't a fight. She just came and --"
"Oho, she? Was it your girlfriend?"
Zuko paled, looking disgusted, "That's so far from right I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer."
Katara snapped her finger, "Your sister!"
"What?"
"Azula ambushed you, that's why she had 'family business' to deal with today. What did she do?"
"She wanted me to come back," he said, "Join your little club again. I told her no, but she wouldn't get off my back."
"So what happened?" Katara asked. "Why aren't you in the Bending Club anymore?"
"It's complicated. And private." He stood up. "I need to get back to work. Please enjoy your tea." He bowed courteously, and disappeared behind the counter. Katara mused, and sipped her jasmine tea lightly, feeling it burn her tongue as she swallowed just a little too much too quickly.
Suki took her tailing someone seriously. Sokka was taken pretty off guard by Suki's dogged determination. "Do you want me to ask my Dad if he needs a junior assistant?" he mentioned at one point, "Because I think you've really got what it takes."
"Shush! We can't draw attention to ourselves!" she said.
"Right. I don't see any crazed blood-thirsty photographers around," he said, "Maybe we're wrong and things are fine and she's just nervous for different reasons. I mean, it's not like I care that she's getting married to a vapid jerk-face."
"You care," Suki said.
"Do not! I am too manly to care."
"It's not un-manly to admit you care," she scolded. "Besides, she's a pretty good fit for you I guess. Oh, she's looking around. Act casual!"
Casual for Sokka seemed to mean standing rigidly and acting like a small insect was buzzing around his face. "I don't think she saw us," he said through clenched teeth.
"No thanks to you, Mr. Casual," she said. "She's definitely paranoid. I mean, watch her, she's scared of something. Maybe not paparazzi. Maybe she has a stalker."
Sokka looked at her, arching his brow.
"Besides us I mean!"
"Fine," Sokka said. "Maybe. But I still don't feel right about this. It's too sneaky."
"Oh, fine then. Let's go do your math homework, then."
"Okay, sneaky is good," Sokka said, immediately. "Hey, we're almost to the embassy, no problems. I think we did pretty good for ourselves."
"Yeah," Suki said, "But I was kind of hoping for a chance to do something cool, like save a celebrity from an evil stalker."
"Yeah, that would have been cool." He kept his eyes peeled, looking around at every alley they passed. "I mean, yeah, I'm glad this was really just a nice walk, but some action would have been great."
"Right."
"I'm even imagining seeing shadowy figures coming out of the alleys now," he said. "Man, so weird."
"Yeah, weird."
The shadow in the alley didn't move. It remained very still. And when Sokka finally passed, it made its move through the crowded streets, tiny, living inside the shadows of people, and moving ever closer.
It was so close, now.
Nine in the evening rolled around.
Everyone met in the catacombs, and looked around apprehensively. When Azula arrived, carrying the sensors, the group tensed even further. "What's the matter?" she asked.
"Just a little scared," Katara admitted. "No idea what we'll see in there tonight."
"No," Azula said, frowning, "There really isn't. Still, we've come a long way already, we'll have to keep on moving forward. Tonight, I propose a full sweep of the active range of the sensors. Does everyone agree?"
"Sounds good," Aang said, the others throwing in agreement as well. "Let's go, team!"
"Yay," Sokka added, far less enthused.
Entering the Spirit World always left him with a lurching stomach. He didn't see the others having any difficulty, though, as Aang stood right up in the Spirit World and surveyed around them. It was the Swamp, once more, and tonight, it looked dry as a bone.
"This is bad," Katara said. "I don't think there's anything for me to bend here."
"You should start bringing your own supply," she said. "Regardless, there seems to be some major activity about thirty yards north of here." She pointed to the north. "And those clouds look ominous."
"A storm," Sokka said. "Looks like you'll have some water to splash around with after all, Katara."
"I'll splash you around," she said.
"Anyway!" Aang said, standing between the siblings, "We'll investigate that first!"
"Right, Aang," Katara said. "Any objections, Sokka?"
"I'm always up for getting my spirit soaking wet," Sokka answered, blithely. Aang started to trek north, with Katara behind him. "That was sarcasm, you know! I don't really want to have a soggy spirit!"
"Just go," he heard Azula echo in his ear and his earpiece. She glared at him, crossing her arms.
"Going, going. Sheesh," he threw his arms up. "Does everyone here have to be so picky?"
"You know we can all hear you. Hurry up, Sokka," Katara's voice came across the comm-line. The older boy let loose an exasperated sound and trudged across the dry swamplands. Azula, meanwhile, read the device.
The concentration of Spirits was off the scale.
"Go on home, you bum," the tea house owner said, looking over at Zuko, "Just got to shut down the lights and head home myself."
"All right, have a good night," Zuko said, quietly. He walked out the door, and when he moved to cross the street a red car pulled up in front of him. The owner pulled down the window and looked out at him.
"We have to talk," Zhao said, opening the passenger side door. "Get in."
"I don't suppose I have a choice, do I?" Zuko said, distastefully. "What is it?" He crossed his arms, and looked over at Zhao. The Chairman drove the car out and down the street. He didn't turn to look at Zuko.
"Zuko, you know, if I had any choice in the matter, I'd not even be here. But, the powers that be are leaning hard on me and I've got to tell them straight that you're complying with our conditions. Your sister hasn't been as cooperative as we would like, either."
"After you threw my Uncle aside as a convenient scapegoat? You expect me to keep quiet about what I've seen?"
"I've taken measures to limit our school group's progress in the Spirit World. They'll do what we want them to, keep the corrupted Spirits in, and prevent anymore bad publicity from coming up. After that Earth Kingdom girl killing herself, we don't need more bad news." The boy clenched his fist, glaring at Zhao.
The man didn't respond, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Who do you expect me to tell? Those Bending Club fools?" Zuko growled. "No one would believe me if I told them."
"That was the other part," Zhao said. "I want to know, for my own business, about the Tower. Tell me everything you saw in there, Zuko, and we don't have to worry about accidents. Ba Sing Se traffic is killer, you know."
Zuko closed his eyes, unclenching his fist, and then he looked away. "All right, Zhao. I'll tell you."
The Spirit World changed beneath their feet. They didn't notice it writhe or scream in pain, but as they moved closer to the storm, the land beneath their feet transformed. Gone was the dry dirt of a dying swamp, and in its place, drowned forest floors, muddied, and with a shallow pool of water forming around them.
The storm overhead whipped about, lightning crashing onto the bamboo and while it burned, the flames never moved from that lone stalk, it danced unnaturally and cast a light in the darkened landscape.
"This place gives me the creeps," Sokka said. "How did we get here?"
"I don't know," Katara said. "Azula, are we still coming across?"
The static on the other end of their comm was the only answer. If they listened hard enough, long enough, they could hear Azula, but with all the interference there was no way to understand what she said.
"Peachy," Sokka commented.
"Just," Katara added. "Well, we're on our own. What do we do, Aang?"
"Maybe get out of this storm. I don't like this."
The water beneath their feet, placid for the time being, suddenly began to flow northward. "Guys," Sokka added, "With all this lightning and stuff, maybe standing in water is a really bad idea. Sitting around and talking is just asking to be zapped."
"Yeah," Katara agreed, "Let's try and find some dry land, and quick."
They ran, their footsteps making loud splashes and they didn't notice the fourth set of footsteps, coming from somewhere behind them. The speed of the water began to speed up as they went further into the drowned forest.
There, in the distance, a great noise, a rushing waterfall, and the stream became quicker. They found a clearing in the forest, and waded out of the water. Behind them, something like a dam broke and a great wave of water washed down the stream.
Sokka frowned, "More of the Spirit World's darling attempts to murder us horribly?"
"Maybe," Aang said, "But I don't think the Spirit World is trying to harm us. It feels," he sighed, "No, it's just my imagination. It must be trying to keep us out for some reason."
"Then we're on the right track," Sokka said.
"Maybe."
"Come on, Aang, show some confidence. Okay, so we're stranded in the middle of some crazy spirit forest in the middle of monsoon season, and fine, we don't have contact to the person with the fancy Spirit Radar. And yes, we're probably walking closer and closer to some horrible monster that could eat us whole, but we're a team, and we need to stick together. And we need you to lead us."
"Gee, thanks, Sokka. I never thought of it that way."
Katara's glare could melt ice. "Yes, Sokka. Thanks for that. And did you forget, I'm a Waterbender. I could freeze the water and -- why isn't it freezing?" She tried again. "I've frozen water lots of times!"
"The speed of the water," Sokka surmised. "Don't worry, Katara, we'll just go through the forest. It's still risky, but less risky than being swept up in that."
"Right," Aang said. "Through the forest, then."
Katara frowned. "I'm sure I could have frozen that water before," she said. "It feels like my bending's weaker than ever."
Aang didn't let his uneasiness show. He smiled brightly, and waved the others to follow quicker, as he leapt over fallen shoots and overgrown brambles. Sokka cut them apart with his boomerang, and kept an eye behind them. He felt on edge. Something felt wrong, and he could hear footsteps whenever they stopped moving, carrying on just a second too long.
Katara focused on the feeling of her power waning.
"Aang?"
Aang looked back at Katara, and said, "What's the matter, Katara? You've been quiet."
"Do you know about the spirits Tui and La?"
Aang shook his head, "I didn't really believe in Spirits or anything before I joined the Bending Club. Sorry, Katara."
"I was trying to remember what they stood for."
"The Ocean Spirit, Tui, is the Life of the Water Tribe, and the Moon Spirit La is its strength," Sokka said. "Legends say that they blessed a small pool of water deep in the Northern Tribe's capital. And even longer ago, they used to live there, watching over the Water Tribe."
"That's right. Wow, Sokka, I'm impressed."
"Yeah, I did a little research," he said.
"Trying to impress Yue, huh?"
"Something like that," he said. Katara was a bit surprised. His expression was serious, and pensive. She didn't press him further, seeing clearly that he said all he was going to say. They continued again, this time in a pensive silence.
"The water's getting louder," Sokka said. "We must be near."
Aang looked a little excited, and Sokka let loose a drawn out sigh. He brought his hand up, and motioned with his head. He'd heard something, for sure. "What is it, Sokka?" Aang asked, and Sokka hushed him. He nodded his head slightly towards the overgrown ferns nearby, where in the distance some rustling sound could be heard, getting closer.
Katara nodded, and Sokka took point, Katara watching his back.
He pulled the ferns back.
The cold barrel of a pistol was put right to his face. "Don't. Move."
"I'm not moving, why do I have a gun pointed at me?" Sokka asked. The gun trembled, but from a low chuckle. The weapon was brought back, and he could see the person who had pointed it. "Azula! What's the big idea?"
"I said I was coming to meet you guys," Azula said, "My sensor was getting strange readings and the comm-line was dead. The storm is interfering with the equipment, but I'm sure a massive spirit is just ahead."
"We kind of thought so," Sokka said. "But why do you have a gun?"
"A girl needs to defend herself," she said. "Now, what's the big idea sneaking up on me?"
"You were the one sneaking up on us!"
"That's not important. What is important is we not just sit around arguing," she said. "Aang, take point. I think wherever that water is leading is our destination."
"Probably," Sokka said. "But maybe we shouldn't engage a gigantic spirit in its home turf. Just an idea. Especially now that we've got an injured person with us now."
"I can still handle myself," Azula said. "Now I wish I had shot you."
"That's not funny, Azula," Katara warned.
"Isn't it? Sorry, Katara," she said. It was rather insincere. "But still, I don't need another big brother worrying about me. Stick to your own sister, Sokka."
Sokka frowned, "Fine. See if I care," and with that, he took position besides Aang. "I don't get these girls, sometimes. She comes all the way out here to help us?"
"Maybe she was worried."
"She doesn't look it," he said.
"She's just bad at showing how she feels," Aang said. "We're almost there." The sound of the waterfall was deafening, like distant thunder. It was brutal, it washed over all other noise, and but for yelling, they couldn't hear each other.
At the bottom, its stomach about ready to burst, the Ocean Spirit Tui lay.
Ba Sing Se's streetlights provided a romantic atmosphere, but something felt uneasy to Yue as Hahn walked her home from their dinner party. The night, she admitted, was fun, but Hahn had spent so little time with her, and she felt like she was being watched the whole time.
She could sense it, in her very being, that something followed behind her, just out of sight, but never out of reach. The moon in the sky, so very close to full, cast a silvery shine on the street. Hahn put his arm around her. "So, I told them, 'Yeah, I don't go out for less than ten grand these days.' Should have seen their jaws drop, Yue."
"I guess I had to have been there. I spoke to this fascinating gentleman. He says he teaches the Ba Sing Se martial arts to the children of some of the most respected people in the Earth Kingdom. He was terribly interesting," she said.
"Hey, you don't sound like you had fun at all."
"I did," she said, "It's just, I don't feel safe being out this late."
Hahn smiled broadly, "No one would dare pick a fight with me. Don't worry, Yue, I'll keep you safe."
"Thank you, Hahn, but," she sighed. It didn't make her feel better. She looked behind, and saw a shadow pass overhead. She looked up, and saw the clouds moving slowly over the moon, obscuring it for a brief period, and sighed. "I'm just a little jumpy, that's all."
"Hey," he said, "We'll be right home. It's a beautiful night, and I just thought we could do something, just the two of us."
She felt sorry for him, "Yes, I understand, but, not tonight. I'm just not feeling all that well."
Hahn sighed. "Yeah, I got you. Thought that the warmer weather was supposed to make you feel better."
"And it has," she said, "But I'm still recovering."
La, the Moon Spirit, watched from the shadows cast by the streetlamps. The large spherical core blinked, and rolled around after the two. It waited, but every time it saw a chance to strike, something got in the way.
The boy threw a look in its direction, following the girl's gaze. "What is it?"
"Something," she said, "It must be my imagination. It's just been such an exciting night that I need to lay down."
"Right, sure," Hahn said. "I'll get a cab."
"Thank you," she said. La and Yue looked at each other, and the creature could do nothing except watch like a starved lion.
The large scar across the creature's face, the catfish-like appearance, the Ocean Spirit still lived, even after facing the Avatar State. The mist that rose up from Tui's body was thick and reached out all over. The water crashed against it, and it would sometimes move its maw to drink it up, growing bigger, and the mist growing thicker.
"Well," Azula said, "That answers a few of our questions."
"So it's been absorbing the water?" Katara said.
"And probably a good number of spirits," Sokka said, "Look at its stomach." He pointed at it, small creatures could be seen moving about. He shivered, "Guess going toe-to-toe with the Avatar at full power was too much for it."
"Not enough to finish it," Azula said. "I don't think it would be wise to engage it at our current state. If the Avatar at full strength wasn't enough, what good can we do?"
"But if we just leave it, the entire Spirit World is in danger," Aang said.
"We don't know that," Azula retorted.
"Trust me, I feel it," he said. "This isn't just the swamp from before that's suffering, it's everywhere. It's throwing the Spirit World dangerously out of balance. If we don't stop it soon."
"So? The Spirit World is trying to destroy us," Azula retorted.
"We don't know that," Aang said.
She sighed, "Fine. You're our leader. It's your decision. Do we fight it, or do we go back and figure out a strategy."
"We can't beat it head on," Aang said, after a long silence. "But if we leave, it's probably only going to get stronger. Sokka, do you have any ideas?"
He looked around, and thought for a second. "Maybe, maybe one or two."
"Azula?"
"Yes?" she said.
"Can you think of anything?"
"Maybe," she said.
"All right," Sokka said, "I think if we use a little electricity to get this guy prone, we can probably get to the stomach and maybe force some of that spirit water out of it. The lightning from the storm would conduct pretty well through those tendrils, but it's just a matter of getting it from one place to the other."
"I was thinking something along the same lines," Azula admitted, "But I wasn't going to leave it up to chance."
"I thought you said traditional electronics and stuff just didn't work in the Spirit World."
"Bending, however, does," she said.
"Bending lightning? Can Aang do that?" Sokka asked.
"Not me!" Aang said. "I didn't know you could bend lightning."
"I can."
"Azula?" Katara spoke up, "You're not going to try that again, are you?"
"I'm ready this time," she said.
"Last time, you nearly died!"
"I lost control, for a second, I won't make that mistake again," she said. "It's our only option if we're going to fight this thing here and now. Unless you have some idea like bending the water out from its stomach."
"I can't," she said, "I don't know why, but my bending just isn't working. But that still doesn't mean I think you should just try this. It's stupid! There's no way you can concentrate."
"It may be our only chance, unless we want to try and bet on lightning striking when and where we want it to," she said. "Aang, it's your decision."
"Don't, Aang. There has to be some other way," Katara said. "She could hurt herself, and with her injury."
"We have sacrifices we need to make," Azula said in counter-point. "Decide, Aang. Decide now."
"Aang, I hate to say it, but Azula's right. With Katara's bending out of the equation, she's our best bet if she really can bend lightning," Sokka said. Aang frowned. "Azula needs concentration to do this, so we're going to have to keep him distracted while she does it. If we do this right, there's no danger."
"I don't like this, Aang."
Aang shifted. "Azula," he said, "You have to promise me if you think you can't control it, that you'll just stop. Okay?"
"Conditions? Fine, if I feel like at any point I can't control the lightning, I'll stop," she said, "Does that make you feel better? Can we begin, now?"
"Aang," Katara said, with a shake of her head. "Okay, if you really think this is for the best. Azula, I hope you know what you're doing."
"On your word, Aang," Sokka said. Aang took a deep breath and a moment's hesitation.
"Go."
"That's all?" Zhao asked.
"I didn't go very far, but I know what I saw wasn't real," he said. "There was no way that could have really happened."
"Fine," Zhao said. "Remember, this is only between you and me. No one else needs to hear anything about the tower. It doesn't, officially speaking, exist. And don't worry, as long as it remains our secret, Vice President Iroh will be remembered as a hero of industry and a philantropist loved by millions."
"Yeah, sure," Zuko said.
"Trust me, Zuko. We're on the same side, there." Zhao pulled the car over, and pulled out his cell phone, which vibrated noisily. He looked at the number. The phone merely said, 'Boss.' Frowning, he answered, and said, "Sir?"
His frown began to turn into a smile. "Yes, sir. This is certainly very interesting. I'll follow up on that right away."
"What was that about?"
Zhao pondered for a minute, and just as he about kicked Zuko out of the door, he instead said, genially, "A spirit has been discovered acting in our world. It's a faint reading, probably nothing, but me? Without any bending of my own? I may not be able to do much against it. Especially since my bosses think it's following someone."
Zuko looked over at him.
"Someone may be in danger at this very minute. Can you walk away from that, Zuko?"
He didn't say anything.
"You can walk out that door, I know you said you wanted no part in this. But if you can step out of this car, what does that mean for the heroic Prince?"
"Shut up and get driving."
"Of course," Zhao said. "As you command."
"Hey! Ugly!" Sokka yelled throwing his boomerang at the fattened Tui. The creature roared in rage, lashing its tendrils up at Sokka. The water it lay in heaved up in waves at the creature's movements, crashing into the great cliffs around it. Tui lashed one tendril up, and began to pull itself up.
"Well, that worked," Aang said. "Azula, get ready. We'll lure it over to you."
As Aang ran off to join Sokka, Katara lingered behind. "Azula, I swear, you're not thinking straight. There's still time to figure out a safer way to do this."
"Safe never won any battles, Katara," Azula said. "The big prizes come from big gambles. That's how my family has lived for generations."
"But this is your life," Katara pleaded, "Try and find another way."
"Do you have so little faith in me?" Azula said. "What happened that time was a fluke."
"I won't just stand here and watch you kill yourself."
"No, you won't. You'll see me control lightning itself," she said. "Your brother and Aang may need a little help keeping the spirit occupied. Maybe you'd be better off making sure I can concentrate so I won't mess up."
"You're so stubborn," Katara said. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you."
The massive tendrils wrapped around Sokka's waist, and Aang brought his staff around to knock him loose. The creature lashed out, and he moved with all his agility, dodging and diving through the air as the tendrils wrapped around each other.
Sokka fell to the ground and brought his boomerang up, he aimed and flung it, and the little metal projectile lodged itself clean into the creature's scales, with a loud, wet plop. "Boomerang, you're supposed to come back!"
Tui let loose a low sound, and the water around it rose into the air, turning to ice as the water sprayed out, turning into small, sharp pieces of ice that flew through the air.
Aang whipped his staff around him, the air rising up like a shield, knocking the ice shards away. Sokka ducked behind him, and looked around. "You think they're ready?"
"I don't know."
"Well, they better be. We're almost in position."
"This thing really doesn't look happy with us," Aang said. "Hopefully it won't notice Azula until it's too late."
"You think Katara's overreacting?"
"Maybe, but I don't know," he said. "She really seemed scared. And she doesn't even like Azula."
Katara watched the creature lunging at her brother. She felt helpless without her bending. And she wondered why. Tui moved slowly, diving through the very earth itself to swim forward, to try and get the boys from behind, but all the spiritual water it had absorbed left it slow.
"It's in position!" she called.
Azula was already focused on the spirit, her mind a complete blank except to focus on the power she already felt flowing through her veins. The sound of the rain a constant, pleasant patter, and the smell of the electricity wafted into her nose.
Then, the spirit turned and wriggled around. "No! Over here!" Aang called, throwing a blast of wind at the creature. It shrugged it off, not even turning to look at him. Its empty, blue eyes stared at Azula, and at the blue lightning coursing around her. It rose up from the earth, crackling as she brought her arms around, the motion perfectly rehearsed.
"Azula, it's coming for you!" Katara shouted.
Azula didn't respond.
"Do you think we should abort this?" Sokka asked.
"No," Aang said, shakily, "She must think she can beat it."
Azula opened her eyes, looking at Tui with calm, but fiery, eyes. And she brought her arm forward, letting the lightning course through lancing forward lighting the stormy forest with a pale blue light.
"Where's she aiming?" Sokka asked.
"Got you," Azula said, satisfied. Tui had only a brief second of confusion before it felt the lightning zap him with ten-thousand volts. It moved under the skin, through the boomerang, and left the creature prone on its back. "Well, what are you waiting for!" She said as she winced, "Finish it off before it gets back up!"
Sokka grabbed his club and ran at the Ocean Spirit, "Take this!" he said as he swung his club at the creature's stomach. Once, twice, and then once more and Tui began to wretch. It opened its maw and the water came gushing out.
"This is really gross," Aang said, as the rush of water started to dry out. "But it had to be done."
Katara was already checking on Azula, looking at her arm. "You idiot," she said, "You could have really damaged your arm."
"It's fine, just a little bit of pain," Azula said.
"Azula, are you a part of this team or not?" Katara said, almost naggingly.
"Yes," she said, through gritted teeth,
"Then let me look at your arm."
Sokka looked at Aang, "We shouldn't just let it get up. We ought to go all out."
"I don't know, Sokka," Aang said. "We're not really in the shape to fight back right now. I say we should retreat while we have a chance."
"And let it do this again?"
"I don't know!" Aang said, "I'm trying to think of a way that doesn't involve killing it!"
"Why not? The Spirit World tries to kill us, Spirits are trying to destroy us, why shouldn't we fight back?"
"I don't think it's that simple, Sokka," Aang said.
Sokka looked at him, and then sighed, "You're probably right. Okay, Katara, Azula, we're getting out of here."
"Okay," Katara said, "Sounds good. Come on, Azula. Easy on your arm," she said, "I think you'll be okay, but we should see a doctor tomorrow just to be sure."
"Fine," Azula said. "But you saw, right?" she smirked, "I controlled it that time."
Katara sighed. The four of them began to walk away. The storm subsided around them, but Tui let out a low moan, and rose up, Diving into the earth it vanished, then, its fin raised above the ground, like a shark, moving towards them.
"Incoming," Sokka said. The Ocean Spirit rose out of the earth, loosing a large wave upon them as it moved south before them. "Where is it going?"
"It must be the barrier," Azula said, "It's weakening again."
"There's no way we're catching up to that," Sokka said. "At least the mist is clearing up now that it's been cut down to size, right?" They looked around. The area was brighter with the storm clouds gone, and the mist that pervaded the entire Spirit World was beginning to clear.
Aang turned to the northern horizon and looked up from the horizon line. "Guys," he said, pointing, "What is that?" A tower rose up in the distance. Its construction was uneven, jutting out of the horizon almost endlessly.
"The Tower," Azula breathed.
"You knew about this?" Katara asked, suddenly turning on her. "And didn't tell us?"
"I thought Zuko was going insane," she said. "But if he's right, then Zhao -- come on. We need to investigate this. Now."
"What?" Sokka said, "I'm exhausted, soaked, and my feet hurt. I think it's time to go home!"
"We need to press on," she said, "That tower changes everything."
Yue stepped out of the cab and gave Hahn a quick good night kiss. "I'm sorry, maybe some other night."
"It's cool. We'll have a private dinner, just tell me when you're feeling better."
"Thank you," she said, tiredly. "Good night, Hahn."
"Night, Yue. Sleep tight," and he closed the cab door behind her. The cab drove off into the distance, and the lights suddenly seemed much dimmer. She anxiously approached the gate, and the gatekeeper opened it for her.
"Evening, Princess," he said, cordially.
"Good evening." She yawned. "It's getting late, isn't it?"
"I suppose, ma'am." As she walked inside, La scurried between the gate, and moved to climb the wall of the embassy. It knew where she went, it was now only a matter of time. It waited, if it breathed, its breath would have been bated.
The lights of a red sports car sent it scurrying. The gatekeeper walked up to the gates and the driver walked out of the car, approaching the gate. "I'm Chairman Zhao, from Princess Yue's school. We've been hearing reports that she's been having a difficult time adjusting to her new environment."
"I haven't heard anything like that, sir," he said.
"Of course not. It's typical, especially amongst teens in boarding schools to keep up the facade that everything's all right to their loved ones and to the people at home. But, inside, it's really tearing them up inside."
"Oh," the gatekeeper said. "Do you really think Princess Yue's having that much trouble?"
"Yes. In fact, one of her schoolmates is with me right now. He said he saw her looking very distressed, and he was wondering if he could have a word with her. I'm just here to look out for both of our students' well-being."
"Well, Mr. Zhao, your ID checks out," he said, "I suppose you can go in. Is this the student? What happened to his --"
"Nothing," Zuko said curtly. "I'm just here because I'm concerned."
"Right," the gatekeeper said, unsure. "Well, welcome to the Northern Water Tribe Embassy, Mr. Zhao."
"Thank you."
Zuko frowned. "You're too good at lying for your own good."
"Am I?" Zhao said, looking back at the gatekeeper. "It's not really lying, but really. Best not to cause them to get unduely alert. If Yue is this spirit's target, that means we have the upper hand."
"What?"
"You'll understand soon." He walked in, and gave the receptionist the same line he gave the gatekeeper. The receptionist nodded, and he called up to Yue's room. "It's very urgent," Zhao added, upon hearing the receptionist talking to Yue.
"She'll be right down."
The girl was down soon after, and looked at Zuko confused. And then, to Zhao, "I'm sorry, do I know you gentlemen?"
"My name is Zhao, I'm a chairman on your school board. I apologize for the lateness but," he said, coughing, "It's really quite important that we saw you tonight."
"Why?" she said, nervously.
"We're afraid you may be showing signs similar to recent disappearances," he said, "You seem to be having trouble adapting to your new surroundings, start to fall into a depression, and some believe a fugue that causes you to leave home, and finally, most of the disappearances have ended," he paused, seeking the words, and in the end, decided upon, "Tragically."
"What?"
"Trust me," Zuko said, "If we told you the whole story, you wouldn't believe us. Just, I know you feel like you're being followed. We're trying to catch the individual," he said, grimacing, "Or otherwise."
"I," she stuttered, then, said, "I thank you for your concern, but I'm all right. Really. I'm just feeling a little under the weather."
"I'm sorry you feel that way. I'd like to offer you protection, for the time being," Zhao said, "But it's ultimately your decision."
"Zhao," Zuko said, "Give me a minute, to talk to her."
"Very well, Zuko," Zhao said. "I'll be outside." The Chairman stepped out, and Zuko sighed. She looked at him curiously.
"Are you really a classmate of mine?"
"Yes and no," Zuko said. "I haven't been in school in months. I just don't have time or money to. Look, Yue, right?" she nodded, "Zhao's dancing around the issue, but you're in real danger. That stuff about fugue or whatever? It's lies, something to make everyone feel safer. But the truth is something is out there and it's going to take something from you. I've seen it happen, and I've tried to fight it, but," he sighed.
"But?"
"Look, I shouldn't even care," he said. "But I can't stand by and give you half the story and let you make a bad decision." He laughed, a low, sullen laugh, "Now you think I'm crazy."
"Some thing, you said," she said, thinking, "I did see a strange little ball. It looked like a little moon, I think, and I'm sure it was staring at me."
"That must be the Spirit."
"Spirit? Why would a Spirit be in our world?" she said.
"You believe in spirits?" Zuko said. "That makes this a lot easier. The Chairman will explain everything, but," he stressed, "We don't have much time."
Yue thought through her options, and Zuko waited for her.
Outside, Zhao looked up. The creature stared at him, and he just smirked at it. "I can see you," he said, lighting a cigarette, "What are you going to do about it?"
La blinked at him, and sunk into the shadows around the building. Zhao watched it go, and then saw the lights go out inside. "Resourceful, aren't you. Guess you don't like light," he thought, "Good." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number on his speed-dial. "I need something made up for me quick."
Inside, the building turned dark suddenly, shocking Yue from her revelry. "What happened?" she asked, looking around. She could barely see anything, but she could barely see anything further than the hand in front of her face.
"Power outage," Zuko said. "Nothing to be alarmed about."
And as La crept in, creeping along on hands molded like distended fins, Yue's eyes darted in its direction. "It's coming," she said. "Whatever it is, it's coming now."
"What?" Zuko ignited the air above his hand and lit the room. The creature jerked back, walking along the walls, moving across the flickering shadows, a jackal, waiting for its moment to fight back.
And Zuko struck quickly, searing the spirit's body with a quick succession of fire bursts. It ran back, heading towards a window, and with its bright orb's focus clearly on Yue, departed. Yue shook, and looked at Zuko, "How did you do that?"
"It's complicated," he said, "Look." He shifted, trying to appear less intimidating, but he just came off as more so. Yue hesitated. "I know, this looks bad. But Zhao, and those Bending Club kids, they'll keep you safe."
"All right," she said, "All right."
"Come on," Zuko said. "We'll get you someplace safe." The lights began to flicker on, and a small security detail opened the door.
"Princess, are you all right?" the head officer asked.
"What happened?" she asked.
"We think a prowler snuck in somehow, we're securing the area," he said. He turned to Zuko, "Who's this?"
"A friend," Yue said. "He protected me from that prowler. It's all right, it's gone for now. You can stand down."
"Princess, all due respect, but we don't know it's left."
"I'm going to go with the chairman," she said, continuing, "He's a trusted official at my school, and I think if a prowler got in here, it would be safer for me to be elsewhere, yes? Until we can close the security hole, at least."
"If that's your wish, Princess."
She winked at Zuko, "Thank you, Captain, that's all."
The two walked out to find Zhao waiting, impatiently. He put out his cigarette when he saw them approach, and nodded, cordially, at Zuko, "So you've decided to come with us? Good." He lead her to the gate. "Our Lake Laogai facility is a little isolated, but it's also the best place for the time being."
"Laogai? But," Zuko said, pausing. "Nothing, never mind. Princess," he bowed his head, "I'll see you around. Zhao, just get her there as quick as possible. That thing attacked once tonight."
"I will, Zuko," he said. "This way, Princess."
Zuko walked up to the gate with them, but as soon as they stepped into Zhao's car, he walked down the road towards the old district. He looked at the moon, looking large and near-full, and frowned, and thought of Lake Laogai.
"We're here."
They looked tired, like they'd been running all night. Aang, at lead, besides Azula, leaned heavily on his staff. Looking back, the shifting landscape made it all the more difficult, but they'd passed through the forest into a desert and back into plains, which the tower laid in, the various plants of the spirit world twisted around the concrete foundation and the stairwell was covered in sand.
They all gazed upwards. "It's so tall," Katara said. "This is amazing."
"It's all modern looking, too," Sokka said. "No way this is a natural part of the Spirit World. Azula, do you think it has anything to do with... then?"
"Probably," she said. "We should go inside, look around, and then," she took a long yawn, "Get some rest. If this tower is really what I think it is, we'll have to proceed differently from here on."
"Let's go, then," Aang said, climbing the steps up to the door. It was a mismatched set, one from an obviously wooden door, the other from a laboratory, and it looked like it had seen some use. He pushed the doors forward, and walked into the foyer.
"And to what do we owe the pleasure of your company today, sir?"
It was Zhao's voice, it seemed to be coming from a good distance away, but it was getting closer. Footsteps, two people, were walking down the stairs that circled around the main room. Aang looked up.
"What's Zhao doing here?" Sokka asked.
"I read the report," the voice belonged to someone else, he was short, stout, and hearty looking. He seemed to be very pensive. "It's heartening to know we've come so far. However, I have some concerns and I want to confirm things for myself, first hand."
Azula's eyes widened, then, she hid her expression behind a frown. "This isn't happening now, Sokka, this must be some memory. Something about this tower feels," she hesitated, "Off."
Zhao frowned, stopping at the foot of the stairs, and looked around. He seemed younger, ten years younger than the others knew him, and he seemed stressed. "Concerns? Vice President, we're making the discovery of a lifetime. The potential is limitless. Mining technology would become obsolete, the power of a handful of earthbenders could do the work for millions cheaper. Waterbending could advance naval and medical technology in ways we never imagined."
"Then why did we forget how to do this years ago?" the Vice President asked.
"I don't know, sir," Zhao conceded. "But if I may say, perhaps our ancestors merely overestimated technology."
"I would not put so little faith in the past generations, Zhao. That is why I wish to begin a new, related project. I want to see if the potential exists to visit the Spirit World. I'm reassigning you to our Upper Ring Research Lab."
"Sir?" Zhao said, perking up, "That's an honor, to work beside you."
The Vice President laughed, "Then we'll be working together."
"Who's this Vice President guy?" Sokka asked, as the images faded away. Azula shook her head. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't know Zhao worked in the Upper Ring Research Facility," she said. "That's where the incident happened. That was my Uncle," she said. "Vice President Iroh Houou, the man responsible for it."
Katara looked quietly around the foyer. "So, what else?"
"We should go home," Aang said. He couldn't help but feel his eyes droop. "I'm exhausted and we must have been in here for hours. Let's go home."
"All right," Azula said. "Let's go." She looked back at Katara, and shook her head, "There's nothing we can do about it, Katara."
"Do you think we'll find out what really happened if we keep climbing this tower?" she asked, Azula shrugged. "I think we should make this tower our priority."
"Agreed," Azula said. "For the time being, we should see how far we can climb. Maybe we'll find an answer to what we're fighting against."
Aang nodded, and looked back at the tower as soon as they all walked outside. It looked massive, and against the skyline, he could see a hole in the sky where the moon once hung.
To be continued
