We moved seemingly non-stop; even while resting, we were either sleeping, eating, or training. I still didn't have a clue what the hell these guys were up against, but it had yet to show signs of being anything my team and I couldn't face. Even dad was doing better now that he had some proper training. Even though I didn't know what it was and had a feeling it wasn't any worse than what I had faced before, it was almost welcome in that the apparent danger was something I was used to dealing with on a daily basis.
It wasn't until roughly three weeks after the explosion that uprooted all of us that I first caught word of what we were up against. Even I had a hard time believing the form in which this information came to me.
We were set to leave within the next ten minutes or so when my ghost sense went off for the first time in days. I didn't even bother changing forms seeing as I had seemed to develop a completely different sense for the arrival of the idiot who named himself The Box Ghost. I swear that guy was searching for the absolute worst name he could find when he came up with that.
"What is it, Danny?" Jazz had appeared at my side, but I didn't get a chance to answer her question as Sam appeared as well.
"Is the idiot back again?" We rarely actually called Box Ghost by his name; in my opinion, we were doing him a favor by calling him "the idiot."
As if on cue, the Box Ghost finally came into my line of sight. "BEWARE! FOR I AM THE BOX GHOST WHO IS NOW SUPPORTED BY THE GREAT PRINCESS AZULA!" The fact that a princess would "support" the Box Ghost only goes to show how little the people of this world knew of ghosts.
"Danny, get away! If he's with Azula, he's gotta be dangerous!" Sokka didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I knew nearly every ghost like the back of my hand, and the Box Ghost was almost never a real threat.
"Is it possible that she's just a bigger idiot than old Boxy here?" I said that just after firing off the single shot the cause Box Ghost to make a run for it. "The most damage he's ever done was on accident. He's one of the few ghosts your honestly just better off laughing at than anything."
"THE BOX GHOST IS NO IDIOT!" I rolled my eyes, but the comment seemed to slightly worry Team Avatar.
"You do realize Azula is going to hear that you called her an idiot right?" Sokka started.
"And that this development will only piss her off more, right?" Aang finished.
I just shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe she'll give me a real challenge, it's been a while since I've had one of those." Sam's glare nearly scared me.
"The last few times you've had a "real challenge" you've very nearly gotten yourself killed!" Was she right? Yes. Was I going to just let her have her point? Nope.
"I was still figuring my powers out with the King and Dan knew everything about me and then some! Azula knows nothing about me and I doubt she's ever fought any ghost, much less someone with my power."
Sam smacked me upside the head. "Don't get cocky. We both know I could kick your ass if I really wanted to." I knew she was probably right - after years of training with me, she knew just about every trick I had. Add to that her new found bending and the fact that ectoranium could very easily be under her control, and there was no doubt she could take me in a fight if she had a reason to. "Also, did it even occur to you that if this princess had the sense to send a ghost after you that she probably knows about your powers?" Once more, I had to admit she was right.
"Fine, you got me. I need to be more careful, yadda yadda yadda. You done yet?"
It was Jazz that smacked me this time. "You aren't taking her seriously, Danny. We have no idea what we're up against. Sure, you know how to fight, but how are you going to win if you're constantly relying on your intangibility to keep out of trouble? Someone is eventually going to figure out how to counteract that."
I was halfway surprised to see Katara step forward. "Actually, I think I've already found a way around that. Change forms, Danny." I didn't question her, I had a feeling resistance would only piss all three of the girls off more, and I really didn't feel like facing that.
I saw Katara focus on something with her bending, but I couldn't tell what until my arm moved of it's own accord. I knew it was her doing, especially after I suddenly found myself being smacked upside the head with my own hand. It stopped after only a minute, but I could tell it had taken it's tool on Katara.
She spoke after a few moments of regaining her breath. "Blood bending works on ectoplasm too. I hate to use it, but the Fire Nation won't hesitate. Your own strength will be used against you if they find a blood bender to work for them. Intangibility can't protect you from yourself nearly as well as it can save you from others." She paused. "I will never use it in battle, but you needed to be shown that you aren't invincible to the elements. The right bender is just as dangerous to you as it is to the rest of us."
"In short, don't get so damn cocky and actually listen to us!" Sam wasn't going to let me live this down.
...I said I'd get this up last night...I lied...but considering my current record as far as gettin gthis updated, waiting a day is nothing compared to what I've done to you before...
Comments and feedback are as welcome as always! :D
Invisible One
