Burn My Dread Complete

By Iain R. Lewis

Disclaimer: Characters and concepts belong to Nickelodeon, some of the concepts are similarly inspired by Persona 3 and Persona 4, property of ATLUS games.

"Those long days passing by from the door, like late summer they slowly fade away..."

-- Heaven

Month 4: The Empress

Ghosts and the Bamboo Forest

Walking to school that day, Aang was surprised by Zuko walking up beside him. He looked very focused, and strangely dour. "Hey, Aang," he said.

"Yeah?"

"Do you get the feeling things aren't quite as set as they were after vacation ended?"

"Set? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Things feel different in the dorm than they did before, and not for the better. Azula especially seems to be mulling over something."

"We're a team, remember, Zuko?"

"Yeah," Zuko muttered, "But that doesn't mean we can trust each other unconditionally. You shouldn't let your guard down around anyone, Aang, not even me."

"What?"

"Midnight, tonight, remember. We've only got a few days until the full moon, so the sooner we can figure out where these people are, the sooner we're ready to face the Great Spirit."

"Oh, okay," Aang said, nervously. "But what do you mean, I can't let my guard down -- Wait up, Zuko!" but even as he called after Zuko, he vanished into the crowd of students preparing for the school day.

He was trying to settle himself down in the classroom when Mai approached him, she looked a little nervous, and when she spoke, she was uncharacteristically alert. "Aang, could we talk before class, really fast?"

"Sure, Mai!" Aang said, and he hopped to his feet. She walked outside the door and bowed her head. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to thank you," she said, "After all we didn't get to the best start. You didn't give up on me, which says just how stubborn you are," she smirked, "You're lucky it's something I like in a person. You're certainly not boring."

"Yeah?"

"But," she paused, "Staying here may not have been the best thing, in the end. But I can't escape it, can I? I must be true to myself, and I know Azula's my friend. Life's confusing enough, sometimes I just can't figure it out."

"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, Aang, good luck with what you have to do now," she said. "Maybe we'll see each other around. Try and keep out of trouble, all right?"

"Okay."

"Not that I care or anything, but it'd be boring here without you."

"Thanks, Mai."

He felt that bond he made with her. It was one that could never break. "Goodbye," she said, and she made it sound more final than maybe she intended, but she still vanished a moment later without waiting for him to answer.

The rest of the morning was slow. Bumi went on and on about his homework assignments, and Aang nearly fell asleep in class. It wasn't until lunch time that things began to pick up. A girl from his class hurried into the room, excitedly, "They put up the results from the exams!"

Aang looked to Toph and Teo, and the group hurried to the board where the school's exam listings were posted. Sokka and Katara were busy looking at it, and he spotted Zuko heading over.

Azula came from behind them, and put a hand on his shoulder, "Well done, Aang. A fine showing this semester."

He'd scored in the top ten of the class. "Wow, Azula, you're at the top!"

"Naturally," Toph said. "Where am I?"

"A solid middle-of-the-road score," Teo said. "I'm pretty high up there, too. Not as high as Aang, but wow, Katara and you were close, Azula."

"Indeed. But we did study together, after all."

"That would do it. Congratulations."

"Incidentally, Aang, may I speak with you for a moment?" Azula asked, walking aside. Aang followed her, and in the quiet nook, she looked him over, and nodded. "I have to admit I'm growing concerned about these spirit attacks."

"Tonight we're going to find out what's causing it, don't worry," Aang said.

"Well, I do worry. I'm a little worried about the group's resolve, too. We can't keep simply stumbling through to success like we have before. One of these days, the spirit is going to get us at a disadvantage, and we need to do everything we can to survive. Don't you agree?"

"Well, er, I guess," Aang said.

"Good. I'm glad we agree, then," she said. "Remember, our goal is to save humanity from the Spirits, don't get distracted by the idea of saving both. I know you're noble, and I respect you for wanting to save everyone, but if you continue trying to do that, you won't save anyone, Aang."

He looked at her, incredulously for a second.

"What?"

"No, that just sounded familiar, somehow," he said. "Sorry, am I weirding you out."

She shook her head. "Go back to class, lunch is nearly over. Congratulations again on your score."

"Hey, Aang!" Katara said, passing by. She watched Azula walk away, and seemed confused. "What was that all about. Sokka's on cloud nine since he scored in the top ten. Zuko is quite happy with his solid B, you can't help but see him smiling."

"You did really well, too."

"Yeah, but that was mainly Azula's tutoring."

"Well, congratulations!"

"Thanks! But, was it just me, or did Azula seem really on edge this morning?"

"She still seems 'on edge' I think. Do you think we need to focus on just saving this world, Katara? Azula seems to think we have to choose."

Katara shook her head, "You're the Avatar. If anyone can save both worlds, it's you. And besides, we have to! Yue is counting on us. After all we've done to the Spirit World, we do kind of owe them, you know?"

"Yeah, I know."

"So chin up. You can do it!"

"I guess you're right."

Still, it weighed heavily on him. He sat through afternoon class thinking about it at length. The words replayed in his head. 'You'll doom them both,' someone had told him, but he couldn't remember who.

Pakku was long-winded, and Aang found himself tired beyond belief. He fell asleep listening to Pakku talk in one long incredibly unbroken sentence.

"Avatar Aang, the representatives of the four nations bring you tribute," a voice called from somewhere. He recognized this place. though he wasn't sure why. High above him, the clock was almost on midnight, though nothing held it there.

The first representative, Aang idly thought, looked familiar. He was an older man, with wise, kind eyes. "Avatar Aang, I come from the Air Nomads and bring you a tribute." Aang looked at the gift, a small lemur that looked familiar. "These creatures share our life, and we share theirs. We seek peaceful coexistance, that is the way of the Air Nomads. With this tribute, I hope you will understand the wisdom of the Nomads."

Aang looked at the lemur, dreamily, and it seemed to vanish again.

He was dreaming? That was the only explanation. And yet, it seemed so real. "The representative of the Water Tribes comes to you now." And he looked and saw a girl, serene and smiling. He thought for a moment that she seemed familiar, her piercing blue eyes washed over him with a kind of tranquility.

"The Water Tribes bring you tribute, Avatar Aang." And she marked his forehead with a strange symbol. "Trustworthiness is highly valued amongst our tribes. We struggle for every inch in the deep cold, but we remember that even when things seem their harshest, that is when we need the deepest trust. I hope you will learn the trust of the Tribes with this humble tribute."

"The representative of the Earth Kingdom's here, Avatar. You want your tribute, right?" the representative was familiar. Her pale eyes echoed a kind of unyielding, uncompromising strength. She put before him an ornate belt. "Only the strong can survive when things are down, you know that, right? No matter what, don't compromise, ever! If you do? Well, then you'rre a disappointment, Avatar."

And then, the Fire Nation representative approached. The scar on his face was so familiar, yet, in his half-asleep state, he couldn't think of why. "The Fire Nation brings its tribute, too. Take what you want, don't let anyone stand in your way. That's the ambition of fire."

The man moved and struck, fires seemed to burn him, and yet he didn't feel anything.

This is the fate of the Avatar.

"You again," Aang said as the fires burned him. "This is just a dream!"

Yes, that's right. You're asleep in the real world. Does that make you feel better?

"This is just a nightmare. I'm not burning."

No, you're not. You're freezing to death.

The cold winds struck him just as suddenly as the flames had burnt him. He looked at his skin, turning a sickly pale blue. "No, I, I'm not." He looked up, at the blue figure on the icy waters before him, and she moved with a fluid strike.

Fine. If that's not to your approval, you're being torn apart by the winds.

And the tornado came. He was buffetted around, objects knocked him down and he tumbled as he tried to right himself in the air. "No! This is a dream."

Or how about buried alive?

The claustrophobia gripped him intensely. The shadowy mirror image of himself was all he saw in the dark tomb of earth. "No, why this --"

Because Aang, it's time for you to wake up. I'm you, you're me. We both know that you can't choose because no matter what, you'll fail someone.

"No!" Aang punched the figure in front of him, and found himself doubling over as though he'd punched himself. The figure before him gave him a pained smile.

I told you already. I'm you. This is just a dream, remember? It's time for you to wake --

"--up! Aang!" Teo said. "You were mumbling in your sleep there. You feeling okay? Want me to take you down to the nurse?"

"No!" Aang said, suddenly, jolting up. "I'm fine. I don't need to see the nurse."

"Okay, if you say so," he said. "See you later, man, I'm heading home." And Aang looked around the quiet classroom. Afternoon seemed so dreamless, a restlessness set in on him, and he didn't want to go home quite yet.

And so he went to the roof. To his surprise, Ty Lee was there, as well, looking out over the city with a jittery expression. "Oh, Aang," she said, when she noticed him sit down, "Did you come up here to think, too?"

"Yeah," he said, quietly.

"I wanted to talk to you, actually, before things got too busy for you. Is it okay if I sit down?" he nodded, and she sat beside him, and gave him her brightest smile, "I'm so happy I got a chance to talk to you. You were such a big help with the Dance."

"No, I wasn't. You did all the hard work, Ty Lee.'

She shook her head, "But you were there telling me honestly what I was doing was right or wrong every step of the way. It wouldn't have been the same if you weren't helping, so don't you dare try and make it all my fault, Mister."

"Okay," Aang said, a little off-put and confused. "I'm, er, sorry?"

"That's better. I tried so hard to stand out, like I was some kind of special flower but all the time, and maybe people notice me more because of it, but it doesn't mean it's the right kind of attention, either, and you were the only one to say that to me."

She hung her head, slightly, "And all this time I kept trying to make an impression on my parents, and not just be one of their daughters but really be Ty Lee. I need to realize that I'm always Ty Lee, even if no one notices it except you."

She kissed his cheek chastely, "Thank you."

"Uh, you're welcome," he said with a flush of pink on his cheeks. "I was just trying to be a friend."

The bond he formed was unbreakable, and he smiled at her with that knowledge. "Well, Aang." She stood up. "This'll probably be the last time we'll get to talk. I'll always be your friend, though, never forget! I'll be angry if you do."

"I won't!"

"Aang." She took his hand in hers. "Be careful. Be careful of Azula."

And she left suddenly, without saying anymore. Aang watched her go with a growing uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. And he didn't know where he stood anymore.

"Midnight," Zuko repeated to the assembled group, "The only constants in these disappearances are the time they occur and the fact that they all occured outdoors. That's what I learned anyway."

"So we'll be testing this?" Sokka said, "I'm telling you, Zuko, this is a bad idea."

"We should stay together," he said, "There doesn't seem to be any indication that they go for lone targets. The only reason my source saw someone being carried off was because she was going the same direction in a tram, and even then it was barely a glimpse."

"Okay, uh, that's a math thing. Considering the speed of the trams, subtracting that from the moving object, and -- oh man that's fast."

"Very good, Sokka," Azula said. "Your studies have paid off. But there's no time for self-congraulations yet. We need to track down this spirit, immediately and locate where it's taking the people it's capturing."

"Guys," Aang said, quietly, "I've got a really bad feeling about this."

"I know," Katara said, "Same here. But Zuko's right, there's only one way to find out what's causing this." Her blue eyes were amazingly piercing tonight, Aang thought. "So, brave face, everyone. Let's be positive!"

"Yue will be monitoring this operation on the Spirit World side," Azula said, "I've contacted her to make sure things are all right."

"And we'll be watching each other's backs."

"What happens if this spirit grabs one of us," Sokka asked, "I bet it'll be me if it's anyone, so that's why I want to know."

"Your optimism astounds," Katara said, tiredly. "We'll pursue! That's why Yue's there, to wait for us in the Spirit World in case we do get nabbed. Try and keep up, Sokka, I thought you were good with plans."

"I'm good with good plans," Sokka said, pedantically, "This is a very bad plan, and I'm a hundred percent against it."

"Fine, noted, let's do it," Zuko said. "Did you get the message to the cops?"

"The Police are enforcing a curfew based upon the disappearances," Azula said, "And as such, there should be no one around."

"The gangs are laying low, too," Zuko said, "So that just leaves one group I'm worried about."

"The Spiritless," Katara breathed. "They're constantly going out at night, now. I've seen more graffiti now than ever. But do you think a spirit would target them?"

"Maybe," Azula said.

"Well, yeah, this one's taking them whole. Not just their spirits. This is really getting me more and more nervous," Sokka said. "Okay, okay, let's get it over with. The Spiritless or not, we're not finding out where they are by sitting here."

"All right," Zuko said. "Guess it's my turn to start an operation. Feels like old times. Okay, team, move out."

The group headed out on the tram to downtown, and they all sat around the main square by the mall, looking around at the milling of people about aimlessly. It was nine o'clock, and it was almost curfew time.

A man in the corner stared absently up at the stars, and he sat next to the graffiti of the Spiritless. Katara averted her eyes from him, "No matter how many times I see one, I can never get used to it."

"The Spiritless are a pathetic bunch," Azula said. But despite her cold pronunciation, her eyes were focused on the ground, and she looked a little pale. "Disgusting. I hope no one has to end up like that."

"Still," Sokka said, "They're people. We can't just let them suffer."

"... unity..."

"I wish we knew what they were talking about!" Katara said. "Maybe the unity they're talking about is reuniting their spirit and their body? Maybe that's what all the suicides were."

"No," Azula said, "I don't think that's it. I've done some research on the symbol they make, and while it's still unclear, the researchers noted a similarity to the old seal of Agni."

Zuko nodded, "I can see it. Like the phoenix on my coat," he grinned. "The old Fire Nation symbol."

"However," Azula said, "That's about where the similarities end. Though there was one other thing the researchers had discovered." She drew the symbol in the graffiti roughly on the ground. "These symbols were associated with an old cult in the Fire Nation, as well. A doomsday cult."

The group sat uncomfortably for a moment. "A doomsday cult. Great."

"Well, it wasn't an exact match, but, yes, Sokka," Azula answered, "It is a little disconcerting to think that our Spiritless are speaking of the end of days."

The crowds thinned out as the hours ticked along, and it was nearly midnight before too long. People had been replaced by the Spiritless, who mulled around in the alleys around the mall aimlessly. One even began to mark the door of the mall with the symbol.

"Creeping me out," Katara said, quietly. "Gotta be positive. They're not going to hurt us."

"Guys," Zuko said, standing, "It's time to be focused. Five minutes until midnight." They all stood ill at ease as the clock ticked down the seconds. As the fifth minute passed in excruciating slow-motion, each of them tensed visibly.

The bell in the distance chimed the hour.

"Nothing so far," Sokka whispered.

"Give it time," Zuko answered, anxiously. But, the Bending Club didn't noticed two immediate affects as the last bell chime faded into the night sky. The Spiritless stopped gazing aimlessly and suddenly moved with a startling conviction.

And they grabbed Azula from behind. "What the -- " she turned with fires blazing blue and hot. The Spiritless were burned, falling to the ground and nursing their burns. "I thought the Spirit -- what's going on?"

The group formed into a tight circle as the Spiritless began to move towards them. "You had to say something, Katara. See what you did? It's your negative thinking that caused this!"

"Mine? What about yours, Sokka?"

"It doesn't matter who was negative, right now," Zuko said. "We need a plan, and quickly." He cracked his knuckles. "I vote we just take them down," and he looked pointedly at Azula, "Without bending or lethal force."

"Fine," Azula said. She dropped into a low Fire Nation martial arts stance, "We'll do this the hard way, then."

"Wait!" Aang said. "Let me speak to them first." He stood forward. "Please, we don't mean you any harm. We're trying to help you!"

The Spiritless stopped and stared at Aang, suddenly. They seemed alert, even aware, but they spoke no words and standing motionless, they didn't even seem to be breathing. "Please, we do not want to hurt you, but we will defend ourselves."

Then one by one, they turned to each other, "... bridge... unification..."

"Unifier... will... bring Him here..."

They lunged at Aang and Zuko was the one to defend him with a quick straight. "Knew diplomacy wasn't going to work." He moved to knock down a few more, and Katara's water whip knocked a few harmlessly away.

"How come she gets to bend," Toph said, annoyed, as she readied herself to strike down a man twice her size. She took him down in a few swift punches, "I mean it's not like a concussion ever hurt anyone."

"Katara knows restraint," Zuko muttered, "Something you and Azula could really afford to learn."

"Coming from the Delinquent Prince, that's funny!" Azula scoffed. "There," she said, putting another into the wall, "That seems to have calmed them down." She laughed as the other Spiritless moved back.

"No, that's not it," Zuko said. "They look scared."

"Of our power, maybe?" Toph grinned. Then her grin faded slowly, "Oh man, guys, I think I know what's gotten them so spooked all of a sudden."

"What?" Azula asked.

"I don't know! But we'll know in a second. They're coming this way!"

The second immediate effect of the hour descended upon the center of the city now. They were moving from all directions. One came from the Royal City, another from the Lower Ring, yet another from the direction of Lake Laogai. And all three appeared downtown at the same time.

They were massive figures, Black and white, each nearly identical. One had no eyes, and moved about with an unseen sense. Another's mouth was sealed, the last had no ears. They moved on fours, with an extra set of arms, steadying themselves as they looked down on the Bending Club, hungrily.

"Okay," Aang said. "That's what's been kidnapping these people."

"They're huge!" Sokka squeaked. "I told you this was a bad plan."

"Well I never was one for plans. Let's improvise," Zuko said. "Now you can bend."

"Excellent!" Azula said. She kicked a blue flame at the one with no sight, and it reared back with a loud roar. The four moved in unison, rearing back. "So they're connected," she said, "Good to know."

"Let's focus on the one with no eyes," Aang said. He leapt up at it, and to his surprise, the creature watched him move into the air, and opened his mouth. The pale blue light that was beginning to rise from its throat was the only warning Aang had to kick himself out of the way. A large blue beam of light tore into the night sky, tearing apart the clouds as it struck.

"Okay, new plan," Sokka said, "The one with no mouth!"

The spirit with no mouth watched through strange white points that appeared like eyes on its smooth form. Suddenly, from these points more light shot forth, carving a path towards Sokka. "Great! They're loaded with tactical laser beams!"

"Let me guess, this one has both types," Toph said. "Okay, buddy, I'll take you on! I wanna see if you're any challenge for the amazing Toph Bei Fong." She kicked up the earth, and to her surprise felt the creature move before she could finish her attack. It was right behind her now, and when she tried to attack, it reached out to grab her.

"Out of the way!" Sokka yelled, and pushed her down to the ground.

"What was that for? I had it!" Toph cried. And then she felt Sokka's feet leave the ground. "Sokka!"

"Let go of him!" Aang cried, slicing the air with an airbending blade. The creature, however, moved out of the way, deparing further into the city while the other two prepared their lasers. "Guys, we need to chase that one!"

"Not really an option. We need to stop these two from causing any damage," Azula said.

"We'll go get him," Zuko said, "Come on, Katara. You guys hold them off." Toph nodded placing a barrier of earth around them as the beams struck it. She shuddered as the impact caused the shield to shudder.

"They're almost out of gas," Toph smirked, even as the shield crumbled, "When they're done, you two better run. I'll get their attention." The shuddering stopped. "I'm dropping the shield. Go!" She pushed out the barrier and the two spirits were hit squarely in the snout by the debris.

Aang struck at the blind one, while Azula moved on the mouthless one. Katara watched them, and found her arm taken forcefully by Zuko. "I wish we could help them, somehow."

"We will," Zuko said, "When we get back with Sokka, these spirits are done for."

"The city seems so lifeless," she murmured as they ran down the usually crowded streets towards the Royal City. "It's creepy."

"I know," Zuko said. It seemed like the only light was the nearly-full moon above. It seemed even larger than life in the empty sky. "These things might be the Hei Bai spirit I was told about. If that's the case, it's a spirit of the forests."

"Why is it here, then?" Katara asked.

"Don't know. Don't want to know," he said, "Let's get into the Spirit World and find your brother. I hope Yue's got a track on him."

"I've got a really bad feeling," Katara said. "I hope Sokka's all right."

"I'll kill him for you if he's not," Zuko said, with a smirk.

"Yue!"

Katara almost collapsed from running up to her so quickly, but Yue grabbed her and steadied her. "Did you see him?" Zuko asked. "The Spirit was coming towards the catacombs." Yue nodded, but she seemed at a loss.

"What is it? Come on, Yue, tell us!"

"It's not that I didn't sense him, but," she paused, "It's just that when I sensed him it was very faint."

"So he's far away? Maybe he's in the tower, Zuko, we should get down to Yomi and --"

"Katara, please," Yue said, her voice strained, "I mean it was faint like he was faint -- he's fading fast, even now. We need to find him and I can't pinpoint where he's gone!"

"Fading -- fading how? Yue, don't just say things like that! I'm nervous enough as it is. You make it sound like he's --" She looked at Yue with wide eyes, and the girl looked downcast, and averted her glance. "-- Oh by the Spirits."

"We find him, you heal him," Zuko said, never once blinking, "There's no ifs in this equation, Katara."

"But what if we --"

"There is no question of if," Zuko said, coldly, "What part of that don't you understand? We find him, we heal him. That's what needs to be done."

"Zuko?" Yue seemed bewildered, and almost a little humbled. "Ah, I've always wondered but now I think I know why they call you the Delinquent Prince."

"Which way did he go?" he asked.

"This way," Yue said, lifting her kimono and bursting into a dash through the forest. They climbed down a small cliff face, and through an open field that had appeared. "There," she said, pointing at the path in front of them, overgrown with bamboo, "That's where I sense him, but I warn you, it's peculiar."

"A bamboo forest?"

"I know, Katara," Yue said, "They have been appearing everywhere. I think the Spirit has something to do with it."

"Hei Bai was a Forest Spirit, it's not a surprise. We stay together, this is a spirit's woods. We're entering their realm, we're playing by their rules."

"Okay, Zuko," Katara said, steadying herself. "It's okay, right? Sokka's okay?"

"I can still sense him," Yue answered. "We have time, but it's slipping away ever so quickly. We don't have a minute to lose." The three entered the Bamboo forest together, warily pushing aside the shoots to follow the path. As they entered, it seemed like a fog began to enshroud the area around them, and Yue's eyes widened.

"People, everywhere," she said, "This must be where the Spirit is taking them."

"That makes no sense," Zuko muttered.

"But I'm serious. I can sense people all around us."

"I don't see any, Yue."

"But, Katara!"

"We don't have time to worry about anyone but Sokka," Zuko reminded them. "Which way do we go?"

"Towards the withered bamboo shoots," Yue pointed, and Zuko pushed them aside as they passed. "Sokka!" she called out, as they moved, "Please, answer us!"

Katara joined in, but Zuko remained silent, watching the shoots around him. As he pushed forward, he suddenly felt like the Spirit World had shifted around them. "What is it?" Yue asked. "Is something wrong?"

"I think we're going the wrong way."

Yue paused, and looked around, "You're right. I sense Sokka from behind us. But I did not feel the Spirit World move."

"This forest," Katara said with a shiver, "Does it feel cold to any of you?" The others turned to look at her, and then startled they stepped back. "What? Is there something behind me?" They nodded slowly. The color faded from Katara's face, and she turned around.

A man's hand was grasping at her arm, extending as it was from the bamboo shoot. "What's going on?" Zuko asked. All around him, the hands of men and women emerged from the bamboo, and then faces, twisted in torment, cried out.

"Ghosts?" Katara squeaked, "There are ghosts here?"

"No," Yue said, "They're the people who were kidnapped! Their bodies must have been turned into the bamboo."

"Then Sokka must be as well," Zuko said. He broke free of a ghostly hand and pushed aside a bamboo shoot. "I don't know what we're going to do, but we keep moving! Yue, keep alert in case we're turned around again."

"Yes sir," Yue said, standing rigidly at attention.

"And stop making fun of me."

"Yes, sir!" she said, with a salute.

"Sokka's a bad influence on you," Katara moaned. "Can we stop making jokes when there are ghosts moaning all over the place. Aren't they suffering enough without it?"

The forest was a maze, moving forward did not seem to work, as the forest seemed to pivot on their location, turning them every which way as they passed by the moaning ghosts. There was some distant sobbing as the moans grew quiet, and then a scream of pain. "Sokka, please be okay," Katara whispered, quietly.

"We're getting nowhere!" Yue shouted.

"These ghosts, are they the cause? Or is it the spirits --" Katara was cut off by Yue suddenly exclaiming.

"There's something here!"

"A spirit? Now?" Katara cried. "We don't need this!"

"That Hei Bai monster," Zuko concluded. "It's nearby." The rustling of the bamboo seemed distant at first, but finally the nearest shoots were pushed aside and out stepped the spirit. It was not Hei Bai, but Zuko's guard still rose. "Who are you?"

The Spirit pointed to herself, and then wrote in the dirt "Mu Lan."

"Mu Lan? The Kyoshi Warrior --" Katara breathed, "Wait, you're answering our questions?" The spirit nodded. "Do you know where Sokka is?" The spirit nodded again. "Then lead us to him, please. He's in danger!"

The spirit nodded and then with a wave of her fans motioned for them to follow. She darted into the parted bamboo and moved like a phantom across the ground, casting aside the ghosts with a sweeping motion of her hand.

"Amazing!" Yue said, "She's the one we saw before, yes? But she seems so different. She reminds me of Sokka, somehow."

"Didn't she appear before?" Zuko asked, "I could have sworn she appeared when we faced Oma. But she vanished so soon after --"

"I didn't sense her, then, but maybe --" Yue shrugged. "We should try and keep up with her!" Mu Lan motioned them forward into a clearing in the forest, where there was only one bamboo tree, a sickly sprout that was withering.

"Sokka?" Yue called, "Where are you?"

"Right here," Sokka moaned. "Who's there?"

"It's us," Yue said, "Zuko, Katara, me, and --" Mu Lan was nowhere to be seen. "I guess just us three. We're here to help you, but I don't -- Ah!"

They approached the sprout, and on the other side, they could see Sokka. He seemed attached to the sprout, as if it was growing out of his arm. His leg seemed planted into the ground, and he looked to be in a good deal of pain. "So, I found out what happened to the people who were abducted. You're not going to believe this, but it's turning us into trees."

"Sokka, please, I'll heal you, maybe we can stop it --" Katara grabbed water from her bottle, and washed it over the plant, but while Sokka's pain seemed lessened, the plant was still there.

"Not really a normal wound, huh?" Sokka asked. "It's okay, Katara. But Zuko, I told you this plan sucked."

"Sokka, stop acting so brave," Zuko said, arms crossed, "We're here to save you, not to listen to you be self-sacrificing."

"If only there was some way to heal more than just physical wounds," Katara murmured. Yue walked forward, and took Katara's hand, placing it again on Sokka's arm. "What? You want me to try again?"

"Yes," Yue said, "I think there's a way."

"Hey, if you can stop it, that'd be super. I really never liked gardening."

The water washed over the arm again, and it glowed a faint blue. Then Yue placed her hand over Katara's. The light brightened and the sprout started to recede from Sokka's arm. His leg seemed to respond similarly, the creeping bamboo started to fade away ever so slowly.

"It's working," Sokka said, obviously relieved, "Because believe me, I never wanted to go out like a hero."

"How did you want to go out?"

"Old, surrounded by my great-grandchildren, and possibly drugged to dull all the pain. A lot of drugs."

"Why am I not surprised?" Zuko asked. Yue seemed to shudder as the plant finally disappeared and Sokka moved around freely. "See?: Told you we'd save you."

"Yeah, no kidding. Thanks Katara, thanks a lot, Yue."

"Thank Zuko, too," Katara said from behind tired eyes, "He was the one who kept cool during all this."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks man," Sokka said, offering a hand, "You three saved my life, even if it was your plan that got us into this mess." Zuko took Sokka's hand, hard. "Ow, man, watch it, I bruise easily!"

Yue laughed, and Katara smiled in relief. "So, we should get out of here."

"Not yet," Sokka said. He pointed forward, "The forest is expanding as it goes. I want to see why."

"Okay, we'll make it quick," Zuko said. "You all need your rest."

"Easy there, Zuzu," Sokka said, "You're going to be taking over as leader at this rate!"

"Aang!"

Aang was blasted across the square by a stray blast from the mouthless Hei Bai, and he bounced and rolled. Toph was quick to create a barrier around them, and she looked him over. "You okay?"

"Fine," Aang said, grunting, "I can't believe how bad this is getting."

"Yeah," Toph agreed, "This is ridiculous."

The lightning arced across the sky, and the sightless Hei Bai cried out in sudden and severe pain. Azula brushed a lock of hair out of her face angrily. "You spirits are dead, do you hear me? Dead!"

Toph dispersed the barrier, "Azula, we're thinking we need to force these guys back. We're at half power without the rest of the team and--"

"Quiet!"

She was covered with electricity, and she struck with sudden precision. Aang couldn't help but wonder how she was able to fire out these bolts of electricity so efficiently -- or so angrily. There was some kind of cold anger in her bones.

He'd heard that after a while, when you're burned, fire began to feel cold -- he wondered if that was how Azula felt every time she summoned her flames. "Azula, calm down," Aang said, "You're going to hurt yourself!"

"These spirits are making a mockery of us!" she said. "I won't allow it."

"Azula, calm down, please!" Toph cried out, "I'm all for a fight, but you're starting to scare me. We need a plan, not this."

"This seems to be working." The two spirits were rearing back away from the lightning. "Well? Any other objections?"

"You're not focused," Aang said. "Remember what happened the first time. Katara's not here, and I'm not as good as she is. I don't want to have to heal you -- I don't want you to die."

Azula paused.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me there," she said, coolly. The spirits seemed surprised by the end of the lightning storm, and looked over at the three of them. "We need a plan, you're right. Play to our strengths."

"Well, we've got earth, fire, water, and air," Toph said. "We got that covered."

"Aang," Azula said, "I know this isn't easy for you, or maybe it's impossible, but if you can call upon the power of the Avatar, we need that push right now."

"I'll, I'll try!"

"Toph, buy us some time. I want to try something."

She paced around Aang. He looked at her, as Toph moved to attack the massive spirits. "What?" he asked, as she looked at him intensely.

"Focus on letting go of yourself," she said, "Like as though you were traveling to the Spirit World. But instead, try and feel yourself becoming part of the Avatar Spirit. If I'm right, you should be able to."

"No," Aang said, as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "It isn't working."

"Keep trying. I will try to buy you some time."

The Hei Bai were overwhelming Toph when Azula's lightning strike crashed across the sky, lighting up the square with the cold light of lightning. Aang watched them as he tried to call upon Roku or any Avatar who would listen.

Toph screamed in pain as a laser struck her barrier, shattering it and though Azula tried, her lightning began to arc wildly, and she tried to rein it in as the Spirits reared on her. "Azula! Toph!" Aang cried, and then the strange sensation overwhelmed him.

The Avatar Spirit awoke.

It made the square bright. He walked as some kind of angry divine figure, dispersing the lightning with but a wave of his hand and sinking Azula into the earth. She rose up, unharmed, and her eyes widened, almost greedily watching him move towards the Hei Bai. He didn't walk -- he glided across the ground.

The spirits looked frightened and then the fire struck them. Large tornadoes of flames ripped through them, and they began to run. "We should pursue!" Azula called. But it was too late, the Avatar Spirit was gone already.

"Whoa," Toph said, "You really are a God."

"What? Did it work?"

"Yes, it did," Azula said. "Unfortunately, now we have no means to defeat them even if we pursued. We should wait for the others to get back. I hope Sokka is all right."

"Me too," Toph muttered.

Aang nodded, but his mind was racing. He didn't remember letting himself go into the Avatar Spirit, but he remembered that he wanted to protect his friends. "Azula, what happened to your lightning? You looked like you were about to lose control --"

"I was," Azula said, "But you seemed to use the earth to ground me, and the lightning dispersed. It was unpleasant being buried, though, so please don't do that again."

"I'll try to tell them not to."

Aang nodded, and looked at Toph and Azula, and tried to piece together the lost minutes of his life.

"These stretches go on forever," Sokka moaned, "But I think we're nearly there. Notice how withered everything is? There hasn't been any human fertilizer to revitialize it, yet."

"I can't believe these spirits are using humans to create a new forest in the Spirit World."

"I know, Katara," Yue said, "It seems to be working, which is the more disastrous thing. Besides the ghosts, this is the most pristine forest in the entire Spirit World now, it is almost completely untouched by the corruption."

"I wish we didn't have to destroy it, but," Katara murmured.

"Those people don't deserve this," Zuko said.

"But neither did the Spirit World. We need to free the people, though," Sokka said, "It's the lesser of two evils."

Yue nodded, "I agree wholeheartedly, but I wish there was some way to restore the Spirit World."

"We'll find it," Sokka answered.

"Guys, not to interrupt this love-in," Zuko said, coldly, "But I think I see what's creating the forest." Sokka looked around, and Katara followed Zuko's gaze.

"I don't believe it -- this forest! It's a footprint," she said.

"That's not just any footprint," Sokka said, looking at it, his eyes wide. "That's the biggest footprint I've ever seen."

The footprint was so large, they didn't notice they were standing in it until they approached the end of the forest. Sparse stretches of bamboo went on for miles. A few miles away, in the distance, they could see another footprint, and the dense bamboo forest that it left behind.

"This is -- this is one big spirit," Sokka said.

To be continued.