~o~
Venomous
Hina was calling for her parents, alone.
"Mom!" she yelled, "MOM!"
She produced a flaming moth to provide her with a little light as she made her way through the fog. It parted, revealing an old docking warehouse. Hina sighed miserably, starting to go, but stopped when she heard her name whispering in the air.
"Hina..."
Hina gave a small yelp and looked around for the source of the voice, frightened. "Hello?" she called. Her eyes narrowed as she fought for courage in her voice. "If you're trying to mess with me, it won't work!"
"...She can speak to the animals!"
"No, we can't have this child!"
Hina shook her head rapidly, yelling through the fog at the whispers. "I said, it won't work! I've heard it all before, stupid ghost fog!"
"No one wanted you."
Hina shut her ears with two hands, yelling loudly again. "NOT LISTENING! You're just some stupid fog who - "
"Hina..."
Hina paused, recognizing the next voice. She didn't know why it sounded familiar, but it moved her forward. Something flickered with light, drawing her attention toward the warehouse. She squinted, tilting her head before walking toward it. It seemed to slip through the softer earth toward the shadows and she watched, struck by how it seemed to vanish in the ground.
"Hina."
The girl looked up at the voice again and followed it through the old doors. Then, as she was walking, another voice filled the air. The same deep, rich feminine tone as the first, though it was more welcoming. Less unsettling. It still scolded, but with the gentle warmth of a mother.
"Don't follow her, Hina."
The voices alternated back and forth and Hina was more determined than ever to find answers, despite the thudding of her heart against her chest. She continued on, ignoring the warning from the second voice and the beckoning, chilling whisper from the first voice.
"Hina? I have something for you. We'll have lots of fun."
"Don't come here, Hina. Go back. Don't follow her."
Hina scowled and followed the voice toward a broken doorway that seemed to lead down into the water. She held up her hands, which flickered with flames.
"Down here, Hina."
"Hina, don't come down."
The voices continued, all the while she made her way toward the steps that led into the water. She had no idea, but it made her freeze.
"Don't come down here!" the second voice suddenly whispered, as if fearful.
"Good, Hina. I'm almost there." the first voice crooned.
Hina swallowed thickly, looking around. She looked around, noticing that the doorway was ensnared in vines and red roses. As soon as she had come close enough, the roses wilted and the vines crumbled away.
"...You need to turn around, Hina..." the second voice said and it really sounded frightened. "She'll find you. Please."
That voice sounded so familiar, but Hina could not place it. She shut her eyes tightly, reminded of the songs that her mother sung to her when she was a baby...
Hina held hier head with a groan and failed to see a shadow rise up behind her. When she turned, she gave a shriek at the sight of white, glowing eyes watching her from the humanoid shape.
"Run. RUN!" the second voice shouted.
Hina didn't need to be told twice. She turned and ran with a scream. She didn't know where she was running, but that she had to get away from that...thing behind her. She could hear voices all around her - animals or spirits, she didn't know. But she had to get away.
She stopped for a moment to breathe and found herself standing near a tree. She leaned against it for support and slumped to the ground, tears filling her eyes.
"Mom...please..." Hina pleaded, rubbing her eyes. "I'm scared."
Footsteps approached and Hina looked up at the sight of something flickering toward her. She blinked, stood up and backed away from it, eyes widening. It was a spirit, but looked like a woman wearing burned Fire Nation sage robes. Her eyes were heavy and sad, her hair the same color as Hina's. Her voice was warm and welcoming.
And familiar.
"Hina, find your parents." the spirit told her. "They're close. You can do it."
Hina squinted at the spirit, eyes filling with fresh tears as she slowly backed up. "Mom?"
"Go..." the spirit continued, her smile sorrowful. "Go, my little bird."
Hina backed away until she felt something against her back. She looked up, eyes widening at the sight of one of the Kemurikage standing there. It was Enenra and her hand reached out.
"Come." she said, gently. "I'll take you somewhere safe."
Hina shook her head, frightened. "No! No, you're one of those bad spirits! You take kids like me! But I'm not bad! I promise!"
Enenra calmly raised one hand and placed it on Hina's head. The child flinched at the touch and the spirit sighed softly, whispering out "sleep" before she slumped into her arms. She scooped Hina up, looked down at her and began drifting away.
"You're safe, my child."
O
Azula wasn't afraid.
She was angry.
First, her lightning was gone and now this. She wasn't going to stand for these petty inconveniences to her life, not when she'd worked so hard. And the spirit world was no exception; she didn't want to deal with them and would waste no time.
A hiss above her and Azula scowled, bending a blast of blue flame into the air. There was nothing, so she continued on, strong in her purpose.
"Where's the Fire Lord?"
"His daughter is here. The monster."
"This is why Sen loves her. She adores animals, doesn't she?"
Azula snarled, whirling and sending a blast of flame through the fog. I harmed nothing in its wake and the voices silenced themselves for now. She straightened where she stood, glaring into the darkness. Azula was no fool to the spirits, but she wouldn't be swayed by them. Not again.
"They're still afraid of you."
"You'll never be accepted by them."
"These spirits, with eternity on their side, you think they'd learn to spend it better than saying useless, vile things that I already know!" Azula hissed, to herself.
"Do you, now?"
Azula stopped, spotting a shade swimming through the air like a wolf bat. She frowned, watching the shadowy form apprehensively.
"And you are?" she asked.
"Juéwàng," the spirit replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm an observer of human life. Do you remember your meeting with the twin spirits? They were lost to me for some time. But they've returned to the realm of the spirits and I've spoken with them."
Azula furrowed her brow, forcing her usual calm in her voice. "Yes, I remember. I had a pleasant discussion with one of them as he took possession of Sen."
"Ah," Juéwàng laughed, his voice soft, yet grating. It reminded Azula of falling sand. "You have met my sons, after all. I am an agent of skills as well. Do you know what they call me? What ancient civilizations used to whisper about me behind the doors?"
Azula scowled now. "No."
"Despair. Abandoner of Hope." Juéwàng continued, "I was drawn to the place of Hina's village. So much lost hope. So much sorrow. And yes, did I fill myself with its bounties. Places of such suffering are my...little carnival grounds, you see."
Azula didn't respond to his words. She couldn't see him, but she could see the shape constantly altering itself; it was changing shape every several seconds, as if it couldn't hold one form for long. She didn't want to test her curiosity as to why.
"My sons knew the Balance had to be maintained, however," Juéwàng continued, "And it has. But the people cried out to us with their dying breath. They begged for the strength to take their revenge. And so here we are to guide them to their final act."
A pause.
"Mmm, it's interesting, really..."
Azula shook her head. "Oh? And what's so interesting, spirit?"
"I alter my form based on what truly hurts another person," Juéwàng told her, still hiding in the fog, "But it seems that you are unique in that case; I cannot hold a form because there is just...so much that causes you such pain. What a pity."
Azula scoffed, ignoring the clenching in her chest. "You're wasting your time. I've heard this all before."
Suddenly, there was a loud shout of pain that turned Azula's focus behind her. It was Yui, calling for help. She sighed impatiently and hurried off to find her. And she found an overturned cart with Yui's leg pinned beneath it. The older woman struggled and looked up, stunned to see Azula there. She smiled with relief.
"Azula! Thank the spirits!" she exclaimed.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'll be sure to do so." she quipped, moving to help her out from beneath the cart. "Your leg isn't broken, is it?"
"No." Yui hissed, pulling herself from the cart.
"Then get up and walk!" Azula ordered, "My daughter and Sen are missing and we need to find them. Now!"
Yui nodded her head, grunting sharply as she stood. "Of course! Let's go."
They started walking and Yui sought to speak to Azula. After all, she had missed one of her sessions and was curious as to why. But Azula's mind was elsewhere; to the fog around them, to her blocked lightning bending and to finding her family.
"You're distracted, Azula. Something's bothering you." Yui said.
Azula gave her a funny look. "Can't even begin to imagine what that might be."
"No, I mean," Yui stopped, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You missed a session. You never miss a session. That isn't like you."
"There are slightly more pressing matters at hand, doctor!"
Yui nodded before they resumed walking. "But talking will keep us focused, won't it? This is spirit fog and it will do its fair share to tear us away."
Azula frowned curiously. "You know about the spirit world?"
"I do," Yui continued, "My father was a spiritual advisor. He wanted to teach me the ways of the spirit world, but I took my own path."
"And you don't regret that? Not living up to your father's expectations?"
"Not at all." Yui replied, with a small smile, "He was happy that I could find my own way and help others."
Azula rolled her eyes, her tone a bite. "Not all of us are blessed with such doting parents."
"No. Maybe not." Yui agreed, sympathetic.
O
Sen and Katara seemed to be walking forever.
"This fog has no end in sight," Katara said, with a frustrated and worried sound. She cupped her mouth and yelled out. "Aang! Azula! Can anyone hear me?"
Sen made a face, eyes scanning the fog around them. "Katara, I don't know where we are."
"Yeah. It's pretty thick." Katara agreed. "But we can't give up. We need to keep moving."
"Yes...keep moving. But to where, I wonder?"
The two women looked around at the sound of a new voice; it was male, cold and calculating and yet, somehow gentle. They didn't see who it belonged to at first, but through the fog, they could see a shadowy form with glowing patterns along its back and sides.
"Who are you?" Katara asked.
"I am Lei Gong," the spirit replied. "It's been a long time since I walked the human world. But how can I resist the call for justice? And how can I ignore one who has yet to be granted justice for her wrongdoings?"
Katara immediately looked at Sen, eyes widening. Sen withered slightly for a moment before she shook her head.
"I only want to find my family." she told him. "I don't want to cause further harm."
"Mmm, yes," Lei Gong continued, the thought clearly boring him. "Wishing not to do further harm doesn't quite negate the harms you've still done. These spirits are but victims of the Fire Lord's cruelty. But you have many victims of your own. They may be here. Would you like to speak to them?"
Sen looked unsettled by the idea and Katara looked around as shapes began to appear in the fog, circling them; they were faces of various people from different nations. All of which were no doubt Sen's victims from her war days. They were staring at her, eyes accusing.
Katara looked at her. "Sen? Sen, they're not real. It's a trick."
"I know your heart, Sen." Lei Gong crooned, with a smile in his voice.
He stepped forward and revealed himself; a tall, slender shape with dragon-like features and armor and glowing bands across his shimmering body.
Katara bent a whip of water, knocking him back several feet. She struggled to keep him at bay while Sen seemed to be lost at the sight of the faces watching them.
"She can deny it all she likes, but it affects her every day," Lei Gong continued, "The struggle for a normal life... You even adopted. You wanted a child. You wanted everything that felt right. Normal. But we both know you can't be normal."
"Sen, he's lying!" Katara shouted, grunting as she forced back several more spirits that attempted to overtake her.
"You have Azula, don't you?" Lei Gong continued to speak, as if Katara hadn't spoken.
"Yes, and I love her. That is what I need." Sen whispered, voice trembling.
"Mm, so she's told you the same?"
Immediately, Sen's smile slightly disappeared. Her heart froze at his question.
Lei Gong laughed softly. "Just as I thought. Your love is brittle and will crack at the slightest pressure. And she isn't capable of love, you should know that by now."
Katara shook her head as she knocked back several spirits with her water whip. "Sen! Azula does love you!" she shouted, struggling to keep the other woman focused. "You know she does! It's not like her to say it, that's just her way. She wouldn't be with you if she didn't care about you."
"No, she wouldn't." Lei Gong glanced briefly at her before grinning. "Because Azula likes the new, pretty things. She bores easily, doesn't she? She loved the bloodthirsty warrior you used to be. Now she's lost and confused, same as you. She doesn't know her purpose"
"That's not true!" Katara shouted.
"Yes, it is!"
"No, it's not!"
The entire time, Sen's features clouded with doubt. Katara could see that she was growing affected by the fog and the words of the spirit. She didn't see the archer poised on a nearby building, wearing a mask and aiming the arrow right for Sen.
"Sen! Don't listen! He's lying!"
Lei Gong shifted form, taking on the shape of Azula. Her face was wrong, her eyes wrong. Even the cruel smile wasn't right.
"I was happier without you. I was better." Lei Gong sneered.
Katara scoffed, looking at Sen. "Yeah, because sitting alone in an institution is better!" Her eyes softened at Sen's conflicted features. "She had you, Sen. You saved her from herself and you saved yourself. It didn't matter what the rest of the world said, you had her. The both of you saved each other! Don't listen."
Sen looked at Katara, eyes relaxing a little. She laughed softly now, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right..."
The archer launched the arrow, which embedded itself in Sen's shoulder. She let out a pained shout and whirled, snarling furiously when she spotted him kneeling. His eyes widened and he started to scramble away, but Sen unleashed a ball of fire that struck the place he was crouched, obliterating it to splinters.
The sound had stunned Katara, but she quickly moved to tend to the arrow in Sen's shoulder. The spirits - including Lei Gong had disappeared. She didn't know what they had truly wanted if they'd left them alone and her mind was distracted by the dead archer lying just nearby. Sen had killed him quickly.
Sen hissed sharply, snapping her from her thoughts. She removed the arrow and Katara helped her stand.
"Are you alright?" she asked, worried.
Sen nodded, still seething. "I'm fine. I'm fine." She looked around for signs of the spirit. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know. But who was that guy?"
Katara looked toward the dead archer and made her way toward him. Sen was still shaken, angry from the attack. She grunted sharply, reaching back to touch her shoulder where the arrow had struck.
"Sen, this guy's wearing the same clothes as the New Ozai Society members," Katara explained.
"So they returned for a little payback, did they?" Sen hissed. "And they used the spirit fog to do it."
Katara looked up at her. "Are you sure you're okay? You had me worried for a second."
Sen shook her head rapidly. "Yes, I..." She blinked somewhat before smiling weakly. "Yes, I'm fine, Katara. He almost got to me, but I won't let it happen again."
Katara wasn't so sure, but she wanted to keep moving.
Meanwhile, Aang was making his way through the fog, ignoring the whispers of those around him. There were hallucinations of airbenders around him, watching him silently.
Aang shut his eyes. "They're not real..." he whispered to himself, "They're not real."
He looked up, stunned to see Roku standing there through the fog.
"Roku," he said, never more relieved to see him. "I'm glad you showed up. It's hard getting through this alone. I can't find the others."
"Yes." Roku agreed, with a small nod, "The dark can be terrifying, but you can always find a little sliver of light to guide you."
Aang noticed a glimmer of light dancing around his eye. It looked like a ball of fire that formed a little bird. He didn't know where it was coming from, but it had to be friendly. He had a feeling.
Aang followed the fire into the fog.
O
It was dark in the chamber.
Zuko produced light inside with his bending, igniting the candles around them. The scrolls that filled the entire chamber drew their attention and they worked to find information about the Kemurikage. Mai let out a sigh and shook her head, retrieving one of the scrolls.
"This is going to take forever." she said.
"Not unless you had a little help."
They turned, spotting Aang standing there, tired, but safe. The little flaming bird landed on his shoulder briefly and he smiled at it before it departed.
"Aang! You're alright!" Zuko quickly embraced him and looked him up and down. "How'd you get through this fog?"
"A little bird told me."
Zuko laughed a little, nodding. He knew better than to ask for detail. "Right. Well, I'm glad you're here. We really could use the Avatar's help right about now. We're trying to find information about the Kemurikage. Maybe you can help us."
Aang looked at Shyu, then walked over and knelt down, crossing his legs in preparation to meditate. He took a long, deep breath before focusing.
Fog began to seep into the chamber, frightening Shyu. Mai and Zuko stood in a bending stance and they watched as Enenra materialize before them. They backed away and Aang looked up at her.
"Greetings, Avatar." she said. "I've heard your summons."
"... you're one of the Kemurikage - the original ones, from long ago." Aang replied, with a careful smile, "The whispers told me you were good. You're not the monster the stories say you are."
Enenra nodded her head. "I am. For centuries, my sisters and I haunted the warlords of the Fire Islands. For their crimes, we haunted them. They took our children from us and we sought revenge for it. Our sadness, our pain. It became theirs. We saved those children from their cruelty."
"Wait..." Aang thought about that. "You were taking the kids to protect them?"
"Yes." Enenra explained, "We haven't entered your world in so long. But our graves were disturbed by a human woman who sought out vengeance of her own."
"Wait, who is this woman?" Zuko demanded. "What does she want?"
Enenra was quiet.
"Please, spirit. We want to protect our families, too." Aang pleaded, "Is she controlling you?"
After a moment, Enenra spoke. "Yes. She has taken tokens that once belonged to us when we lived. She uses them to manipulate us to stir fear in the Fire Nation. But that's only a part of her game. She wants revenge on Sen and she'll do anything to get it."
"Who is it?" Aang wanted answers. "Who?"
"Sen's grandmother, Cho and her husband Katsu."
Aang gasped in horror.
During the discussion, Katara and Sen were wandering the fog, unsure of where they were. The fog seemed to isolate them from the rest of the world.
"We've been walking for hours!" Katara groaned, "This isn't getting us anywhere!"
Sen blinked slightly, her vision blurring. She let out a small grunt and leaned against a nearby wall for support. Katara was still talking, but she couldn't hear her over the roar of blood in her ears, her own heart hammering wildly. Her face was soaked in sweat and she couldn't stand.
"...if we can just mark the ground, maybe?" Katara suggested.
"Katara?"
Katara turned at the weak inquiry from Sen and her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the other woman's physical condition.
"I don't feel so good." Sen mumbled. "That arrow was..."
She collapsed to the ground and Katara immediately rushed to her side with a horrified gasp of her name. She turned the woman onto her side, and reached into her armor, coming back with a palm full of blood. She let out a start, rolled up her shirt and found the place the arrow had struck Sen.
It was no longer red, but splotchy with green, her veins discolored. Sen groaned weakly, blinked and looked over her shoulder.
"Is it bad?" she asked.
Katara looked at her, shaking her head. "You've been poisoned, Sen. I can try and get the poison out of you. Stay still and stay focused on me."
Sen weakly nodded her head in response.
Katara removed water from the pouch at her side and collected it around her hands, resting them against Sen's wound. Sen shuddered, hissing sharply when she felt the water against her skin. She was hot, burning up. It was like being touched with ice.
Katara pursed her lips with effort. The more she attempted to pull the venom from Sen, the deeper it went. It was resisting her, as if it had its own mind.
"This is strange," Katara said, "I've never seen poison work like this before. We - We need to find Aang, fast! Can you stand?"
Sen let out a pained noise, pushing her knuckles into the ground for leverage. She huffed through her nose, clenched her jaw and forced herself to stand with a shout of effort. She swayed a little and Katara steadied her against her shoulder for a moment until she was sure Sen could balance herself.
"Spirit...that snake..." Sen hissed, limping slightly. "This is his poison. That's what Teng meant."
"So we have to get to Aang as soon as we can." Katara nodded her head, starting forward. "Can you walk?"
Sen clenched her jaw, sliding forward as well. "Yes."
"Then walk!"
Sen limped after her as they continued on through the fog.