Chapter 12: Avatar's Folly
Claire hopped out of The Magnificent Turtle Duck, finding Kang, Khana and Sky waiting for her to emerge, "How did it go?" Kang asked.
Claire let out a quick sigh, "Not well, the only way into the Spirit World physically is through a portal."
"So that means going through Unalaq's Spirit Portal..." Kang nervously replied.
"It would seem so," Claire replied.
Claire marched back into Kang's lab, Sky and Khana uneasily looking to each other as they followed Claire back in as she stood in the centre of the lab, hanging her head, "I know you two don't trust him... but Unalaq is like family to me."
"We're just trying to look out for you... but if you... truly trust him... then we should go to this Spirit Portal," Sky replied.
Khana walked up to Claire, patting her on her shoulder, "Maybe my gut's wrong, and he's perfectly fine."
"It's possible... Do we set out for the Spirit world now?" Claire asked, looking to Sky and Kang.
"I wouldn't recommend it, we should all rest for now," Kang replied.
Claire nodded, but an idea came to Khana's mind, "We should probably let our friends know we'll be away for a while. Who knows how long we'll be in the Spirit World for, or if time flows differently there," Khana explained, raising her eyebrows to Sky.
Sky snapped his fingers, swiftly turning to Kang, "She's got a point."
"Indeed... I'll go let Zu, Li and Lin know. Saves them worrying."
Kang and Sky ventured to the elevator, an air of confusion swirling around Claire before she turned to Khana, "I guess you should go let Ty Lee know, her being your master and all."
But the Kyoshi Warrior hesitantly looked away, a lump growing in her throat, her nerves shuddering all over, "I... wanted to be alone with you... I wanted to talk," her voice shook, concerning Claire as she gazed at her friend.
"If it's about the Unalaq thing, it's fine. I understand I overreacted."
Claire smiled, Khana's heart skipping a beat, her voice stammering, "It's not that, It's that I..." although she couldn't find the words, Claire softly grasped the Kyoshi Warrior's hand.
"Did you... break something of Kang's and you're trying to tell me so we can try fixing it?" Claire sarcastically asked.
Khana shook her head, smiling and chuckling as her head hung, "For the Avatar you sure can be oblivious."
"I only pretend to be oblivious!" Claire lied, winking at the Kyoshi Warrior.
Khana took a deep breath, gazing into Claire's emerald eyes, her emotions rushing through her head, "I... no, this isn't right. You're the Avatar, and I'm just some Kyoshi Warrior..." she released her grip on Claire's hand, turning away from her.
But Claire placed a hand on her pauldron, Khana's hair standing on end, "Remember what I told you when we first met: I'm just a person, not a Lord or a Lady."
"A Lady but not the silver spoon kind," Khana replied, remembering Claire's first words to her.
"Even if I am the Avatar, 'doer of great things'. At my core, I'm still just a person."
Khana's head perked up, gazing into Claire's eyes once more, taking a deep breath, her lips quivering as a tear rolled down her face, "I... love you."
Time seemed to stand still as the two gazed into each other's eyes, "I've never been with another woman before... or anyone for that matter... And Guru Pathik said not to have Earthly Attachments..." Claire thought. watching Khana's expression grow dismal, "But Khana's a good friend... a loyal friend... maybe..."
The Avatar gazed into Khana's sky-blue eyes, slowly placing a hand on the Kyoshi Warrior's cheek, smiling as her heart raced. Khana smiled back, their cheeks turning a rosy red.
"I'm not going to find someone like her anytime soon."
The two slowly leaned into each other, their faces inching ever closer, their hearts beating in sync. They closed their eyes, and finally locking lips, embracing one another in a soft hug as they kissed. Khana caressed the Avatar's waist as Claire slid her hands up the Kyoshi Warrior's back, their nerves tingling with passion.
Their embrace blocked out all other sounds, even the sound of a descending elevator, "All I did was forget my pouch! It's like you don't want me to-" Kang berated Sky as the door slid open.
The mad inventor spotted Claire and Khana, letting out a loud and long gasp as Sky grimaced, trying to block the mad inventor's gaze, briefly ceasing his gasping, but Kang simply pushed his hand out of the way, gasping once again.
Claire and Khana released their embrace, blissfully unaware of Kang and Sky, until they turned to the Elevator to see them, their eyes widening as their hearts sunk, "How long have you been... standing there?" Claire asked.
"Long enough!" the flabbergasted Kang replied, walking back into his lab and picking up his pouch.
Claire turned her focus to Kang whilst Sky and Khana looked to each other, the Ex-Mercenary giving her two thumbs up as the Kyoshi Warrior gleefully smiled.
"You're... okay with what you saw, right?" Claire nervously asked.
Kang slung his pouch over his shoulder, rolling his neck before turning to her, "Claire, you love whoever you want to love. Be they woman, man... or both!" he grinned as Sky and the Avatar raised a bewildered eyebrow to him, but Khana nervously looked away, "What? You and I both know anything can happen in this world!" he defended his argument as Claire slowly nodded, "But what I'm trying to say is, If they make you happy, I'm happy."
Kang patted Claire on the shoulder, returning to the elevator with Sky, "But don't you two go doing anything in this lab the spirits wouldn't approve of!"
As the Elevator doors shut, Claire and Khana softly laughed, looking to each other, both raising a flirtatious eyebrow, "He said the lab... didn't say anything about the hut," Khana cheekily smirked.
"Good point..." Claire nonchalantly replied, the two hooked arms walking back into the hanger together.
The moon hung high in the skies of Republic City. Kang, Khana, and Sky slept peacefully within Kang's lab, but Claire still lay awake, thinking to herself, "Did I choose Earthly Attachment when I accepted Khana?" she looked to the hanger, humming to herself, "Perhaps there are past Avatars who can help me!"
Claire stood up, walking over to The Magnificent Turtle Duck, stumbling to her knees, wryly smiling before climbing in through the hatch and sitting on the far side of the interior.
"Let's see... Aang went through the Chakra process, but left whilst unlocking the seventh Chakra..."
Claire focused on the Avatars before Aang, summoning Roku in front of her, "Hello, young Avatar. And here I thought you were only going to talk to Aang."
Claire awkwardly smiled at him, "Yeah... sorry about not talking to the rest of you... well, the rest of you aside from Kyoshi."
"There's no need to fret, like you: Aang rarely communicated with the Avatar's before I," Roku explained, "Now, what can I help you with?"
Claire took a deep breath, "I went through the process of opening my Chakras to master the Avatar State, but to unlock the final Chakra, I needed to let go of all Earthly Attachments... and I think I might have just... chosen Earthly Attachment after letting them go."
"We are aware of what transpired..." Roku replied, smirking at the Young Avatar as she blushed and nonchalantly looked away, "Opening the Chakras is an arduous process for most, but you cannot prevent your energies from blocking up again. Although you may have chosen attachment now, you can let that attachment go when the time is right."
Claire nodded, her posture slumping, "Is it... possible to love without attachment?"
"Both Avatar Kuruk and I have been able to do so. Perhaps you will do the same."
Roku faded away as Claire began meditating once more, contacting Avatar Kuruk and summoning his spirit before her, "Greetings, Young Avatar."
"Ironic coming from him," Claire thought to herself, "Avatar Roku says that both you and he could love without attachment. How were you able to do it?"
"Love and Attachment are not one and the same. To be attached is to be dependent and to fear losing them. To Love is to give yourself to another, to show them your softer, more vulnerable side. Loving without attachment is the purest form of love two people can share," Kuruk explained.
"So... I'll still have control over the Avatar State, despite loving Khana?" Claire asked, to which Kuruk nodded, "Thank you, Avatar Kuruk!" she gleefully smiled as his spirit faded away.
Claire ventured back into Kang's lab, finding Khana still asleep, softly cuddling up next to her Kyoshi Warrior.
The morning Sun rose above the horizon, the four awakening and all standing up from their rest, exchanging pleasantries with one another.
"I should go tell Unalaq I'm ready to go to this Spirit Portal," Claire said, walking to the elevator.
"We'll follow you in The Magnificent Turtle Duck," Kang replied.
Claire entered the elevator, pressing the button to ascend, "How else would you follow us?"
As the door slid shut, Kang, Khana, and Sky looked to one another, Sky shrugging as Kang wearily sighed, "Well, let's get going! There's a function I've been dying to try!"
Kang raced over to The Magnificent Turtle Duck with Sky and Khana in tow.
Claire walked to the entrance of the Northern Water Tribe camp, the guards allowing her access without question. The Avatar thanked them before marching to Unalaq's tent, taking a deep breath as she stuck her hand in, "Chief Unalaq, it's me, Claire!"
Unalaq stood up from his chair, stepping out to greet her, "Claire? Where have you been, I thought you'd given up on us?"
"Sorry for taking so long, my friend Kang and I were doing some investigation into the Spirit Portals," Claire apologetically replied.
"Inquisitive as always," Unalaq fondly smiled, "I assume you're here because you're ready to go to The Spirit Portal?"
Claire nodded, "I am. If what Tenzin said is true and Chaos is running amok in the Spirit World, then it's my job as Avatar to bring back balance."
A chuckle of surprise came over Unalaq, "My, you have matured!"
Unalaq stepped towards his soldiers, "Men, We're moving out to Whale-tail Island immediately!"
The soldiers nodded, packing supplies onto a large ship whilst both Unalaq and Claire boarded the ship. The boat set off into the open ocean, and as they sailed outwards The Magnificent Turtle Duck soared up into the sky.
Unalaq looked up, grimacing at the presence of the Magnificent Turtle Duck, "What is that thing? I've seen it several times now!"
"That's my friend Kang's invention, The Magnificent Turtle Duck. Khana, Sky and him are following us to Whale-Tail Island."
But as they sailed, The Magnificent Turtle Duck descended towards the boat, scaring both Claire and Unalaq, "What is he doing!?" Unalaq exclaimed, raising his right arm, preparing for anything, "He's a bit mad... so uh, no idea."
The Magnificent Turtle Duck hovered beside them, the wings retracting as the Magnificent Turtle Duck floated atop the ocean water. The Chief and Avatar watched the Shell open up, revealing Kang, Khana and Sky to them as the three heartily waved.
"Ahoy, matey!" Kang shouted.
Unalaq groaned and rubbed his forehead whilst Claire smiled and chuckled, "Since when can the Magnificent Turtle Duck... sail?"
Kang smirked, "Since I built it! Wouldn't be much of a turtle duck if it couldn't swim!"
"Well, see you at Whale-Tail island!" Claire shouted.
Kang nodded, closing up the shell as Khana glared at Unalaq, the Chief glaring back, staying in displeased silence.
Claire sat down against the inside of the boat, as did Unalaq, "Chief Unalaq... can I ask you something?"
A worried Unalaq looked over to her, "What is it?"
"Where's Talos? I thought he'd be here."
Unalaq froze up, letting out a heavy sigh, "He went missing... the night you left, things were rough between the two of us after you departed."
"Oh..." Claire replied, disappointment washing over her.
"I'm sure he's fine... perhaps he's closer than you think," Unalaq replied, gesturing to his heart as if gesturing to Claire's.
"Yeah... I've missed him over these past five years..." the sorrowful Claire said as Unalaq smiled with a melancholy look in his eyes, "After I left with The White Lotus... was he angry with me?"
Unalaq's right fist clenched, "He... was, in a way, and he took that anger out on me,"
Claire let out a disheartened sigh, but Unalaq placed his right hand on her shoulder, "Let's not dwell on the past, opening old wounds will do you no good, especially with the current task at hand."
Claire placed her hand on his, smiling at him, "Thank you, Chief!"
Hours passed by as the two groups sailed, both Unalaq's ship and The Magnificent Turtle Duck arriving on Whale-tail island.
Claire, Unalaq and his soldiers exited the ship as Kang, Khana and Sky exited The Magnificent Turtle Duck, the two groups converging into one whilst Unalaq guided them to their destination.
"You know, I never knew The Magnificent Turtle Duck could be that slow!" Kang jabbed at the speed of Unalaq's ship.
"Apologies for not being able to turn fire-bending into fuel, Kang!" Unalaq replied.
But despite the Chief's annoyed manner, Kang raised a suspicious eyebrow, leaning towards Sky and Khana, "How did he know that?"
"I don't know..." Sky quietly replied.
"I told you something was up!" Khana said as Kang and Sky both pressed their index fingers to their lips, signalling to her to keep it down.
The group reached the far eastern side of Whale-tail Island, Unalaq began looking around, seeing a slight deformation in the grass, "Over there! That's the entrance!"
But everyone quizzically looked at it and Unalaq, "That's... a patch of grass," Sky said.
Unalaq turned to Claire, "Use your earth-bending on it, do it as if you're opening a hole."
Claire walked up to the patch of grass, assuming a firm stance and stomping her outward foot, punching forward as the patch of grass slid open, revealing a spiral staircase beneath it.
"Whoa..." Claire exclaimed, looking into the spiralling abyss.
"Just a patch of grass?" Unalaq jabbed as Sky rolled his eyes.
The group walked down the spiral staircase, a chill piercing through everyone as they ventured, "Chief, any idea how far this goes?" Claire asked.
"It's hard to say, but I'm sure we'll be at the portal shortly," Unalaq replied as the group descended deeper, a dim light shining at the bottom of the abyss.
The group found their way into a chamber with a large circular structure at its centre; what appeared to be veins ran along the floor and walls towards the Circular Structure.
Kang walked around it, gazing with wonder, "It's like this room is... alive!"
Khana and Sky stood far behind Claire whilst Unalaq stood before the Circular structure. Kang stood off to Claire's side as soldiers stood by each of Claire's friends.
"Time is of the essence, Claire. Open the Portal!" Unalaq instructed.
Claire brought her hands back, striking them out whilst twiddling her fingers at the portal, befuddling Unalaq and everyone else.
Sky looked to Khana with a quizzically raised eyebrow, but the Kyoshi Warrior lightly punched his arm, making the Ex-Mercenary chuckle as he held his punched arm. Claire stopped twiddling, placing her hand to her chin, thinking of a way to open the portal.
The Avatar raised her arms out to the side, swiftly bringing her palms to face the portal, "Open Sesame!"
Her voice echoed throughout the chamber as Unalaq groaned, placing his hand to the bridge of his nose, "Claire... try the Avatar State."
Embarrassment washed over the Avatar, "Oh, yeah..." She muttered.
Claire took a deep breath, closing her eyes and raising her arms to her side, her palms facing the portal. She opened her eyes as they glowed with a brilliant light, the portal flashing in response as a remarkable display of spiritual energy erupted from the portal, slowly steadying to form an entrance into The Nexus.
Claire gasped, still in the Avatar State, "I did it!" Claire cheered.
"Yes, Claire... you did."
Unalaq raised his now translucent blue right hand. Kang, Khana and Sky's eyes widened at the sight of it, but before they could react, the soldiers grappled and restrained them as Unalaq swiped his translucent hand up from the base of Claire's spine, all the way to the crown of her head, and as his hand exited, a black spiritual essence and a white spiritual essence hovered in his grasp.
Immeasurable pain surged through Claire's body as she descended from The Avatar State, collapsing to her knees, utterly paralysed, "Oh, Claire. You played your part perfectly!" Unalaq told her in a distinct voice.
Claire's eyes widened, recognising the voice, but the paralysis stopped her from speaking.
Unalaq stood over her with the spiritual essences in hand, chuckling to himself as he watched them swirl around, "The time to correct the universe's mistake is at hand!"
"Ta... los?" Claire muttered through the paralysis.
Unalaq smirked at the sound of Claire's mutterings, "You finally worked it out..."
The soldiers, Kang, Khana and Sky all curiously looked at him, "Unalaq is dead, slain by my hand!" the fake Unalaq proudly announced.
"Wait... then who are you?" a soldier asked.
The fake Unalaq's face began shifting, the Flesh of his face morphing before their very eyes, "Ah, what quaint timing for it to wear off."
The fake Unalaq's hair fell off, turning out to be a wig, revealing Jet black hair, followed by two coloured contacts falling from his eyes, uncovering two piercing purple eyes. With the disguise gone, the fake Unalaq revealed his true identity.
"Talos!" a soldier exclaimed.
The Avatar Thief took a deep breath, looking down at Claire with a sombre glare, "I'm sorry to do this, Claire. But consider this a mercy!"
Talos stretched his left arm out behind him, a scythe-like blade cutting through his cloak as it arched out to revealing Kang's missing prosthetic, "That's my Blade arm!" Kang exclaimed, "... Oh no, That's my blade arm!"
Talos swiped the blade at the paralysed Claire. The mad inventor watched the blade inch ever closer whilst Sky and Khana struggle to break free.
"No!" Khana shouted, breaking free of the Soldier's hold and withdrawing her knives as she charged Talos.
"Claire!" Kang exclaimed, letting loose a massive blaze of flames from his feet and fists, entirely engulfing the soldier that restrained him.
Kang flew to Claire, outstretching his left arm, trying to push her out of the way, but he merely intercepted the blade, arching it back just enough to only scratch Claire's back, but at the price of Kang's left forearm.
Talos kicked the flying Kang into Claire, knocking them both into the portal as an expression of sorrow washed over him, "Goodbye, Claire..."
Talos turned his attention to the spiritual essences in his hand, but Khana's charge disrupted him as she tried to attack her daggers.
But with a swift back kick, Talos struck Khana across the room and back over to the guard, who uneasily restrained her once more.
Talos took a deep breath, gazing at the spiritual essences, "Raava! Spirit of Chaos! Infuse me with your power!"
The black spiritual essence infused itself into Talos, a black aura surging through his veins, his hairs standing on end as he pleasurably chuckled.
Sky kicked his right foot up at the soldier's groin, causing them to release the Ex-Mercenary. Sky quickly withdrew a knife, slinging it at Talos without hesitation, "Vaatu! Spirit of Or-" Talos winced as the Knife struck his arm.
The white spiritual essence fled his grasp, dashing into the portal, "NO!" Talos exclaimed as he reached out to the portal, but it was too late.
The white spiritual essence flowed through the portal as Talos turned to Sky with a murderous fury in his eyes.
Talos marched towards him, but Sky threw another Knife at the Avatar Thief's draping cloak, pinning him to the ground, and in his distraction, the Ex-Mercenary threw a second knife at Talos' foot, pinning him further.
The Avatar thief winced at the blade sinking into his flesh, watching Sky withdraw one of his swords and bonking the soldier that restrained Khana on the head, "Let's get out of here!"
Sky helped her up to her feet, "But what about Claire and Kang!?" Khana gripped her chest as the chamber shook, the Portal destabilising, the Spiritual energy dissipating.
"They'll be fine! But at the moment we aren't, let's get moving!" Sky said, holding onto Khana and beginning their retreat up the spiral staircase.
Talos removed the knife from his foot, shedding his cloak as he did, no longer needing it to conceal the blade arm.
The Avatar Thief restyled his hair into a long wolf's tail as the portal closed behind him, the quaking ceasing as the two remaining soldiers stood before Talos with weapons at the ready.
"You killed Chief Unalaq!? How could you do that to your own father!?"
But Talos maliciously smirked, "Well, it went a little something like this!"
Talos dashed like the wind at the Soldier, mercilessly slashing through their body before swiftly turning his attention to the soldier on his right, cutting them down without pause.
Talos turned to the soldier engulfed in Kang's flames, seeing his already burnt up corpse, "A pity..."
Talos took in a deep breath, bending water out from a satchel, letting it float in his hand before tossing it away, kicking out his foot and ejecting a mighty roar of violet flames. Talos gleefully smiled, punching his fist into the air, striking up an earthen column before lastly swiping his blade up into the sky, letting loose a razor-sharp blade of air.
The Avatar thief triumphantly laughed to himself, "Even with just Raava, I've done it! I am The Avatar! The True Avatar!" Talos laughed evermore, but as he stood proud in his hollow victory, an odd presence pervaded the air.
He closed his eyes, an unknown power surging through him, and as his eyes opened, they flashed with a pitch-black light, a smile creeping over his face as he became connected to the past lives of The Avatar.