Chapter 13: Into the Unknown

Kang and Claire fell into the centre of a large hollow tree surrounded by multiple spirit portals. The White spiritual essence followed them through, flying off into one of the surrounding portals.

Kang writhed in pain as he clasped his severed arm, his breathing uncontrolled, "Why... did I make a prototype so Sharp!?"

Kang agonisingly grunted to himself, trying to control his breathing, pulling himself together before forming a flame in his right hand, "Well... here goes!"

Kang pressed the flame against the severed part of his arm, immediate regret and pain washing over him as he jerked back, veins pulsating along his neck, his teeth tightly gritted.

Claire's paralysis began wearing off, Kang's agonised scream hitting her ears. She dragged herself over to his left side, tapping the mad inventor's thigh. He looked over down at her as she pulled the water from her satchel, coating her hand in the water and placing it against Kang's severed arm. The water radiated a soothing light, healing the recently cauterised wound, but Claire's selfless act drained what little energy she had, pushing the Avatar to the verge of unconsciousness.

"Thank you, Claire," Kang softly said.

"Of... course," Claire half-smiled, sweat running across her forehead.

Kang reached behind into his pouch, pulling out a prosthetic left arm.

Claire wondrously looked at it as Kang twisted around, grafting the Prosthetic arm onto his stump, quickly finishing his graft before turning back around, wiggling the prosthetic fingers with glee, "How... did you...?" Claire faintly asked.

"It's always good to carry a spare limb!" Kang proudly replied, pointing his prosthetic fingers to her.

Claire tried to stand up, the Dazed Avatar, heavily breathing whilst Kang worryingly watched her, and to his surprise, Claire fell toward him, the mad inventor's arms instinctively stretching out and catching her, "I don't feel so good," Claire groaned.

Kang pulled her to his side, placing her arm around his neck and carrying her out of the hollow tree. Kang observed his surroundings, taking in the vast emptiness before him, "Where... are we? Is this some kind of Void?"

Claire raised her head, staring into the emptiness before her, "This... must be The Nexus."

The mad inventor lightly squeezed Claire's wrist, "Try not to speak, you need to converse what strength you have."

Claire's head hung low as Kang ventured further into The Nexus, observing the ten portals surrounding the Hollow Tree.

The floating island they stood on had four Lion Turtle Head's on each corner of the island, each holding a glowing sphere of energy in their mouth. Odd-looking vines and plants blocked the perimeter of the floating island.

Kang looked around at the Portals, some glowing with a brilliant aura, whereas others appeared dim and almost lifeless, "We had best get out of here..."

The Avatar raised her head, looking around to see a Skeleton in an old Fire Nation uniform, "Yeah... or else we'll end up like that guy..." Claire gestured to the Skeleton, Kang winced as he let out an uneasy grunt.

"Don't worry, you won't be ending up like Zhao today."

Kang jumped around towards the sound of the voice, holding up his prosthetic hand, "Who's there?"

An elderly man in Earth Kingdom robes stepped out from around the tree, his white and long beard draped below his pectorals, white hair flowed down his back whereas the top of his head remained bald, "Calm down my boy, I'm just an old man."

Kang lowered his prosthetic arm, "Are you... Iroh?"

The wizened man nodded and smiled, "Yes, I am, and you must be Kang,"

Kang stepped back, his eyebrows raising as his mouth hung ajar, "How... do you know me?"

"I would explain, but I can see there are more pressing matters at hand," Iroh replied, gesturing to Claire as she groaned.

Kang gazed down at Claire, "Yes, I, uh... Someone's stolen her Avatar Spirit."

Iroh stroked his beard, "I see... come with me, it will be safer at my tea shop."

Iroh walked over to a Portal, Kang followed as he carried Claire on his shoulder. Iroh stepped into the light of the portal whilst Kang cautiously studied it, "Don't worry, it won't bite!"

Kang shrugged, stepping into the light with Claire, transporting the three to the Spirit World. They arrived in a vibrant field, trees and mountains filling with background, and a clear blue sky hung over their heads.

"Huh... not what I expected the Spirit World to look like," Kang muttered.

Iroh chuckled, "The nature of a region depends on the nature of the spirits who inhabit it."

Kang affirmatively hummed as Iroh guided them to his tea shop.

Upon their arrival, they found a small group of spirits congregated outside, "Excuse the company, some friends came over when I felt a disturbance in The Nexus," Iroh explained.

Buy Kang brushed off their presence, carrying Claire whilst the spirits all greeted Iroh with a warm welcome, but gave Kang and Claire odd stares.

Iroh and Kang walked into the tea shop, a cosy wooden interior with a long table filled with teapots, cups and ingredients and another table on the opposite side.

The mad inventor laid Claire down on the free table whilst Iroh observed her, noting her ragged breathing and sweat breaking out all over her, "You're correct, The Avatar Spirit is missing... and the elements within The Avatar are warring with one another. Fire battles against Water, Air battles against earth..." Iroh turned to Kang, "What happened to her before you arrived in The Nexus?"

"The Northern Water Tribe Chief Unalaq who turned out to actually be someone called Talos... turned his hand translucent and swiped Claire from around... the bottom of her back, all the way to the top of her head," Kang explained.

"Talos... So this is what he meant by righting the wrongs of the universe," Iroh angrily replied.

"Oh... you've met him?"

"Yes... He drove the spirits mad with an odd bending style, then departed," Iroh dishearteningly replied, turning away from the two.

Kang hummed as he looked to the ground, clicking his fingers and pointing to Iroh, "Oh I almost forgot, the Avatar Spirit that Talos pulled out appeared to be two... essences? One black and one white... I'm not sure if that matters."

Iroh perked up and faced the mad inventor, "Did you take one before you arrived?"

Kang's posture slumped at the sound of his question, "No... but I think I saw one of the essences fall in after us... probably Sky or Khana's handy work."

"Then there is hope for The Avatar!"

Kang raised a befuddled eyebrow, "I don't follow?"

"If you can track down the essence, you saw fall in after you and return it to The Avatar, it will bring the chaotic energy from the opposing elements under control," Iroh explained.

"What happens if I don't make it in time?" Kang asked.

"The warring elements will destroy the Avatar's body," Iroh said as Kang winced.

"Find the essence, quickly. Got it!" Kang raced out of the tea shop.

"Hold on!" Iroh called out.

Kang almost left the tea shop, hopping around to face Iroh, "Yes?"

"Was it the white or black essence you saw?" Iroh asked.

"I'm pretty sure it was white," Kang replied.

"Then it is Vaatu, The Spirit of Order that you seek. Now go! The Avatar doesn't have long!"

Kang began racing across the Spirit World, leaving Claire in the care of Iroh.

Kang marched through the spirit world, occasionally stopping to ask local spirits if they'd seen a "White spirit essence" fly by, to which most shrugged, not understanding what he meant until Kang met a Monkey spirit hanging in a tree.

"Excuse me... odd-looking monkey?" Kang called out.

The Monkey spirit looked down at him, sliding down his tree and standing before Kang, "Who are you calling an odd-looking monkey? You're the odd one here."

"Well, I'm not from around here," Kang awkwardly replied.

"Exactly! And you have the nerve to say I look odd!" The Monkey Spirit scolded him.

Kang rolled his eyes behind his goggles, "Have you seen a White spiritual essence fly by recently?"

The Monkey spirit gave him a perplexed stare, "I... have? What's it to you?"

"Well, I need to find it and return it to The Avatar," Kang explained.

"Oh, it went to the east towards the land of The Ancient One," The Monkey Spirit explained, pointing eastwards.

The mad inventor winced at the sound of 'Ancient One', "Will there be any sign when I'm close?"

"You may hear some cryptic chanting, but that's about it," The Monkey spirit replied.

Kang let out a disappointed sigh, "Thank you for the help!" Kang ran to the east, "And sorry for calling you odd!"

Kang marched for hours through vibrant fields and dismal steppes, the strain of journeying on foot heavily weighing on him, "I wish I had The Magnificent Turtle Duck."

Kang fell to the ground, laying there for several seconds before punching the ground, "Come on, Kang. You need to find Vaatu!" he pushed up from the ground, getting back on his feet, "I hope that Spirit didn't trick me..."

The mad inventor continued running until eventually the chanting the Monkey Spirit mentioned began pervading Kang's ears, his head perking up, "I must be close!"

Kang sprinted towards the source of the chanting until he came to a cliff looking out to a vast ocean. The Sun hung just above the horizon, illuminating the water and a large island before him.

Kang's expression of hope turned to one of dismay, "That's no Ancient one... That's just an Island!" But the Mad Inventor hummed to himself for a moment, "Or is the Ancient One on the island... or is the Ancient One The island?"

Kang shrugged, sliding down the cliff and onto the sandy beach, "Hello!? Ancient One!?"

But despite his calls, he received no response.

The chanting stopped as Kang looked around, verging on giving up, but the ground beneath him shook, knocking him off his balance.

The mad inventor frantically looked around, seeing the island ascend before his very eyes, "... THE ANCIENT ONE IS THE ISLAND!"

A Gigantic head arose from the ocean, splashing water onto the sandy beach. Two humongous paws followed, smacking down on the beach, scaring Kang half to death. The mad inventor looked up, seeing the head of the ancient one loom over him: the island turned out to be a Lion Turtle, an Enormous creature which made Kang look like a tiny speck in comparison.

The Lion Turtle gazed at Kang as the mad inventor tried to control his breathing, "Are you the one who called out to me?" The Lion Turtle's voice echoed inside Kang's head.

The mad inventor stood up, his body still trembling, "Um... Yes, I did!"

"Why does a human call for me?"

Kang dusted off his clothes, "I've come looking for Vaatu, Ancient One. The Avatar needs him, or she'll die!"

The Lion Turtle's voice remained silent for a moment, "... Why should I trust a human with the Spirit of Order?"

"Because The Avatar, Claire, is my friend, and I'm not about to let her die because of an untrusting Lion Turtle!" Kang proclaimed.

The Lion Turtle fell silent once more, its giant paw rising as the mad inventor became sheepish, "I think I annoyed him with that last bit..."

The paw swung towards him, but the massive paw stopped just inches from Kang, the finest details on its claws becoming visible.

As he observed the claw, the White Spiritual Essence emerged from The Lion Turtle's paw, hovering into Kang's hands, "By being true in your intentions, I will allow you to carry The Spirit of Order back to The Avatar."

Kang stared at the White Spiritual Essence before turning his attention to The Lion Turtle, "Thank you!" Kang bowed to the Ancient one before pulling out a glass jar from his pouch and letting the white spirit essence flow inside, "I best not drop this."

Kang trekked back to Iroh's Tea shop, as the Lion Turtle slowly retreated under the water.

During Kang's race back to The Tea shop, a loud thudding echoed in the distance, causing several spirit birds to fly off into the sky, "That is rarely ever good..."

Kang sprinted away from the source of the thudding, but as he ran, the thudding seemed to get closer and closer.

Kang turned his head to see an insane hulking spirit chasing him on all fours, "AVATAR!" The insane spirit roared.

A hulking beast of a spirit, two arms almost as big as Kang, a torso of a Gorilla, the head of a Bear with the teeth of a gorilla. Its hands and feet possessing razor-sharp claws on each finger and toe.

The mad inventor frightfully gawked as he ran from it, "A Gorilla-Bear?!" he shouted as the Spirit chased him, it's smashing paw-steps getting closer the longer he ran, "There's no way to outrun this thing!"

Kang stopped running, leaping into the air and letting The Gorilla-Bear spirit run under him, descending towards the hulking spirit and grasping the scruff of its neck, intending to ride it back.

But the Gorilla-Bear Spirit stood on its hind legs and flexed out its arms, "AVATAR!" It shook off Kang, throwing him to the ground.

But the mad inventor righted himself, ready to face his opponent. The Gorilla-Bear Spirit turned around, charging at breakneck speeds, intending to pulverise Kang, but the mad inventor rolled to the side, avoiding the hulking spirits crushing charge before letting loose a massive stream of Fire.

But to his surprise, the hulking spirit walked through his flames without as much as a wince. Kang tried unleashing stronger flames, but the Gorilla-Bear Spirit continued its march, its fur blazing as it stood inches from Kang.

The Gorilla-Bear Spirit swiped its claws at the mad inventor, but he leapt away, narrowly avoiding its claws, "How in the world am I meant to fight this thing!?"

"AVATAR!"

Kang took a deep breath, standing tall before the Gorilla-Bear Spirit, arching his arms around his body, the tips of his fingers crackling with lightning. Kang brought tips of his fingers together, and as the Gorilla-Bear Spirit approached, he unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning, taking advantage of the Gorilla-Bear Spirit's overconfidence.

As the Lightning bolt hit, the Hulking spirit flailed around, electricity surging around its body, "Come on, go down already!"

The Gorilla-Bear Spirit drop to its knees, finally allowing Kang to let go of the generated Lightning, The Mad inventor heavily breathing as his arms shook.

The Gorilla-Bear Spirit lay on the ground, breathing deeply as electricity surged across its body, "Ava...tar~..."

Kang scoffed, "Not dead... but hopefully stunned long enough for me to run away."

Kang resumed his journey back to Iroh's Tea shop. Hours passed by before Kang finally returned, completely out of breath.

Iroh stepped out of his tea shop, surprised to see Kang back so soon, "Did you get it?"

Kang rummaged inside his pouch, pulling out the glass jar which held the white spirit essence, "Yes, Yes I did."

Iroh walked over, taking the glass jar, "You did well, Kang!" Iroh smiled, walking back inside his Tea shop.

Kang limped besides the wizened tea maker, both standing over Claire with the glass jar in hand, "So... how do we, uh... get it in her?" Kang asked, gesturing to the white essence, then to Claire.

Iroh opened the Jar, "Like this!"

Iroh allowed the white spirit essence to hover onto his hand, holding it above Claire, slowly lowering it down to her abdomen, flipping his hand over then letting the white spiritual essence absorb into her body, watching it slowly fade.

Claire gasped, her breathing stabilising whilst Iroh and Kang both breathed a sigh of relief, "Vaatu will need time to bring Order to her body, but she will wake in a few hours," Iroh explained.

"Good... this might be a dumb question, but can I get some tea?" Kang asked.

Iroh smiled, "Certainly!"

Iroh went to create a cup of tea for Kang, the mad inventor slumping down in a seat, relaxing after his long venture.