Part 2 - Order
Claire hopped out of The Magnificent Turtle Duck, finding Kang, Khana and Ghazi waiting for her to emerge, "How did it go?" Kang asked.
She quickly sighed, "Not well, the only way into the Spirit World physically is through a portal."
"I guess we're going behind the Chief's back then!"
"It would seem so," she marched back into the lab.
"When do you want to set out for the Spirit world?" Khana asked, looking to Ghazi and Kang.
"First thing tomorrow, it would be inadvisable to set out now," Ghazi replied
Claire nodded as an idea came to Khana's mind, "We should probably let our friends know we'll be away for a while! After all, who knows how long we'll be in the Spirit World for."
"Indeed... I'll go let Zu, Li and Lin know. Saves them worrying."
Khana glanced at Ghazi, to which he quietly hummed, "I will accompany the inventor."
He jerked up and spun to him, "What, why?"
"Do not question it; just get moving."
Ghazi pushed him along to the Elevator, an air of confusion swirling around Claire before she turned to her, "I guess you should go let Ty Lee know, her being your master and all."
But she hesitantly turned her gaze away, a lump growing in her throat as her nerves shuddered, "I... wanted to be alone with you... I wanted to talk..."
Claire worryingly gazed at her friend and placed a soft hand on her arm, "If it's about what happened on Kyoshi Island, it's alright... I said something stupid, and I'm sorry for that." She faintly smiled.
Her heart skipped a beat, her voice stammering as she rubbed her palms on the backs of her hands, "It's not that... well it's kind of related to that It's..."
Although she couldn't find the words, Claire's hand ran down her arm, making her sharply gasp as she gently held her hand, "Take your time, there's no need to rush..."
Khana took a deep breath, gazing into Claire's emerald eyes as her emotions boiled in her mind, fit to overflow, "I... no..." she released her soft grip on Claire's hand and turned away, "you're the Avatar, and I'm just... a freak of nature."
But Claire quizzically sighed as Khana's hair stood on end, "I don't mean to pry, Khana... but why do you call yourself that? You even told my parents that."
The Kyoshi Warrior choked on her breath, holding back the tears as best she could, "I... I've lived all of my life with this... mutant body, always being an outcast, never truly accepted, never truly loved..."
"What about Suki and Ty Lee?"
Khana shook her head, "They cared... but I never knew if it was genuine or just a formality so they wouldn't look bad in front of the Fire Lord and the other Warriors."
"When I met you... you were like a beacon in the blackness of my life, someone who didn't know what I was, someone who could give me a new start... but I was just kidding myself... how could the Avatar accept an abomination like me."
Claire huffed and firmly grasped her pauldron, spinning her around and slapping her across the cheek, her strike petrifying her as she slowly raised her gaze to her.
"I'll tell you how I can accept you, Khana. It's because you're my friend; you stood with me when Kang was kidnapped; you didn't have to, you could have refused, but you still came with me anyway!"
"You saved me from Aislinn's goons in the spire; you even saved me from that bastard's Shadow-bending! If it weren't for you this city, heck, maybe the whole world would've fallen into The Yamato Clan's dissonant clutches."
"You made the choice to be my protector and friend; you didn't have to do that, you could've stayed at the Fire Lord's side, but instead, you waited for six damn months just to see me again. What kind of a bitch would I be if I didn't accept you for who you are after all that!?"
Khana stood speechless as Claire's hardened glare softened, her hand slowly rising to the Kyoshi Warrior's cheek, "You've done so much for me, Khana... you're everything I could ask for, and no matter what you call yourself, I'll always love you."
Her heart pounded, near enough jumping out of her chest at her words, however as Claire's face inched ever closer to hers, her pulsating heart calmed, beating in sync with the Avatar's as they closed their eyes, finally locking lips and embracing each other in a soft hug. Khana caressed her waist while Claire gently held her in her arms, and their nerves passionately tingled.
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-" the door slid open, and Kang spotted the embraced two, loudly and longly gasping.
Ghazi's eyebrows raised with his hands, trying to block the mad inventor's gaze, making him briefly cease his gasp, but Kang simply pushed his hands out of the way and gasped once again.
The two released their embrace, blissfully unaware of The two men as they smiled and teared up. They turned to the Elevator, their smiles vanishing, eyes widening, and hearts sinking, "How, uh... long have you been... standing there?" Claire asked.
"Long enough!" the flabbergasted Kang marched back into his lab and picked up his pouch.
Claire turned her focus to Kang whilst Ghazi, and Khana stared at each other as he proudly nodded to the glee ridden Kyoshi Warrior.
"You're... um, okay with what you saw, right?"
Kang slung his pouch over his shoulder, rolling his neck and turning to her, "Claire, you love whoever you want to love. Be they woman, man... or both!" he grinned.
Khana hesitantly gasped while Claire and Ghazi's eyes darted between the two. Kang quickly read the room, "Wait... she's uh... she's?"
She hung her head, "Go on... say it."
The Mad Inventor gasped, "She is!" He leapt over, grasping her biceps and eyeing her up and down, "Wow, I never realised you were so well built."
Khana blushed and stood in perplexed silence as the other two approached, "Inventor..."
He released his grip and stepped back, "Apologies, it's just... wow..."
"I hope that's a... positive 'wow'..."
"Of course it is! We've been travelling, fighting, and well... overall living alongside someone so unique! So rare! For once in my life, I'm at a loss for words!"
Khana smirked as the three stood before her, "I... don't know what to say."
"There is no need to say anything, Kadan," he firmly patted her shoulder.
Kang and Ghazi returned to the Elevator, ready to set off into the city, but the Mad Inventor's finger shot through the closing door, "Now you two! Don't go doing anything in this lab the spirits wouldn't approve of!"
As the Elevator doors shut, Claire and Khana softly laughed, staring at each other and raising some flirtatious eyebrows, "He said the lab... didn't say anything about the hut," Khana cheekily smirked.
"I like the way you think..." The two hooked arms and waltzed back into the hanger together.
Kang and Ghazi marched out of the Derelict Estate and into the Moon-lit, still bustling city streets.
"Does this city ever sleep, Inventor?"
"Day or Night, there's always something to do in Republic City!"
"This is truly an enigmatic place..."
"Eh, to each their own. C'mon, the Beifong Manor is just this way!"
Kang guided him down a grand street with flying boar banners decorating the walls and lampposts ignited by Fire-benders.
The two strode up the grand staircase and to the giant dark green steel and gold doors. Kang grasped a Door Knocker held in the mouth of a Lion Turtle and vigorously banged it against the door, much to Ghazi's discomfort.
"Must you be so loud?"
"It's a big house, so yes."
The Doors swung open to reveal Hou adorned in a green kimono robe with a golden sash around his waist, "Ah... Kang."
"Hou... how are the burns?"
"They're fine; how are the bruises?"
"Perfectly bruisy."
The two affably grimaced at each other as Ghazi rolled his eyes, "Is the Guard Captain present?"
"Yeah, she is... why? Did you two have plans?"
"No, but we're... heading into the Spirit World, and I wanted to see her off before I, him and the ladies leave."
Hou chuckled, "Oh, just like Dad. Look, if you have commitment issues, Kang, just be straight about it."
"...We're Serious, Hou. That Northern Chief found a Portal to the Spirit world, but we're not entirely sure we can trust him."
"Spirit Portals... Y'know, Lin will be able to tell if you're lying or not."
Hou departed into the Manor while Kang and Ghazi stepped into the green matted and marble halls as the heavy metal doors slammed behind them.
Hou returned with Lin a moment later, still in her usual black and dark green uniform.
"Alright, Kang, you can tell her yourself!"
"I'm all ears..."
Kang took a deep breath, "Claire, Khana, Ghazi and myself are going to go into the Spirit World via a portal, and I came here to see you off."
Lin's eyes flared as Hou crossed his arms, "See, told you he was trying to skip town!"
"... Spirit Portals are actually a thing?"
"Yes! I had the same reaction when Claire told me."
"Wait a minute... he was telling the truth?"
She turned to her brother with a disappointed glare, "I don't think Kang could lie himself out of a wet paper bag."
"Oh, c'mon, I'm not that bad at it!"
"You are."
"You certainly are, Inventor."
He lightly blushed and poked his fingers together, "ANYWAY... can Lin and I have a moment alone?"
Hou shuffled away along with Ghazi as the two stood in awkward silence, waiting for their footsteps to recede.
"Are you sure about going into the Spirit World?"
"Whatever's in there, I'm sure we can handle ourselves!" He pulled a black and red prosthetic from his pouch, "Even got this, just in case!"
Her eyes perked as her lips twitched into a smirk, "I certainly hope you don't lose an arm in there... although, you having a metal arm would lead to some benefits..."
Lin wryly flexed her eyebrows as Kang blushed, "...I should probably find an unbendable metal then."
"What? Like Platinum?"
"No, no! That's too rare... and pretty soft."
She smirked and gently placed her arms around his neck, "Just... be careful, alright?"
"I will, don't you worry."
The two hugged each other, briefly releasing as Lin smooched his cheek, making the Mad Inventor turn redder than the flames he bent.
"I- I- I had best- I had best let, uh... Zu and... Li know that we're um... y'know. Spirit World."
Kang grinned like an idiot as Lin firmly patted his shoulder, "See you when you get back, Fire Buns."
She winked whilst Kang internally cheered and chuckled to himself as he went for the metal door. Lin pulled it open for him to reveal Ghazi waiting out front.
"...when did you get there?"
"Did you think there was only one entrance in this place?"
"Good point! Let's go find Zu and Li!"
Lin strolled back in, encountering Hou on her way to her bedroom.
"Fire Buns... really?"
"Mother was always better at Nicknames."
Kang and Ghazi strolled through the Derelict Estate and up to Zu and Li's house, going to knock on the door, but it swiftly creaked open as the Giant obscured their vision.
"Ah! Kang, buddy! Just who I was looking for!"
"Is... everything alright? No troubles at the businesses you need me to sort out, right?"
"No, no. I just thought, we... should go out for a drink!"
"...a drink? Did you hear about me leaving for the Spirit World already?"
"Yes! Heard you talking about it in... the lab... using that ability the Captain taught me."
"...do you usually listen in on me while in my lab?"
"Only when I feel it's necessary! Now c'mon! Tavern... for perhaps a few hours."
Zu shuffled him along through the Derelict Estate while Ghazi and Li stood by the door.
"Can he really do that?"
"Hear people through the ground? No... feel them... yes."
Li sauntered off to follow them whilst Ghazi quizzically stroked his chin, "Feel them through the grou-" His eyes pinged open as if a lightbulb turned on in his mind,"... Kadan, you sly alkalba..."
The Boys and Ghazi spent hours upon hours at the Tavern until returning to the lab. The moon hung high in the skies of Republic City while Khana and Ghazi slept peacefully within the lab. However, Claire still lay awake, pondering to herself, whilst the quiet hums of Kang pervaded her ears.
"Did I choose... Earthly attachment when I told Khana I love her?" she looked to the hanger door and hummed to herself, "Perhaps there are past Avatars who can help me!"
She stood up and stretched her limbs as Kang's head perked up, "What are you still doing up?" They quietly asked each other.
A brief silence loomed, "... let me guess, need to use the Magnificent Turtle Duck for some late-night meditation?"
She affirmatively nodded as he popped the Shell open for her, Khana and Ghazi twisting and turning at the sound of the noise whilst Claire tip-toed into the hanger, striding over to The Magnificent Turtle Duck, but stumbling to her knees before the stairs, wryly smiling and climbing in, then sitting on the far side of the interior.
"Let's see... Aang went through the Chakra process but left whilst unlocking the seventh one..."
She focused on the Avatars before him, summoning a misty blue Roku before her. His beard bushy and white hair tied into a topknot while flowing down his back, and he sat adorned in crimson red robes tinted a hue of blue.
"Hello, young Avatar. And here we thought you were only going to talk to Aang."
She awkwardly smirked, "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 Avatars before I. Now, what can I help you with?"
She 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 an Earthly Attachment after letting them go."
"We are aware of what transpired..." he smirked at the Young Avatar as she blushed and nonchalantly averted her gaze.
"Opening the Chakras is an arduous process for most, but your energies will inevitably block up again over time. Although you may have chosen attachment now, you can let her go when the time is right."
Claire nodded as her posture slumped, "Is it... possible to love without attachment?"
"Avatar Kuruk and I have been able to do so. Perhaps you will do the same."
Roku faded away as she began meditating once more, contacting Avatar Kuruk and summoning his spirit before her. His beard short and his hair concealed by a pelt head dressing, and he sat in blue fur-lined robes.
"Greetings, Young Avatar."
"Ironic coming from him."
"Avatar Roku says that you and he could love without attachment... but how were you able to do it?"
"Love and Attachment are not one and the same. To be attached is to be dependent and fear losing the one you cherish most. To Love is to give yourself to another, to show them your softer, vulnerable side. Loving without attachment is the purest form of love two people can share."
"So... I'll still have control over the Avatar State, despite loving Khana?"
He nodded.
She gleefully smiled, "Thank you, Avatar Kuruk!"
His spirit faded away as Claire ventured back into the lab, the shell piece retracting behind her. She found Khana still asleep and softly cuddled up beside her Kyoshi Warrior.
The morning Sun rose above the horizon. The ladies and Ghazi awakened and stood up from their rest, exchanging pleasantries with one another, "should we set out now or...?" Claire asked.
"I'd prefer a breakfast first," Khana chuckled.
The elevator door slid open as Kang, adorned in an apron carrying several boxes with a cabbage on top, strode in, "Don't worry. Already got that covered!"
The three quizzically eyed him up, "...Where did you get that?"
Kang set the boxes and cabbage down, "What? You don't think the Best Fire-bender knows how to cook?"
They shrugged, hummed and scoffed, while Claire's gaze fixed onto the cabbage.
Kang whimsically tapped his foot, "you good, Claire?"
She snapped out of her trance, "oh, yeah, just... memories, vague memories of smashing through cabbage carts across the world."
Ghazi leant over to Khana, "I believe you bucked the forbidden ostrich-horse a little too hard," he whispered.
Khana flustered and punched his arm as he smirked and stood up straight, "In that case, let us board the bird."
Kang gritted his teeth, "Would it kill you to call it the Magnificent Turtle Duck?"
"No, but it would waste my breath."
He gasped in offence as the ladies held back their laughter, "Alright, alright, get in the Magnificent Turtle Duck already! We have spirits to help!"
The team made their way in while Ghazi and Kang carried the boxes of food into the cockpit. They took their respective seats, and Kang let out a long, heavy breath as the Magnificent Turtle Duck arched up to the ceiling, "Are you sure you're up to this?"
"With you guys with me, of course, I am!" she smiled, receiving the beaming grins of her friends.
"Well, in that case, let's go!" Kang slammed the red button and shot them through the metal tunnel like a cannonball.
The Magnificent Turtle Duck boomed into the morning skies, awakening half the city with its thunderous take off as they headed south for Whale-Tail Island.
Unalaq ran out of his tent, feverishly glaring into the distance.
"Morning, Chief," a passing soldier said.
His breath turned ragged, his fist clenched, and teeth gritted, "No! No! NO!"
He sprinted out to the ocean, bending and surfing along the water, chasing them down to the island.
An hour passed before The Magnificent Turtle Duck touched down on Whale-tail island. They stepped out onto the sandy beaches, taking in the sea breeze, crashing waves, and cawing of birds as they strode out onto solid land.
"Alright, we're here. Khana now is your time to shine!" Kang said, gesturing to the bare grassy land.
She stepped out and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and firmly stomping her foot into the ground, the vibrations surging along the island and into her, taking her aback as her eyes quizzically flared, "What the-"
"Is something wrong, Kadan?"
She stood up and turned to the three, waving her hands before her and trying to think of a way to describe what she found, "This is going to sound absurd but... I think we're stood on a corpse..."
"A human corpse!?" Kang flinched around and leered at the ground.
"No, no... well, at least I hope not. It's like we're on the back of a... Giant Turtle."
"Like a Lion Turtle?" Claire asked.
"Probably, although I never thought they'd be... this big."
"Did you at least find this hidden chamber?" Ghazi asked.
"I felt something, but the vibrations only go so far."
The three pondered to themselves, a silence looming until Kang snapped it with his fingers, "You need to make a bigger impact, right?"
"That may help, yes."
"Claire! Lend me a hand!"
The two strode up to Khana's side, "What are we planning?"
"We're going to lift Khana high, not too high, and drop her, thus causing a bigger impact."
"Are you alright with that?" Claire asked.
She nodded and smirked, "Kang's not as dumb as he looks."
"Hey!"
The ladies and Ghazi chuckled as the two hooked their arms under Khana and gently ascended on Jets of Fire, "Alright... three... two... one!"
They released her, letting her drop to the ground, and with a mighty slam of her foot, she sent massive vibrations unto the land and into the deep anomaly, and as they surged back into her, she spied the entrance of an elongated chamber, throwing herself over to it, roaring and slamming her fist into where she felt it, opening up the chamber for them. Claire and Kang slowly descended as Ghazi proudly approached.
Khana perked up, rubbing her hands and throwing a thumb in the air, "I got it!"
"Cor, I love her."
The three smirked and marched over to her. They cautiously strode down a spiral staircase as a chill pierced through everyone; nevertheless, they ventured onward, descending deeper to a dim light shining at the bottom of the abyss.
They found their way into a chamber with a gigantic circular structure at its centre and what appeared to be veins running along the floor and walls towards it. Kang waltzed around it and wondrously scanned around, "It's like this entire room is... breathing, living!"
Ghazi curiously stared at Khana, "I thought you said we were atop a corpse?"
She smacked her lips and rolled her fingers, "I could've been wrong... or it's just this part of the creature that's alive..."
Kang wafted his hands at them, "We can theorise later; time is of the essence!"
Claire nodded, raising her arms out to the side and swiftly bringing her palms to face the Portal, "Open Sesame!" Her voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Ghazi sideway gazed at Khana with a quizzically raised eyebrow, but she lightly punched his arm, "I know what you're thinking and no!"
She stood up straight and placed a hand to her chin, thinking of a way to open the Portal, "Any ideas?"
"...Avatar State?" Kang said.
Embarrassment washed over her, "Oh, yeah..."
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and raising her palms to face the Portal as her eyes flared and 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!"
But her celebratory fanfare was cut short by an unseen invader slamming down before them, the shockwave of its landing throwing the three back, but Claire remained steadfast.
"Yes, Claire... you did."
The dust cleared, revealing a man with wolf tail hair black as night, piercing amethyst eyes, adorned in a black loose-fitting sleeveless shirt, tight-fitting navy pants, dark brown knee-high boots, a navy and purple arm guard on his right arm, and a solid black prosthetic with a shiny metal ring fused to his skin with a sharp, silvery blade akin to a Scythe attached to its end.
"Talos!" She snarled, thrusting her fist out as crimson flames ignited on her knuckles.
But an ethereal black hand emerged from behind him and snatched her wrist with an unbreaking grip.
Her vision darted to it, "What!?"
Without uttering a single word, Talos blasted a violet flame into her stomach, scorching her blue shirt entirely, charring her undershirt and scarring her toned abdomen. The glow in her eyes faded as she weakly gasped and collapsed to her knees.
"Claire!"
"Avatar!"
The three shot up, charging in to attack, but with a flex of his arm, dark energy erupted from Talos, paralysing them and knocking them down with groaning thuds.
Claire's gaze heavily turned up to him, "Talos... why are you... doing this?"
"Well, since your departure, I set about rectifying the mistakes of this world. And you're the last one that needs correcting."
He stretched his bladed arm out behind him, "This world isn't big enough for two Avatar's after all!" he chuckled.
Kang raised his head as his eyebrows flared, "That's my Blade arm! ... Oh shit, That's my blade arm!"
Talos swiped the silvery scythe at the paralysed Claire, but with a mighty roar, Kang let loose a massive blast of flames from his feet, scorching the ground as he flew over at the two.
He outstretched his left arm, trying to push Claire away, but his sudden take-off put him off course and instead intercepted the blade, which cleanly cleaved his arm off, blood-spewing and chipped pieces of bone flying.
But despite the pain, he slammed his remaining fist into Talos' jaw, knocking him back as a tooth spat out of his mouth.
Kang collapsed in front of Claire, trying to get back up, but his knees quaked, and legs shook, his blackened vision blurring as he stumbled back into Claire, the two falling into the Spirit Portal.
Talos gathered his bearings while Ghazi and Khana grunted and pulled themselves back up, her eyes darting around the chamber, "Where... where are Claire and Kang!?"
"They must've fallen into the portal... for now, we must retreat!"
Khana glared at Talos, her vision darting between him and Ghazi.
"I know what you're thinking, but a warrior must know when to flee, and that time is now!"
The chamber shook around them, the portal closing and throwing the disorientated Talos off balance while the two stood steadfast, "Now, Kadan! This way!"
Khana reluctantly retreated up the spiral staircase with Ghazi while Talos clasped his head and watched them run away, "How cowardly... but I'm sure our paths will cross again in time."
He stood proud in his hollow, triumphant victory and laughed to himself, "Even without cutting her down, Claire won't last long, and now with your power, Raava. I am the True Avatar!" He cackled evermore, his maniacal howling echoing up the chamber.
Khana glared down at him, snarling as she and Ghazi raced out of the underground chamber.