Part 3 - Chaos
Claire's eyes fluttered open to find herself laid down in her bed, a well worn red blanket draped over her atop the oak frame bed. She quizzically and cautiously threw the blanket off her, laying it on the bed and swinging her legs out to find herself adorned in her regular clothes, Navy Jackboots, blue, tight-fitting sleeveless shirt, black baggy pants and her hair styled into a Ponytail.
She strode out onto the stone flooring, gazing around at the vivid icy walls as she placed her hand against the wooden door, nudging it open as its hinges creaked loud enough to fill the entire house. She cautiously strode out, the air filling her with a sense of unease as she marched out into the silent confines of the home.
Claire deftly crept down the stairs, her footsteps pounding and echoing against the wooden floorboards.
"Mother? Dad?" Her voice echoed as if she stood in a gigantic cave.
But despite her calls, her only answer was silence. She tip-toed over to the wooden kitchen door, throwing it open and near enough off its hinges as she stepped into the icy stone interior, scanning around the rocky work surfaces filled with spices and cutlery, then over to a giant iron cooking bowl with a massive wooden spoon docked inside it.
She marched over to it and found a note pinned next to the stonework surfaces it stood between. But as she plucked it from where it rested, she found it riddled with indecipherable jargon.
She slanted her eyebrows and quizzically peered at the nonsense written before her, "I vaguely remember... wasn't this Dad's recipe for some kind of stew?"
Despite her attempts to recall, nothing came of it, and she situated the note down whence it came and ventured back into the living room, then marched up to the front door and pushed on its darkened wood surface. But it wouldn't budge as she turned her gaze to the lock, rolling her eyes at herself.
"Right. Key."
She turned her vision up, grasping a long iron key from a hanger and aiming it at the lock. But as it entered the keyhole, it faded from her hand. Her eyes flared as she winced back, and her arms trembled.
"Well, it seems you're in quite the Pickle, Young Avatar."
Claire shot around to the sound of the voice, finding a man sitting on an old rickety chair. His black hair was styled into a topknot with sideburns running down the side of his face—a long dark red coat with a golden trim running from his collar and down his arms. A black vest adorned his upper body whilst black trousers, and brown knee-high boots covered his lower body.
Claire straightened her posture as her arms lowered, "and just who might you be?"
The man smiled, "I am you. From a very, very long time ago."
"... Could I get a name? I doubt you're called Claire too."
He chuckled, "I am Kaishi. The Original Avatar."
Claire's mouth hung ajar, "Now I recognise you... but what are you doing here?"
Kaishi turned his amber eyes to the ground as Claire strode in and sat on the leather couch.
"It would appear a Demon from my time has cropped up again in your's."
"Are you referring to Talos?"
"Not Talos... the Demon he's taken inside himself... Raava. The once Spirit of Chaos."
She sharply gasped, "I need to know everything you can tell me about her! Or about us even!"
Kaishi leant back and perched his arm on his knee, "in that case, you'll have to hear the whole story. My story."
"This all happened countless millenniums ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday..."
"Chaos engulfed the world for as long as humans or spirits could remember. The sky's true colours forgotten by the masses, and although the Sun shined, a hazy black aura siphoned almost all its light."
"But then came the day when a light shot up from the depths of the planet and set the heavens aglow. The people used to call it, 'The time the eternal night broke', but it was unfortunately short-lived. However, this was also the day I came into being."
Eighteen years after the eternal night broke, Kaishi, adorned with a black vest underneath a dark red trench coat with gold lines streaming down the arms, dark brown knee-high boots, and black baggy trousers, covering his lower body and his hair styled into a topknot with sideburns draping down the sides of his face and his eyes amber. And his comrade Shinu, a bald amber-eyed man, adorned in a Dark red vest with a gold lining, black arm-guards, Murky brown pants and leather boots adorning his lower body, strode into their village side-by-side.
"Although we were born into the World of Chaos, we clung to the naïve hope that we would one day change it back to how everything was before Raava's reign."
Kaishi marched to the centre of his village, passing by run-down houses and weary villagers.
"Art thee sure this is a valorous idea?" Shinu asked.
"We madeth a vow to changeth this world, and anon we art finally going to cometh through on yond promise!"
Claire and Kaishi's Spirits watched from atop a building as the Young Avatar's eyebrow quizzically raised to him.
"What? You didn't think we'd be speaking the same way you did this long ago, did you?"
She hummed and turned her gaze back to the two, watching them reach the centre of their village as flocks of people gathered around in curious wonder.
"Everyone! Today, mine own cousin Shinu and I shall journey to the Heart of Chaos to topple The Dark One's reign! And free us from their chaotic binds."
But a group of people laughed at him, "Thee may as well just killeth thyselves anon to save the trippeth!"
Kaishi scowled and faced the people as he withdrew his Dao sword, "We might kicketh the bucket, but at least we'll kicketh it trying to changeth this world rather than wasting henceforth!"
The group scoffed as the duo took their leave.
People of the village desperately tried to discourage them, but despite that, Kaishi and Shinu left the town, journeying across the Fire Nation and onto the ocean, then finally into the Earthen Lands.
A gigantic Crystal sphere shrouded in black loomed on the horizon, thunder rumbling in the chaotic skies above. Kaishi grinned whilst Shinu's eyes nervously darted between his friend and the Crystal.
"This is it, Shinu. The Heart of Chaos!"
While he marched onward, Shinu stood petrified at the sight of it, "I bethink this is not a valorous idea, Kaishi..."
He marched back over to him and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Tisn't, but we're the heroes who art going to permanently expunge this chaos!"
He took a nervous, deep breath and broke his vision from the Heart of Chaos, "Someone hast to maketh a difference..."
Kaishi gave him a firm pat on his back, "Yond's the Spirit! Cometh, The Dark One wonneth't know what hitteth him! Her? ...Doest this entity has't a gender?"
Shinu smirked and shook his head, striding off as Kaishi shrugged.
But as they did, daunting whispers echoed around them. Kaishi withdrew his blade as Shinu readied his fists.
"What is yond?" Kaishi asked.
Black wispy figures began emerging around them.
"If 't be true I am correct, these art 'The Lost'."
"Well, alloweth us defeat these and beest on our way!"
Kaishi leapt in and cut one down as Shinu kicked and slashed out with waves of fire. A Lost tried to leap on Shinu, but Kaishi threw his blade out as it spun through the air and split it in half.
The duo gazed around and breathed a sigh of relief, "right. so what wast those creatures did suppose to beest?"
Shinu rolled his neck and took a deep breath, "The Lost art the souls of people yond kicked the bucket after the dark one's rise."
"...couldst thee elaborate?"
"In this World of Chaos, we doth not age, we groweth, but we reacheth a certain point whither we just. Stand ho. And those who kicketh the bucket doth not reincarnate, they art simply left to wander the world."
Kaishi slowly nodded as he took in the exposition.
"And... well, those born in this ordinary art so... Empty. But thee seemeth to beest an exception. Unlike the rest of us, thee has't a certain sparkle in thy eye."
He lightly scoffed, "I doubt thither is aught special about me; I cannot bend the elements, unlike thee."
"Well, who is't knoweth, haply thee shall pull it off one day!"
Kaishi chuckled as the two proceeded to the Looming crystal sphere.
The Heart of Chaos became ever more prominent as they ventured forth, a massive pillar of Spiritual energy stretched from a Circular structure all the way up to the Crystal's base.
Kaishi and Shinu gazed up at the intimidating Crystal while unconsciously trembling in their boots.
"If thee wanteth to back out, anon's the time!"
The Warrior sighed and tightly clutched his Dao Sword, "Nay, we're going in!"
He hopped on Shinu's back and pointed up to the Heart of Chaos with his blade, "Onwards, mine own fiery steed!"
Shinu chuckled and shook his head before ejecting flames from his fists and feet to propel them up to the Heart of Chaos. As they flew up, their crystalline reflections stared back at them, their underlying dread clear as day as lightning crackled in the Chaos ridden heavens, spooking the two as they searched for an entrance.
They discovered a hole wide enough for them to descend into, and Shinu slowly hovered down, finding a solid surface, then stopping his flames. Kaishi jumped off his hunched over, exhausted friend's back as he observed their crystal and stone surroundings.
"Any idea whither The Dark One would beest?" Kaishi whispered.
"Mine own guess... a throne cubiculo... of sorts."
Kaishi nodded as Shinu rolled his muscles, sharply sighing before the two cautiously proceeded in.
Kaishi held his Dao Sword at the ready whilst Shinu kept his fire-bending prepared. But, they met no resistance as they shuffled past bones, armour and shattered weaponry.
The duo reached a burnt, blood-stained archway, and Kaishi peaked around it into an expansive open room. A womanly Black spirit slouched upon a throne, her body slender with arms that looked like gauntlets adorned with grey jewels. Dark grey markings coursed over her torso, and her shoulders jagged. Her head resembled a helmet with two large horns protruding forward from the sides of her head while two others protruded out the back.
He quickly ducked back with heavy, restricted breathing, as if his heart leapt into his throat, "I bethink The Dark One is in thither."
"What's the plan? Run in or ambush?"
Kaishi observed the surroundings of the room, scoffing and turning to his friend, "Heroes do not needeth plans!"
He smugly swallowed his nerves and ran through the Archway with an ever more nervous Shinu in tow.
He held his head high, stopping in front of The Dark One and raising his Dao Sword to her, "Thy reign of chaos ends on this day, Dark One!"
His voice echoed around the room, bringing an awkward looming silence as she opened her abyssal white eyes, glaring down upon the duo.
"Nay, it does not."
She closed her eyes once more as Kaishi and Shinu quizzically stared at each other, returning focus to Raava.
"Aye, it doest! we're hither t-"
"To cutteth me down and end mine own rule ov'r the World, I has't heard these words more times than thee can fathom!"
Kaishi's eye twitched as he rushed in at the Dark One with his Dao Sword primed to strike. He leapt in, roaring with all his might, but she merely swatted him away, taking no joy in watching him bounce along the floor.
However, he pushed himself back to his feet, charging in once more, but she swatted him again and again.
"Thee humans art such fragile creatures. Fueling thyselves with confidence born of ignorance."
Shinu unleashed a flurry of Fireballs at her, but she raised a wall of impenetrable chaotic energy.
"Nay matter thy actions, they art as exsufflicate as thy future!"
Kaishi hobbled to Shinu's side as they adamantly turned to each other, then to The Dark One.
Shinu let loose a giant spiral of Fire as Kaishi charged through it, using them as a cover as Raava outstretched her hand. But The Warrior leapt through the fire, using his coat as cover and furiously swinging his Dao Sword.
The blade slashed the Dark One's palm, sputtering black cosmic blobs onto the edge and ground as she clenched her lacerated hand and viciously punched Kaishi, launching him across the room then smashing him into the Archway.
He propped himself up and noted the inky black substance on the tip of his blade, "Tis about time I did land something!"
He breathlessly laughed and pushed himself back up, clutching his side and propping himself up with his sword.
She gazed at her wounded hand, snarling as it radiated a sickening black light, "Weak, human. Thou art the bottom of the pecking charge, yet thee tryeth."
She rose from her throne, "How dare thee striketh me?!"
An indomitable aura shrouded the room as Kaishi and Shinu backed away.
"And I bethought regular angry woman wast scary!"
The Dark One marched forward as her footsteps cracked the ground and pounded against their eardrums, "Thou shall regret being born weak, bootless, and human!"
A pitch-black aura cloaked the room, radiating out from the Heart of Chaos while Kaishi and Shinu gazed on in fear, their surroundings blackening and quaking.
"Shinu, Runneth!"
They fled from the Dark One, but the enraged Demon unleashed a blood-curdling wail and smashed through the Archway, blocking off their escape route.
The Warrior gazed over his shoulder, spying another route, "Shinu, followeth me!"
Kaishi ran down the alternate route with his friend in tow, but Raava unleashed an inky black tendril and ensnared Shinu's leg before dragging him back. However, Kaishi turned and cut off the tendril then hoisted his friend up to continue their retreat.
But to their dismay, the alternate route Kaishi had picked led to a dead-end. Their eyes frantically darted around as they approached a hole in the floor, with the glowing circular structure on the ground being their only means of escape.
"What shouldst we doth?!"
"Our options art either death by fell spirit mistress 'r possible death by jumping into this!"
Before they could decide, said fell spirit mistress appeared in front of them, fury boiling in her empty white eyes, "Thee shall not escape! I can not allow the world to knoweth a human did harm me!"
Shinu swallowed his fear and coated himself in fiery armour, running up and grappling her form as he wrapped flaming chains around her.
"Shinu, what art thee doing!?"
"Runneth!" He strained against her flailing with all his strength.
"But what about thee!?"
"Runneth, thee daw! Waste not what time thee has't!"
Kaishi shook his head, sprinting and diving into the hole, falling through the Spiritual energy and towards the Circular Structure. He closed his eyes, expecting his demise, but he fell through the crystalline surface and into a twisting spiritual tunnel.
Shinu broke his grip off the Dark One as she glared down at the falling Kaishi, turning to face her downed restrainer with rage boiling inside her.
He propped himself up, shrugging at the sight of her blocking the hole, "If I kicketh the bucket, at least I kicked it trying to maketh a difference!"
But Raava scoffed, "Thy death means nothing, human!" Chaotic energy surged in her palm.
"We shalt see..."
Chaos erupted from her palm as he closed his eyes, the energy engulfing his body and leaving nothing but a scattering of ash.
Kaishi awoke atop a Spirit Portal inside The Nexus, slowly standing as his head rung with pain. He observed his vine wrapped stone surroundings, realising he was no longer in the Mortal World.
He inspected the glowing Spirit Portals, the radiant light showing locations he had never seen before, as he spotted a portal with a massive, ruined temple in its radiant energy.
"Temple's normally cullionly ancient treasure. Haply a weapon yond can defeat The Dark One!"
He approached the Spirit Portal and stepped atop it as a light engulfed and transported him to the Temple entrance. Kaishi stumbled through as he cautiously withdrew his Dao Sword, marching up to the temple with his sword held up to the side of his head with the tip pointing in the same direction as his vision.
The Warrior entered the temple, facing no resistance, not even a trap. Just the cold ambience sending chills down his spine.
He discovered an open chamber; a stone sarcophagus sat in its centre, moss and cobwebs covering the room with Pebbles laid by the entrance. The cautious Kaishi grasped the tiny stones and threw them in to test for a trap, but nothing happened.
Still, he proceeded with caution, standing beside the Sarcophagus and knocking on it with the guard of his Dao Sword, but no response came his way.
"Well, at least nay one's alive in hither!"
Kaishi pushed on the Sarcophagus lid and shoved it off, emitting an almighty thud as it smacked on the mossy flagstones. But it appeared empty, forcing the disgruntled Warrior to back away and groan. However, in his dismay, a beam of brilliant white energy shot out of the coffin, shattering the entire ceiling of the temple and blasting Kaishi back into a wall.
"I AM FREE!"
The white energy took shape, transforming into a white angelic humanoid spirit. Arms akin to gauntlets adorned with black jewels and black markings coursing over his torso. And a winged crown decorated its head.
The Spirit descended onto the Sarcophagus, which contained it, slowly standing tall and gazing over at Kaishi, "Thank thee for releasing me... Human?"
The Spirit raised a befuddled cosmic eyebrow at Kaishi as he watched the mortal stand back up and slowly regain his breath. His eyes darted up and down the Spirit with his twitching Dao Sword poised to strike.
"Who art thee!?"
"I am Vaatu, the Spirit of Order!"
Upon inspecting him, Vaatu gasped at the sight of Kaishi's blade and rushed over, swiping it from his clutches as he tried to swipe it back, but he twirled away and inspected it, noting the black cosmic substance on the edge.
"This is... a piece of mine own twin... Thou didst war with Raava? And hath lived!?"
"Barely..." his hands lowered like heavyweights to his side.
He inspected his slumped, angered posture and hummed to himself, "I can bid thee wanteth revenge 'gainst her. She hath taken something from thee, something thee did hold lief!"
"Revenge... yond would beest most wondrous, but I hold not a candle to The Dark One!"
"Ah! But together, we can defeat her. I am sure of it!"
Kaishi shrugged and turned away, "Nay... I shouldst just wend back to mine own village. Receiveth the hailing as the village clotpole and waste henceforth like everyone else."
He hung his head and marched away from Vaatu, but he flashed in front of him and checked him over before peering into his eyes, "thither's something special about thee! I cannot quite bid what, but I can sense it!"
"..Hath thou heard of personal space?"
Vaatu oohed and leapt away, "Apologies mine own knave. Either way, thou art going to needeth all the power thee can receiveth to defeat Raava!"
Kaishi mulled it over, a flicker of his Spirit igniting, "I am unsure if 't we shalt best her. But if 't be true thou art so certain about thither being 'something special about me' I'll tryeth."
He outstretched his hand to him, "Mine own name is Kaishi."
Vaatu slapped his palm against his, the two forming a Human-Spirit partnership.
The Spirit stepped back and crossed his arms, "Good! Now, showeth me what thee has't!"
Kaishi raised an eyebrow, presenting his sword.
"Nay, I meanteth thy bending; showeth me what elements thee can bend!"
"I... can't bend the elements?"
"Tush tush! Every human can bend an element 'r two!"
"I am telling thee, I can't bend the elements! I am a non-bender!"
He struck his fist out, attempting to bend fire but ultimately producing nothing.
Vaatu wondrously stared at him and gasped, "Well, thou shalt has't to learneth!"
Kaishi scoffed and mockingly chuckled, "What? art thee going to throweth me at a dragon?"
"Close! I am going to taketh thee to all four original sources of bending, and thou art going to learneth from those folk!"
"All four elements? Is yond possible!?"
"F'r any ordinary human, peradventure not. but thou art different, the black staining on thy bodkin is proof enow."
He gazed down at his sword, humming and sheathing it, "As thee sayeth."
Vaatu affirmatively nodded as they went to leave the temple and departed for the mortal world.
They stood before the Spirit Portal as Vaatu crossed his arms whilst Kaishi stepped on.
Vaatu pointed to it, "What... is this thing?"
Kaishi gazed around at the Chaotic skies and bleak landscape, "I'm not entirely sure, but I bethink it's a gateway from mine own world to this one,"
Vaatu hummed and stepped aboard, the two being transported to the Nexus.
They stumbled back as the Spirit's eyes darted around, "The Primordial Lion Turtles..."
Kaishi raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"
"This lodging, it doth feel as if I am stoodeth with mine own creators!"
Vaatu deeply sighed and waved a hand to him, "Anon, which way to the fire nation?"
Kaishi scanned around, spying a portal showing a vision of magma and stone, "That looketh... Fiery."
Vaatu nodded, transforming into an elongated kite, sweeping Kaishi off his feet, and flying into the portal. They emerged into the Fire Nation, surrounded by a bottomless magma pit, but Vaatu swiftly passed through while Kaishi wailed atop him.
They shot up unscathed as the Spirit retook his angelic form, holding Kaishi in his arms as his gaze settled on the Chaos covering the world.
He hung his head as his robust shoulders slumped, "...Whither art the dragons, Kaishi?"
He pondered, "From what I recall, they liveth near 'r inside volcanoes."
Vaatu spotted a nearby Volcano covered in magma with Lava boiling at its peak. He dashed over to it with Kaishi and landed before a cave entrance.
"Alloweth's wend introduce ourselves!"
They entered the Volcano, venturing into the heat riddled rocky magma walls; sweat uncontrollably broke out over Kaishi whilst Vaatu remained unaffected. The further they embarked, they found small bones, Dragon eggs and torn up pieces of meat before finally entering a massive open area.
An elderly white and gold dragon with long whiskers and an unkempt mane slithered over to Vaatu and spoke in an odd Draconic Tongue.
"Raava didst forsooth defeat me, but I am hither anon, hoping thee shall teachest this human fire-bending!"
Kaishi raised a bewildered eyebrow while the Elder Dragon observed him, its gaze piercing into the Warrior's soul as it began speaking to Vaatu once more.
"Oh, valorous! He's going to receiveth the dragons to showeth thee fire-bending and teachest thee!"
The Elder Dragon guided them down a path that led to an open volcanic arena, dragons of varying colours and sizes awaiting them. The Elder Dragon summoned a pair of Dragons to his side, speaking to them in his Draconic tongue.
"Ooh, Dancing dragon. Thou shalt needeth some holp with this!"
"The Dragons and Vaatu assisted me in learning their Dance, And I can't begin to recount how many times I failed. Time after time, messing up feet and arm positioning, which move came after which. But in time, I slowly mastered the Dance and gained Hontoni furui's approval."
"The Dragons taught me proper breathing techniques and showed me the consequences of losing control, as well as the benefits of maintaining it. Months of training with the Dragons passed by before I could adequately grasp the basics of Fire-bending."
Kaishi stood shirtless within the confines of the volcanic arena, sweat rolling down his slender toned torso as he punched and kicked out at the air.
Claire and his Spirit stood off to the side while she discreetly ogled.
Kaishi's Spirit leant over to her, "I'm flattered, young Avatar. But I'm already spoken for."
He winked as she flinched back in embarrassment, her face flushing redder than a dragon's breath.
Kaishi did his utmost to generate Fire while Vaatu held his vest and coat, watching him flail his fists and feet.
His energy rushed through his body as he punched out, and to his surprise, a fireball ejected from his fist as the force knocked him onto the ground. The Warrior perked his head up, excitement surging through his body as the Dragons proudly roared.
"I'm a fire-bender!" He Joyously shot himself up from the ground and gazed at his palms.
Vaatu approached and passed his clothes back to him, "Tooketh thee long enow!"
Kaishi smiled, adorning his vest and trench coat, rolling his fingers as a tear streaked down his face. He fired out multiple other fireballs to test whether it was just luck, pumping his arms as the fires roared out.
"Next, we journeyed to the Western Air Temple, seeking assistance from the Sky Bison and Air Nomads. It didn't take us long to discover them... tis hard to miss towers standing on a cliff's underside, after all."
"Wow, the Air temples are old..."
"They're still there to this day?"
Claire's Spirit nodded.
"Impressive... anyway-"
"The Air-benders of the Temple adorned in monk robes of varying shades of orange, yellow, and maroon greeted us wholeheartedly. I don't think they'd had visitors in decades. However, it was odd how all of them were women. Then again, we were outsiders to their culture."
Kaishi and Vaatu stood before four elderly women, all sitting in a row before them, bearing Air-bending tattoos, representing the Sky Bison their ancestors learnt from.
"Greetings, traveller and... Spirit."
Vaatu strode towards them, his presence exuding an uneasy pressure, "I am Vaatu, The Spirit of Order. And this hither is Kaishi, a human I am escorting 'round the world to learneth the elements!"
The elders perplexingly stared at one another, "A human learning all four elements couldst beest dangerous. Art thou sure thee've bethought this through?"
He rushed back over to Kaishi and confidently rubbed his shoulders, "Believeth me at which hour I sayeth he is not like thy average human!"
The elders mulled it over, "Very well, the knave... Kaishi shall train with the Sky Bison."
Kaishi uneasily stared at Vaatu.
"Worry not, Sky Bison art outstanding teachers!"
The Air Nomads guided Kaishi and Vaatu through the dismal flagstone temples to where the Sky Bison lived.
"So... Fire-bender?" An Air nomad asked.
Her head was full of black hair in a short bob with arrows coursing over her body, and she adorned herself in yellow and orange monk robes with wooden prayer beads draped around her neck and her eyes silver.
Kaishi stared at his wiggling fingers, "Just recently, aye..."
"Oh... normally most benders learneth at a... younger age," she chuckled.
Vaatu leaned over to the Air nomad, "He's a slow learner."
The Air nomad smirked as Kaishi lightly punched Vaatu's cosmic arm, his fist phasing through his form as they arrived at the Sky Bison stables outlooking the cloudy black valley below.
"Well, we're hither! Time f'r me to returneth to mine own studies."
"Thank thee f'r the guide; I'll see thee 'round..." he raised an eyebrow to her.
"I am Pang, and thee?"
"Kaishi."
Pang smiled and bowed her head to him, "Most wondrous of luck with thy training, Kaishi!"
She took her leave as a stable hand noticed their approach, "Ah... I hadst heard of a sword-wielding fire-bender in the temple."
"Yond's me... I hast been toldeth I shalt beest learning from the Sky bison?"
The fluffy giant Bison stared at him, some with hay in their mouths and others with saggy eyes.
"They aren't much f'r teaching, but I'm sure the Air Nomads can fill in the gaps."
Kaishi nodded and approached the affectionate creatures.
"It was a surprising experience. Even amongst the World of Chaos, they gave me the warmest welcome I'd had in years."
The stable hand presented Kaishi with a glider, "Thee shalt beest needing this if 't be true thee wanteth to train 'longside these folk in the air."
He took ahold of the Glider, observing the stick and running his hands up and down it until the wings of the Glider flicked out, spooking Kaishi and even Vaatu.
"I trained alongside the Sky bison as well as with Pang, learning to fly with the Glider."
Kaishi flew alongside the Sky Bison, swaying around on the Glider amongst the blackened skies while Pang and Vaatu tried to stabilise it.
But inevitably, he fell out of the air.
"Oh, dear!" Vaatu shot down and caught him, dragging the Warrior back up alongside the Bison, "Pang! Beest a lief and giveth him a boost!"
She smirked and closed her Glider, deftly floating in the air and poising the staff like a baseball bat ready to swing. Vaatu let him go, allowing him to glide along the air currents as Pang swung out, unleashing a mighty Gale and launching him off into the skies, his screams fading into the distance.
Vaatu twisted his head around to her, "Haply a dram less force next time!"
Pang nervously chuckled, "Apologies!"
"Over the... many, many gruelling months of training, I became adept with the Glider, moving onto meditation to bolster my spirituality and even attempting the Spiralling Gates, set in motion by the gust of a Sky Bison's tail."
"And just like you, I fell multiple times to their merciless spin, but over bitter time, my agility increased, and I finally conquered the gates."
"I would even have to gracefully dodge attacks thrown out by Vaatu and Pang. Over time even mine own sword swings became faster."
Kaishi and Pang sat within a room provided by the nuns whilst Vaatu stood atop the cliffside, gazing up to the Chaotic skies.
She gazed at him while he stared into the sheen of his blade, "so, thee very much didst hurlyburly with The Dark One?"
He nodded and sheathed his Dao Sword, "yes... I wast a daw to haste in so brazenly, and it did cost mine own cousin his life."
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure he's watching ov'r thee every grise of the way," she smiled.
He scoffed, "What? Is his Spirit satteth right beside me?"
She hummed and squinted to where he pointed, "Oh, most forsooth!"
Kaishi jutted back, "Wait, truly?"
Pang shook her head, "Nay, nay, I bethought we wast..." she paused, the two staring at each other in awkward silence, "well, this is rather contrary."
Kaishi heavily sighed and held the bridge of his nose, but a memory fluttered in, making his eyes flare, "wait... Shinu hath said the souls of people art did turn into The Lost in this World..."
"Tis correct, although thither art few who hast survived the gruelling millennia. Like me!"
"Like... thee?"
"Aye, I may not behold it, but I am nine-thousand six-hundred and seventy-eight years fusty! Giveth or taketh a decade."
Kaishi stares at her in utter bewilderment, "What... is't like to liveth f'r yond long?"
"Tis... odd, I can barely recall most of mine own life, just mine own name and the air-bending I did learn ov'r the years. I can't coequal recall the cater-cousins I madeth 'long the way. I knoweth I didst, they art just... A vague did blur image anon. I often wonder if 't be true after having lived f'r so long whe'r I am any different from the people born into this world. I doth not bethink I am me any longer, just something in the shape of who I once wast."
Kaishi sat in silence, as if her words weighed heavily on him, until a knock came to the Warrior's door, making him lunge for his Dao sword, only to find one of the elders stood before him, "Settle down knave, what harm can a fusty dram mistress do?"
His guard lowered, "Plenty, if 't be true, did train properly."
The Elder laughed and gazed at Pang, "May I borrow thy cousin f'r a moment?"
She nodded, "Of course, Elder!"
She bowed and took her leave from Kaishi's quarters, smiling back at him as the door shut.
The Elder smacked her lips, "I receiveth tis out of respect, but they has't not to remind me I'm fusty."
She tapped the ground with her cane, signalling Kaishi to sit on the floor with her.
The Warrior obliged and placed his hands to his thighs, "Can I asketh what endues thee hither in the middle of the night?"
"The Spirit of Order... Vaatu sticks to thee like glue, so I bethought I'd taketh the chance to talk to thee whilst he is out Chaos gazing."
Kaishi raised a bemused eyebrow and shuffled in his seated position, "What has't thee want to speak of?"
"Vaatu is gallivanting thee across the four nations to learneth the elements. But the question on mine own mind is... wherefore?"
"We plan to defeat The Dark One and bringeth balance back to the world."
"And how does thee plan to do yond?" She swirled her finger at him.
"Well... with The Dark One defeated, Vaatu shall bringeth about a World of Order... and then things shall... becometh better."
The Elder shook her head, "So Naïve, bringing about a World of Pure Order shall not bringeth about balance, only more imbalance."
Kaishi's head jutted back as his palms tensed, "What doth thee cullionly? We hath lived in a world of Chaos f'r thousands of years! We needeth Order!"
The Elder shook her head once more, "Raava and Vaatu art two sides of the same coin, originally created to maintain the balance between humans and spirits, but Raava's lust f'r chaos did corrupt that lady and hath brought about the world we knoweth in the present day."
"And he treads the same path, anon. Striving f'r charge in a world gone nimble-footed, but thee wilt not allow him to continueth down yond path."
Kaishi slumped and turned his heavy gaze to the ground, "Then what shouldst I do?"
She pondered and hummed before reaching out and pinching his face, "Thither is something about thee. A strange behold in thy eyes I has't nev'r seen ere."
She released her grip as he rubbed his jawline, "Either way, thee might not but findeth a way f'r Raava and Vaatu to co-exist once again, 'r slay those folk."
"F'r without order and chaos working in tandem to balance the world, we humans and spirits art doomed to liveth in a world of imbalance."
Kaishi slanted his gaze, "and what of a world without Vaatu and Raava?"
"Peradventure thee couldst taketh up their mantle as a bringer of balance, and succeed whither they did fail."
He hesitantly laughed, "I am beginning to notice people expect a lot of a knave from the Fire Nation."
She smiled, "Oh, thou art moo than just 'a knave', believeth me."
The Elder stood up and took her leave out the door as the Warrior hummed to himself and laid back in his bed, thinking over the Elder's words.
"I continued training with my sword, letting the energy around myself course through every slash whilst Vaatu and Pang watched over me."
Vaatu leant over to her, "How long until he... thee knoweth... air-bends?"
But she shrugged, "I'm... not sure, nev'r hath I heard of a fire-bender becoming an Air-bender..."
Kaishi sheathed his sword, swiftly withdrawing and unleashing an Air Slash, almost grazing Vaatu and Pang, much to their displeasure.
He apologetically and joyfully smiled as he curiously sheathed his sword, "Two elements... Hast anyone done this ere?"
"Of course! Thee, humans, art naturally curious creatures!"
"Well. whither to next?"
Pang's eyes darted between them.
"The North Pole! I has't some cater-cousins to visit. Alloweth those folk knoweth I'm free!"
The Human-Spirit duo began to depart, but Pang latched onto Kaishi coat arm, forcing him to turn his gaze to her, "Can I... cometh with thee?"
Kaishi and Vaatu uneasily glanced at each other as his gaze turned back to her, "My most humble apology, Pang, this is something we needeth to do alone."
He stared at the stone-tiled ground, "I wonneth't allow Raava to steal anymore lives."
Vaatu proudly nodded as the Warrior turned to the horizon. But Pang shook her head and smooched his cheek.
The Spirit chuckled as Kaishi's face flushed red, "In yond case, maketh sure thee survives!"
Kaishi smirked, "I shalt beest sure to doeth yond."
She bowed her head and departed into the Temple as Vaatu ascended into the air, his human friend staring at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Thou art an air-bender anon, mine own knave. Thee can fly thyself!"
Kaishi gazed at the Glider then turned to the stable hand, "Doth thee mind if 't I keepeth this?"
She chuckled to herself, "We has't plenty; nay one shall miss one glider."
He smiled and set up the Glider, beginning to fly off with Vaatu.
"So, North Pole?" He reluctantly grimaced.
Vaatu crossed his arms and turned to him, "Something the matter?"
"I like not the bitter cold, tis... well... bitter cold."
"Those air-benders didn't teachest thee heat regulation, didst they?"
"No?"
"Air-benders can warm themselves using breathing techniques. This means they can thrive coequal in frigid environments. Tryeth while we fly. Haply then thee wonneth't beest so bitterly cold!"
"I would attempt multiple breathing techniques as we flew to the North Pole, and after hours of flying, we landed within the warm grassy climes of the Spirit Oasis, where two old friends greeted Vaatu upon our arrival."
"Tui! La! Valorous to see thee two again!"
The Koi Fish telepathically replied.
"Aye... Raava did strike me down; wherefore doest everyone feeleth like they needeth to remind me?"
As the three spoke, Kaishi quizzically stared at Vaatu and the two.
"I'm talking to the Koi. They're the spirits of the Moon and Ocean. Like Raava and I, they maintain balance in the world!"
"I'm going to beest learning from gudgeon anon?" he sceptically pointed to the circling Fish.
"Not from those folk. We can't breaketh Tui hence from the Dance, 'r else who knoweth what shall befall."
He bodaciously gestured to the full moon hanging in the blackened sky, "What thou art going to do is observe the moon itself!"
"The... Moon's mine own teacher?"
"Aye... Tis not going to beest excit'ment..."
But before they could depart, the Spirit swiftly turned to Tui, "I hath heard yond!"
Vaatu guided The Warrior to the icy shores, standing before the ocean as the moon pushed the water onto the Ice, then pulled it back into the sea.
"All thee has't to doth to learneth water-bending is push and pull the waves as the moon doest!"
Kaishi stared at his hands, flexing his fingers as the element of fire pulsed through him, "Wonneth't fire-bending... impede this?"
"Some humans seemeth to beest born with a natural spiritual connection and some not. Thee've only just recently pick'd this up. So, Nay, it shouldn't interfere too much."
Kaishi unsurely nodded, beginning to swiftly push his arms out to the water, then quickly pull them back into his body.
"Thou art moving too festinate! Moveth at the pace of the tide, push out with it and then pull back!"
Kaishi nodded and slowed his movements, pushing out with the tide, then flowing back with it. His eyes closed, letting the rhythm take over until the water began pushing and pulling to his will, much to Vaatu's surprise.
"Kaishi, open thy eyes!"
The Warrior's eyes perked open, still doing the push and pull movements and noticing the water bend to his will. He pulled it in, forming a ring around himself for a moment, then dropping it to the icy ground.
Vaatu applauded him, "Haply thee wast a natural water-bender in a past life!"
Kaishi smiled, continuing to push and pull the water, and as he trained, the trudging of Ice caught their ears.
"Oi, Oi."
He dropped the water and gazed over his shoulder, as did Vaatu. The two discovered a light brown man with ruffled black hair, Navy blue and white robes draped over his torso. Brown patched up pants, and fluff lined black boots covering his lower body, and his eyes a deep blue.
The Water Tribe man approached, "Wot's a Fire pounder like thee doin' bendin' water?"
They quizzically turned to him, The Spirit with his arms crossed and The human with his arms draped, "I'm travelling to learneth the four elements in order to defeat The Dark One."
The Water Tribe man stared blankly before doubling over with laughter, "Thou art gonna taketh out The bleedin' Dark One? They has't held an iron fist on this world f'r longer than anyone cares to recall. And thou art just gonna march up thither and what? smack 'em 'round with thy bodkin?"
Kaishi scoffed, "Someone in this world needeth to maketh a difference, beest it me or someone else."
The Water Tribe man mockingly oohed and threw his hands in the air, but after a moment's silence, his hands dropped, and his lips smacked as his gaze turned to the icy ground, "Thee couldst bid yond to every person in the world, and they wouldn't care. But somewhere deep down, they'd knoweth thy is right."
The Warrior crossed his arms and observed the Water Tribe man.
"I shalt bid thee anon, thou art not gonna get anywhere with water-bending without a master who can speaketh, so I'll lend a handeth!"
He raised an eyebrow to the water tribe man, "Yond wast a quick changeth in demeanour."
He approached and threw a hand to Kaishi, "Aye, Aye. Even a husk can possess a small grain of hope! Name's Tarrik, by the way."
He pulled a ring of water around his body, "Eft to beginneth, Fire Pounder?"
Kaishi smirked and raised his hands to him, "The name's Kaishi."
Tarrik smiled as the two bent the water around themselves.
"We practised day in and day out for that entire month until I had grasped the basics."
Kaishi awoke within an Ice-covered igloo, sitting up from an animal hide bed and striding out into the Icy plains where Vaatu and Tarrik awaited him outside.
"Oh, he finally pulls himself from his sleep chamber," Tarrik greeted him.
Kaishi smirked and stared up at Vaatu.
"Tis time we depart f'r the earthen lands... but our watery cousin hast a request."
He turned to a draped arm Tarrik, "I'm taggin' 'long!"
The Warrior grimaced and shook his head, "Nay, thou art not."
He strode through Vaatu and Tarrik, utterly perplexing the Water-Bender.
"Oi! Thou art the one who hath said someone needeth to maketh a difference! And with the moon as mine own witness, I'm gonna holp thee!"
Kaishi twisted to him, his flared amber eyes piercing through him, "I shalt not allow Raava to slay anyone else; I shall finish this war alone!"
Tarrik gazed at Vaatu and pointed to him, "What about him?"
Kaishi quietly scoffed, "... What Vaatu decides to do after I've mastered the four elements is up to him."
He crossed his arms and shrugged, "Fine, I give you well, Kaishi, and tryeth not to kicketh the bucket on thy way thither."
He gave him a backhanded wave as Vaatu caught up, the two soaring off to the Earthen Lands.
Vaatu finally set his eyes on The Heart of Chaos as dread crawled over his celestial form, "Raava..."
He and Kaishi quickly descended to a deep hollow cave and stood before the entrance, "We're searching f'r badger-moles. They shall beest thy last teacher!"
Kaishi gazed into the cave then back to him, "How shalt we findeth these folk?"
"I... am going to sing!"
He ventured inwards with Kaishi in tow.
" Well, Raava and I combated f'r forty nights, and Kaishi only did last forty seconds. "
He raised a miffed eyebrow.
"𝄞 But anon, mine own knave, thou art in luck! 'Cause up thy sleeves, thee've receiveth a Spirit of Order who wonneth't fail! " he gestured to Kaishi, his form brightening as he did.
" Thee've receiveth some strength in thy corner anon! Some heavy firepower in thy camp, thee've receiveth some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how, see all thee gotta do is punch yond fist, and shoo-"
An Elderly Badger-mole broke down a wall and pleasantly growled.
Vaatu's mouth hung ajar, "Wow, thou art still kicking?"
The Elderly Badger mole gave a positive growl.
Vaatu smiled, "Tis valorous to see thee too!. Anon I has't a human hither, he needeth to learneth earth-bending, and thee still owe me f'r protecting thee from Raava."
"Rokku Raddo as he was called... seemed reluctant to train me in the earth-bending ways while he chatted with Vaatu. But in time, he agreed and demonstrated how he used Earth-bending as an extension of his senses. He would swipe his long-clawed paws along the ground while I attempted to do the same, but twas harder than I expected to adapt to the way of the Badger-mole."
Kaishi followed Rokku, watching him swipe his paws as he did the same with his arms and legs, but nothing came of it.
"Tryeth shielding thy eyes; badger-moles art blind, peradventure cutting off thy sense of vision shall holp!"
Kaishi ripped part of his black baggy pants and wrapped it around his eyes like a blindfold. Rokku noticed that the two had finished conversing and continued his training of Kaishi.
They crashed through the earth before them as Kaishi attempted to replicate his movements, failing almost every time.
"We remained in those dank, aimless caves for months, living off what grub the caverns had to offer, but despite how much I faltered, my stubbornness prevented me from stopping until I had learnt to Earth-bend."
"The more I trained, the more my body ragged, nevertheless, I pushed on, forcing myself to learn Earth-Bending, and in time the very ground bent to my will."
At the presence of the moving earth, Kaishi grinned and ripped off the blindfold. But his vision blurred, his balance unstable, and his eyes closed as he collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
"Kaishi!" Vaatu cried, rushing over with Rokku.
Silence loomed over them until a profuse snore roared out from him.
Vaatu's spirity body tensed up, "And hither I bethought something lacking valour hadst happened."
Hours passed before Kaishi awoke, finding himself propped up against a rock. He stretched his arms and flexed his muscles, "how long has't I been out?"
Vaatu and Rokku stared at him, "A fair few hours. But thee didst it mine own knave! Thee've learnteth all four elements!"
Kaishi stared at his hands as determination ignited in his eyes, "Then tis time to bringeth this world out of the Chaos! Coequal if I has't to kicketh the bucket doing it!"
"Alloweth's not receiveth too far ahead of ourselves; thee still needeth to master those folk, which couldst taketh years, decades coequal."
Kaishi groaned and turned to Rokku, profoundly breathing and bowing, "Thank thee f'r thy training."
Rokku raddo affectionately growled and guided them out of the Dank Cave.
Kaishi and Vaatu stepped out into the Chaotic World.
"Whither to anon?"
"As I hath said, thee wilt master the four elements if we're to standeth a chance 'gainst Raava... but I believeth thee can do it!"
Kaishi and Vaatu strode out into the World of Chaos to Master the Four elements.