Sorry it took so long to update. This was supposed to be another short transition chapter, and i honestly have now idea how it became my longest chapter yet. Any way i want to thank everyone for commenting, and reviewing. However i would like to adress some of the constructive criticism i got last chapter. Now as i've always said constructive criticism is both welcome and appreciated, but in order for it to be helpful it needs to be a little more specific. like if you feel characters are acting OOC then let me know which ones.
That being said however when it comes to writing this story i pride myself how closely it lines up with cannon. i draw as much as i can from the actual series, and i never purposely write anything that would conflict with cannon. My goal for this fic is for it to be entirely possible. it could be cannon. I've set the story one year after the series ended so that some of the characters could act, or be a little different then how they were during the serise, and if a character seems very OOC it might be because it is a key part of the overall story.
Any way thats enough from me. as always i own only the plot, and the OC's. everything else belongs to someone else. now enjoy chapter 22
22: The Journey Begins
"Oh my spirits these are great! What are they?" Ikki asked as she took another bite of the strange fruit that Ayeon had brought them. The fruit looked like hand sized pink water melons with orange stripes, and pink insides.
"My guess is they're called spirit fruit." Mako said as he took a bite of his own strange fruit.
"Do you humans just assume that everything in my world has the word spirit in its name?" Ayeon asked indignantly.
"So they are not called spirit fruit?" Ikki asked curiously as she finished her second fruit.
"No they are; it's just rude to assume things." Ayeon said with an accusing look at the fire bender.
"I'm sorry; I just figured since we are eating spirit fruit in a spirit oasis in the spirit world." Mako said with a small smirk.
"Apology accepted fire tosser." Ayeon said seemingly oblivious to the mild sarcasm.
"So where did you get these anyway?" Kuvira asked as she slipped a few extra melons into their bag for later.
"There is a tree spirit not too far from here," The aye-aye spirit answered. "He's not much of a conversationalist, but he's friendly, and as you can see he grows great fruit. He can be a little strange though; when I told him about you three he gave me this to give to you."
Ayeon held up a strange white flower, and handed it to Mako. When he took it the white flower turned various shades of red, yellow, and orange giving it the appearance of a small flame.
"Well that's interesting," Mako said as he passed the flower to Kuvira. "But why would a tree spirit give us a flower?"
"I don't know." Ayeon said with a shrug as he watched the flower turn a vibrant shade of dark green with silver edging on the petals in the metal benders grip.
"Oh, oh let me try please." Ikki asked excitedly, and Kuvira passed the flower to her.
When the air bender watched in amazement as the flower turned various shades of pink and light purple in her hand. "Can I keep?" the girl asked hopefully.
Mako glanced to Kuvira, and she nodded. "She's got more use for it than I do."
"Thank you," Ikki said with a bright smile. "And thank you for the fruit Ayeon."
Ayeon looked at the child in surprise. When Kuvira had thanked him last night he had assumed it was a fluke. That human gratitude was a once maybe twice in a lifetime thing, and yet here the child had thanked him, and for a mere piece of fruit. "Um you're welcome Icky; I guess."
"My name is Ikki." Ikki said as she quickly worked the flower into her hair.
"That's what I said Icky. Honestly you humans have the strangest names." Ayeon commented casually.
Before Ikki could protest further Mako's eyes glowed crimson. "Enough of this idle chatter; it is high time we get moving. Ayeon you know how to reach Wan Shi Tong's library from here?" Vaatu asked.
"Of course lord Vaatu; any spirit worth his energy knows how to get to the spirit library." Ayeon answered confidently.
Vaatu scowled as Kuvira snickered at the minor spirit's choice of words. When Ikki giggled the aye-aye finally realized what he said. Before Ayeon could stutter out an apology Vaatu raised his hand silencing him. "Just lead the way youngling; we're leaving now."
It was quiet in Republic City general hospital. Doctors and nurses were hard at work healing patients, and families were visiting sick relatives. It had only been a few days since Vaatu's escape, and an aura of fear lingered over the city.
Asami Sato could feel it as keenly as the burning sensation in her right palm. The CEO watched silently as the woman she loved went through yet another healing session. Korra breathed softly as she lay unconsciously on her side with her back exposed.
She watched worriedly as Tenzin's mother Katara moved her hands slowly and gently over the still raw wound. Even with decades of experience, and spirit water; the healing process was still slow and delicate. After several days and nearly countless healing sessions the latest Avatar had yet to awaken.
"How much longer until she wakes up?" Asami asked as the water stopped glowing, and the aged water bender stepped back.
"It's hard to say Miss Sato," Katara said as she returned the water to a bowl, and turned to the heiress. "Injuries caused by lightning take quite some time to heal. All that raw energy does quite a bit of damage to; Korra is very lucky to be alive. When my husband Aang was struck down by princess Azula I was barely able to revive him, and even after that it took him several weeks to wake up."
Asami sighed as she rubbed her bandaged hand. "She's going to be alright though; she will make a full recovery?"
Katara finished redressing Korra's wound, and proceeded to sit down tiredly next to the CEO. "The reason Tenzin sent for me was, because I have experience with this kinds of wound, and between lord Zuko, and his father I do. Now that I see it; I fear that it is more familiar to me than he realized."
"How so?" Asami asked with a small frown.
Katara turned her head, and wise blue eyes met worried green. "Aang recovered, but it took quite some time for his physical wound to fully heal. What worries me however is where she was struck; her wound is in the same place Aang's had been. When the lightning struck my husband it locked one of his chakras permanently, and because of that cosmic energy was unable to flow through him. He was unable to enter the Avatar state."
Shock and fear spread over Asami's face as she took the old woman's hands in hers. "You don't think her chakra is locked too do you?"
"I can't be sure Miss Sato," Katara said as she shook her head. "We won't know for sure until she wakes up."
"No, no, no!" Asami exclaimed as she shot to her feet, and began to pace back and forth. "This can't be happening; it can't."
"What is wrong Miss Sato?" Katara asked as she watched the young woman movie rapidly across the room.
"What's wrong is that Vaatu wasn't even at full strength when he did this to Korra, and he's only growing stronger with each passing day. Without the Avatar state she won't stand a chance against him, and he will kill her." Asami said as she stopped, and turned to face Katara with absolute hatred in her eyes. "My mother was taken from me by a monster, and there was nothing I could do. My father was taken from me by a monster, and there was nothing I could do. I swear on my life that monster will not take Korra away from me to."
Katara listened quietly as the young woman raged. She understood what she was going through, because even after all these years she still felt the loss of her own mother to a monster. Before she could say anything though she caught sight of Asami's bandaged right hand shaking and clutched close to her body.
"Pardon me Miss Sato, but may I see your hand please?"
At the sudden question Asami stopped her pacing, and turned back to Katara.
"Oh this?" Asami said holding her hand out for the old healer to examine. "It's just an electrical burn nothing major."
Asami brushed off her injury as nothing, but in actuality her hand had been aching constantly, and the pain actually seemed to get worse when she or someone near her was angry.
As Katara removed the bandages she found that her palm was not only slightly burned, but there was a distinct pitch black spiral pattern branded into her hand. The mark had a one inch wide forked end in the center, and the rest shrunk and spiraled around once before tapering off to a point forming a near perfect circle.
"Oh my; this looks serious. Let me see if I can heal it. Burns are one of my specialties." Katara said with a genial smile.
When Asami nodded she drew some fresh spirit water from one of several water skins she'd brought with her, and spread it over the heiress's hand. When the water began to glow a look of relief passed over Asami's face. After a few minutes the aching had almost completely faded for the first time in days.
When Katara finished the water stopped glowing, and she bent it into a nearby bowl. As the healer examined her work she was surprised to find the strange mark still there.
"Is this a tattoo?" Katara asked as Asami frowned, and pulled her hand back to examine it.
"No it's not; I don't have any tattoos," She said rubbing at the mark. "Have you ever seen a burn like this before?"
"No I haven't," Katara said with a frown as she took Asami's hand again to get a closer look. "The only thing I can think of that can do this is a branding iron. You said this was an electrical burn?"
For a moment Asami flashed back to the sub level at future industries; spirit energy arcing wildly all over the room, Mako trying to drain the power of the energy core, Korra holding onto Mako as she used her energy bending, both of them consumed in a purple glow. Finally an arc of jet black energy striking her out stretched taser-gloved hand.
"Yeah it was an electrical burn." Asami said as she drew her hand back. "Either way it feels much better; thank you."
Katara watched as Asami pulled her chair closer to Korra's bed, and sat down tiredly. Just by looking at her Katara could tell the heiress was exhausted. Her hair was loose, and she had dark bags beneath her green eyes. Ever since she had arrived from the South Pole she hadn't seen Asami leave Korra's side for more than a few minutes.
"You should go home, and get some sleep Miss Sato." Katara advised gently.
Asami turned, and was about to argue, but stopped when she saw genuine concern in the elderly water benders eyes. "I probably should go home. Everyone says I should, but I can't. You said this happened to Avatar Aang; where you able to leave his side?"
Katara smiled sadly, and placed a comforting hand on Asami's shoulder. "It took ten people to pry me away from Aang, and I was never away from him for more than five minutes. You don't have to leave her side, but you should get some sleep. When Korra wakes she is going to need you well rested, and thinking clearly, because she won't be. She has grown and matured so much over these past few years, but that won't stop her from trying to barge out of here half healed, and trying to save the world. That's exactly what Aang did, and he was a level headed monk."
Asami smiled, and patted Katara's hand in appreciation. "I'll try."
Katara nodded, and after checking Korra one more time she left the room.
Now alone Asami leaned back in her chair, and watched Korra. Her breathing was slow and steady, and she had a peaceful expression on her face. It was as if she was asleep, and would wake up any second. After a few minutes the rhythmic beeping of the heart rate monitor lulled her to sleep; all the while unconsciously rubbing her right palm.
"Are we there yet?" Ikki asked sounding bored.
"What was my answer the last ten times Ikki?" Mako responded with a sigh.
They had been traveling nonstop since early morning, and they'd left the forest behind roughly an hour ago. Ayeon was leading the way with Mako and Ikki behind him and Kuvira just behind them bringing up the back. While the spirit world was a most majestic sight to behold, one could only stare at it for so long before trying to find other ways to alleviate the encroaching boredom. In Ikki's case when she was bored she tended to ask questions; lots and lots of questions.
"The last ten times you answered no. The eight times before that Kuvira said no, and the twelve times before that Ayeon said, and I quote 'no, and my answer will not be changing for the next day and a half; so for the love of everything that is in balance please stop asking me that question'." Ikki replied quickly with a smile.
("How long ago did we pass that tree? It was a little small, but I think it will do the trick.") Vaatu asked with a groan.
("For the last time Vaatu we are not going to tie her to a tree, and leave her behind.") Mako thought back angrily.
("That thing you insisted on bringing with us is driving me insane." Vaatu growled. "If she asks are we there yet one more time something or someone is going to get incinerated.")
Before Mako could respond Kuvira moved up alongside them. "Hey Ikki I need to talk to Mako about something important, can you go talk to Ayeon for a bit?"
Mako raised a pointed brow at the metal benders request as Ikki turned to Kuvira with a curious look on her face. "Sure, but what do you need to talk about?"
"It's nothing much; we just need to finish going over what we're going to do once we reach the spirit library. We were talking about it this morning when we were interrupted by eavesdroppers." Kuvira said with a pointed look.
"Oh right," Ikki said with a sheepish smile. "Okay, but while your discussing things; try to come up with a better place than a library for your next date."
"Ikki for the seventh time we are not dating." Mako said, but the air nomad didn't seem to hear him as she summoned up an air scooter, and rode up next to the aye-aye spirit.
"Let it go." Kuvira sighed as she put a hand on his shoulder, and slowed them down enough to allow enough distance to put them out of ear shot of the girl, and the spirit.
Mako sighed, and glanced over at Kuvira. "So what do we need to discuss? I thought we already agreed we'll meet with Zaheer, hear what he has to say, and then use him for target practice. Maybe afterwards we'll do some reading since we'll be in a library."
"We don't need to discuss anything. I just thought Ikki would be less irritating if she was focused on one of us instead of all of us." Kuvira said with a conspiratorial grin.
Mako's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked ahead at Ikki. He could see her mouth moving a mile a minute, but he could hardly hear the talkative air bender.
"You threw Ayeon under a bus for a little peace and quiet?" Mako asked incredulously, but he couldn't hide his grin.
Kuvira shrugged. "It was either him, or you, and you weren't the one eaves dropping this morning."
Mako smiled. "Now that you mention it I guess I was the only one who wasn't spying this morning."
"Anyway I figured if she starts asking him questions about the spirit world we could get at least a few hours of peace." Kuvira said as she forced down a light blush. "You can also look at this as a warning to Vaatu."
"Really and how's that?" Mako asked with a smirk.
Kuvira smirked evilly in return. "Keep calling me wench, and I'll make you Ikki's personal spirit world tour guide.
("Beautiful, powerful, crazy, and back stabbing; I'm starting to think you have a type Mako.") Vaatu commented from within.
("Shut up Vaatu.") Mako mentally growled.
("Don't blame me; you're the one who picks them.") Vaatu said his voice laced with amusement.
("Keep talking and I'll leave you alone with Ikki to plan our wedding.") Mako threatened.
("I'd rather be trapped in the tree of time for another 10,000 years detective.") Vaatu said as he receded back into the fire bender's souls.
With Vaatu now silent Mako turned back to Kuvira only to find her staring out at the vast world around them. After leaving the forest they had started traveling through a vast open plain that stretched for thousands of miles in every direction. Off to their right was a vast mountain range, and on their left a seemingly endless horizon.
Ayeon was currently leading them towards a massive forest, and even though it was at least a day, and a thousand miles away he could still see it was vastly larger than the one behind them. According to the aye-aye, the library was located somewhere amongst the giant trees.
"Is something on your mind detective?" Kuvira asked.
The question snapped Mako out of his thoughts, and upon seeing the amused look on her face; he realized he had been unintentionally staring at her.
"Oh sorry; I was just thinking about the spirit world. I've never seen anywhere as beautiful as this." Mako said as he looked up to see various spirits flying peacefully through the purple sky.
"I know what you mean," Kuvira said as she followed his gaze upwards. "This place is amazing. Then again almost anywhere can be considered amazing compared to a platinum box buried in a mountain."
"True enough, but there's something else about this place, but I can't quite describe it." Mako said as he turned back to her.
"It's freedom. Everything about this world just seems so free, and untamed." Kuvira said turning back to him with a small smile.
"Huh, so that's what freedom feels like." Mako said thoughtfully.
The two fugitives walked in silence for a while after that, both of them trying to figure the other one out. They had only ever met in passing at least once over a year ago, and they had both changed so much since then.
"So what was it like being Wu's butler?" Kuvira asked.
Mako turned to her with a confused frown. "What are you talking about I was his bodyguard."
"Really," Kuvira asked with mild surprise. "Because with the way you were dressed, and your hair style at the time I assumed you were his butler."
"Wu was the one who picked out the uniform, and Raiko ordered me to wear it. He also made me get a 'respectable' hair cut. People called me Iroh junior for a month after that." Mako said with annoyance as he thought back to a year ago.
A laugh slipped out, but Kuvira quickly regained control when Mako glared at her. "Well anyway what was it like?" She asked again.
"I worked for Wu for about two and a half years, and I can honestly say half the job was trying not to kill him myself. He was vain, selfish, arrogant, wimpy, helpless, irritating, annoying, childish, and the list goes on." Mako answered with a sigh.
"I still can't believe the world leaders actually expected me to hand over the earth kingdom to that moron." Kuvira said bitterly.
"I can understand how you felt about that, and honestly at the time I did believe you would have been a better ruler."
"Really?" Kuvira asked in surprise.
"Yes," Mako said with a nod. "But now that I look back at everything that happened I can honestly say that you and Wu were exactly what the earth kingdom did and didn't need."
"Okay now you lost me. What do you mean by did, and did not need?" The former great uniter asked.
"What I mean is that neither of you would have been good rulers, but you both were crucial to restoring the earth kingdom." Seeing that she still didn't understand the fire bender continued. "The earth kingdom was falling apart, and there was no way Wu could have ever restored order. That was something only you were able to do; not the world leaders, not Korra, you. Once it was whole again however you couldn't let go. You traded freedom for order and security, and while your empire was strong it would never have lasted. You were the lynch pin that held the earth empire together, and once you were gone it would have just fallen apart again. What you were doing was the complete opposite of anarchy, but it wasn't much better."
"What so I just should have handed the throne back to Wu?" Kuvira asked angrily.
"No that would have been even worse," Mako said quickly. "If Wu had assumed the throne there was no way he could have held things together. The earth kingdom would have just slipped back into anarchy. After you had taken over Wu actually did some growing up, and he realized he could never truly rule either. That is why for the past year he has been trying to reshape the earth kingdom into various democratic republics. He gave them the freedom to rule themselves."
"Is that actually working?" Kuvira asked in surprise. Being locked away for a year she was a little behind on current events.
Mako nodded. "For the most part it is. Ba Sing Se, and most of the northern earth kingdom have already established functioning democracies. It's only in the southern parts along with the Si Wong desert territory that are having a harder time converting. Either way you restored the earth kingdom, and now Wu is making sure it never returns to total anarchy. The earth kingdom is at peace, and it is because of both of you."
Kuvira was silent for a long moment as she thought everything over. "When you put it like that I guess it does make sense. Maybe Wu isn't a complete moron."
"Oh no Wu is definitely a complete moron, but he has a good heart, and a few nuggets of wisdom." Mako said with a smile, and Kuvira matched it with one of her own.
("Triad accountant, pro bender, police officer, detective, bodyguard, Dark Avatar, and now you're a therapist. You're starting to get quite the resume Mako." Vaatu said as he resurfaced in Mako's mind. "How about we turn this into a game of quid pro quo?")
("And why exactly should I do that?") Mako thought back quickly while he remained focused on Kuvira.
("For one thing walking everywhere takes forever. I'm bored, curious, and you won't let me set things on fire.")
("Do you realize how childish you sound right now?")
("That's, because when I'm not interacting with you, or the others I'm going through your memories to pass the time, and some of the emotions linger for a little while after. I just finished going through your early child hood again. Anyway for some reason the wench is actually opening up to you, and for some stranger reason you're talking to her without stammering like an idiot.")
("That was once, and I was just run over," Mako thought with annoyance. It was very strange how his emotions and memories were affecting the spirit of chaos. "Besides what are you curious about anyway?")
("I wish to know why she defended the brat. When I chose her to help us I was expecting a ruthless, cold blooded warlord with a heart of steel; not a stubborn, disrespectful babysitter.") Vaatu stated.
Mako didn't respond, but the dark spirits question made him curious as well. Why would Kuvira defend Ikki? She barely knew her, and while he hated to admit it the air bender was more of a liability than an asset. The great uniter he had fought a year ago had been logical, cold, calculating, and let nothing hold her back. Whether or not he was driven by Vaatu's curiosity, or his own he had to know.
"Kuvira why were you so protective of Ikki when she showed up?"
"What do you mean?" Kuvira asked somewhat surprised by the random question.
"I mean that no matter how much Vaatu snarled and raged you were adamant about not leaving Ikki behind; why would you care what happens to her?" Mako asked seriously.
The metal bender fell silent for a moment, and she turned to face ahead; not quite able to meet his amber eyes.
"Why do you think I became the great uniter, and did everything I did?" She finally asked.
Mako was silent for a moment as he pondered his answer. "I don't honestly know. I used to think you were just a power hungry psychopath like fire lord Ozai had been, but now I'm not so sure."
Kuvira sighed as she looked him in the eyes, and he saw a deep sadness in her emerald depths. It was a sadness he was actually quite familiar with. "It's as you said everything was anarchy. My nation, my home was ripping itself apart, and no one was doing anything about it. Usually restoring order like that was something the Avatar was supposed to do, but Korra disappeared. After a while the world leaders began to look for someone to restore order. Their first choice had actually been Suyin Beifong, and I wanted her to do it. I practically begged her to step up, and restore the earth kingdom to a glory it hasn't seen for centuries, but she said no. She turned her back on people who needed her; people who were scared, because their lives were being ripped apart by a cruel world. I know what it feels like to lose everything; to be lost with no one to turn to, and that's why I stepped up. I refused to just stand by quietly while others suffered." Kuvira paused to take a calming breath. "People say I'm a monster, and I guess somewhere along the way I did become one, but just because I'm a monster doesn't mean I don't have a heart. Ikki is a lost little girl with no one else to turn too. No child should ever have to feel abandoned and alone."
Mako remained silent for a moment as he reassessed the woman next to him. "This is something you are very passionate about, and normally a resolve that strong stems from personal experience. You can sympathize with what she was going through."
"That's a very old door, and it is better left closed Mako." Kuvira said firmly. "All that matters is I don't intend to let anything happen to her."
"Thank you." Mako said with a small smile.
"Don't mention it." Kuvira replied as she once again matched his smile with one of her own.
"My favorite color is yellow. I am 14,000 years old, and not counting the tree spirits there are 53,972 trees in my forest." Ayeon listed off as he walked beside Ikki.
Mako and Kuvira had fallen back to talk privately leaving him alone with the talkative air tosser. Over the last several hours the aye-aye spirit had discovered that the human child was less annoying if you took her in smaller doses. So he had started a three at a time quid pro quo game with her. She would ask him three questions, he would answer, and then he would ask her three questions. While the child was still irritating at least she had abandoned 'are we there yet' in favor of more interesting questions.
"Okay Ayeon your turn," Ikki said excitedly as she looked up at him.
Ayeon sighed as he thought of his next three questions. "Alright first question; how do you know Mako? You two don't smell related."
"About six years ago Avatar Korra, who is the reincarnation of my grandpa Aang ran away from the South Pole, and came to Republic City where she stayed with us. Mako and his brother Bolin who is a lava bender were her very first friends, and over the years they just became like part of the family. Mako is like an older brother to me." Ikki answered quickly, sincerely, and with a soft smile.
Ayeon watched her silently for a moment. For over ten thousand years he had believed that humans were just selfish creature who barely cared about anything, but themselves, and possible blood family. Sure Wan had been different, but he'd always figured the first Avatar had been a once in a millennium occurrence, and yet here he was with three more humans who acted very differently from the rest of humanity. Mako and Ikki were family by bond rather than blood, and Kuvira had shown him genuine gratitude. No human other than Wan had ever shown him gratitude before.
"Alright second question; how do you know Kuvira? At first you seemed wary of her, but now you seem comfortable in her presence." Ayeon asked curiously.
"Well I was kind of scared of her at first, but she seems very different from how she was a year ago. She used to be this really cold, scary, megalomaniacal, warlord who tried to conquer Republic City, and kill Korra, Mako, me, my entire family, and a lot of other people who helped us defeat her. I guess prison really does work." Ikki answered casually as Ayeon stared at her incredulously.
"She what!" the aye-aye almost yelled. "She tried to kill you, and you can honestly say you're not afraid of her. How could you possibly trust her after everything she's done to you?"
"Ah; I'm counting that as your third question." The young air nomad said with a cheeky smile.
"Fine whatever; just answer the question." Ayeon said with an annoyed groan.
"I trust her because she's changed, and I forgive her." Ikki said simply.
"Are you serious? That answer is insane for two completely different reasons. Humans never change, and there is no way anyone could forgive something like that." Ayeon said with a frown.
"I'm counting that as another question, people can to change, and I know someone who has forgiven a lot worse." Ikki replied indignantly.
"Alright give me an example, and who forgave worse?" Ayeon demanded.
"Alright, but that's two more questions." Ikki said with a frown, and the spirit nodded. "Avatar Korra; she's changed more than anyone I know. She used to be stubborn, impatient, head strong, selfish, disrespectful, and she didn't even have enough spiritual know how to air bend."
"Really?" Ayeon asked in surprise.
"She's still head strong, but she's grown up a lot over the years. She's become more patient, selfless, respectful, and she is now a respectable fully realized Avatar with almost as much spirit know how as my big sister." Ikki said as she nodded. "Even Mako's changed, especially recently."
"How so?" Ayeon asked as he quickly glanced back at the Dark Avatar.
"Well like Korra he's done a lot of growing up to, but he's actually been really sad for a while now. He tries to hide it, but I can tell."
"Why would he be sad?" the spirit asked.
"Well a few years ago he and Korra were madly in love, but I guess it didn't work out. The broke up, and stayed friends, but I think he still loved her, even after all these years. I think he was hoping she would eventually love him again, but then she started dating Asami."
"Wait a minute. The new female Avatar is courting another girl?" Ayeon asked in surprise.
Ikki nodded. "I know it's a little strange, but I really think they love each other, and in the end I think that's all that really matters."
"It is pretty strange," Ayeon said with a shrug. "But then again so is love. We spirits actually have a saying 'too each their own'.
"Any way," Ikki continued. "Even while Korra and Asami were dating Mako was sad, and still clinging to hope. Whatever happened in Republic City though it really changed Mako. He seems freer now, and what's more he isn't so sad any more. That's another reason I trust Kuvira now. When they are talking he actually smiles, and he hasn't smiled for real in a long time."
"Alright so maybe humans can change," Ayeon conceded. "But what makes you think Kuvira has?"
Ikki hummed as she thought her answer over. "Well for one reason she was in jail for like a year. That's a lot of time to think about what you did. When I used to get put in time outs I know I did a lot of thinking. Then there is the fact that she is helping Mako, and she didn't leave me tied to a tree."
"I guess those are some pretty good indications of change," Ayeon muttered. "Alright I see how you can trust her, but how could you forgive her?"
"I forgave her, because it's the air nomad way. My daddy taught me that it is pointless to hold grudges against people. By holding onto anger like that it only grows, and grows, and grows until you become a prisoner of your own hate, and then you're just hurting yourself. It is only by letting go of your anger, and forgiving the ones who wronged you that you can be free, and at peace." Ikki explained sounding remarkably like Jinora.
"I've never really thought of it like that." Ayeon admitted as he marveled that such wisdom could come from humans. "You learned this from your father?"
"And he learned it from his dad, my grandpa Avatar Aang. He lost his entire people to genocide, and then was hunted all over the world by the fire nation who had waged a hundred year war on the rest of the world, and he forgave them." Ikki said with a bright smile.
"You truly are a very strange human Icky." Ayeon deadpanned.
"My name is Ikki, and is it my turn to ask questions yet?" The girl asked impatiently.
"Yes it is, and that counts as one of your questions." Ayeon said with a smile.
"Oh come on how is that fair?" Ikki complained.
"It's not, and that's another question." Ayeon replied as his smile turned into a playful smirk.
"Grrr, fine then I have eight questions left then." Ikki said with a glare.
"Then by all means ask." The spirit said, but his smirk vanished when Ikki smiled evilly when she figured out what her next eight questions would be.
"Are we there yet?" Ikki asked innocently as Ayeon realized this would be a very long trip.
It had taken several hours for Jinora to find the path they had taken leading out of the valley. Upon following their trail she was lead into a strange yet beautiful forest. The trees were fairly tall by human standards, but they were nowhere near as big as the ones that held up Wan Shi Tong's library.
"Ikki," Jinora called out as she wandered amongst the trees. "Ikki!"
"This would be so much easier if I could air bend right now." The young air nomad muttered as she looked around for any signs of her sister, or any humans for that matter. Normally she would ask a passing spirit for guidance, but for some strange reason this part of the forest seemed abandoned.
"Looking for someone?" asked a smooth voice from above.
Jinora quickly whirled around and looked up, but there was nobody there.
"Hello?" Jinora asked while trying to remain calm. "Who is there?"
When she had first guided Korra into the spirit world to close the spirit portals; they had learned their energy and emotions had varying effects on the world around them. As long as one remained calm, happy, or peaceful the world and spirits in the immediate vicinity would remain as they are. If one were to give in to fear, anxiety, or anger everything could twist and warp into a more nightmarish form. Fortunately this only happened when you entered the spirit world through meditation, and you yourself were in spirit form. When you entered the spirit world physically through the portals your energies and emotions were contained in your body.
"Over here, over here, over here." The voice echoed ominously as she spun around only to see nothing.
"Turn around, turn around, turn around." The voice echoed again, causing her to spin again, and her heart to beat faster.
"Who is there?" Jinora demanded as she tried to keep her fear both in check and out of her voice.
"My, my, my what big eyes you have." The unseen spirit said in a way that sounded charming, but it still sent a chill up the girl's spine.
"Um thank you." Jinora said weakly as she continued to search the tree branches over head.
An unnerving silence filled the air for several minutes.
"You know human when someone gives you a compliment it is very rude not to give one in turn." The seemingly invisible spirit said; his voice coming from over her shoulder.
Jinora jumped, and turned to once again find no one there. "Oh; I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude it's just that I can't give you a proper or suitable compliment without seeing you."
"Touché." The spirit said with an amused chuckle as he slowly materialized before her.
Jinora's grey eyes widened, and her heart began to beat even faster. Over the years she had learned quite a bit about the spirits, but one of the most important things was that not all spirits are friendly.
The spirit before her was as big as Naga with jet black fur, glowing orange eyes, and long razor sharp claws. It had the general shape and form of a large predatory cat, except for two very big differences. The end of his long prehensile tail ended in a curved stinger like a spider- scorpions, and his mouth was drawn into an impossibly wide smile that exposed three rows of shark like teeth.
"There now how about that compliment," The spirit asked as his frightening smile seemed to grow wider as she took an involuntary step back.
"Well I, um, uh," Jinora stammered as she tried not to look at his razor filled maw. "What big teeth you have."
"Why thank you; it's so nice of you to notice." The spirit said as he looked her up and down. "So what is your name, and what brings you to the Cheshire forest; more specifically what brings you to my territory?"
"My name is Jinora," She answered hesitantly. "And I'm searching for my little sister. Have you by any chance seen her come through here?"
The frightening spirit sat back on his haunches, and cocked his head to the side. "No I can't say I have. Would you like to play a game?"
Jinora blinked at the spirits question, and took a small step back. "Um normally I'd say yes, but I really need to find my sister. So I'll just be going now; maybe another time."
Jinora quickly turned to continue her search only to find the smiling cat spirit in front of her once again. His smile was still wide, but his eyes were narrowed dangerously. "I merely asked if you wanted to play as to not be rude. You are going to play whether you want to, or not."
"Uh, okay then." Jinora said nervously as she took several steps back. "So what game do you want to play?"
The spirits shark like smile grew even wider. "I am going to close my eyes, and count to ten. While I do that you are going to run as fast and as far as you can before I catch you."
"What happens when you catch me?"Jinora asked already dreading the answer.
The spirit lowered himself into a crouching position. "Let's just say you don't want to be caught. One. Two. Three."
As the spirit started counting Jinora took off into the woods as fast as she could. She ran swiftly through the forest as her fear twisted it into a darker version of itself. Since she had given up on trying to contain her fear the world around her was quickly affected by her now negative energy.
"Nine. Ten." The spirits voice called tauntingly after her.
Pulse racing, and heart pounding Jinora barreled through the forest until she burst into a clearing filled with dead grass, weeds, and at its center a single tree that actually looked normal.
She had barely stopped for a second before she heard a twig snap behind her, and a chill ran up her spine. "Honestly human I was actually expecting more of a challenge from you."
With a yelp of fear she spun around to find the large cat sprit stalking towards her with an annoyed frown on his face. "Maybe when I'm done with you I'll start looking for this sister of yours. Hopefully she will be more fun."
With the forest blocked Jinora quickly ran into the clearing. Just as she was half way through she tripped over a hidden root, and crashed at the base of the small tree. As she rolled onto her back all she could do was scream as the predatory spirit lunged at her with teeth and claws bared. She shut her eyes, and waited for the pain to come, but surprisingly like when Vaatu had been about to deliver a killing blow; it never came.
Slowly opening her eyes she saw the cat spirit thrashing wildly as a root held him suspended in the air by his back right foot. At first the spirit was angry, but when a twisting, creaking sound came from behind Jinora a look of fear spread over his face. Suddenly the cat spirit was viciously slammed onto the ground once, twice, three times before being hurled out of the clearing, and crashing painfully into the tree line.
Jinora watched stunned as the cat spirit stood up shakily, and after glaring at her hatefully took off back into the forest.
Once he was out of sight Jinora slowly turned around and looked up to find the tree looking back down at her curiously.
"Hello," She said slowly as she stood up right. "Um thank you for saving me."
The tree spirit didn't say anything. It merely blinked, and looked around the clearing full of weed and dead grass.
"Oh sorry; here let me fix this." Jinora said as she realized what was happening.
The air nomad closed her eyes, and slowly calmed herself down. After a few seconds she found her center, and regained her peace of mind. In doing so she restored the positive energy that filled the area before she had barged in.
The weeds withered away, the grass turned green, and the whole became vibrant and full of life again. Upon seeing everything was restored she turned back to get a better look at the tree spirit. "There we are; good as new."
It was roughly twelve feet tall, and from the ground to about six feet up it looked like any other tree. Moving farther up the tree spirit had a bark covered humanoid torso with two strong arms, and a head. The top of his head had multiple braches growing out of it making it look like it was wearing a leafy crown. His eyes were two dark empty holes with what looked like two fire flies for pupils. The spirit didn't have a nose, or ears, but it did seem to have a line that indicated a mouth.
"I am Root." The tree spirit said finally speaking for the first time.
"Hello Root. My name is Jinora. Thank you so much for saving me." She said with a grateful smile, and a respectful bow.
"I am Root." The spirit said again with a small smile, and a bow of his own.
"Okay well; I'm sorry I intruded in your home. I was looking for my sister, and then that spirit chased me here. Have you by any chance seen, or heard about a human girl coming through the area?" Jinora asked hopefully.
The tree spirit Root rubbed his bark covered chin thoughtfully then nodded. "I am Root."
"You have?" Jinora asked excitedly as she was trying to understand its mannerisms more so than what he was saying. "Do you know where she went?"
"I am Root." Root replied as he held up a hand.
The wooden limb began to glow green, and a small white flower grew from Root's index finger. Jinora hesitantly reached out, and plucked the flower. As soon as she touched it the flower turned shades of pink and yellow.
"It's very beautiful, but how will this help me find my sister?" Jinora asked as she looked up at Root.
In response Root's hand glowed again, and another white flower grew. He plucked this one himself, and held it up for her to see. The tree spirit then moved his flower back and forth, and to Jinora's amazement the flowers always faced each other no matter how they were moved, or turned.
"So Ikki; my little sister has one of your flowers?" Jinora asked with a smile.
"I am Root." Root said with a nod as his flower dissolved into particles of green energy that drifted into the ground.
"Thank you so much Root." Jinora said with another bow.
"I am Root." The benevolent tree spirit said as he patted her head, and pointed in the direction her flower now faced.
"Thank you, thank you so very much!" Jinora exclaimed excitedly as she took off into the forest now with a sure path to follow.
"Don't worry Ikki; I'm coming."
Another chapter down, and a lot more to come. As always please leave a comment, review or constructive criticism. I always look forward to what you guys think, or have to say. this should be the last transition chapter for a while, because now i've finally reached one of my next big plot points so stay tuned for chapter 23. until next time enjoy.