My dear readers, I have waited a long long time for this day to come...
And it is finally here.
Big thanks to HammerTide for beta reading this chapter and making sure everything was okay.
With that said, let's get this chapter started.
It took the Gaang more than a couple of days to reach Hira'a on Appa. Zuko had insisted on them staying for a bit longer but Aang was eager to set out again after resting and getting briefed on the situation.
Arriving on the outskirts of Hira'a, their group entered the village after leaving Appa on the outskirts to avoid arousing too much suspicion. Katara tied a simple bandana around his head to keep the townspeople from recognizing him to easily and they headed for the inn where Zuko told them that his tracker would be waiting to meet them.
Entering the inn and going to the restaurant, Aang easily spot a man that fit the description Zuko gave them to look out for.
" Looks like our guy " Sokka commented as they approached the man, sitting alone at a table drinking what seems to be alcohol.
" Excuse me, but are you captain Shin ? Of the Yuyan Archers ? " Aang asked politely, showing his airbender tattoo.
" Yes, I am...and I take it that you are the Avatar " Shin stood up to greet them " Captain Shin of Yuyan Archers, 47th Division. Fire Lord Zuko said that you would be coming "
" Nice to meet you, I'm Avatar Aang but you can just call me Aang if you prefer " Aang greeted himself before going to the rest of the group " This is Katara, Toph and Sokka "
" Good to meet you all, its an honor to have you assisting me on this mission " Shin stood up and greeted them " Please join me "
" So...what have you learned so far ? " Katara was the first one to speak and got straight to business " Anything related to Azula that could help us find her ? "
" Honestly ? Not much and barely anything in these past few months " Shin told the absolute truth " Aside from a few scraps and vague clues that don't really tell where she went or what happened to her "
" You said something about a spirit, the 'Fire Lady' ? " Aang asked.
" Yes...my team encountered her in the Forgetful Forest. She was unlike anything I had ever seen before in my life " Shin said, shivers going down his spine.
" Can you describe her ? What did she look like ? " Katara questioned.
" She was...extremely beautiful, almost unnaturally beautiful...but there was also this strange feeling coming off of her " Shin tried to explain.
" Feeling ? What kind of feeling ? " Sokka questioned.
" Like a bloodlust that was barely restrained. As if she was a monster. Something that wasn't human...the way she talked and acted...it was like being stared down by a demon..." Shin said, breath hitched " Then her face changed...she morphed into something...Agni I don't even know. She grew flaming wings and blood starting coming out of her mouth and eyes and the white flames...oh Agni..."
" Its okay man, we get the picture " Sokka was kind and stopped him before he could continue.
" She attacked and we ran. I never saw her again after coming back to this forest...but when me and my team went into the forest, I got the strange feeling that we were being watched " Shin explained.
" And you think this crazy Spirit lady kidnapped crazy Blue ? " Toph cut in.
" Yes...that is what she implied when she met us. Though I did consider the possibility that she was simply toying with us...she let us get away on purpose, she could have killed us right then there but let us flee...I don't understand why " Shin told his deductions.
" Well, she's as good a lead to start with as any...anything else we should know ? " Katara asked.
" Nothing except...I met a woman a while back that said she lived in the forest with her daughter " Shin told them " I found it suspicious since me and my team never found a single spot in the forest that we found to be inhabitable for people to live in, much less a sole woman and her daughter "
" Was there anything strange about her ? Did she seem...I don't know, human ? " Sokka butt in.
" She was definitely human. Her and her daughter. Though I did get the stark feeling she didn't like me prying into her business " Shin said " Besides that, I got nothing else to tell you "
Katara turned to Aang " What do you think Aang ? "
" This all seems very strange, I'll tell you that much. I've never heard of spirits that could shoot white flames or transform into humans...this is all so very strange and something smells fishy " Aang said.
" I don't smell any fish " Toph joked.
Katara rolled her eyes " You know what he meant Toph..."
" Should we take Appa ? Maybe fly overheard and see if we can spot anything ? " Sokka suggested.
" We already tried that right after Azula fled into the forest. The trees are too thick and high to see anything from the air, with the exception of some of those spiritual pools, we're not going to see much from the air " Aang explained since Sokka didn't come along the last time " What do you think we should do ? " Aang asked Shin for his professional opinion.
" We should search on the ground for any clues. Hopefully with your and Master Toph's acute senses for the spiritual and hearing, we'll be able to pick up a trail " Shin suggested.
" Alright, let's go right now. Hopefully we're not too late " Aang said as they left the inn with their new companion.
Just got here and they've already made some progress. Aang considers that a win in his book.
After leaving Appa with some snacks to keep him fed while they searched the forest. Shin was leading the way while the rest of them followed behind him. Sokka and Katara looked creeped out like the last time they were here, even during the day the Forgetful Forest had this sort of ominous aura going around it that it was impossible to miss. Toph just looked really bored.
Their little group continued on for quite some time, just walking through the forest not really seeing anything of interest.
" Okay, this is going nowhere " Toph said, planting her feet on the ground.
" Said me everyday of my life since taking this assignment " Shin commented.
" We're clearly not going to just walk around and hope to find something " Toph said bluntly " Twinkletoes, you think you can use your Avatar powers to try and pick up a clue or something ? "
" I'm not sure it works that way Toph " Aang said blankly.
" How about you try what you did in the Foggy Swamp, try to use the plants to locate something of interest " Sokka suggested.
" That's a great idea Sokka !" Aang approached a nearby tree and took a deep breath.
" What the hell is he doing ? " Shin raised an eyebrow.
Katara shushed him " Be quiet, we need to let him focus "
Aang closed his eyes and focused the power inside. Directing his chi to the tree and trying to make a connection.
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After what felt like a day of waiting, he could...feel the forest. The life and energy permeating throughout this place. It was so strong and powerful.
But there was something else...something so cold and strange hiding amongst the energy. A strong gathering of energy in the forest. It was hiding something.
He could sense something there...he couldn't tell what but...there was something-
" Aang...AANG !"
A loud voice pulled him out of a trance and he turned around to see Katara calling out to him.
" Aang, are you okay ? " Katara said with concern in her tone.
" I'm fine Katara but I...I felt something " Aang tried to explain.
" What did you feel ? "
" I-I don't know its like...there's a strong feeling of energy permeating throughout this forest...but it seems centered in one place in particular " Aang pointed at a certain direction " Its coming from that direction...the forest is hiding something "
" The forest is hiding something ? But how could it- You know what, I'm not getting paid enough to ask questions about spirituality. Avatar you can take the lead "
" Alright, everybody stay close...I'm getting the feeling that we aren't alone in this forest " Aang said quietly and the Gaang tensed up as they moved through the forest.
Aang could feel himself getting closer to...something. He just didn't know what.
Kazumi was having a wonderful day, the two had taken a break from training after Azula's first spirit hunt a few days back and decided to rest and recuperate. Kazumi handed two bowls of food to Tira and Serenity, who eagerly dove into to eat their meals, Kazumi watching with a happy smile.
The older woman takes in a breath of fresh air, and looks up at the beautiful day. It feels so strange that not so long ago, it was just her in the forest with her two animal companions for company.
She feels...happy. Something she didn't think she would experience or even deserve to feel again.
Life with Tira and Serenity before Azula came along...she wouldn't say that it was totally miserable, her two companions were good company. But it was difficult to say that she ever truly happy in those moments, before Azula came along she was just trudging through life trying to deal with herself and learn to live...to love again. She doubted such a thing was even possible.
And yet she was proven wrong. It seems the world is still capable of some degree of mercy.
She went back into the house to find Azula in the living room, reading a book of some kind. Upon closer inspection, Kazumi could see that it was a book on Spirits, some of the books that Kazumi had given to her for study.
" Studying up on our next targets ? " Kazumi said with a little humor as she entered the living room and sitting beside Azula.
" Something like that. After our first mission, I realized how complicated and dark our jobs can be. So I wanted to read and learn a bit more on dark, light and grey spirits to get a better handle on what we might experience and deal with. I'd rather not go out there again without some level of theoretical knowledge on the subject "
Kazumi nodded supportively" That's good Azula. But you know that whatever you read can't completely prepare for the kinds of spirits we encounter and deal with on a weekly basis, right ? "
" I know...but I still want to learn more about being a Spirit Navigator "
Kazumi smiled proudly " That's great Azula. Do you have any questions or anything ? "
" Some. Like what are these 'Spirit Lords' ? Are they sorta like greater spirits ? " Azula questioned.
" Close. All spirits hail from a domain, these 'Spirit Lords' are something akin to the head of said domain. Like the Spirit Lord of the Dark. He hails from the Shadow Domain and rules over the dark spirits " Kazumi explained.
" Kazumi are there...others like us then ? " Azula said a bit worried " Those with gifts like us, I mean "
" Oh yes, definitely. I've met more than my fair share of them in my career as a Spirit Navigator " Kazumi nodded without missing a beat " Did you think the Mother of Faces was the only Great Spirit that could grant mortals supernatural powers ? "
" Figured. Is it something I should be worried about ? "Azula put the book aside.
" A little " Kazumi said honestly " We don't encounter others like us often, though we do occasionally run into a dark or grey spirit powerful enough to grant mortals power from the Spirit World. Those tend to be deadly fights, though I have met a few dark, light and grey mortals who work for different patrons. My relationships with some of them were...complicated "
" Don't tell me you actually dated one of them " Azula rolled her eyes, but Kazumi smirked.
Oh Agni...
" Ugh, don't tell me you did..." Azula groaned, trying to block the mental image of Kazumi having sex with a mortal working for a dark spirit.
" A girl's gotta have some adventure in her life " Kazumi chuckled.
" Please stop talking " Azula pleaded.
" Alright, alright...I'm going to go check on Tira and Serenity, before getting started on lunch "
" Okay " Azula nodded as she got back to her book.
The spirit navigator went outside and checked on her animal companions, having finished their meal, she gently ruffled their feathers and head causing happy sounds to come from the two. As if they could sense that their master was also happy too. It was a good day.
And then she felt it. A warning of some kind.
Kazumi sensed...a disturbance in the forest. Her spirit and body tensing as she felt something approaching her little haven.
She turned her gaze to the south of the forest...where she could see a small group of people pass through the treeline and into her little clearing.
Her heart stopped for a moment as she noticed one of them had a blue arrow tattoo on his head and she recognized that damn tracker from the village was with them too. Their gazes landing to her in surprise to see another person in this forest.
Her heart's beating resumed as she took in a deep breath and approached the group that had just came in. Noting what looks to be two children, one boy and one girl from the watertribe, and another girl who dressed in the clothing of the Earth Kingdom. She stayed scarily calm as possible and folding her hands in front of her in a disarming manner.
" Good afternoon...what are you doing in my forest ? And how can I help you kids ? " Kazumi's smile was sharp and polite.
Time to handle these guests. She had prepared for this long ago.
She would not let them take her daughter.
Sorry if this chapter was a little on the short side but I couldn't resist leaving you all on a cliffhanger for this chapter. I have thought about how a meeting between Kazumi and Aang would go a for a long while and I think I have finally figured how this is going to go.
Tune in next time to find out.
:P
Now let's answer some reviews.
To zanlorenzi17:
I completely agree that Azula doesn't need a redemption arc. The fact that Azula is not a paragon of goodness is what makes her character so interesting in the first place. I think just writing a redemption story that basically just follows the same beats as Zuko's in the show, completely devalues what makes Azula so great as a character, because she's complex and has nuance. She doesn't fit into some pre-ordained box of good or evil.
I agree with everything you said about Azula being ruthless and on occasion cruel, but she does most of the things she does for a reason. She's not needlessly cruel.
As someone who also has a strained relationship with my own mother, I can get where you're coming from and also sympathize with Azula. I'm glad that your feelings are mixed regarding Ursa since that is what I'm going for with her character, she's done plenty of bad in the past but now she's come to terms with it and sees just where she fucked up with Azula.
Like Azula, I didn't want Ursa to necessarily fall into the camp of 'good' or 'bad' parent. Even if some of the flashbacks, do paint her in a negative light. She is...complex in her own way, that will be better shown later in the story.
Azula is definitely becoming her own person and you are correct that Azula and Ursa aren't going to just hug and make up. Whether Azula can see the reasoning behind some of Ursa's action and that she is trying to be better, I will leave that ambiguous.
But she will totally give the middle finger to Zuko and Iroh.
XD
To noksimilian77:
Thank you so much ! I'm glad you like my story so far.
:)
To be honest, I kinda fucked up when it came to Iroh's entry, I had an idea for a whole scene between him and Azula but as of yet, he hasn't even appeared in the story. For Lu Ten...I didn't really plan any sort of relationship between him and Azula, but I'll think about adding a memory where Azula recalls of her childhood. Thanks for the suggestion !
To Lord 770:
Thank you so much ! Yeah, I really wanted to hit the right level of darkness for Azula's first spirit hunt.
I'm glad you liked Azula's new outfit and mask, along with the two bringing revenge to the girl who suffered to lay her soul to rest.
I know I already answered this question to you in a PM, but I'm just going to put this here unless someone else has the same question. The reason Shin didn't recognize Kazumi at the market(probably should have explained this better) is because the night he encountered her, Kazumi had modified her face a little so she doesn't look like her original face. And its not a pleasant memory to recall either way, since Kazumi used a sort of skill to transform herself into something...very horrifying.
Hope that answers any of your's questions !
With all that said, I will see you all in the next one.
Angel Out.