Chapter: Four- The Spirit World
Author: Fritters-4-Psi
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Avatar: The Last Air Bender or the related characters. Nor do I profit from this fanfiction. The only major things that will affect the fanfic that are mine are: Rachel, Colt, Agni (Fire Spirit), Engru (Earth Spirit), Fera (Death Spirit), Arith (Air Spirit), Brittany, Tyler, and maybe things to come in later chapters.
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Six people sat on stool-like stumps. All of them had seen thousands of years pass. This could be because they were not human. Yes, at the momemnt, they were in human form, but they were not what they looked to be. They were less than human, but more than human all at the same time. They were Spirits.
Four of the six resided in the Spirit World. The other two remained in mortal form on a planet whose name has been long forgotten. However, those two Spirits could visit the Spirit World when they liked and when important matters were to be discussed. This day, these Spirits gathered to discuss important matters.
Tui and La, the Spirits that stayed in a mortal form, were very stressed. The place where the Ocean Spirit and Moon Spirit lived had been under attack. Something had happened to La during the battle, but she didn't speak of it. The other Spirits sympathized with them, but realized that other matters needed to be addressed before their tale was told. The first to speak of these matters was Agni, the Fire Spirit. "We all know why we are here," he stated, "Long have we talked of the war. For one hundred years it has dragged on. It is a war that should never have started. Now, we have to decide what we should do to end this war."
"We should not interfere," Engru, the Earth Spirit said, "It is not our job to mantain peace. That job belongs to the Avatar."
La, the Moon Spirit, spoke up, "I've seen the Avatar. He's just a little boy. Not yet thirteen. He's tried to end the war, but it's too big of a job. He needs help. As Spirits, it's our job to keep an eye on the people."
"La is correct," Agni said, "We must help end this war. It has gone on for too long. It is too big of a job for the Avatar to do by himself. He needs other help besides those who have helped him already."
One Spirit, a woman dressed all in black, stood to say her part in the matter. "Agni, Fire Spirit, are you so intent in helping because of the guilt that wracks your mind? Is it not, after all, your people that began this war? When the world was young and people first walked the earth, you took a small group as your own, like all of us, except I, did. You taught them to create fire and control it. You did this so they could help the other people. You also taught them to be proud. Secretly, you told them they were above the others, but they shouldn't act that way. They had their faults, though. Is it true that you want to help because of your failure and guilt?"
Agni tried to stay calm, but anger rose in him. "Fera, Death Spirit, was it not you who taught all the people how to kill? You taught them to kill because you took joy in it. For, when someone died, thier souls would come and join you, here, in the Spirit World. When you spoke eariler, you agreed that this war needed to end. Is it true that you want to help because of your failure and guilt?" the Fire Spirit used the words against Fera.
The Death Spirit remained quiet. "We have several choices on how to end the war. We have discussed them before. None of us want to take back the gifts we gave to our people. And we all know, it would be a shame to destroy the planet. To turn back time would only turn to failure," Agni listed the options, "There is, however, one last choice. Two meetings ago, we discussed it. It was asked that this option was looked into and all the prepations made incase it was our solution. In our last meeting, we all decided, if this was the solution, who would be sent. At the moment, it seems like the only proper idea."
All, but one, of Spirits nodded in agreement. They knew which solution Agni had been speaking of. The one Spirit that didn't agree was Arith, the Air Spirit. Of course, she wanted the war to end. She was quite partial to the current Avatar. He was an Air Bender, after all. "What if they fail? We can't send two unprepared people. They aren't that old," Arith pleaded, "They could die. Haven't enough innocent people died already? I don't want any more innocent people dying on behalf of this war. If I could, I'd go and guide everyone to the right path, so this war could end. I can't do that, though, none of us can."
"I'm sure this war will end soon enough," Engru stated, "There's no need for us to help end this war for them. If they don't end it for themselves, how else will they have the strength to prevent wars in the future?"
"I have watched the two we chose to send, if it came to this. They will be able to end this war in a quicker manner," Agni said, "There is indecision, though. We should vote, then. All for sending the two chosen people from the Planet Earth?"
Four hands were lifted into the air. Agni voted for the solution, as did Fera, Tui, and La. "All opposed?" the Fire Spirit asked.
The hands of Engru and Arith were put into the air. "They wouldn't be able to adjust," Arith explained, "Besides, how could they stay? If we sent them through the Spirit World, like we discussed, their bodies would remain on their planet."
"They would be able to adjust. They would be blessed. Given the gift of Bending, like some of the people who live on that planet already," Agni elaborated, "As for the other thing, that shall be explained by Fera. First, though, we need to decide which Element each can Bend."
"The boy, he seems like he should be a Water Bender," Tui commented, "His name is Tyler, isn't it?"
"If this is our course, then Brittany, the girl we chose to send," Engru said, "I think she would be a Fire Bender. And, yes, Tui, the boy's name is Tyler."
"Does everyone agree that Tyler will be a Water Bender and Brittany will be a Fire Bender?" Agni questioned.
There was a general murmer of agreement and a few of the Spirits nodded. These two, Brittany and Tyler, were sister and brother. Brittany being the eldest and Tyler the youngest. Both had a calm, understanding presence to them. The Spirits had chosen them for those qualities and more. There was, however, another issue to be raised. "We all have watched the comings and goings on the Planet Earth. We have heard of a show, 'Avatar: The Last Air Bender'. That show follows very closely to the events of the planet where we plan to send Brittany and Tyler," Arith mentioned, "If they watch that show, then it would be dreadful for them to know what they do from that show and then be sent to that world. Although they would mean well, people would be suspicious and our plan would, most defanitly, fail. What will be done?"
Engru was the first to speak. "There really is only one solution," he stated, "They should have their memory wiped of any knowledge of that show."
Once again, there was a general murmer of agreement amongst the Spirits. They then turned to Fera, expecting her to explain how they would remain on the Planet of the Avatar. She complied. From the folds of the dark cloak she wore, she pulled out two curious looking knives. Both were long-handled, short bladed with engravings in red on the black handle. She handed one to Agni and one to Tui. "You two, it shall be your responsibility to use these knives. Their power can only be used once; after that they shall disinagrate. I designed them to hold Elemental power. Once filled with the chosen Elemental power, if used in the Spirit World, when the chosen people are killed, their bodies on Planet Earth shall die, but they shall be reborn as Benders," Fera explained, "So Agni, you must fill your knife with Fire and kill Brittany. And Tui, you shall fill your knife with Water, with help from La, and kill Tyler."
"So their bodies from Earth die," Arith reiterated, "They will be reborn as Benders. How will they be reborn?"
"They will be reborn into enhanced versions of their previous bodies," Fera stated, "They will look and act the same, but the only difference is they will be able to Bend."
"Now that has been decided, the two will enter the Spirit World tonight," Agni said, "La, dear Moon Spirit, why is it that you now take the human form of a Princess from the North? Previously, you took the form of an elderly lady."
With a sigh, La began the story of the Seige of the Northern Water Tribe and the horrible events that happened. It was a long, sad story. All the Spirits wept. They wept for the people of that war-marred land. For pity and for hope. For the Princess who gave her life to revive La, the Moon Spirit, and to save her people. For the warrior who mourned the loss of the one he loved. For the Northern chief who mourned the death of his daughter. For the Avatar who believed this was his fault. All the Spirits wept.
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