Wishfull-star: \(^ヮ^)/
"You're going again?" Marco asked. Ace had a backpack on, looking tired. "C'mon, you need a break, Ace. You're doing too much, you're barely sleeping and eating," the blonde said, grabbing Ace's shoulders gently. "Take some time to yourself."
"I can't. I want to, I just want to hang out with you and Thatch again. Go to the spirit world with both of you, but I have my duties to help the spirits. The humans in the other tribe aren't doing anything right, and the forest was already unstable after I fixed it," he explained. "I want things to be how they were before," he admitted honestly.
Thatch brought him hot tea, and Ace said he had to go. "No, you're drinking some damn tea. Why should you have to teach them chi blocking, anyway? There are no more Fire Nation bad guys!" Ace shrugged, but did take the tea.
"Talk to the chief, or I will," Marco said firmly. "You are not the Avatar, Ace. it's not your job to be the bridge between the humans and spirits." Ace pointed out that the real Avatar was busy. He couldn't deal with this stuff, too. "He has to, that's his job."
"He's done enough for now. It's only been seven months since the war ended. Everyone is still reeling, and the Southern Water Tribe is still in bad shape," Ace sighed. "They need more experienced waterbenders to build the place up, but they just don't have them. And it'll take a lot of effort and resources to get more waterbenders there.
"They're all under a lot of stress, and I have to not make it worse and help out." Marco and Thatch grew angry at him for shouldering too much at once. He was still doing lessons, he was tending to both forests, working to help fix up and stabilize the southern tribe, and barely getting enough time to himself to just relax. "I don't want to do all this stuff, I have to!"
Marco sighed, and emphatically said Ace was not responsible for building back up the southern tribe. "What am I supposed to do, just abandon them?!"
"Let master Pakku do what he set out to! He never planned on you arriving there and he was doing it all just fine. Shouldn't they all be focused on rebuilding instead of chi blocking!?" Thatch said angrily. Ace shrunk down, knowing they had good points. But he didn't want to take back his word. "If you talk to the chief, to Yue even, then they'll be more understanding. You're a human, too, Ace. Which means stress can damage your body."
Ace sighed. "I'll talk to him."
"Today - right now," Marco said. He grabbed the backpack off of Ace and set it down, the three of them hurrying to the palace to release some of the burdens Ace was carrying all alone. When they entered, they found Yue walking down the hall carrying a bouquet of the only flowers that grew in the tundra.
"Oh, Ace! What's wrong?" she asked, demeanor changing when she saw the stern look of his brothers and the exhausted looking Ace. Thatch said they needed to speak with the chief, and the princess lead them to him. He was in his study at his desk. "Father, Ace needs to speak with you."
The bright look of expectation on his face when he turned around showed that he had something else he wanted Ace to do. But he saw the stern looks of those he considered nephews, and asked what was wrong. Also noticing Ace's complexion, the way his eyes looked a bit dead.
"Ace is being overworked," Marco said bluntly. "He can't do a ton of spirit stuff with a ton of human stuff. It's not healthy for anybody. He needs his work load decreased." Chief asked why Ace didn't say anything himself. He would never have wanted Ace to feel overworked. Ace wondered how he didn't see everything Ace did was too much.
The youngest/oldest explained that he was the only one who could do that stuff. He wanted to be of help. "You don't have to teach the southern tribe chi blocking. You don't need to go there daily, either. Tend to the spirit forests one day and then come back. The other day, do the messaging and chi blocking. You're not spread thin, and there's a schedule you can keep.
"When you get home from those duties, tend to yourself. Being overworked affects every aspect of your life. I am sorry I didn't see this earlier. I was blinded by the convenience. I'm sorry," Arnook said in detail. Ace let out a deep sigh of relief and thanked him. "I want you to speak up about something like this - anything you're uncomfortable with - next time."
"Yes, chief," Ace said with a polite nod. A new letter was written and given to him. He was to deliver the mail and then come back. Then his day was over until chi blocking lessons. Ace was truly thankful for his understanding. He took off his backpack, and left to give the letter. He'd been doing this for months by now, so it was pretty regular.
He didn't know what both letters said, but when Pakku read the one with Ace's new terms, he looked at Ace critically, seeing his complexion and the bags under his eyes. And he'd gotten a little skinnier. "I am sorry I didn't notice this sooner, Ace. You don't need to teach chi blocking here, and you don't need to help us rebuild. It is not your job as a northerner to take care of southerners. I know you don't mean to be heartless like my words just were. But know that you're not the Avatar." He knew that, why did people think he thought he was?
"I want to help as much as I can, but it's just not good for me. I'm sorry Master Pakku. I've probably disappointed so many, now." The waterbending master put his hand on Ace's shoulder, and told him he didn't need to see such emotions if he's there for less time. It was true, and Pakku gave him a completely not disappointed look.
Ace flew back to the portal, still keeping this place clean like the northern forest. When he got home, he went to take a long nap. He now had some breaks after months of being overworked, gradually showing the sighs physically. He'd done well to not give the feeling off, but it was just too much, and Marco and Thatch noticed.
He slept a full night for the first time in weeks, at least. It was a great feeling. He could do his work while also being healthy! Ace was in a great mood for awhile, gladly taking on the less heavy work loads. Marco and Thatch were satisfied with this as well, and they got to all spend more time together. A win for them all.
-x-
Ace walked into the spirit forest on a normal day, but didn't know it would be his last for a long time.
-x-
Ace stumbled out of the spirit portal, covered in blood, staining the snow with it. He didn't know how many years he'd been in there, time was meaningless. He'd somehow ended up in the sea of lost souls, as a human. But he wasn't a human! In there, he didn't know that, and so didn't know how to get out, or that he should be able to.
The only reason he realized he was not supposed to be there was after he stumbled and landed on a Fire Nation sword from a person long ago. It stabbed through his gut, and it jarred him awake. But now he had a sword sticking out of his gut, and no way out. He had climbed up the side of the chasm, and slowly walked to the portals. They were far from there, and Ace was too out of it to use the distance trick. Instead, he walked the whole way as a human, slowly bleeding.
On the way, he ran into somebody he hadn't seen in a bit. How long? He wasn't sure. It was Iroh, and he had longer, lighter gray hair now. "Iroh," Ace said in relief. He was glad to not be alone. The old man looked at Ace somberly.
"So this is where you were?" the man asked quietly. "It is good to see you alive, Ace," he said sincerely. Ace frowned, afraid to ask how long he'd been gone. "How long did it feel?" Ace had no idea, no concept of time there. Iroh lead him to the river, and helped him clean the sword wound with water, spirit water to heal, and soon it was just blood on him and not out of him.
"Last time I checked, nobody knew where you were after nine years. Let me help you back to the portals." Ace froze. Nine years?! But he followed him, and they made it to the portals quickly. Ace was afraid to go back, not knowing what he'd see. What he'd find. What if things went really bad? Who had been tending to the forest all this time?!
Ace asked how long Iroh had been there. "Three years, I think," he said brightly. "I'm here permanently. Which is wonderful, I didn't know what to expect in the after life, so I managed this! I even have my own tea shop, now. I left my body behind and let it die while I was here. It seems this is my final resting place!"
The spirit, the real spirit, was shocked, but amazed. He wondered if his brothers could do that, and then they'd never leave him! He was worried about them, really. Iroh gave him a hug, and let him out of the spirit portal. He entered the forest, dry and dark. Like it was night time. It sent chills down his spine.
He walked through it slowly. It was so dark, and he saw many dark spirits all around him. It was his fault. But he couldn't remember how he ended up in the fog of lost souls! He was a spirit, that should have happened. Spirits didn't harm other spirits. He was very bothered. He tried to bring out some flames, but all they did was flicker on his fingertips.
The light brought the spirits closer. "You remember me, I'm the sun spirit!" he said in panic, fear of his own kind. He'd been trapped by one, after all. But the spirits saw him and froze. He didn't feel confident he wouldn't be fine by them, that they wouldn't hurt him. Some came close, and latched onto him. He couldn't move, but noticed them were hugging him. Two turned gold and enlightened, and asked where he'd been, they'd been scared and worried. And nobody was there to help them get better.
Ace started to cry, and apologize for being missing. "I need to find my family, I'll come back to fix it soon, I promise," he cried, scared of what had changed. They walked him out, holding his human hands until they got to the edge of the forest. His flames were gone, now. It was nice he was able to turn into a dragon, and flew his way back to the Northern Water Tribe, terrified of what he'd find.
When he got to the area, he saw so much had been built since he was gone, and there were bits of metal and stone in places where they had just been ice. Where did it come from? This was a completely different world than it had been. He dropped down after shifting back into a human, and tried to find his way home.
Ace did find his home, but Marco and Thatch weren't there. He started to panic and headed for the palace, throwing the doors open. It made a ton of noise, and someone came finding him immediately. He was restrained, but panicked and nailed him with a bunch of jabs and made the man collapse.
"Ace?" the person asked, groaning. "Ace! It's you!" Ace knew this person wasn't an enemy, and lifted him up, propping him against his leg. He asked where Marco and Thatch were. "They should be here in the barracks! Go upstairs two stories and to the left!" Ace felt rush of relief go through him. They were alive. He hadn't come back too late.
But just outside, so much looked so different from before. Well, he wanted to find his family first, and went where he was told. He passed many doors, and opened them slowly to see if Marco or Thatch were there, but they weren't until the last door in the hall before it opened up to another staircase.
The interior of the palace was different, too. Had more metal and wood, somehow. Had the whole continent changed and now gave out wood and metal? It still only looked like ice from above, before he got to the inner workings of the expanded city. And he didn't see any of his flames, just like around the forest. Ace lit his hands on fire enough to see inside the room, and saw both of them. Sleeping. They were older, and Ace knew he wasn't because he'd been trapped in the fog of lost souls like a chump. He had a bone to pick what that spirit alright! Ace stood there for a minute, knowing he must have hurt them a lot.
He was ashamed. Deeply ashamed. He'd let everyone down completely. Even his spirt forest was damaged by him not being around. He'd failed spectacularly. But he wanted to be with his brothers, if they'd still have him after he had disappeared. He hadn't meant to! And not for nine years, almost a decade. He'd missed a decade of their short lives.
It made him feel sick to his stomach. Ten years, nearly ten years. He shook Marco awake, who shook him off, said he was sleeping. "I… wake up, I have to talk to you," Ace said quietly, voice full of shame and hurt. Marco jerked around, and touched something on the wall that made the room bright, confusing Ace.
Marco just stared at him before he turned away angrily. Ace flinched. He hated him. "Sorry… to bother you," Ace said, and stood up with his head down, beginning to walk away before he was swallowed in a hug. Maybe Marco thought he was just a dream. "I'm sorry," Ace cried into his much older looking brother, who held him so tightly.
"The hell? I was sleepin- Ace?!" Thatch said, falling off of his bunk hard. Ace apologized and all of them were crying. Ace was lead to the bed, and sat, feeling how exhausted he was. "Where were you?!" Thatch demanded, tears down his face.
Looking down, Ace explained where he'd been. The fog of lost souls, where some people remain for centuries. They were so happy he was back, crying and all huddled on the same bed to sleep. Ace did sleep, and was afraid to show his face the next day.
"I can't go out there. I deserted everyone, the forest is overgrown and full of dark spirits. My flames went out, so everyone is cold and I just ruined so much," Ace said. Marco rubbed circles in his hair. He hadn't aged a day in nearly ten years. Thatch told him a lot had changed in that time.
"There were all sorts of tech advances, with the invention of metal bending. Ships sail longer distances now, too. We have something called electricity, now. It makes light, like this," Thatch said brightly, and flicked on and off the switch on the wall that brought light from the ceiling. "We evolved while you were gone."
Ace missed so much of it. "The spirit forests… well, those have been stagnant. Nobody goes anywhere near them after you disappeared. So they haven't hurt any humans or come into the city."
"I abandoned them, too. I have so much to make up for. I met Iroh, though. He's dead but had his soul put in the spirit world. His body died while he was there, so now he'd there permanently. I was thinking-"
"We should do that. Then you won't spend the rest of your life all alone, and we get to chill someplace nice," Thatch said, filling Ace's heart with warmth. Marco saw the look of relief and emotion on Ace's face. He agreed to do it, as well. But Ace was afraid to return. He didn't remember being taken in the first place. He had no idea how he wound up there. But from now on, when he went to the spirit world, it would always be in dragon form.
He would never be in the fog of lost souls ever again. And though he was afraid to return, he couldn't exactly boycott his own people, and he wanted to heal the forest how he could. "We're glad you're back, and aren't mad, Ace," Marco said kindly. Ace nodded and hugged them again. "Now, I'm sure Yue and Neha will be glad to see you again. Neha is the new chief. Arnook passed away."
"I… didn't even get to say goodbye. Or apologize. He must have hated me for disappearing. They must all," Ace said quietly.
"Now, now, people were more worried for your safety than upset over your missing role. And don't turn into the past Ace. Be happy you're back, don't hate yourself," Thatch said brightly. It didn't make Ace feel any less guilty. "Well, let's go show the chief and lady." Ace nodded, and took both of their hands. Both were nearly thirty, and Ace was nineteen. A huge difference in age.
"You're both so old."
"You were always the little brother. Just… a lot more little, now," Marco said. They walked him to the leader's chambers, and Ace was sad he didn't get to say goodbye or thank you to the man who accepted him into their tribe, their people. Yue opened the door, and Ace saw there was a toddler in her arms. She did well not to drop him in shock.
Now Yue was older than he was by six years. She looked so much older, now. "A-Ace?" she asked in a whisper. Thatch took the toddler so Yue could hug her old friend. Ace hugged her back tightly, and apologized for leaving them all for so long. She had tears in her eyes and pulled away. "Where did you go?"
"To a place in the spirit world I was trapped for nine years. That's why I'm not a day older. I missed so much. You had a baby, and the chief died. Marco and Thatch are old now. The whole city looks different and I'm so sorry," Ace finished quietly. Yue put her hand on his cheek and smiled.
"Welcome home, Ace. We all missed you. Neha, come see who has come back," she called. Her baby was back in her arms, and the chief came out. He had facial hair now, but so did Thatch, so it wasn't that off. He was much taller and gained a lot of muscle. He looked at Ace in confusion before shock was apparent.
"Ace?!" The baby was started by the loud noises, and Yue hushed him sweetly. Ace awkwardly said he was sorry he missed his coronation. The teen was surprised when Neha hugged him, patting his back. He pulled away and had a full smile on, before he said, "It's so good to have you back."
Ace felt bad he couldn't say "it's good to be back" because it didn't feel like much time had passed in the last nine years. He was just happy he was welcome so far. "Everyone will be so glad you're back," Neha said. "Come, we will have breakfast. You probably haven't eaten in a long time."
True, he hadn't eaten in almost a decade, even if he didn't feel starved or look it. At least he didn't suffer physically and health wise while he was trapped in fog. But he also didn't remember his time there, or he'd be insane. After all, it makes everyone stranded inside relive all of their worst moments. Ace should have been tormented in his mind by the memories of torture, and being turned into a dark spirit. They headed to breakfast, and Thatch went running to make food.
Apparently they lived there because Marco was the best healer in the whole north pole. Their room was really nice, too. "It's not very cold in here," Ace said awkwardly. Marco said insulated halls and a heater in the rooms made it warm, not freezing. "So my fire isn't needed anymore, then."
"It would be useful to save on electricity, so your fire can be useful," Marco said kindly. Now Ace felt like a baby. He needed to be confident again, happy. Well, he would work on it, but things were too sudden and jarring right now. They sat down for breakfast, and food was served quickly, Thatch zooming around the table, putting most of the food in front of Ace. He gladly ate the delicious food.
It was no surprise Thatch had gotten much better over the last nearly a decade. They were eating, Ace quiet the whole time while the others explained the changes that happened over the time Ace was away. New technology had been made that sounded like magic, but very interesting. He wanted to use them, so it was good to have a positive goal. Learn how to use the useful new stuff.
"This is Tonraq," Yue said, holding up the toddler. "He turns three in March. He sure is a loud one. How are you with kids, Ace?" It was weird having her much older than he was now. Everything was weird, and he no longer felt like an equal. He was an insecure person younger than everyone else again.
Ace honestly said, "I've not really spent time with them but for the kids I took classes with. I bet Tama is old enough to learn chi blocking," he chuckled humorlessly. Marco said only law enforcement and guards were allowed to use chi blocking. "Oh. Why?"
"Because there are some people who use it against every day citizens. Not many in the water tribe, but in other parts of the world, the practice is abused," Yue said. She handed Tonraq to Ace, who took him carefully. He was smart and coordinated enough to not drop a baby. He sat him on his lap. The baby looked more like Neha than Yue since he had black hair, not white. He was chubby and smiled at Ace. Ace couldn't help but smile back. He set him on his lap and then put his hands in front of him, and made tiny fireworks out of the flames on his palms. He was glad it worked and actually looked cool.
Tonraq giggled loudly and then promptly pooped. Ace immeidtaely handed him to Yue, who chuckled and got up to change him. "You guys… didn't find anyone?" Ace asked his brothers. Both shook their heads. They weren't looking, really. "Is it because of me missing?"
"Nah," Thatch said, serving him a fruity drink. Ace asked where they got the ingredients for such a drink, and then he was explained the shipping industry that made travel and export easy. Ace said this world sounded complicated. "Haha, it is in some ways."
Ace pouted. "Man, this sucks. Now I'm the really little brother and everyone is going to look down on me cause I'm still in the body of a teenager," he complained. "It's frustrating." Those at the table understood, but reminded him that he was older than they were. It was different. Neha looked at him in sympathy, and Ace was glad he was a kind ruler and treated Ace nicely despite his disappearance. He just went to the forest one day and never came back.
"I sort of see it differently. In human terms, I'm still younger than you all. As a being, a creature, I am older. But my life in the spirit world was different than in the human. I don't think they're comparable. I feel my age as a human. I have more life experience, but it's just not comparable, my spirit self to my human self," he explained honestly. "Though that doesn't mean I want to be treated young."
"I understand. But I don't think anybody would think of you as a young kid or anything. You're a man, even at 19 years old," Neha said reasonably, and Yue came back with Tonraq. They heard a low moaning sound echo throughout he palace, coming from outside. There were shouts all over the place, and they hurried out. Yue holding Tonraq close.
Ace could see a crowd of dark things on the horizon behind the main city. "Are those… spirits?"
"Dark spirits. Tainted by darkness or negative energy," Ace said. "I'll take care of them. I won't be gone long, promise," the young man said with a sincere smile. Marco and Thatch looked worried, as did Yue, but Ace turned into his dragon self and flew away, away from the spirits that ran after him and towards the spirit forest. He landed there before any of them arrived. Though there were many inside the forest, peeking out at him. He stood there in the clearing, hundreds of dark spirits looking back at him.
None attacked, or looked hostile. "I'm back, and I promise I'll take care of this forest. Be at peace, everyone," Ace said sincerely, and set the entire forest aflame with warm, soft and healing flames. Ones that relaxed and pleasured the dark spirits so they turned back into creatures of light and happiness.
He was swarmed, and the cries of them missing him, worrying over where he was, didn't break his heart, but made him feel really glad. He wasn't forgotten by the spirits. "I promise I'll keep our forest clean and healthy. I won't ever leave again," Ace vowed. The majority of them meandered back into the spirit portal.
One, however, would not leave him alone. "You should go back." It was attached to his arm, and didn't seem like it wanted to leave. He had a feeling the strength of the spirit portal was definitely weakening since so many made it out. The spirit was the size of a large lizard, maybe, and was a pink color.
He took it back to the portal and set it down. The thing frowned deeply and looked dejected as it headed back into the portal. It made Ace feel a bit bad for upsetting it, but it was for the best. He worked hard to cleanse the forest with his flames, and having to burn out a couple infected trees that were seeping bad energy out.
Ace was still a spirit in some form, so the dark energy effected him, too. But it only made him grumpy and sour before they were gone. The forest back back in good condition. The cold surrounding it continued to blow around, and Ace reformed the circle of protecting fire. He flew back home, through the tundra.
The igloo made for him when they still thought he was only a dragon was long gone. No show that it ever existed. Ten years ago he met Zuko in that cave, knew not to hate him. He hoped he wasn't worrying about Ace too much and affecting his job as Fire Lord. It was day break by the time he arrived, and Ace was glad to see his time away had not affected the sun.
That was a relief, his disappearance and imprisonment didn't harm the world. Well, his well being rarely translated into the indomitable sun. It thrived as long as Ace was alive. Besides during an eclipse.
Marco and Thatch ran to him and hugged him. "I said I was coming back," he said, hugging them both in return. "I fixed all the sprits. They just missed me, that's why they all gathered, not to threaten anybody," he explained. Ace didn't want the dark spirits to be seen as evil. As long as nobody else was the cause of their darkness, they wouldn't harm humans. They wouldn't put through the effort to cross the tundra just to mess with humans.
Ace's flying in and flying out with the spirits tipped many off, and soon everyone knew Ace was back. Those he'd instructed were now much older than him, but were overjoyed to have him back. Ace honestly didn't really like the new water tribe. It wasn't pristine and a beautiful white. He was just biased about change. He would get used to it.
Everybody had gradually gotten used to the changes while Ace was just plunged from one version of his home to another. There was a city wide celebration of Ace's return, and he was flattered but embarrassed. But it felt nice he was missed and they were glad to have him back. He was happy to be back, too.
Honestly, he should consider himself lucky that he'd only been trapped ten years and not 100 or more. Marco took his hand and Thatch put his arm around his shoulders. They were clingy all day, even when Ace was just entertaining Tonraq, they were there and making sure he was real. Their brother was alive and back with them, a ten year difference there or not.
While he didn't like the outside of the palace, he adapted to life again easily. He didn't feel he'd missed all that time, it was like he just went for a visit and came back. So getting used to life wasn't really necessary. He just continued to live normally, even with the differences. With no chi blocking classes, that was a big change.
He wanted something to do, a job. Something he was good at alone. But nobody could think of one yet. And he was no longer living in his own home, but a room in the palace. It wasn't as nice, wasn't cozy or homey. He'd deal with it and get used to it. While Yue and Neha were in a meeting about Ace's arrival and the new chance to keep up with the spirit forests, he was fine with being left out. So he babysat Tonraq for that time. He was really sweet and cute. Ace hadn't ever been around human babies before, but he felt he was doing alright. He just told the baby tales about the spirit world, about his friends there and the history he'd accumulated over the billions of years.
Of course the little prince couldn't understand a word of what he was saying, though. It was fine, he didn't expect him to. And he didn't notice when Ace started to speak openly about his feelings on this matter. "I had been important before. Maybe too much. There was too much for only me to do. Now I want that back. I want to be able to do something that only I can do. I wish I still had my classes, but I understand why not. Doesn't mean I like it.
"I'm worried about my brothers. They said they'll retire to the spirit world at their death beds, but what if one of them doesn't make it in time? I should teach them how to meditate again, since neither has entered the spirit world since I went missing. Which was smart not to do." This baby couldn't understand anything Ace said, so he was okay just laying it all out there.
"But you're just a baby. You have no worldly problems other than not liking pooping your diaper, do you? Yeah, you got the easy life, Tonraq. But you'll be chief some day, so you'll be big and important. I'll teach you all about the spirit world while you grow up. I'm not going anywhere. It's clear I can leave for long periods of time with the humans being safe, but the spirits were miserable, and that isn't okay for me; I can't leave them to fall into that state again."
Tonraq fell asleep while he was talking, and Ace didn't know whether to be fond or insulted. Probably fond that he fell asleep to Ace's voice. Tonraq would have a real family. Remembering his own human one was hard, but he knew his mother was out of the picture when he was an older child, and his father was consumed by work and the need of approval by Ozai.
Well, at least Ace didn't miss them at all. He would miss Chief Arnook, who took him in and showed more kindness than Ace had seen besides Marco's feeding and comforting the traumatized dragon. He wondered what this body's father would think of the actual Ace. He was curious, truly, but would not try to find out.
After Tonraq was taken back by Neha after the meeting, Ace was asked what he wanted to do in life, now. What kinds of things were his new dream? So much had changed in the blink of an eye for him. But he truly was bummed about the chi blocking ban. It had been helpful for everyone, and now it wasn't practiced because of some bad apples.
"I'm not sure. Of course I want to keep tending to the forests - I have to. But I was also thinking that I could travel to other places for short periods of time. It took almost a decade for the forest to get into that shape without me. I don't want to travel the world or anything, though. And now there's the ships and all, so transportation is kind of useless."
He was meandering, trying to find an answer, but as he babbled, he just couldn't come up with anything. "It's different, so it's hard to wrap my head around. Well, what kinds of jobs are there now?" There was building things, manufacturing, repairing things, just different ways of living. "Is there anything I can do with my flames to help? Something only I can do?"
That had always been very important. Doing something only he could do instead of tagging along after somebody else all the time. "Well, replacing some light bulbs with flames would be helpful to start with. You could also teach gymnastics. You can still do all that right?" Ace wasn't sure, but knew he had still been able to chi block just fine.
His body and mind probably was perfectly conserved in the fog of lost souls. So, he did his gymnastics in the courtyard just fine, which was a relief. He really wished he'd been around when it was all developed, but there was no use wishing that. He needed to speak with Time about the deal of him keeping this body. He'd failed his job for nine years. The spirits were probably not impressed with him.
"I can try with the gymnastics, I guess. I don't know if it'll be any good or if I'll automatically try to teach chi blocking moves, too. This would just be recreational, though, right?" He nodded. Ace agreed to try a class. Working with people like that again would be helpful. More people had appeared here, so maybe more people would want to learn, and less would know about his chi blocking ability and classes all those years ago.
He promised he'd be back, but he needed to go to the spirit world right now, and talk to somebody important. Neha was not comfortable with this until Ace said he wouldn't go there physically. He'd meditate into it. So, he went to the safest room, the chief and chieftess's room to meditate with guards out the door and Marco on the bed watching over him. He meditated easily, and appeared in his normal spot, far from the fog of lost souls. Ace found Time easily, and was nervous to speak to him, the bird body in a nest of feathers and trigs. It was a huge nest, and he had a tea cup with him.
"So, you've returned, World Jumper?" Ace felt anger, that nobody tried to save him from that place. But Ace nodded. He had no idea how he ended up there. Right now he was in dragon form. "Perhaps it is best to not be a human body here. Nobody will get confused. Though the fog should be ashamed of himself." He said it all lightly, like Ace hadn't just missed a decade. "What have you come for?"
Ace didn't get to speak before he asked, "Is this about our deal?" The sun spirit nodded. "You broke your end. But my annoyance of that is dampened the the overwhelming amount of pity I feel for you," he said bluntly. Ace didn't say anything to that, even though it was annoying. "Our deal is not off. Now, go away, I wish to sleep." Ace gladly left the jerk spirit, and went home.
He came out of the bedroom, glad things were alright. He wasn't in trouble too much, he didn't lose his important deal. He told everyone, and they were happy his deal was still on. He felt he'd be seeing more of the chief and chieftess by living with Marco and Thatch in the palace. But that night they were given a new room for the three of them, who were all important to Yue's father.
