Longer chapter this time!
"I have to stop it. I don't know if I can control it!" Ace's voice called. "Let me stay here a week. Then let me back out. It's just to stop it. Okay?" The fog spirit agreed, and Ace stepped into the foggy area, losing reason immediately, though his mind stayed blissfully blank as he stood there, looking down without a hope to leave.
Just for a week, it should help.
Ace woke up in a cold sweat, and rolled over. The beds were more comfortable now, it seemed. Maybe because this was palace furniture and they were in a bigger, nicer room. Marco heard his ragged breathing and tossing and turning, coming down form his bunk to see Ace. It had been a week since his return, and he'd adjusted as well as he thought he could. He was mostly teaching kids gymnastics, which he felt he was doing alright. A place was even built in the courtyard for added protection against injuries.
Of course the children failed spectacularly, but he'd been through this before, and gave them stretching exercises. Tama was older now, fifteen, but gladly took this class, though she wished she'd been able to learn chi blocking before the practice and classes were stopped not too long after Ace left.
She cried about seeing him okay, and he promised her he wasn't going anywhere for that long anytime spoon. "Don't worry." But he knew that dream was a flashback. He hadn't had them in a long time, as he'd remembered everything about himself and his life, so flashbacks were useless. But, why did he willingly go into the fog of lost souls, only for a week that turned into nine years? What on earth would make him so such a thing?
Ace went into the bathroom for all the guards, the bigger bathroom with showers, and he approached the mirror. Maybe there was something wrong with him that he could see? He took off his tops and shirt and turned around, looking for anything that would give him a clue. He went to his room and closed the door.
The room the three were given was a guest room for other royals, like visiting higher ups from the southern tribe. It was still not in the best condition, but had been built up very well. It was functioning and just existed much better than at the end of the Hundred Year War. He grabbed the sink in irritation when there was no difference in appearance, at least.
But when he grabbed the sink, it disappeared in his hands in a shimmering light. It was just no longer there. He looked at his hands that were glowing an ethereal pattern, nothing like his fire. It looked like the spirit portals from the outside. He immediately went back to his room and meditated, searching for the sink, and finding it right outside of the northern spirit portal inside the other world.
"Hahahaha, looks like everything isn't going well! Haven't seen you in awhile," Vaatu mocked. Ace ignored him, and found the sink, lifting it up and seeing it was unharmed. Not broken or burnt or damaged. He walked out of the spirit portal. Well, he tried. He was bounced back, which deeply alarmed him. But then he felt stupid that he had meditated himself here, he hadn't gone through physically. He came back to his body, he went outside. It was later, the sun setting, dinner not started and Marco still doing his work. So Ace was alone to explore this new thing.
He went to the courtyard, and transformed into a dragon, imagining the air in front of him warping and his flew right through it, appearing over the ocean in the spirit world. He landed in the water, the shallow water, with a thud, and looked back up to the portal before flying to find Mother.
She was in the same place she'd always been. She watched over everything there was, so why move locations? "Mother."
"Sun, I've missed you."
"Sorry, I was in the fog of lost souls. I went in there voluntarily, apparently." He sounded troubled. "Since then -" But she interrupted him, saying she'd seen his issue. "Then what is it? How do I control it? I can't just accidentally send things to the spirit world all the time."
Mother said, "You've forced your body, both spirit and human, through the closed spirit portals too long. It's damaging you, and this affect has come from your entering and exiting though the portal." Ace furrowed his brows, sitting as a dragon, not knowing how he was supposed to fix that. "You've become your own spirit portal to conserve your health."
Ace said that shouldn't be possible! "Well, it is what it is, sun. You were doing to much to that body through a closed portal. It's dangerous." Ace had been doing it for months before, why now? "Well, it wasn't 'now', it was only a year after you first started your mission to tend to the spirit forests. You're going into the fog was sadly useless, it seems. You put in that work and effort, only to be trapped and having nothing helping come from it. I am sorry, sun."
"But… how do I control it?"
"What were you lacking to know the truth, to handle yourself, what you were? Why did you ask to forget, sun?"
"I couldn't handle it mentally. I was broken."
"You were void of confidence in yourself. This power will only be controllable if you think it is." Ace asked if other people could go in with him. "Humans could never go directly into the spirit world through the portals to begin with, and it is more dangerous for them to do so. So I wouldn't try."
"What about on accident?"
"Are you large enough for them to fit inside of you?" No, they weren't. "Be grateful for this, sun. your body won't be under such stress. You may have not noticed it before, but it was making you ill. Why you isolated yourself. You knew that. It seemed being in the fog erased some of those memories." Ace told her about his dream, where he went into the fog to stop something from happening.
"It was your sickness. And from that sickness, this happened. Do not worry so much, sun." It was hard not to. He turned around and saw a hole just the size for him behind where he'd been sitting. He walked through it and it disappeared behind him once he was back in the human world, in the courtyard.
This shouldn't be possible, he wasn't that strong a spirit. Right? He was confused. But if this was the treatment to not have his body damaged, maybe it was a good thing. He just didn't want to send anything living to the spirit world. Well, he was glad he couldn't send anybody living into the spirit world. He could hold their baby and not risk him being taken into the spirit world. After all, a portal could not take humans if it was not open.
If Ace was an open portal, he would have a different appearance. He just knew he wouldn't send living people in there, and it was a relief. Ace found Yue first, walking with Tonraq, slowly so he could keep up while he held her dress for stability. "Ace," Yue said happily to see him. "How did your first day of gymnastics go?"
"It wasn't as exciting or fulfilling as chi blocking," he said honestly. "It just feels like a hobby, not something very important."
"I can see that feeling. But it is good we don't need chi blocking as we have nobody to use it against but for criminals by guards and law enforcement. The war is over, and nobody will attack this place without being frankly foolish and doomed to failure." Ace was happy about that. He was. It was good news that fighting wasn't necessary, but still. He'd enjoyed teaching chi blocking because of how determined they were to get it right.
And it was satisfying whenever one of them were able to master it. Tonraq waddled over to Ace, who picked him up. Looked like the boy took a liking to Ace quickly. "I have some other news. It appears I can't safely go into the spirit world through the portals." Her face turned into panic, so Ace continued quickly. "So, the remedy - somehow - is that my body is my own spirit portal."
The woman was confused. "I don't know, but it was to keep me healthy. I didn't think it was possible, and it's a bit unnerving. But it will only work on me, I can't take others with me. So, I can hold Tonraq just fine." He had him joined at the hip, while he sucked on his thumb.
Yue looked relieved everything seemed under control. "He really likes you," she said while Tonraq reached up and started to pull on Ace's beads in his hair. "That's why I had to take off any jewelry. Ace, I really missed you," she said quietly. Ace felt bad he couldn't say the same.
He looked down, and said, "To me, I never was separated from anybody. It feels like everyone aged nine years within one day for me. It's jolting and makes me uneasy. Things are very different in just nine years."
"Things indeed have changed a lot in the last few years after the war ended. Like the world was grinded to a halt, and then suddenly just started rapidly improving and changing," she admitted, agreeing with him that things were very different. "But you'll get used to it quickly. I know that, you're good at adapting. To be honest, I think you'd be fine to travel to other places.
"Nine years of that forest not being tended to didn't upset the human world." Ace felt but didn't show he was offended.
He honestly said, "Those are like my people, my family. They were turning dark and miserable. I won't let that happen to them again. I won't travel far away and risk leaving them to sink back into darkness and misery." The chieftess seemed to realize her mistake, and apologized for sounding heartless. "I know what it felt like for them. Turning dark is scary and painful. You want to come back to the surface, but it's like you're sinking into mud or quicksand, barely keeping your head above the surface, but unable to move."
Yue seemed surprised that Ace ever turned dark. "Yeah. My appearance and current body is human, but it wasn't like this always. Not at all, only just the last 19 - well, 28 - years. I want to stop any spirit having to go through such a thing."
"Is it possible for you to turn dark here? In the human world?" she asked quietly. He was truthful with his answer. He knew she wouldn't react badly to it.
So, Ace nodded. "I don't know how much, but when I was in the southern forest, and things were dark before I cleansed it, I felt the anger from them, and it started to make me angry as well until I left. If I do go dark, ever, just stay away from me, okay? Make sure nobody goes near me. But I'd like to try and teach somebody how to fix dark spirits, too. Not just me."
"I promise to do everything I can to keep you from harming anybody or anything, even if it means abandoning you in the forest." Ace thanked her, and Tonraq peed in his diaper. Yue took him to change him, and Ace gave him a small, delicate flame to hold in awe.
Since they didn't use fire much in the water tribe, Tonraq should be able to admire Ace's fire without being exposed to dangerous fires and thinking they were safe. It seemed to be the ultimate toy and distraction for hours before he took a long nap. Ace liked that his fire could be of use in such a tiny way.
Marco and Thatch came running to him once thor work was done. They were scared Ace would disappear again. He assured them he wasn't going into the fog of lost souls again. "Huh?"
They were in the lounge area of the palace. Where gatherings were before feasts or meetings. There were soft seats there. "I think I went in there on purpose, planning on it only being a week. To keep my body from being destroyed. Looks like I went through closed portals too much and it took a toll."
"You never told us you were gone or sick!" Thatch said angrily. The youngest said he didn't remember what lead up to it. He hadn't meant to stay so long. "Then, you aren't sick?" he asked in worry. Ace shook his head, and explained about how Mother explained him becoming his own spirit portal. "You're really overpowered, Ace."
"No, he's not. This only happened because his body couldn't handle the strain of going through closed portals," Marco said, and smiled at Ace, just glad he was okay. It proved Ace was human, even if he wasn't. Ace nodded, glad he was seen as vulnerable to them, not invincible or overpowered.
This new ability was only to preserve his health of this body. "Why don't you guys have any partners? Isn't it lonely? I don't know what it would feel like, but is it because of me?" he asked quietly, fearing the answer a bit, in case his absence cost them the will to find people to love. They both shrugged the worry off, and said it was nothing to do with him.
"We both decided years ago that we wouldn't continue the blood line and most potential partners would want children." Ace was shocked he didn't know this before, and asked why they would feel that way, not want a family. Ace knew what siblings felt like with his planet spirits, and then Thatch and Marco. But not love or anything of the sort like that.
"Well, mostly out of worry of harming the kids if we ever had them. Hereditary disease that skipped a generation it seems. That's how Pops died. His case was lucky and he lived a long time, though he had health problems. We just don't want that to happen to somebody else when we can control it." Ace's eyes widened, and he demanded to know why they didn't say anything. "It was only discovered after you were gone with some medical knowledge from the Earth Kingdom. We didn't keep any secret," Marco explained patiently.
Thatch added, "We weren't interested before, but now we definitely don't want to."
"I'm sorry. You must be sad."
"Not at all! It actually gives us and excuse when someone asks why we don't have kids. It's expected to have children eventually, after all. That gives us more time to spend together anyways. And when we're dying, we won't be leaving kids behind to go to the spirit world," Thatch said brightly. Ace was glad they weren't so upset about it, but then asked if they wanted to adopt. "Shhh, don't ask that or others will point that out, too."
Ace chuckled. "Okay, I won't say anything about it." Marco asked if he'd ever want kids. If he was fully human. "No. I don't think that would work at all. If it did work, it would only complicate things, and I can't deal with a kid or anything when I constantly leave to the spirit world. Looks like we'll be alone forever." He was joking, but Thatch shot him down. They had each other.
"And when we go away some day, you can have a new family. Besides you'll be able to visit us all the time!" the chef said sincerely. Ace wondered what it would be like to have more people he was close to. Who would eventually die, too. "Everyone dies, Ace. Everyone here will die, but you won't let that ruin your time with us now, right?"
"I guess. I try not to think about it, but now that we have a plan about not being permanently separated, I feel much better. That I'd see you both again, and you didn't leave me forever," he finished quietly, with a small smile on. They both returned the smile and gave him a hug. He apologized for going missing, and promised he'd never have that happen again. He would always be in spirit form when he was in the other world, just out of precaution.
He was so happy they had a plan. And both of them were skilled, even after a long break, of entering the spirit world on their own, without his guide.
-x-
"'Ssss!" Tonraq said, holding onto Ace's hand while he was treated for an illness going through the tribe. It was completely treatable by healers, but it didn't mean it wasn't uncomfortable. The three year old was worried. Ace wasn't contagious, it had been through contaminated water that it spread.
But he had a mask on regardless. "Don't worry, I'm just fine. Marco is treating me," Ace assured him. He'd latched onto Ace in an almost ridiculous fashion, wanting to follow him around everywhere, even when Ace was in the bathroom, he sometimes cried outside the door, running off from Yue while she was distracted.
Marco gently moved the toddler out of the way so he could finish the process. It was very uncomfortable because he had to move the healing water into his body through his mouth, into his stomach and lungs to heal the damage.
Any other nation could not treat this disease. And only the most skilled healers could pull off this feat. Not long after the uncomfortable stuff happened, Ace sat up, completely healed, but ordered on bed rest for the day. "See? I'm just fine. I just have to sleep to get full better." Tonraq held his little hands up for Ace to pick him up.
"He's too attached," Marco said in amusement. Ace agreed. But since Ace had been a baby sitter to him for awhile, he got too attached too quickly. He rarely left Ace alone when he was in the palace, when he wasn't places the toddler wouldn't find him. Tonraq wanted to rest with Ace to make him get better.
Ace sort of wished Yue would make him let Ace get his own sleep, but she was fine with it, and Ace was willing to see if he could stay quiet enough for Ace to rest. So they went to Ace's room, and he laid on his bed, the comfortable, wonderful bed, with Tonraq snuggled into his side. "Remember, you have to be quiet so I can sleep, okay?"
"Mmhm!" Ace ended up falling asleep for two hours, with Tonraq laying next to him, also sleeping. He actually let Ace get bed rest when he needed it. After Thatch came in with some food, he held his hand to his mouth at the cute sleeping toddler. Ace carefully sat up, the boy stayed asleep, while he ate.
Even when Ace could get up, he didn't want to wake the napping toddler, so he read a book. Something called a "printing press" was made and Ace wished it had been around when he and Marco wrote the first book ten years ago. Ace was in the process of writing more books in detail about the spirit world.
He'd even begun the tale of the first Avatar, Wan, and how he fought against darkness. The whole thing was being written, which would be a very thick book. After Tonraq woke, his tummy rumbled. "You were a very good boy by staying quiet. I feel much better now." The toddler smiled in pride, and Ace took him back to Neha.
He didn't insist on following Ace back, so that was nice. Ace went to the office, and continued the books he was writing. God this was much more convenient than hand writing. He spent three hours type it onto paper that would be glued into a book cover to protect the pages, like a leather journal.
Doing small things like that that would end up helping many felt really good. Again, it was something only he could do. And it was a great feeling, like how he felt with the chi blocking. Even if he didn't have a lot of people paying attention to it, it would further help the water tribes that live near the spirit forests.
-x-
A heavy dragon thudded onto the courtyard ground, which was stone, too now. Not just compacted ice. Zuko had managed to find his own dragon, and the Fire Lord used him to travel the world to do his duties of restoring peace, or just going around the Fire Nation as transport. Convenient transport.
Ace was standing there, smiling. Zuko was older now, as well. He looked at Ace before running to him and hugging him. Nine years had passed between the last time they spoke or were in one another's presence. Ace hugged him back and the leader pulled away, confused as to how Ace was the same age as he was the last time.
"I got trapped in a part of the spirit world for all that time, never aging. To be honest, it was just a day I missed, not a decade," Ace explained. "It's a long story. But I have something to tell you. I found out about Iroh's passing, and I offer my condolences."
Zuko smiled at the memory. "He lived a happy life in his tea shop. I just wish he could have done so much longer." Ace grinned, and Zuko thought it was inappropriate, with a disapproving look on his face. After all, Ace was grinning about his uncle's passing.
He said, "Well, he's still serving tea, just in a different life and world. I met him in the spirit world. He went there and let his physical body die, so he now resides in the spirit world, brewing tea for traveling spirits," Ace explained. Zuko's eyes widened in shock and then relief. So, his uncle was still happy where he was. "Meeting him was a relief. That means Marco and Thatch can do the same, and I won't lose them forever. Would you like to see him? I can take you there," the sun spirit offered. He was surprised with the response.
Zuko was smiling as he declined. "If I saw him, I think it would bring the hurt. I'm who I am today because of his death and legacy. And I've never been good at meditating, let alone actually making it into the spirit world." It was a very mature response, and to Ace, it shocked him. Only a year had passed for him. But it was nine. Zuko had grown more mature, of course.
Ace sighed and shook his head. "To me, it's like you just turned into this mature person in a year. It's so... weird," he said simply. Zuko felt sorry for him, it was clear. But at least it wasn't even longer. Everyone Ace cared for was alive, even if they were now all older than him. Ace turned to his dragon, and asked where he'd found him.
"He was an egg when I found him. I went to see the old masters again, years after they taught me to firebend better. Druk took a liking to me when he hatched, so I kept him," he explained honestly. Ace held out his hand for him to smell before he rubbed his scaly neck. "I'm really glad you're alive, Ace." Ace agreed with a nod. Tonraq came running out of the palace doors, but was picked up and taken back inside screaming.
"He's kind of obsessed with me," Ace said simply. Zuko chuckled, never having though Ace would be good with kids. "Yeah, it's a surprise for me, too." Then he changed the subject. "How is the restoration project going? Must be taking up a lot of time and energy." He didn't mean it in a snarky voice.
Zuko said, "Sorry for burdening you with keeping the spirit world under control. Ten year passed without you and nobody did anything about them. I knew Aang feels bad about it, but has been busy. I can ask him to help out here, more. But, the restoration project is taking time, though it's improving. We have kept this to ourselves, but I feel like I can tell you." Ace's brows rose.
"We're thinking of taking the land with all of the fire colonies that earthbenders are mixed in with, both nations' peoples wanting to continue to live there, and turning it into a fifth nation that accepts all people. It would be the best way to treat those in the mixed areas, while also letting all walks of life mingle and become familiar," the firelord explained. "The counsel thinks its a good idea. The earth king and myself agreed to the terms. I'm actually here to speak with Neha and Yue about it, get their opinions, as water tribe people would be welcome, as well."
Ace lead him inside, and walked him to where the ruler was. Neha was not in the palace at the moment, but Yue was. She was sleeping on the couch, Tonraq being babysat by someone else to give her some rest. She had a book over her eyes and looked like a normal, exhausted parent.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just taking a rest while Tonraq naps," she said in slight embarrassment. "It's good to see you again, Firelord Zuko." She meant it. Zuko returned the sentiment, and he explained the plans for the next step in uniting the world, and Yue did have some reservations. The way to that area of land was dangerous to sail.
"That is why we're giving you new trade routes down the Quxong river that comes out at the edge of the United Republic of Nations. It's at the Yue Bay, which is very safe to sail in." Yue still worried about her people branching out. Nobody said a thing about he bay and her name being the same. It was a coincidence. But they were nearly untouched by the war, and it might be uncomfortable. "Any progress in uniting the world is good progress. We'd like people of all nations to come, and for water tribe people to be there as a ruler, too."
Ace was surprised when Yue turned to him and asked what he thought. He didn't feel it was his place to speak out, but he was asked his opinion and he'd gladly give it. "I think it's a good idea. Besides, it'll only be people who want to leave. Not mass migration of the water tribe. The population has boomed as well, so losing some might be beneficial.
"And having water tribe officials there could spread our culture and share them with others. I think trying something new like this will be good for the world in general. After all, we were cut off from most of the world during the Hundred Year War. Now we can reunite with them further," Ace explained. "But it's your choice whether to join hands with the other nations."
Yue thought for a moment before she agreed with Ace's view. "Okay. I have to talk to my husband first, though. He's away at the moment, though. But he should be back, soon," she added. "Oh..." she sighed when Tonraq ran into the room screaming, completely naked. She went and got him, going to get him clothes.
No wonder Thatch and Marco didn't want kids. Look how exhausted Yue was! "Should I worry at all about Azula?" he asked. "Ozai lost his bending." Zuko promised he wouldn't need to ever worry about Azula again, and Ace trusted his words. Then they both heard some cracking, ripping sound and headed out of the palace.
Ace saw a bright light in the sky, and grew concerned. It was a beam of light. Somehow the spirit portal had been opened. He flew there immediately, Zuko following. When he landed he saw spirits peeking out of the forest. Ace had a feeling this wasn't the time for the worlds to meet.
Nobody was ready enough to continue rebuilding society and having to deal was the mass addition of life that were the spirits. "Wait, go back! It's not the right time," he called, trying to convince them to go back. But Ace was just another spirit, and couldn't hurt them. Some hugged him, and sounded excited about being out in the human world.
Zuko looked uncomfortable and worried. They should have had Aang come sooner to take care of the portals in the way Ace couldn't. Ace turned to Zuko and shouted at him to get the Avatar. Now. He got on Druk and left as fast as possible. Ace turned back to them, and tried to get all of them to not head towards the water tribe.
For now, they should live in the areas that were deserted. But the tundra was uncomfortable and boring. They wanted to go somewhere else. Ace erected a fire dome around himself and them to keep them inside the forest. "Please, everyone, this world is not ready for the spirits to come back! Think of when Harmonic Convergence comes! What if the darkness seeps out and into all of us!? We can't all be free right now!" he insisted.
"Well, when can we come out? Ever?" a familiar voice asked, holding a kumquat. Aye Aye! Ace admitted he wasn't sure. "Well, while the human world is being rebuilt, wouldn't it be the best time to come, and they can rebuild it with the addition of us?" he challenged. "It isn't right that you get to stay out here but nobody else can."
Ace pointed out that all of the spirits that had come out had turned dark. "But… they came out when it wasn't good for us! Now that the spirit portal is open, we'll all be fine!" Ace bit his lip, not knowing how to reason with them. He was not their boss, he was just another spirit. A strong one, but still one of them. There was nothing official about him but to protect the forests and the portals. "You aren't the Avatar, you don't have a right to boss us around."
"I know. I don't want to be the Avatar. But I just want to keep the spirits safe and healthy the humans as well. Everyone deserves to be safe and happy, even if compromises were to be made. "Will you stay on the continent until Aang arrives?"
"That Avatar has ignored the spirits completely! He only went in it for speaking to his past Avatars, not meeting the majority of spirits! He's no bridge! He abandoned us!" Ace frowned, understanding their frustration. Humans could meditate into the spirit world if they were enlightened enough, but the reverse could not happen but for coming out dark. But with the spirit portal open, they could come out freely. Come and go.
And humans could enter the spirit world as well. Ace knew both sides of the argument were completely sound. And he couldn't force them back on his own. He would try to reason with them, but forcing them was not something he could or would try to do. "Is the same thing happening to the southern portal?" he asked. But he was told it was only this one. That was good.
But what caused it? Ace had just been turned into his own spirit portal when he wanted because it was damaging him. But was it doing the same thing to the portal? Ace did go through this one far more often than the other. He waded through the spirits and took a look at the spirit portal. It wasn't completely open. There was a large rip in the middle, and that's where the light was coming from and how the spirits got out.
It wasn't open or closed, it was halfway for both. It must have been damaged. Was it from him? Was he selfish, going back and forth because he could, and it ripped open the portal? He felt helpless as the spirits wandered away or flew off. He could do nothing to stop it, so he let them leave.
There was no way he could plug it up. If it even could be. Ace headed back home. It wasn't night time, so it was easier to see the spirits flying away. "Sun! Is this where you live?" A eel spirit wrapped around his neck. He said he went by the name "Ace" now, and that this was his home.
"I'd like to keep the spirits out until the Avatar gets here. It will make the humans panic, and we really don't want that." He was asked whose side he was on. The humans, or the spirits? "I… I want both to be separate but happy, too."
"We're happy, but curious, too! You like the human world so much, and bring them in, so they must be interesting and fun! There were the two men and then the woman. And Iroh makes tea, so the human world has to have a lot of tea!" Ace felt bad even more. Setting unrealistic standards. Using the spirit world as a tourist spot. He wished somebody had told him that was wrong. Mother or Time should have told him.
Instead of being set straight, he was given more responsibility over the spirits that he realized was not for him. It was for Aang. But they were right. Aang had entirely neglected the spirit world. So distracted and saddled with the fate of the whole human world. "Did the Avatar ever visit while I was away?"
"Nope! Nobody else came in but for the tea maker." Wait, it hadn't been over and over! Ace had been gone almost a decade, which was a decade of not touching the spirit portals. Was it not his fault, maybe it was gradually happening? It had been abandoned for 100 years, maybe it was fraying the entire time.
God, he hoped it wasn't his fault. But as a spirit, Ace could see the anger and irritation of being seen as second class citizens, almost. With Aang favoring the human world. He was doing well, and had been doing well, at restoring the world, the human world. Not the spirit. Maybe if Ace had been the one to train him with fire, he could have instilled knowledge about the spirit world and its importance.
Maybe he'd messed up being stubborn about fire. Ace was thankful that the spirits didn't step foot into the city or its limits, but that didn't stop them from flying overhead to get a good look of the place. Due to Ace, those who knew him and trusted him nine years ago were unafraid. But the children were scared, and people who believed Ace abandoned them doubted.
It was the minority that disliked Ace for being gone, but they were a vocal minority. Even just now, he could tell by the looks and shouting. Ace landed at the palace, and his family were asking what the hell happened. "The spirit portal ripped open. There's a big tear in it and spirts started to come out. I asked Zuko to bring Aang, but the damage might be done."
"The portal can't close?!"
"No, I mean Aang's image, it might not improve without drastic action. The portals have been neglected and ignored for over 100 years. Despite my couple months of trying to preserve them. The southern portal isn't in this state, luckily," Ace muttered. He wrung his hands, and Marco drew him aside.
He asked what was wrong, looking concerned. "The spirits have unrealistic expectations. When I brought you both and Yue into the world, it was to show them around. And Iroh is a good man, and made them all tea. They've seen only good things, few though they are, in the last century. A century with no upkeep on the portals, it's bad. I just never noticed it because I didn't care about humans for a long time. Didn't care about the portal or anything."
"So you think they'll see all the humans as tea makers and explorers?" Ace shrugged, but he had a bad feeling. "Well, Aang will fix it, soon."
Ace frowned. "The spirits are angry with the neglect. The moment things were stabilizing in the world, the Avatar should have gone to the spirit world, not just to get advice. But its been ten years, and has he gone to the spirit portal even once?"
"No… he hasn't."
"They think Aang abandoned them and doesn't care. The first Avatar set the bar very high, and none since then have been able to meet it. And with Aang having been gone 100 years and then not visiting the moment he could, he's probably ranked the lowest. I never personally met the other Avatars if they did come."
"Why?" Marco asked. Thatch walked over.
"Because I disliked humans. And I knew they just tossed fire around and everything. Nobody could live up to the only human that I thought was good, so I sort of just ignored everything having to do with them," Ace explained honestly. "Now I'm worried about their safety. My friends must not recognize me at all."
Ace looked up at the many spirits in the sky, flying in circles but not past the shore. None were heading off of the continent. He hoped Aang would get here quickly. Maybe it wasn't too late. But Ace had a feeling it was. At least, to have everything worked out with both sides relatively happy and on the same page.
It was two days later that Aang and Zuko made it back with Katara only. They all were older, nine years older. Aang was older than Ace was now, when he had been much younger before. But Ace didn't let this train of thought last long. Two days of the spirits getting impatient about staying - but keeping their word to stay for Ace - was stressful.
Ace had the urge to blame his kinds' upset all on Aang. But he was the Avatar and Ace didn't want to be a jackass. "So what's happened?" the man asked. He wasn't a kid anymore.
"The spirit portal ripped open, and spirits have come out in curiosity. They all say you've abandoned them, and they're angry. But angry spirits aren't dark spirits, don't confuse the two," Ace said firmly. Aang frowned and asked what had happened since then. He looked serious and worried. He should be. "I've managed to talk them into not spreading off the continent, but that's only because they knew me and like me."
"Will they listen to me?" Aang asked.
Ace shrugged. "The spirit portal and world have been neglected for 100 years, which wasn't all your fault, but the last ten years… you've been more focused on the human world that you've ignored the spirit," he said, trying not to sound offensive in anyway, he was just being honest.
"Will you talk to them with me?" Aang asked.
"I'm another spirit, Aang. I'm not happy with it either. I've done my best to keep them under control, but it's gotta be you to convince them all to trust you and do as you say." Katara asked where he'd been for all this time, but the way she said it gave off no feeling of impatience or annoyance, accusal for not being there. She just sounded concerned and confused.
"I got stuck in the fog of lost souls. Basically, I stood around and did nothing for nine years, trapped in some fog," Ace said bluntly. "It feels like I was there for one day, so it was alarming to see it's been nine years."
"Well, it's just good that you're back," she said sincerely. She got off and Aang asked for Ace to come with him. Ace got on Appa, same as Zuko, to seem less threatening. On their way there, the two outsiders saw just how many spirits had wandered out, and how spirit world fauna had started to spread out of the forest. Vines were creeping out, despite the tundra and climate.
Zuko said, "That's a lot to convince to go back home."
"If they can go back home. It's true that I've neglected that side of my duty. It's my fault," Aang said. Ace didn't dispute this. They landed outside of the forest, and Ace changed into his dragon form to make sure Zuko stayed safe. Appa waited outside, surrounded by curious spirits. They had to almost wade their way through the sheer amount of other worldly creatures that popped out to check out the human world.
It was on Ace's request that they hadn't completely branched out to the rest of the world already. When the three arrived at the portal, the two humans saw the extent of the damage done to the portal, as the edges of the tear were now a black color. As if a wound had gotten infected. "What would happen if we let them stay out?" Aang asked.
"Then Vaatu has more power to turn this world dark. If he can reach the outside spirits, they will wreak havoc on humans, even if they don't want to. So it's really serious and important you get them back," Ace explained. "I think that it would be fine for them to stay out, the world would adapt, after Harmonic Convergence."
Aang looked troubled. His next incarnation would be the one to face the spirit of darkness. He couldn't do anything against it in his lifetime. "What would happen if we cut the worlds apart for this time?"
"That would be stupid, to be frank. You can't trap spirits away from the spirit world or they'll grow dark," Ace said.
"So what do we do?" Zuko asked in a dark voice, serious and recognizing the severity of the situation. Aang wanted to gather a meeting with them all. So Ace flew above with them and asked for them to return to the forest so they could speak, as an assembly. Ace refused to have them lured back into the spirit world and then be trapped that way.
They had to agree to terms to return and stay. So, they all gathered in a huge crowd, looking above at the levitating Aang on an air ball. Ace stood in the crowd as a spirit so he made sure they knew he was on their side in this. They were neglected and he thought their reasons for leaving the spirit world were not unreasonable.
"Sprits! I'm the Avatar, and I'd like to formally apologize for neglecting you. You're also my responsibility, and I've failed for 110 years. I will strive to do better, and it was not fair for me to name Ace as a guardian, as he is one of you as well."
"Yeah! You made Sun stressed out!"
"It's Ace, now."
"That's his human name."
"Sun is a spirit!"
"C'mon, let the Avatar speak!" It already wasn't going well. Ace sat as a dragon, though by far not one of the largest spirits gathering. It clearly made Zuko uneasy, the massive ones that were bigger than his dragon. Those that were larger than Appa would be intimidating if they weren't fluffy like a long haired cat creature.
"I vow to be better for the spirit world from now on, but you must return to your world. At least until Vaatu is imprisoned again and there is no threat of his resurgence, affecting all of you and the human world as well."
"You just want us out of your hair!"
"Hehe, he has no hair."
"Good point! Sorry."
"That's not true-"
"It's the next Avatar who will have to deal with Harmonic Convergence! Not your problem!"
"No- the next Avatar is me. And they will have to face Vaatu, but it doesn't mean I can't make their effort easier. For that, for their success, and therefor the stability of our own worlds, I ask you to all return to the spirit world indefinitely."
"Why does Sun get to stay? Why can't we all stay? Sun has gone dark, too, you know! It's not only us affected, he will be, too!"
"And I know that. I'm not planning on being in the human world on Harmonic Convergence," Ace said awkwardly. "I will return to the spirit world until things are stable." There was infighting about playing favorites because Ace was in a human body. If he were a regular spirit, he'd be corralled back into the spirit world, as well.
Aang said Ace had proven to be an ally to both of them. "But perhaps he could stay with you awhile, too," Aang said slowly. Ace's head jerked up. "If Ace were to go back with you, would you all stay until Harmonic Convergence is over?" he called. Many were angry at the others for making Ace unhappy. But some pointed out that it just wasn't fair. He was only allowed in the human world because he was a strong spirit.
Ace was very worried. "I have family here," he said firmly. "Am I supposed to wait around for sixty years while they age and leave me behind?!" he demanded, angry with the others now, as well. "You waltz back in here and want to force me to stay away out of convenience instead of figuring out how to communicate and get to know the spirits you are supposedly supposed to care for?"
"Yeah! Ace has a life, too!"
"But its not fair!"
It really wasn't helping now that Ace was upset, too. It seemed nobody was on Aang's side anymore. He'd offended or pissed off the majority of the spirits listening to him. "But you said so yourself. You can turn dark as well, Ace. You can be a danger, even in human form," Aang pointed out.
"But I won't be! And if I am, I've already asked for my family and friends to lock me away if anything starts to happen to me. They agreed. I have safety precautions in place!" Aang said that wasn't just for the other spirits wanting to stay. The worlds should stay separate for now. Fully separate.
"You of all people should know how I'll feel coming out sixty years from now, Aang. Having everyone you love age or die before you even get to say goodbye?" Aang didn't wince, but just looked so sad. Ace's heart plummeted. "I was the bridge you couldn't be, and I may have disappeared for nine years, but that's not 109 years! I took up your job! And now you're going to force me to leave behind my friends and family?! You appointed me as the guardian over the forests!"
Ace was furious and scared that he'd be separated from his family. His brothers would leave him, grow up and Ace would just be a distant memory. Somebody they knew for just a little over a year. A year in their entire lives, Ace would be a forgettable blip.
"And it was unfair for me to do that. I should have been keeping peace and balance but I wasn't. And now you have to pay the price for my ineptitude." Ace felt fury and fear completely. He was angry at this man for exiling him when he was the one who fucked it up in the first place. It was Aang's fault that they were angry and this needed to be done in the first place! If he'd just done his job for the last nine years, then Ace would be fine, and the spirits would be happy and not upset.
He balled his fists and took many deep, calming breaths. He wasn't going to give them any reason to make him go away. He'd dealt with human emotions a lot and never turned into a dark spirit.
"It was unfair for you to be able to come out of the spirit world when others couldn't."
"What about he ocean and moon spirits? You want to shove them back into the spirit world, too?" Ace challenged. Aang didn't have a response to that. The ocean and moon spirits were necessary, Ace could be in the other world and the sun would still burn. He'd been in that fog, and the sun had been fine. As if Ace was not needed for the sun to burn. It felt like he was insignificant sometimes.
"That's different. They are permanently here. Maybe taking a human body was the wrong thing to do," Aang said. Ace was very upset. "For the sake of everybody in both worlds, for now, we must separate them. I'm sorry, Ace."
He should have just not called Aang here. The world could have worked it out. Now Ace doomed himself to leave behind his life, duties and family. Friends and everything. Ace flew off while the spirits went back into the portal. "Ace!" he heard Zuko call, who got in a heated argument with the airbender about the decision.
Yeah, Aang sort of turned into the bad guy? lol. See you next week! Only two chapters left.
