Trigger warning ahead of time due to some references to mental issues, PTSD and a brief reference to suicide. So just a heads up.
It had been nice to travel by Sky-Bison, after all the traveling by foot, ships, interdimensional transportation, it just felt good to relax, sit and lay down as the cool air breezed by.
All the other times the crew tried to relax, they knew time was limited before Dark Korra would inevitably arrive and cause more destruction. But having already been flying for two hours, with another who knows how many to go before they reach the Fire Sanctuary Temple, they all felt the gap in time between them and their possessed foe would be a benefit in the long run.
The three Sky-Bisons flew side by side, each animal carrying at least five people on their backs as they rode on their saddles.
Master Air Monk Tenzin, having always wanted to see the fabled Fire Sanctuary, volunteered to lead the way, holding the reins of Oogi, the sky-bison he controlled and favored.
Riding with him were Korra and Asami, who decided to sit against the side of the saddles, as they both needed at least some hours of sleep, holding each other's hands with Korra's head drooped over onto her fiance's shoulders.
Also along with them were Sami and One-Arm Kya, the latter of whom saw the former watch the couple sleep, seeing in the shadowbender's eyes that she wished that she could still do the same with her Korra and the child they lost.
"Hey, kid…" The bloodbender said, putting her hand onto Sami's shoulder, getting her attention. "I never got to tell you this a while ago, but… I am truly sorry for you and... your Korra's loss. I can't imagine the pain you both have endured."
The older woman understood that both had experienced different sides of losing a child, having never experiencing the tragic event how they did. But watching her own daughter, whom she never got to tell the truth about her birth, have her life taken away before her very own eyes…
This Kya had a close enough feeling to what Sami felt.
"Thank you." Sami began, remembering One-Arm Kya's own story of how she gave birth to her Korra. "I too am sorry we couldn't save your daughter."
The bloodbender put on a smirk, leaning her forehead against Sami's as she closed her eyes. "Thanks… At least like her old woman, she didn't go out without a fight."
That earned a small amused smile out of the shadowbender, the two sharing a brief but needed bonding moment.
"Like mother, like daughter."
"I apologize for interrupting…" Master Tenzin's voice rang out, getting the two's attention. "But I couldn't help but hear that you... had a daughter Kya?" He asked, trying to approach the topic as delicately as he could.
"I had one, yes." One-Arm Kya confirmed.
Master Tenzin lowered his head as he closed his eyes. "We may not be the same siblings, but I'm sorry for your loss too." The Master Air Monk said, choosing respectfully not to question how this came to be, or how she lost her. "I'm sure she was a wonderful daughter."
"OH, trust me, you would have loved her. In fact, you'd be surprised to find out who she grew up to be." The bloodbender said, getting a bit of a cheeky smile on her face.
"Well, you have me curious, who did she become?" Master Tenzin asked, wanting to know about the niece from another universe he never met.
At that question, One-Arm Kya quickly looked at Sami, a rather playful look in her eyes. "Should I tell him?" She asked in a teasing tone, only to get a similar smile from Sami.
"Have at it."
On the second bison, flown by Korra of The Southern Water Clan with Lady Asami sitting at her side, Bolin and Opal were already spouting off what ideas for their wedding they could come up with, already deciding it would be held in Zaofu.
"OH, yeah, your family makes some of the best food! Second place next to Pema's cooking, but it's close" Bolin noted, remembering what dishes of yummy food he had at Opal's home.
"Plus, considering most of my family lives there, they don't have to travel far. I hope your grandma and your uncle's family could make it without any issues." Opal said as her fiance shrugged.
"Eh, it shouldn't be an issue." Bolin shrugged off, not seeing it an issue until a big idea popped out of his mind with a smile as big. "OH, OHH, idea, chocolate fountain!"
Opal's eyes went wide at the idea. "I. LOVE. IT." She said, a hushed glee in her voice as she looked at her ring, still amazed she was going to be married before turning to Hattori, who had decided to lay on his back, looking up at the sky.
"And Uncle Hattori, as a Beifong, you're invited of course."
"While that is a lovely offer, you do remember that I'm not from your universe." The Chief from another universe noted, leaning his head up to look at the niece of his from the Prime Universe.
He was about to speak more when suddenly a loud "WHAT?!" rang out from where Tenzin was leading the charge, bit thrown off by the sudden voice increase. "Oh spirits, what did One-Arm just say?..." He muttered to himself before looking at the couple. "Also, from what you two and your crew said, I'm DEAD in your universe, remember?"
A look of sad forgetfulness then clouded the young airbender's face, turning away from the metalbender as a knowing Bolin tried to hold her hands. "Oh, you're right… sorry I asked."
Opal had forgotten that this wasn't the same Hattori Hanzo, or Hattori Beifong wasn't from her universe, the one she knew she barely got to know before his death. She remembered expressing the want to know him better at his funeral and even tried to look up his life before the first time he died.
Being reminded of her uncle's death, by another version of him nonetheless, put Opal in a bit of a dire mood.
Something that the metalbender had already realized as he saw Bolin try comforting her. "Hey, it's okay, we were all caught up with recent events, it's easy to forget." he tried assuring his love.
Even if this Opal wasn't the same one Hattori knew from his universe, he still felt instant regret for using the words he said. Especially since he had a close relationship with his niece in his universe.
"BUT… um, Opal…" Hattori began, trying to find the proper words as she saw Opal look back at him curiously. "If you don't mind me speaking for my other self, your uncle, I'm sure that if he were still alive, or even in spirit form, he would accept the invitation without hesitation."
Hearing those words and seeing this Hattori attempt to make her feel better did lessen the pain the airbender felt, giving a kind smile to him.
"Thank you."
The metalbender gave one back to her before something came to mind for their wedding. "Also, make sure there's an open bar, because you can't have a wedding without one." He said, sitting up to look at them better. "Sometimes they're so much better with them, like at Tarkik and Riaan's wedding-"
"Alcohol isn't allowed in our Zaofu, it's a dry city-state." Opal interrupted to Hattori's surprise as he blinked his mismatched eyes.
"What, seriously?"
"Since when?" Bolin asked his love as that was news to him before both him and Hattori saw Opal giving a giggle at their reactions.
"I'm kidding. That's a wonderful idea Uncle Hattori." She said, messing with the two who couldn't help but laugh at the joke before the happy couple, along with the Chief, began throwing other ideas for the wedding
On the last bison was Mako The Fire and Lightning at the reins, focusing on the quest at hand as it was mostly quiet with his other self and Thuy were asleep in each other's arms, as were Lin and Kya.
Then a loud snore rang out as the archer turned his head and saw Bolin The Magma Warrior also asleep, but snoring loudly, while also talking in his sleep.
"Opal The Wind Mage… you lift me… up…" The barbarian droned out before letting out another snore as his brother turned back around to seeing where he was headed, sighing.
Well, it was mostly quiet.
After some more time, and a break or two to use the little benders room, the three bison and those on them finally landed at their destination.
"Here we are, this is the place." Tenzin said, coming down carefully off of Oogi, petting it and telling the sky-bison to stay with its own kind.
"Huh, must admit, this is quite the spiffy looking place they got here." Lin admitted as she got down, both and the other travelers were in awe of the area near the ocean, seeing the Fire Sanctuary Temple up on a cliffside looking over the ocean, it's old stone structure looking to have been untouched in years, aside from some moss growing on it.
Miles and miles away from any sign of civilization, the area was quiet, all except the sounds of the trees ruffling and the waves crashing against the cliff.
In front of the temple was a large statue of a female clad in what looked like a robe, wearing on her head an odd shaped hat that wrapped around her head, only leaving her face uncovered as she held a large sword in her hands, it's stone blade pointing down, on the hilt was the symbols of the four elements.
"Woah..." Bolin The Magma Warrior said in surprise, curious. "Who's the big lady?" He asked as the large group approached the statue, looking at how perfect and precise the likeness of the statue was.
"That is Avatar Knight Hiromi, the founder of the Fire Nuns." Tenzin answered as both Korra and her warrior self approached the statue, touching the stone blade at the same time.
Both women had previously lost the ability to communicate with the past Avatar's before them, especially one going back as far as Hiromi. Yet both felt like they were meeting her for the first time, giving a silent bow of respect to their past life.
As this went on, something about the statue got Kya's attention as she tried nudging the armor of her lover, whispering. "Hey, Lin… are you two seeing what i'm seeing?" Kya whispered back to the female Chief, who looked at what the healer was staring at, Hiromi's face.
"This world's version of a past Avatar, big deal." Lin responded back as Kya shook her head, trying to adjust her eyes.
"I know my eyes aren't what they used to be, but we've seen that face before."
That got Lin's attention as she turned to her partner.
"Really? Where? Because no offense, but I think I'd remember a face." She said as Kya looked in a direction on their side.
"Yes, and it's been staring at us this whole time and we didn't even know it."
But before the metalbender could see what the healer was looking at, something was heard brushing up against the leaf's in the trees behind them, getting everyone's attention.
"Oh shite, is it Dark Korra?!" Thuy asked, preparing her metal stings in hand as everyone got in defensive position, with those from this universe preparing their weapons, including Tenzin who had his staff ready
But Sami's eyes, which had turned red as she formed up a shadow tentacle, stopped, dimming them before she looked at the others. "No, it's not her."
More sounds came from the trees, coming from different directions as the creaks of old door handles moving were also heard and grass being stepped on. Yet it wasn't known who or what was making those sounds.
"Then who is it?" Lady Asami asked her other self, her shield and sword in hand as Korra of The Southern Water Clan brought out her axes.
Before Sami could answer, another voice behind them halted them.
"LOWER YOUR WEAPONS!"
The voice was clearly female, aged, but not broken as the travelers all turned, seeing an older light skinned woman in attire similar to what the statue of Hiromi had on in brown and red colors, except for the odd hat, which was dark brown and white. Her dark gold eyes looked to have seen so many things over the years.
"This land is private, no trespassers allowed. Or else you'll be forced to leave, by any means necessary."
"Wait, are you a Fire Nun?" Korra asked, thinking it was best to lower her arms as she approached the woman whose steely eyes barely moved an inch.
"That depends, who are you?"
"I… I'm Avatar Korra."
The woman shook her head. "No you're not, she is." She noted with a point of her finger towards the other Korra. "And the title is Avatar Knight. Even then, why are you all here? We don't interfere with the business of outsiders, we expect them to do the same."
"We come seeking knowledge only the library your order protects could provide." Korra of The Southern Water Clan said, putting her weapons away, moving to her other selves side.
"Look Ms. Fire Nun, as much as it's nice talking out here, we're kind of in-" Hattori began stepping forward with his hook and chain in hand, only to suddenly drop down in place after feeling a chi point on his leg be hit before a set of hands grabbed him in place. "AH! FUCK!"
The Chief from another universe saw that said hands belonged not to someone not as old as the woman, but younger hands, with one holding him by the back of his hair and the other holding what looked like a knife made of fire in the other to his neck.
Everyone saw the culprit was a young woman in the same robe as the old woman, with only her face showing her age and light skin tone, a look of burning fury in her grey eyes at the metalbender.
"You will speak only to Fire Sister Doremi when she wills it!" The young Fire Nun said as Hattori held up his hands, letting his weapons drop as he spoke in a surprisingly timid voice, not wanting to provoke her.
"M-M-Message received."
"We're sorry to intrude on your land Fire Sister Doremi, but this is a vital matter where time is limited!" Tenzin insisted just as another Fire Nun blocked his path, but he gave a deep breath, a little caught off guard by this warrior holding up her own fire knife up to his throat. But he chose to keep talking regardless. "The fate of the multiple universes hangs in the balance."
"What do you mean Master Air Monk?" The old woman who seemed to lead the Fire Nuns said, her own curiosity starting to rise. "Clearly you all traveled quite a distance to get here, do explain-"
"FIRE SISTER!" The Fire Nun in front of Tenzin yelled out, her attention no longer on him, but towards Thuy who looked back, wondering why she was being singled out.
"Ahh… hi?" The metalbender asked before the Fire Nun approached her, making the fire knife vanish, looking at her face all over before saying a name.
"Hiromi…"
"Wha-What? Hiromi? No, my name is Thuy, that's-" Thuy tried saying before pointing at the statue, only being stopped when she saw the Fire Nun rush over to Fire Sister Doremi like a bolt of lightning, pointing at her as everyone turned at their ally who had no idea what was going on.
"It's her, she's… I think she may be...!"
Hearing this, the Fire Sister herself then approached Thuy as quickly as the young girl, even for her old age, looking deep into the metalbender's confused lime green eyes before looking all around as a rather surprising smile formed on her face.
"Lower your guard and let them through, FOR ALONGSIDE AVATAR KNIGHT HIROMI'S LATER LIVES, HER DESCENDANT HAS GRACED US WITH HER PRESENCE!"
With those words said, all the travelers began hearing different female voices chanting out the name of the former Avatar Knight before they saw all around them a large group of Fire Nuns approach them as Hattori was let go by the one that had held him at fire knight point.
Each of the women looked to be from different parts of the world, all seeming to be doing some odd hand pose as they stood in place.
"Okay, this is weird." Lady Asami muttered out at the sight as Mako looked at his girlfriend.
"Thuy, please tell me you know what's going on." He asked, only for the metalbender to shake her head, not able to put together any words in her mouth.
Trying to grasp what was going on, both Korra and Korra of The Southern Water Clan looked up at the statue of their former life, then at the poor girl they knew, both sharing the same face.
"Seems your friend, and I assume her doppelganger here, shares the same bloodline as our past life." The Warrior woman realized as did Korra.
It was silent since the night before, neither Dark Korra nor Sha-Garou spoke a word after what transpired in those stables.
As the fallen Avatar rode the ostrich horse down the grassy hill, following her Asami's energy, her thoughts went back to those two stablemen she was forced to kill.
She had no intention of killing them, not a single bit.
But that damn shadow spirit wouldn't take no for an answer and forced her to slay the two.
Dark Korra already knew about him controlling her body back in that animal people universe, but she had been knocked out. That she understood just fine, she was fine with that.
But Sha-Garou took away control of her own body while she was fully aware of what he was forcing her to do.
Making her watch as he made her hands shred those guys apart before they were even able to scream.
Dark Korra felt a horrible feeling, unable to do anything to stop what Sha-Garou wanted to do with her body.
It was Zaheer and the Red Lotus all over again.
"You should be careful when we arrive at the sanctuary…"
Now he wanted to talk, after what he did to her?!
"If these protectors of the temple are anything like The Fire Nuns of the Fire Blossoms Sanctuary from our universe, you may run into some issues."
The shadowbender had to stop her steed, closing her eyes as she felt her fire rise up once more.
"NEVER AGAIN…"
"Pardon?"
"What you did back there in those stables. You controlling my body, forcing me to watch you kill..." She opened her eyes again. "You are to NEVER! TO DO THAT AGAIN!" Dark Korra yelled out, venting out her hate and anger at the Shadow Spirit she was host to.
"I really don't think you have any-"
"NO!" She interrupted, having it with the spirit. "I accepted your terms, I've accepted your idea to be the ultimate Avatar, to take from others like me, I…"
The fallen Avatar wanted to say that she accepted having to murder those close to her…
… having to hurt Asami.
But she couldn't.
"I… did what I did to my friends and allies." She continued before shaking her head. "But I will NEVER condone you taking advantage of my body. When you did it, I felt…"
The memories of the mercury forced into her bare body by the Red Lotus to put her into the Avatar State flashed into her mind, along with what she had to endure for those three years to recover from the trauma.
She felt that helpless when Sha-Garou used her body.
"... I felt violated." Dark Korra let out, just finally getting it all out with a grim look on her face.
"I don't care how powerful you are, you ever even think of taking control of my body again without my consent, and I promise you, I will end things between us."
She awaited a response from Sha-Garou, only hearing the spirit seemingly take deep breaths.
"... Will you do it? Just end it all right there and then. Because I don't think you have the guts..."
Hearing that, the evil Avatar looked up at the sun, a look of unflinching stoicism on her face.
"You're the shadow spirit who can see into my mind, you tell me."
This piqued the evil spirit's attention, doing what she dared him to do.
Sha-Garou didn't like the answer.
"Right… shall we keep going?"
Dark Korra heard his words, the slight inflection as he said the first word, before seeming to turn the focus back to where Khu-Shui's shadows laid within Asami's spirit.
For the briefest of seconds, Sha-Garou was scared of not being in control and Dark Korra knew it as she gave a smug smile as she resumed her quest.
"Let's…"
The fire sister led them inside the sanctuary as the crew stared up at the high, ornate ceilings. They seemed to curve away from them, lined with delicate carvings and golden linings.
The women of the temple gushed over Thuy for a few more moments, obviously excited to be meeting a descendent of Hiromi. They tried asking her about her family, but it was obvious the girl didn't know what they wanted to hear, nor wanted to share the details of her parents deaths. She had never even thought she would be distantly related to an Avatar, to the nuns' disappointment.
Fortunately, Thuy did mean they treated the crew with hospitality and they brought them into what they called their Fire Chamber.
"You will meet the Fire Mother..." Fire Sister Doremi said. "She will decree how we might help you."
The crew gulped. After the unease introduction to the nuns, they could only imagine what the Fire Mother would be like. They weren't far from expecting to be cooked like rotisserie chicken mice.
They opened the grand doors to the Fire Chamber. The massive decorated wood opened slowly, revealing the large central hall where they held their meetings and prayers. The sides were lined with lecterns of fire scrolls and prayer books, and prayer mats were set up along the floor at the far end. In the center of the room was the most impressive piece - an iron statue of a dragon, with thin trickles of incense smoke coming out of its nostrils.
Standing with her back turned to the crew and studying one of the books splayed out on one of the lecterns was an older woman in a long red and gold robe, her long grey held up in a bun on top of her head.
"Fire Mother..." one of the nuns stepped forward, addressing the woman. "We have visitors. They seek our guidance."
"There's nothing here that could be of use to them." Her fingers traced the words on the worn pages of the book she was reading. "We're a spiritual sanctuary, not an oracle."
"Well, spirituality is kind of what we're looking for," Korra said, "your... err... your motherness?"
The Fire Mother was not impressed by that in the slightest. Without even turning around, she waved her hand. "Take them back out."
"This one is a descendent of Avatar Knight Hiromi, Fire Mother." Fire Sister Doremi stepped forward, leading Thuy with her.
At that the woman hesitated for a slight moment, before slowly turning around.
The eyes of each of the adults in the crew widened. They hadn't seen this woman in what seemed like ages. She had been gone for such a long time in each of their universes, the other crew members were too young to have even met her before.
"Azula?" Master Tenzin said, his voice a mere whisper in shock.
"No way…" Korra of The Southern Water Clan whispered back in equal shock, having heard stories about the wicked former Fire Princess of The House of Ozai before it was renamed as The House of Zuko. The mortal woman who almost ended the Avatar Knight lineage. "I thought she was dead?"
"Welcome to the club." Lin whispered back.
The Fire Mother sighed. "Yes. Hello, Tenzin and-" She frowned, looking at the younger members of the crew and the other adults. There was something strange going on. "And the rest of you." She took a moment. "I think you have some explaining to do."
Sami stepped forward. She knew the drill. "I can explain everything, but what we were looking for is something on shadow spirits. Let's say, if one were to corrupt an Avatar, how might we defeat it?"
Azula raised her eyebrows. "That's... the last thing I expected. But I think we may have something on the topic." She closed the book she was looking at before turning back towards the crew. "Follow me to the library. We'll find what you're looking for, and you can explain things on the way."
"I'd say the same thing about you," Master Tenzin said. "I'd have never thought you would be here after all this time."
Azula smiled. The glaring look in her eyes never faded with age, but at least this time she seemed less evil and more playful. "World's full of surprises, Master Air Monk." She walked across the room, heading towards a door on the West side of the grand hall. "Follow me, and we'll talk more."
Hattori looked at the Fire Mother with skepticism. "Yeah, you guys go ahead with her without me." He eyed the comfortable looking prayer mats. "I need to rest for a moment."
One Arm Kya had to agree. "Me too."
Everyone else didn't seem to mind, and they followed Azula and a couple of the nuns through the doors and down the corridor, while the Chief and the bloodbender stayed behind.
"I'm getting old for this," One Arm Kya joked. "Multiverse this and shadow spirits that."
Hattori chuckled. "Right? Give me a break."
They rolled their eyes together. It almost felt like they were back in their world, neck deep in some police investigation, but even then there would be moments where they would take some time to relax. They did make a great team after all, nothing was out of their reach in Republic City.
"We have rooms for you to rest in." One of the nuns walked up to them. Her dark eyes gleamed in the light of the great hall.
Hattori raised his eyebrows. "Oh great spirit of Yue, that would be great." He nudged Kya with his elbow. "They've got something for us oldies."
The bloodbender pushed his arm away. "I call dibs if there's only one. And you're like a year older than me."
"Hey!"
The nun smiled. "There is not just one room with beds."
"I'm not complaining, he snores." The one armed bender snarked to the man with the mismatched eye's annoyance.
"That was one time when we were undercover!"
They followed the fire nun and a few others back the way they came as they took them down a different corridor. The Sanctuary seemed enormous, so it was no surprise that they would have room to accommodate people besides the women that already lived there.
"Your temple is really beautiful." Hattori said, trying to strike up some conversation. "Do you have a lot of visitors round here?"
"No..." the nun replied. "But it's nice when we do."
Kya scoffed. "Didn't seem like it at first."
"There are things we need to protect ourselves against." The Fire Nun, who looked to be from the Earth Kingdom from her tanned skin, noted to which Hattori gave a bit of the famous Beifong snort.
"Explains the pleasant welcome."
"I do apologize for Fire Nun Jun, she is quick to violence."
"Eh, no big deal, I've had worse things shoved into my face." The chief waved off.
"PLUS, since you're not a threat to us," The Fire Nun turned round at the two of them, a smirk on her lips. "There's no reason we shouldn't welcome you."
The bloodbender looked across at the Chief. Something was off. She didn't sense anything wrong about the women's energy around them, but the way the nun was talking seemed strange.
Hattori on the other hand didn't seem to have a problem with it after clearing things up. If anything, she saw a slight smile lingering on the corner of his mouth too.
They all perused the shelves of their impressive library. The columns of books stretched far above their heads and climbed up and down ladders to reach the top ones. The Fire Mother had an astonishing collection, dating back to some of the first books ever written in this universe.
After having explained the situation of what Dark Korra and Sha-Garou had been doing to Azula, along with revealing they were gathering an army among the universe to end the spirit, it was now the Fire Mother's turn to talk about how she came to the Sanctuary.
"It was some time after posing as a Kemurikage," Azula started saying. She ran her hand along the edges of the books, still looking for something to help the crew as she was telling the story. "I had done some questionable things, some I won't apologize for, but the one that came to bite me in the rear was that."
Korra was up on the ladder, passing a couple books down to Asami below her. The engineer skimmed through them, but they were unfortunately useless thus far.
"Posing as a spirit seemed like a good idea, especially to bother ol' Zuzu into maybe being a proper Fire Lord, but it doesn't come without its consequences. We didn't realize it at the time, but it wasn't long before my visions came back."
None of the youngsters knew what she was talking about, but Master Tenzin, Lin and Kya could vaguely remember Aang, Katara and Toph telling them stories about what happened in their respective universes.
Azula's visions had ended some time after the war, but they never heard about them coming back.
"It was those damn spirits..." Azula chuckled and shook her head. Her laugh sounded as sinister and out of place as it always had. "They were angry. It was ironic. They were meant to haunt Fire Lords but instead they came to haunt me. It felt like a taunt almost, but I realized eventually it was because they were angry."
Tenzin knew a few things about the Kemurikage - wicked, masked spirits that were feared in the Fire Nation, but he was thankful to never have encountered one himself.
"Some would say I deserved it," she hesitated a moment. "I would say I deserved it."
"Understatement of the fucking century…" Lin mumbled to herself as she passed along Lady Asami to grab a book, handing it along to Mako and Thuy to check out along with Bolin and Opal checking out books they grabbed.
The remark didn't escape the former Fire Nation Princess who gave a quick glare at her as she kept searching.
"But the visions of them were worse than anything I'd experienced before and I no doubt was going to die. It was a new type of insanity that I couldn't handle anymore."
She picked up a book, squinting at the cover before putting it back on the shelf as Azula remembered stumbling upon the Sanctuary during a bout of madness, catching sight of the fire nuns and the woman who held the title of Fire Mother before her who all knew what she was enduring.
"But coming to the Sanctuary saved me. The nuns here knew everything there is to know about spirits. They taught me not to fight the Kemurikage, but to appease them."
"If they know spirits, can't they just tell us about Sha-Garou?" Bolin The Magma Warrior asked.
"We don't study shadow spirits too much here," Azula replied. "They're mischievous, and they rarely receive our prayers."
Sami could hear Khu-Shui agree in her thoughts.
"Last time I heard a prayer, it put me to sleep." the spirit said, and the engineer held in her laugh.
"Anyway, I decided to stay." Azula carried on. "It was the most peace I've had in a long time, helped me finally see reason, mend certain fences with those I had pushed away, and eventually I worked my way up." She turned towards the crew, a slight smirk on her face. "Don't I always?"
Tenzin and Kya almost chuckled. As different as she looked, she was still the same Azula they heard about.
"I'm sorry you went through that," Master Tenzin said. "Being tormented by spirits isn't something I'd wish on anyone."
Azula nodded, thankful to hear that for her.
Their search for a useful book seemed to be fruitless, until a nun came walking round from another row. "Fire Mother!" she said. "I think we found something."
Azula turned her attention to the fraying book she held. "Shadow spirits," she smiled. "Just what we were looking for."
The fire nuns had shown Hattori and One Arm Kya to their rooms. Hattori's was first, and one of them unlocked the door for him, letting him inside as the bloodbender was led away to her room by another.
The Chief took in the sight. It was a nicely arranged and neat bedroom with a desk and various reading material. The bed was made, and the sheets looked...
"Oh, yes please!" Hattori exclaimed, plonking himself down onto the bed. It was as soft and comfortable as it looked and his head sunk deeply into the pillows. "It's like sleeping on a cloud..." He closed his eyes and sighed.
"So I assume you like the bed?" The Fire Nun who had led them there asked in a knowing tone as he laid face first into the pillow, loving how it felt against his face.
"My bed back at home is harder than a rock and the only sleep I've gotten in hours was on the back of a Sky-Bison, so… FUCK YES."
When he looked up again, he saw that the Fire Nun was still there, lingering by the door which she closed behind herself. Her dark, piercing eyes looked straight at him, which Hattori had to admit seemed a bit out of place.
"... ah… Are you expecting a tip out of me?"
"Would you enjoy some company?" she asked bluntly, her eyes not leaving his.
Hattori felt himself blush slightly, something not unusual for him but he was taken by surprise. He blinked twice, registering what she was trying to ask.
"Company?"
She nodded once, taking her unique looking hat off and letting lose her long dark hair. She ran her hand through it before looking back at the Chief as she gave him a longing look.
"Yes, for the entire night."
Hattori couldn't help but gulp. But before he could dwell on that too long, he answered her. "Sure."
There was a beautiful woman asking to keep him company. He was born half blind, not stupid, he would have been foolish to say no after all.
The Fire Nun smiled as she approached him, undoing the buttons to her robe as Hattori watched.
"I never gave you my name, I am Fire Nun Shali."
As she came up on the bed with him, the Chief wondered as he began metalbending his uniform off, for a split second, whether someone had asked Kya the same thing.
The bloodbender couldn't say she didn't like the state of the room. It was nice, classy and clean. There really was nothing to complain about, if it wasn't for the way the nun that led her inside was acting. She couldn't help thinking something suspicious was going on.
Not helping the Fire Nun's case was the Fire Mother and who she was.
"Thanks," she said. "This is fine."
The young nun tilted her head, that damned smile still on her lips. What was she smiling about? What was she hiding?
"JUST fine?" she asked.
Kya couldn't help but squint at her tone of voice. Why did she say it like that?
"Yes. It's fine… whatever your name is."
The woman wasn't letting up. To Kya's surprise, she reached and took her hand gently. "Fire Nun Hisako. Is there something I could do to make it... better?"
Kya looked down at the intertwined hands then back up at the fire nun. She felt her blood rush to her face. "What... What's happening?"
Hisako ran her thumb along the back of the bloodbender's hand, before running her fingers slowly up her arm. "It's just a question..." she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Is there something?"
Her eyes searched Kya's face for an answer as she looked at the fire nun, her expression frozen. She was coming to the realization that maybe... maybe just maybe the nun wasn't being suspicious after all. Was she just being... flirty?
"Err..." she tried to come up with something to say. At first she wanted an excuse, something to get her out of this, but the more she thought about it, the more she thought maybe she didn't. The woman regarded her with questioning eyes, her pale skin looking more beautiful in the warm light. The bloodbender had no idea what to say.
Without a clear answer, the Fire Nun hesitantly pulled her hand away, respecting Kya's uncertainty. She didn't want to pressure her into anything.
"You can call for me later if you change your mind," Hisako said with a wink, turning and heading for the door.
Kya took a deep breath. Perhaps in her youth she would have said yes, but now she just didn't feel so wild anymore. She was still in contact with Reiko, but their relationship had dwindled some time ago.
Ever since then, Kya never had another lover, or at least any real ones. She didn't want to think that she had been holding herself back, so she always blamed it on her age.
She looked at the woman as she opened the door to leave.
And yet it was the Fire Nun that had asked her - age, missing arm and all. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with it after all.
"WAIT, Hisako..." she said, and the nun stopped, turning back towards her. "Maybe... maybe there is something."
Her smile was back on her face, but this time Kya was glad to see it as the Fire Nun approached her, removing her odd hat, revealing the short slicked back light brown hair she had hidden under it, a look of interest in Hisako's eyes as she leaned in front of Kya, whispering into her ear in a husky tone.
"Do tell me as you are our guest…."
The aged hands of Azula slowly opened the book in her hand, being as delicate as she could be as she touched and moved the brittle pages. It seemed as though this was one of the oldest pieces in the library.
"Wonder how come there aren't any books like these today in proper condition…" Asami noted as the former Fire Nation Princess lifted her head.
"My great grandfather Sozin in his last years as Fire Lord ordered any and all books and scrolls pertaining to the subject of certain spirits to be destroyed. It's said he decreed it as to demoralize what Airbenders remained, making them easy pickings…" She explained, looking through the book, seeing such old drawings of different figures surrounded by a black void.
Among the black void she saw was what looked like six dots of red looking down at the figures like eyes.
"However, I doubt that to be the case as one night, I remember spying on my dear uncle speaking to grandfather, my name sake…" Azula began explaining, remembering when she couldn't sleep and decided to roam the palace as everyone slept, or so she thought. "Uncle Iroh believed that he sensed a shadow spirit in his presence after the Siege of Ba Sing Se where my cousin Lu Ten died under his service"
"Do you think he was telling the truth? That a shadow spirit was… "Interested" in your uncle?" Master Tenzin asked as Azula simply shrugged.
"My uncle and I never really saw eye to eye, among other things." She began, slightly wishing in hindsight that maybe she could have had a better relationship with him.. "But if there was one thing I knew for sure about him, especially in later years, he NEVER took the matter of spirits lightly."
With another flip of the worn pages, Azula saw an image of the same figure as before, but with red where his eyes would be, weird shapes of black coming from the shadow it cast. "He told my grandfather that the day of his greatest shame, amongst the corpses of those who perished, a shadow spirit came to him, offering the chance of getting revenge on not just the armies of Ba Sing Se, but the entire city, for the death of his only child."
"But obviously, he didn't go for it. Clearly he didn't give in." Lady Asami said as she watched the Fire Mother nod in agreement.
"Iroh told his father that he didn't accept it's offer, having been told by Sozin in private when he was younger about 'Wicked spirits'. Those that could offer you much power, but at the expense of your body and soul. Seems the old man's words stuck with him."
"If what you're saying is true, Sozin didn't have anything telling about spirits destroyed to scare Airbenders into drawing themselves out…" Korra began before her warrior self finished for her.
"But because he was too scared of the true monsters, those worse than him." Korra of The Southern Water Clan explained, both finding it rather funny that such a cruel and vicious ruler was scared of something.
Like even thinking of the possibility of his former friend Roku coming back to seek revenge from beyond the grave.
"One man's fear is another's weapon. It goes both ways, remember that." The old woman smirked before noticing something. "I may have found something interesting that may pique your interest…"
Carefully taking the open book in hand to a nearby table for the others to see, Azula pointing out some text.
"The text here is a bit hard to translate, even for someone like me, but here's what I can make out." She said as she began moving her finger along the pages, reading out the words as best as she could. "Spirits of shadows be not like mortals… Even when defeated, no matter the method… another form, they shall be reborn…"
"Aww! So regardless of how much we kick it's butt, we can't kill Sha-Garou?!" Bolin cried out.
"I'm not finished yet, YOU INANE DRIBBLING-!" The Fire Mother began to insult him, about to raise her hand towards the earthbender and set him aflame…
… but nothing came out of her fingertips, not that it didn't stop the Earthbender from flinching.
Azula had caught herself just in time making the same old mistake of hers, lashing out at others for minor offenses, lowering her hand as the others watched her slink back into what she was now…
An old woman who had to work her way into one form of power after losing what she had.
"Apologizes…" Azula's voice came out in a small meek tone before clearing her throat, resuming reading the text from where she left off. "Only two ways could the cycle of the Shadow Spirit be ended… Either by its opposite, the Bright Spirit, one said to be formed from the light that shines from the stars in the night sky... or a sacrifice."
"Okay, that first one shouldn't be an issue. We can go back into Republic's Gate, go into the spirit portal there and find us a Bright Spirit." Kya explained, remembering that in all the universes they've seen, there has always been a spirit portal in Republic City.
But just as Kya began giving her idea, Sami felt her head go light and lower before it rose back up, the red and yellow eyes revealing Khu-Shui in control of her.
"There lies a small issue with that idea…" The Shadow Spirit explained, knowing everyone wasn't going to like she said. "Bright Spirits themselves were driven into extinction."
"WHAT?!" Lin yelled at the spirit, approaching her. "The one surefire thing to snuff out Sha-Garou, and it's extinct, I call bullshit!" She called out as Khu-Shui sighed.
"Well, it's not bullshit, I should know…" The seemingly eternal being said as she crossed her arms, pointing at the book. "Because the same rules apply for Bright Spirits, either a sacrifice or a Shadow Spirit can end their life cycle…" Then she closed Sami's eyes, not wanting to admit the truth, but she had to.
"And in my universe, all the universes, the Shadow Spirits overwhelmed those of bright, including Sha-Garou…" The spirit felt Sami's lip quiver and shake, feeling her heart beat fast like her own.
"And myself. I helped commit spiritual genocide on a whole race of spirits…"
Seeing the looks of silent disbelief from everyone in the room, Khu-Shui rose up Sami's hand, causing the shadows cast all over engulf the library, surrounding everyone in the darkness as they all saw what looked like a bright wave of light forming before it began moving around them.
"Woah..." Opal was all she could say seeing the spirit, knowing that Jinora and Bumi would love to see one.
"That's a Bright Spirit, the most innocent form of spirit you can ever think of." Khu Shui's voice said as both Korra's saw the spirit swirl around them, almost innocently, seeing it's eyes weren't six red ones like a shadow spirits, but of a calm blue of three, it's voice like the echo of a Manatee Whale as it kept moving around.
Even Azula, who always strove herself to never showing weakness, was in amazement and awe at the beautiful spirit as it moved near her direction, like it knew she was sitting there, wanting to touch it as she felt her old eyes water at something so majestic.
But then a sound unfamiliar to her groaned out behind her in a twisted manner, causing the Fire Mother to turn and see what looked like a being of black sickly ooze spill onto the ground. Six red eyes, looking mischievous, flicked around them as the room grew cold.
Everyone else in the room however knew that sound all too well.
"And that is what I truly am, a Shadow Spirit…" Khu-Shui sadly said as Azula along with the others watched the vile being move itself on the ground, like an infection as the Bright Spirit seemed to flow near it.
That's when the Shadow Spirit sprung itself onto it's enemy, causing the kind and innocent spirit to give a deathly scream of pain as it flew around, trying to get the monstrous spirit off of it as it whined for help.
But it was no use as the Bright Spirit fell defeated at the feet of the shadowbender, who watched as what she was absorb what remained of the bright spirit into the shadows of it's being, a single tear rolling down Sami's eye.
"That was the first Bright Spirit I killed..." She said, looking at the others, sensing their horror.
"But it was just a matter of simple survival for a young Shadow Spirit, like a cat hawk catching a chicken mouse, nothing more. What the others did however was just pure sadism..."
As if the traumatizing memory wasn't enough for everyone to witness, similar battles between both forms of spirits were seen all around the crew and the Fire Mother, all witnessing the attacks.
While the Bright Spirits attempted to fight back, some even managing to defeat their more evil counterparts, it was too much as their screams grew louder and louder as Khu-Shui, both the spirit in Sami and her old self, watched the chaos unfold, her own six eyes watching in confusion that grew into terrifying realization at her fellow spirits exterminating the beings of light without remorse. Or even reason.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, two bright spirits remained, one seeming to be in front of the other as they made sad but loving sounds to each other, as if it was a male protecting it's female, looking up at the many shadow spirits looming above them, just playing with their prey in a sick game as they made disgusting sounds...
… with one of them sounding awfully a lot like Sha-Garou.
Opal had to turn away into Bolin's arms as did Lady Asami into her Korra as the larger group descended onto the two, feasting upon their enemies like savages.
Khu-Shui too closed Sami's eyes, not wanting to witness the sight again as her former self seemed to have cried out for the Bright Spirits, trying to save them, but the other shadow spirits pushed her back.
It was even worse to hear as the young shadow spirit now sounded like she was repeating three words in the voice of a small human girl.
"STOP IT! PLEASE! STOP! PLEASE! STOP IT!"
Then the shadow spirit opened her host's eyes again as the shadows and the evil spirits they came from vanished, everyone back in the library.
"Seeing an entire race of spirits being slaughtered, unable to help them was what drove me away from my own kind, Sha-Garou's kind. I couldn't live with the fact that I just stood by and didn't try to help until it was too late, that's how I made my contribution to their extinction..." She said before looking at Lin.
"That temple in the Spirit World you, Korra and the others found me in when trying to save your brother, that's where I hid since then, in shame, watching so many of my kind force themselves into the human world, corrupting men, women, children, all as a sick replacement for the prey they annihilated." She then looked at those from this universe.
"Each version of me in a universe, we're a hive mind, a single entity spawned from the first universe, split into many pieces over the years, thousands of years as far back as Avatar Wan."
Looking up, Khu-Shui could hear Sha-Garou's wicked laughter in her mind. "The only other shadow spirit it happened to was Sha-Garou…" She then lowered her head to look at both Korra's. "He sees what he does, corrupting humans with his powers to take revenge, as his only goal in life, to watch what misery and suffering he causes with glee and lust. I thought that by helping you and your friends defeat him in all the universes, that'd be it. But in your universe, only his physical form was gone, not his mind which spread out to another new universe spawned from yours, the Prime universe, where he had a new goal as he realized the same was happening there…"
"He made sure that I became Dark Korra in that universe." Korra realized, shaking her head, her eyes tearing up and her nose sniffling at this. "He ALWAYS planned on corrupting her, just as some fucked up form of entertainment."
"And he waited patiently, waited for her to slip up and give in..." Khu-Shui explained before looking at the two Asami's. "Sha-Garou knew he had her once Guan caused Sami to lose her and Korra's unborn baby."
"Dark Korra energybending other Avatars, it's not to increase her power…" Master Tenzin began to explain, realizing what was up when Azula herself finished for him.
"It's so Sha-Garou could have more control until it's impossible to remove him when he possess full control of her body, allowing him to keep playing with the other universes. A clever idea I hate to admit." The former villain said, having to give some form of credit as much as it disgusted her to say it.
"How would you know all of this?" Mako The Fire and Lightning asked Khu-Shui, sensing there was something else the spirit wasn't saying as did his brother who approached her.
"Did you know this was going to happen?!" Bolin The Magma Warrior asked.
The shadow spirit nodded. "Yes, yet the part of me from the Prime universe, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't interfere directly in the matters of Sami's universe…" Then she remembered the visit her other self had gotten from an old friend.
"But she had an idea, one that…" Khu-Shui began, giving a small smile at both Korra and her warrior self. "An old airbender friend of yours wondered about."
"Avatar Knight Aang?" Korra of The Southern Water Clan said in shock as Korra herself had a similar, more silent response.
"My father, you spoke with my… our father?" Kya asked as she looked at the other version of her brother as Khu-Shui nodded with a smile.
"He questioned my other self's choice in helping out, knowing Sha-Garou's evil escaped. But my other self told him he worried too much…" She said before turning back to Korra. "That the Prime would bring the universe's back into equilibrium."
Then Khu-Shui looked down at Sami's hands, remembering what the other part of the plan was, one she never shared with her host before.
"My other self told me to save Sami after Dark Korra left her for dead after killing her friends and allies. That my interference in Sha-Garou's plans would lead to her coming to the prime's universe, where we'd then go universe to universe, getting as much help as they could from each one until they found out the one and only way to put an end to his madness... even if I had to force Sami to fight against the woman she loved."
Giving a deep breath, Khu-Shui spotted a mirror that happened to be hanging in the room, seeing on the reflection her red and yellow eyes where Sami's light green ones would be.
"Sami, I know you're listening, but I'm sorry I kept this from you, using you as my tool against Sha-Garou. But this whole journey, it made me realize what it's like being human… to make mistakes, to regret them, to feel loss… to learn from them and better myself… I just hope you have it in your heart to forgive me."
With a close of her eyes, a different voice came out.
"I forgive you Khu-Shui." Sami said in a soft voice, opening her eyes, having heard and seen everything the Shadow Spirit spoke of.
As no one dared to make a response after all of that, Sami herself took it upon herself to look at Azula, approaching her. "What was that other option you mentioned? The only other way to stop Sha-Garou and my wife?"
The former wicked woman saw in the Shadowbender's eyes, even as she seemingly showed no fear, there was something else in there, she knew what it was, the regret of having to make a painful choice to save others.
"A sacrifice. That is, apparently now, the only way to stop Sha-Garou."
"That'd mean perhaps… having to kill Dark Korra while he's in her." Thuy realized as did the others. "You said it yourself Azula, a sacrifice is needed, Dark Korra is that sacrifice."
"Thuy, do you know what you're saying?" Mako asked his girlfriend who felt aggravated having to say what she had to say.
"Look, while there's been plenty of signs that the old girl is still in there, you've seen Sha-Garou when he's in complete control. And we've seen what he could do in control of THE FUCKIN' AVATAR!" Thuy explained, not wanting to say this, knowing how horrible she felt to say this, even about a evil version of a friend, turning to Korra.
"I'm sorry love, but it's too much of a risk to keep her alive, even with trying to have you or warrior you energybend that shadow spirit out of her."
"Huh, you are very much like your ancestor." Azula was able to snark in her usual style, only for Thuy to turn and point at her in anger.
"ZIP IT, YA' BAG OF BONES!"
If she was her old self, Azula would have killed this girl on the spot, even if she was from the same bloodline as Hiromi… but now, she had to give the girl some credit for standing her ground and mouthing off to her, something which she wouldn't allow even the most loyal of Fire Sisters to do, not even Doremi.
"Azula, doesn't that book say anything else, like any other way to save Sami's Korra?" Kya asked, her hands on the table as the Fire Mother shook her head, pointing at the book.
"I'm sorry Kya, but that's all the book says, that only two things can stop a Shadow Spirit. And since option one got thrown out the window…" She explained before feeling… a feeling she never felt on a regular basis, regret as she turned to look at both Korra's as she saw their respective lovers hold onto their hands.
"All you got left is option two. You NEED to kill Dark Korra while Sha-Garou is still in her."
"Can we… I mean… can I really?" Korra of The Southern Water Tribe began trying to say, the idea being crazy. "Okay, look, I may have slayed my fair share of creatures on quests before, but, this is so…" She tried to say, looking at Korra, hoping she'd have something to say, but she too was conflicted on the choice being laid out.
"I'm not entirely sure myself, I've had my own many chances to do similar deeds, but-"
"No, we have to do it…"
Everyone had turned to Sami, who had been staring into the air since the whole debate began. "As much as it hurt me to say it, in order to free my wife from Sha-Garou's influence and be rid of him forever..."
She then took off one of her metal gloves with the crystal on it, seeing the wedding band on her finger given to her by her Korra on their wedding day.
"... we have to kill my Korra."
Words that stung Sami's throat as she tried to make peace with the idea, yet with each passing second, it was getting harder and harder to accept even knowing it seemed like the only option left..
Just then, a loud crash was heard from above the ceiling as dust fell from it.
Everyone in the room knew what that meant.
"Damnit, she's here!" Sami yelled out before noticing along with everyone else Fire Mother Azula rising up from her seat, those evil gold eyes of hers shining like she was young once more.
"Since you all lead her here to this sanctuary, NONE OF YOU will leave the premises until either you make her retreat, you kill her or you die by her hands! Do I make myself clear?"