Interlude: Spiritual disruption
The young woman was nervous, partially because she wore traditional earth nation attire. If it had at least been the cotton padded armor of a kyoshi warrior she would not have felt a lot more secure. Avatar Korra was used to speaking in front of large crowds, but she hadn´t spoken in front of a parliament before. She was the bridge between worlds and no bloody politician like Tenzin! Of course, her mentor had written a speech for her but Korra could not memorize the neatly filled pages. Her body servant was preparing a rather complicated hairstyle that involved silken bands, an overly ornate headpiece and long strands of attached horsehair. At least she was able to decline the elaborate makeup Mai had proposed. Korra would not have survived the multiple layers of powders, salves and heavens knows what that the high society smeared all over their skin. The avatar stared at her lacquered nails that shone a radiant purple, the color of godliness and high standing. She despised purple! The last two months had been very stressful and slowly Korras nerves were wearing thin. She was travelling without stop and even if she was used to a life on the roadside, she definitely was not used to holding speeches in front of booing audiences. The people of the earthern nations were an unhappy and cynical populace, even if just the lowliest of peasants were honest enough to express these feelings. They distrusted anything – that much the avatar had found out. There were many that, more or less, mourned the fall of Kuvira and the end of their nation's militaristic expansion. On the other hand, a similar amount of people wanted their godly emperor back, or at least a godly queen if said emperor preferred singing bad jazz songs over ruling his nation! While the countryside bumpkins did not even understand what she was talking about – even if they held far too much respect for the godly Miss avatar to voice their lack of understanding – this was not the case for Ba Sing Se. And she was in Ba Sing Se now! The citizens of the great city obviously were more interested in democracy than the rest of the kingdoms. That might´ve been the case because a lot of scholars, officials and wealthy merchants were living here. Huge crowds assembled in front of the earth palace, which now was called the "palace of the people". They were waiting for the public debate of the parliament, which was held twice a month.
Meanwhile the Avatar was looking in her teachers notes. Tenzin hadn´t written complete sentences, how was she supposed to make a fluid speech out of this mess! "Please hold your head straight your godliness!" the servant chided Korra in a motherly tone. She obeyed the command, while heavy jade needles were shoved through her hair. Now she wasn´t able to continue checking the notes of her former master. It took a felt eternity until the servant concluded with a polite "I am finished your godliness." "Finally!" Korra blurted while she stared at the strange woman in the mirror. THAT definitely was not her! The woman's hair was twisting and turning like a heap of brownish sand-vipers held together by meters of silver-wire, four jade -needles and an ornate headpiece that contained more diamonds and agates than the treasury of the southern water-tribe. She wore a completely purple robe that contained so many brocade-strings that it´s weight would have driven Korra to her knees if she hadn´t done her fair share of exercise. Nevertheless, the robe, and the five layers of undergarments, also shaded in differing tones of purple, led to her feeling like visiting a sweating hut. Her servant left the room, bowing deeply with every step. It was astonishing how Mai managed to precisely find the artfully carved wooden door while walking backwards. Korra sighed deeply as the servant had exited. Her travels to the earthern nation had turned out to be fundamentally different from what she had expected. Tenzin had been quite on spot with his rambling about etiquettes and formalities she severely lacked. Now she was painfully aware of that. The influential people of course were not taking her serious because of such trivialities. Korra rose, while the tiny plateau shoes, which easily were three times as big as common women´s shoes in the nations, still primped her toes together in a quite unpleasant way. She rose with trippling steps, nobody would be able to walk normally in these things, which made the avatar at least three spans taller than she was.
A servant entered in the dressing room. "Your godliness. The Dragon of the north, our high General Tang Il Sung requests to bath in the godlinesse´s beauty!" the man bowed deeply. "I´m awaiting the ahm.. the handsome and dignified master of Tang Il." She waved her hand as dismissively as possible. She still looked more like a tomboy swatting away an imaginary fly than a lady of standing. Damnit, Korra had had no idea that it could be so difficult to behave like some pampered noble girl! Luckily her dark skin prevented her from blushing. She hadn´t ever called anybody a "handsome and dignified master" in her whole life, but royal Guang Zhu was bursting with such embarrassing phrases.
An invitation to a garden party read itself like a bloody romance novel in these parts of the world! The general entered in well measured, small steps. He was by no means a handsome master, Tan Il Sung was not much taller than Korra. He had a large belly, a round head and broad features. However, he was a well-mannered and educated gentleman. This was more than could be said for the majority of the nobles the Avatar had met so far. If she had any direct political power she would have sent most of these pricks into labor camps to teach them some humility and decency! He bowed perfectly. "Your godliness." There was a hint of a smile playing around his lips. "You look like a princess under blossoming cherry trees." He responded undoubtedly referring to one of the innumerable poems every noble had to recite in his, or her, youth. The Avatar tried to repeat the bow but wobbled unsteadily on her feet. "Uah.." she was waving her hands around like a helpless toddler, while trying to regain her balance. The general caught her hands and steadied her without his expression changing slightly. "I suppose your godliness should not bow in the current attire. Such requires long years of training. Since your ancestors originate from the southern wastes nobody will expect you to behave like a lady of standing." The general responded in a neutral voice. "Just who came up with these stupid shoes!" Korra fumed in a hushed voice. The general still kept a blank face. "They became fashionable roughly four hundred and seventy years ago as the seventh concubine of…" Korra interrupted the general.
"Please Sung, not NOW! I´ve got to speak in front of the friggin parliament – on the radio! And I´ve no bloody clue if the guys will throw stones or cushions at me! I´m in no mood to listen to your monologues about long dead concubines right now!" Korra rambled. The general smiled a tiny bit. "You´ll manage, this is Ba Sing Se! We´re not as backwater as the people from the great plains! Our citizens remember that you´re the one who brought their deported friends and relatives back. The most of them at least..." He responded with a grim face that did not fit to his, rather jolly, nature. Surprisingly Tang Il Sung was an excellent tactician and commander, even though he barely was able to slice up tatami mats for more than five minutes.
Korra gulped as she remembered the earth twisting and turning under her feet, the stomping of platoons of well-trained benders and the creaking of the even more frightening walkers and iron-suits. Up till the present day they did not know how many people died during Kuviras invasion and her conquest of the kingdoms. However, the avatar knew that it were thousands and that made her feel sad and angry. The stubborn rockheads had learned nothing from this! "No – not really." She gulped dryly, her eyes looking glassy and far away. "The people did stop the invasion, the only thing I did was, opening a spirit portal that should never have been opened and preventing a madwoman from razing Rep City to the ground." She responded bluntly. "Yes – I do that on daily basis Korra. When I´m in the mood I also beat Wan Shi Tong in our daily Pai Sho meetings." the general remarked dryly. His sudden outburst of sarcasm should have made her feel better, but it didn´t. Korra realized that she, indeed, had toppled an absolutistic government and now she was trying to install a democratic one. She did not like the aftertaste that left on her tongue. She was supposed to be a mediator between spirits and humans, not a leader of nations. "Thanks." She sighed deeply. "Let´s just get this over with!" Korra responded while forcing herself to look dignified. "We´ll win this battle your godliness." The general radiated calm, he obviously trusted her to be successful. He pulled on one of the silver-wrapped cords that were running throughout the whole palace. These cords were connected to tiny brass bells that alerted the servants and told them where they were needed. This century old system was the main reason for the vast superiority of the service quality in the nations.
It took merely the blink of an eye until a livre wearing manserf opened the door for the general and the avatar. Korra followed Sung with the tiny tripling steps of a noble lady.
She tried to not look outright ridiculous but she had the strong feeling that wasn´t going well. They were led through the maze of corridors that separated the guest wing from… another wing. The number of armored soldiers increased almost exponentially and servants hurried around busily, carrying trays, platters and pottery. The servants were so hectic many of them did not notice the avatar, the general and their suddenly present escort of four liberation force soldiers. Where these men had appeared from was unclear to Korra, but since they wore the emblems of the company 28, which was one of the local regiments, she did not feel suspicious. She waved almost shyly at the servants that fell to their knees, while the avatar passed. Finally, she recognized the huge porcelain vases that adorned the corridor before the former throne- room. The blazing red, gold and emerald that were present everywhere made her feel unimportant and small. The soldiers removed crossed guandaos that were almost as heavy as Korra herself. The weapons were so overly ornate and ridiculously sized that everybody who was not a proficient metalbender would destroy his spine by trying a single swing. The huge wooden doors were opened and a thundering voice introduced the avatar to the assembled politicians. "Honorable members of the parliament of the earthern union of lands… her godliness Avatar Korra of the southern watertribe!" she was announced. Korra thought she could simply walk on and ignore the low bowing members of the pairlament, but Tang Il Sung prevented that by moving his voluptuous figure in the way. "The spirit bridge, the pillar of the united republic. The world binder and liberator of our people – we all are greatly honored to be in her godly presence and listen to her enlightened words." Korras face was flushed as crimson as it could get. She never had been hailed like that and it made her really embarrassed.
Besides the general and the guards everybody was facing the floor and therefore could not see the flustered expression on her face. The unseen voice continued speaking. "Previously the honorable member Tian Kai Chek from the national party of Ba Sing Se has given us his views about the future of the earthern union. We thank him for his wise and dignified speech. Now the godly Avatar herself will bestow her vision of the earthern union upon us humble mortals."
Korra had to use all her willpower to prevent herself from frowning as she walked towards the podium on which the jade throne had been located. Today just an overly ornate bookrest was standing there, which was almost blasphemy for at least ninety percent of the earth nations populace. Her feet were burning like fire while she climbed the ornate wooden stairs to the throne plateau. The throne itself had been broken and burned after the earthqueens demise. Actually, Korra did not feel sorry for the self-centered tyrant. A woman who executed people for not bowing according to royal protocol should have seen a lynch mob coming for her! She turned to face the audience and steadied herself on the bookrest. Her notes had remained, somewhere between the dressing room and her current position. She would have to wing her speech, like she usually did. Korra cleared her throat as her heart was fluttering. She still hated holding speeches. " I am honored by your attention and kind words, even more so since I am a foreigner to these lands. Therefore, I humbly beg your forbearance for not being able to speak the civilized tongue like a lady of the nations." She begun with her common apology statement. In the earthern nations everybody tried to be humble, even if that sounded utterly arrogant in Korras ears! "We all listened to the words of the esteemed head of the taxation office Tian Kai Chek. And I would like to rehearse something he said." Her eyes scanned the room for the middle aged intellectual.
"The esteemed head of the taxation office may correct me if I did not comprehend his words correctly – he stated that a government driven by the dignified citizenry of the nations is the only way for further economic growth. He enlightened us with a lot of numbers that showed that, since the end of the ursurpers reign, the overall taxation income of the Ba Sing Se province rose an astonishing forty percent, even though the taxation rates were not changed at all. I am impressed at the diligence of the province´s citizenry, whose joined efforts enabled this impressive feat. As far as I know this even surpasses the economic growth the firenation experienced at the beginning of the great war!" Korra let the words sag in, also she had to figure out what she should tell her audience now. "We have to ask ourselves -why is this the case? Do you have any suggestions honorary members of the parliament?" she paused again, nobody dared to raise his voice. So Korra continued "It´s because no longer a man´s birth decides his financial success. Due to the government being elected by the productive members of society the most able men, and even women, are allowed to lead this nation. And nobles who do not adhere to the principle of noblesse obliges are excluded from the government and the offices. I understand that those of you, who hail from ancient families may be afraid of the changes this government without the protection of a godly emperors brings forth."
Some of the blue-blooded members nodded with severe expressions on their faces. Korra sighed internally. "But, is this really the tradition and hopeless dream of desperate peasants? NO – IT IS NOT!" her voice thundered through the room and actually some of the conservatives flinched at her eloquence. "In the seventh book of founding the highly esteemed teacher of the empire, Kung Loa Tse repeats what the first emperor Shin the godly declared. A man of the blood who does not serve the greater good with heart, body and soul shall be treated like the lowliest of peasants, while a peasant who works to the fullest of his abilities shall be rewarded by his liege, with a surname and the dignity that goes with it." Korra silently thanked her teacher for drumming all this information in her head. "And that is exactly what I wish for the future of the earthern union. I wish that the nobles and merchants of the numerous kingdoms determine their future together, not in fear of a godly emperor but because they – you – are convinced that it is the right decision for the nations and its citizens. These are not just my wishes, but also those of the second prince Ming Wu. The rightful heir to the jade throne emphasized his vision of a strong and independent earthern nation governed by this parliament quite directly." She elaborated. "Sadly, not everybody in power is of the opinion that the wishes of crown prince Wu, the only LEGITIMATE heir to the jade throne, should be respected. The lords of Chu Da dare not only to disrespect the authority of this government, which was accepted by the city gods, the spirits, the people of Ba Sing Se and forty-three provinces… NO, they even ignore the first and only ORDER of the man who should be their godly emperor! They decline the birthright of prince Wu, while relying on the blood ties to his ancestors for their own right on the throne? This is hypocrisy! Every educated man has to agree with me that, if the Ling clan had any integrity, they had to respect the final command of prince Wu, or they at least should have the face to admit what they are – ursurpers, like Kuvira and Chin the Conqueror!" A murmur was running through the pairlament, nobody had dared to offend the Ling clan like this, at least not in public.
But this only showed that Korra of the southern watertribe was worthy of her titles, that she was unafraid of the opponents of Ba Sing Se and the union. "So, I ask you honorable members of the pairlament, dignified officials and Lords of the kingdoms – are you cowards? Or are you men with principles, integrity and face?" The woman's voice rose and Korra had forgotten that she was speaking to a large crowd. She was speaking her heart and this had lit a fire in her words that held more sway over people than artificially crafted sentences. "I know that I am just the avatar, a bridge between nations and worlds. I know it is not my place to speak up, but I can´t be silent! My conscience forbids it! I´ve been showed what may happen if you do nothing against the Ling dynasty. I´ve been told of Bu Shin, dark spirits and Wu dang practitioners that celebrate forbidden rites under the dark moon. I know that the Ling clan, in it´s desire for power does not step back from things that should not be meddled with. I know that these despicable princes even allow madmen in their army – for the sake of power alone! They act like the firenation did under Ozai the butcher! They care about neither the spirits, nor their own subjects. Married women are raped by their lieges' soldiers in broad daylight, honest working farmers and craftsmen are deported to forced labor until they die from exhaustion! Servants are whipped to death because they delivered the tea in a wrong cup! That is the cruel reality in the plains, ask the travelling merchants, ask the refugees that come to the united Republic and your city! Is that the proper etiquette for men of standing, nowadays?" Korras knuckles were turning white as she gripped the bookrest. "I really tried to find a compromise, to be the mediator I should be. But the spirits forgive me – I can not and I don´t want to!" Korra frowned angrily as she remembered her only meeting with an emissary of the clan. "The emissary of the Ling did not talk about politics, instead he smoked opium and asked me how much money I would charge for my private parts! Naturally, I may have lost my composure and behaved not ladylike at all." Korra gulped down her rage. The majority of the auditorium was shocked. Everybody who meddled in politics knew that Avatar Korra was not very subtle in her opinions, still – nobody had expected her to be so brutally honest. The parliament never had heard such a speech before. However, they were captivated by the young woman who was ranting in righteous fury.
"Shall we stand aside and watch as the marauding troops of the Ling clan march against our cities, burn our villages, rape and murder to their hearts content? Because that is what Wu dang practitioners do - that´s the reason the knowledge of Wu Dang techniques is punished by beheading – you all know that!" many of the parliament members were shrinking to the size of squirrel toads. "No, we´ll not let that happen." The general and a few other men voiced their protest quite eloquently. Still, Korra noticed how dire the situation was. The parliament of the earthern union was powerless, even more so than the government of the Republic. These men were only talking about making politics, while they mostly drove forward the agendas of their respective factions. Korra had no idea how she should convince them that the earthern union had to stand as one if they wanted to keep their titles and privileges! She breathed heavily and was at a loss of words.
Suddenly there was a pressure in Korras head, a searing pain that flashed through every fiber of her being. She recoiled and groaned but suddenly she floated in the air and whitish light was dancing through the hall of the throne room. It was not her voice, but the voice of hundreds that thundered, while the young woman watched herself through eyes that were not hers anymore. Korra tried to regain the control of her body but Rava was holding the reigns with iron hands. "I am the Avatar, my duty transcends nation und politics. I am the world and the world is ME! Whoever dares to use the dark arts for the gain of power has to be stopped at any means necessary. Listen well Lords of the Ling clan – step down and bow low in front of the parliament – punish the beasts you have nurtured and dissolve your armies. If you have not done so until the month ends that means war, war against the Avatar herself and all she stands for!" Rava thundered, while Korra yelled and struggled. What nonsense was Rava spouting, she couldn´t go to war. She didn´t have an army and furthermore she was not supposed to make such decisions all by herself! Still, what frightened Korra most was the fact that the spirit of order deemed it necessary to involve herself in this struggle. The spirit hadn´t even done that while Vaatu tried to force himself into this world, or when the firenation waged a war that lasted a hundred years! What kind of thing could be more threatening than ten thousand years of utter chaos? Rava was not interested in letting Korra go, she continued. "Children of the earth – I call you forth into a holy war to defend the balance of your nation and the world! Korra – We – fought so hard to attain a peaceful future for the four nations. The worlds have merged and while the spirits of lands and cities are at ease and bless the righteous, the desires of vile men give birth to demons who seek to destroy our very existence. These blind fools in Chu Da think they can control the hungry hordes of the ninetynine pits. They can´t, nobody can! This war is not just about the fate of your government, it is about the fate of the world. Be aware of that leaders of the kingdoms! It is your decision if this world is to fall into darkness or rise back to the heights of the creation days."
Suddenly the glow faded and Korra crashed downwards, a stinging pain jolted through her ankle. She let out a muffled cry and gripped the bookrest tightly. "Fuck! Bloody monkey feathers!" The avatar cursed, while her head was spinning. The guards that had been standing before the podium hurried upstairs and grabbed her arms as if to steady her. In truth they wanted to remove her from the public before the Avatar did raise a rampaging mob that looted the ling Clans city homes. Of course, the possessions of other noble families would be endangered as well if the plebs decided to make a ruckus. "Lady Avatar, please follow us." Korra was ordered. "Y-Yes." Korras voice was weak and lacked any kind of protest. She herself agreed with the soldiers – riots never solved anything, and since city deities were something real, she wasn´t keen on pacifying some demonized Buddhas – if she even could do this!
"I-I´m sorry, that wasn´t me. I -I really didn´t want to start a war." She frantically tried to assure the soldiers, who suddenly turned as white as sheets and formed the triangle to ward off the evil. The veterans didn´t respond anything and led her to the dressing room. The door was closed and bolted. Korra chuckled, as if these fragile walls would be able to hold her. With a frustrated snarl she removed the overly ornate shoes from her feet and tossed them aside carelessly. She let out a groan of relief as her toes wiggled in the open air. So, what should she do? How should she explain herself to the parliament? And what effect would her words have? She had made severe mistakes in the past and the people hadn´t forgiven her for that, still she was the Avatar, which meant that the conservatives worshipped her as a deity, an almost omnipotent one at that. Of course, the ambitious members of the parliament would love to employ her for their personal agenda. But finally she could not evade taking sides anymore, something had to happen! They needed to assemble an army, one that contained as many priests, ghost-hunters and shamans as possible! The ninetynine pits, Korra shivered by the lone thought that something, anything from these realms could force it´s way into the material world. And if the crooked prince really did mingle with demons and dark spirits the army needed people that were able to send the otherworldy abnormities back to where they came from! She could not be everywhere and even if she was the avatar there were many people that were better at exorcising demons than she was – despite her gifts! She yelled in frustration and toppled a tiny dressing chair. "Fuck – you´ve fucked everything up Korra!" she was furious at Rava – what did this damned spirit think? She picked up the stool and seated herself on it, while burying the face in her hands. Why wasn´t her father here? She would have loved to give herself a good cry in his arms right now! But, as always, he wasn´t there since she was the bloody, damn avatar! Korra gulped down the tears that were burning in her eyes.
She should have never tried to get Rava back, Korra sighed in despair. The time flew by slowly, obviously the elite of Ba Sing Se had decided to punish her with ignorance. Now she might have lost the feeble support she had had in General Tang Il Sung. Hopefully the citizens of the city didn´t take out their pent-up anger because she stirred them up. She didn´t know what was going on outside of this room, this was something that angered the young woman. She snorted as she wiggled herself out of the expensive robes and tossed them aside. At least she no longer had to look like a wrong colored porcelain doll! Korra was furiously snarling and tugging on the numerous silken strings out of her hair as somebody knocked on the door. Korra froze. She stood there in her undergarments and looked like an unkempt savage. "NO!" she jelled embarrassed. Hopefully the damn servants were decent and did not enter despite her protest. There was a short pause "Oh please – don´t be overly dramatic your godliness!" It was a deep voice that Korra had heard at some point in the past. She could not put a face, or even a name to the voice. "I´m not behaving dramatic - I´m naked!" Korra snapped in a shrill voice. Her visitor remained silent at this remark. "Are you ready to greet a gentleman right now your godliness?" the man asked in a polite tone, while Korra was quickly fastening her trousers. Even if said blue attire was highly inappropriate in the kingdoms, she had decided to wear the clothes that gave her a feeling of home, even ainthe most distant places. Korra tried to order her hair, which was puffed up and disorderly after her yanking out the silken bands. She looked around hastily, but was not able to find her hairband. Hopefully her visitor had not decided to leave, since the arrogant avatar did not want to see him. "You may enter now." She responded in a high voice.
"As you command your godliness." The man responded, while the wooden bolt was removed and the door was opened by a manserf. The visitor was an elderly member of the parliament, he obviously was quite flustered to see Korra like he did. She didn´t look properly at all, she was wearing pants! Korra had to suppress a playful chuckle, this old man looked quite adorable while fighting for his noble composure. But since he had not caught her attention previously, she assumed he was no faction leader or another important member of the parliament – which made his visit all the more interesting. "Please excuse – this." Korra pointed at the scattered clothes. "My sudden entering of the avatar state has left me a bit confused." The young woman tried to excuse herself. "As if I were allowed to criticize your godliness." The man bowed humbly. "No, I was sent here because the parliament wants answers your godliness. And not just the parliament." He trailed off. "Who else would want answers?" Korra asked startled. The parliament was the official political authority, so who else would openly demand information from her? "My people – those of the seven villages… I´m talking about this your godliness." He rolled up his sleeve and exposed a surprisingly wiry looking arm. Korra furrowed her brows as she noticed the brand that had been accurately placed at the center of his forearm – it was a complex, ancient looking pattern of circles, polygons and spirals that looked quite confusing. She had never seen something like this. "And what´s that supposed to be? Are you kidding me?" the avatar asked skeptical. The man was slightly annoyed at her lack of knowledge. "The white lotus training seems to be very lacking in the aspects of spirituality and tradition." He stated dryly. "Tell me something I don´t know." Korra was short of yelling. Her head still felt as if it was stuffed with rice straw! "You have heard about the Bu Shin haven´t you your godliness?" he asked almost desperate. Korra giggled. "Yes – they´re a quite funny troupe of wannabe ghostbusters and pseudo priests that scam superstitious people." She gave her personal opinion. She could not believe that the rugged, eccentric people that called themselves Bu shin were anything else but a bunch of ex-soldiers trying to make a living without honest work. The old man looked quite offended. These people surely had nothing to do with the plains of doubt and the fierce spirits of warlords that were residing there with their guardian spirits. The old man snapped his fingers sharply to gain the Avatars attention. "You´re quite narrowminded for a young lady, your godliness." He responded. Korra refrained from pouting and contradicting him. "You know how closely linked the spirit realms and the mortal plains are. You restored the bond in the first place." He paused. "You´re the only Avatar brave enough to restore true balance, but of course this leads to change. And change is mostly violent, which might explain the troubles of the recent years." He lectured her. Korra felt a blush creeping in her cheeks, it wasn´t often people praised her. Not since she had opened the third spirit portal. "Well – um – I – I don´t have a clue where you´re getting at." She stuttered. "I´m a Bu Shin. One of the true Bu Shin of Wuji Shije your godliness." He paused. "Since you know nothing Avatar Korra, I will tell you a story. A story that might explain you why Raava did, what she did today." He plopped himself down into the lotus position with a surprising agility for an old man. Korras pulse sped up – there were people who actually knew what happened to her today!
"Please tell me." she instinctively gripped the old man's shoulders and locked eyes with him before realizing that was highly improper. The old man blushed deeply at the sudden closeness of the avatars face. "Chrm… your godliness – manners please!" he responded. "Oh – right. I´m sorry Mr." she responded informal. "Call me Master Feng, because that´s my title in the village." Her responded with gleaming eyes. He contemplated for a moment. "There was a time when giant turtle spirits dwelled in our sees and forests. The world was young and full of wild spirits." The old man began with a familiar, more than ten millennia old tale. "That´s what the priests commonly tell you. The turtle spirits were ancient and most likely the first spirits to form an ego, a pesona." Korra blinked dumbfolded. "It´s difficult to explain but you have felt that the spirit world does form around you rather than that it´s just there like the corporeal world." He muttered. Korra nodded in understanding. She had felt worlds changing around her in the deeper realms, she had pacified dark spirits by engulfing their slithery energy with the warmth of happy memories and calm. Of course, the Avatar, and anybody else she knew, were far away from being able to explain what exactly happened there because it was something fundamentally different. It did not follow the laws of physics and even contradicted the electromagnetic bending theory, as Asami had tried to explain her. Korra was not much interested in academics, but it seemed that the spirit mumbo jumbo she concocted had something to do with higher dimension and more than three spatial directions. She had no idea how that should be possible! "Yes, I – I know that." She affirmed the man. "Actually that´s the case because the spirit realms itself are not describable in our three directions and hence also do not contain substance or elements like we know from the corporeal world. Still the spirits are interested in us, or rather we are attracted to them, to the creators of our world. I will not embark on philosophical musings with your godliness here. Just keep in mind that the spirits that interact with the world are most likely trying to be something like a human, something that is not just cosmic energy but something with a purpose, a duty and an identity. Just like Rava , who tries to be the human value of order, tradition and light." He went silent. Korra felt the weight of his words but had no idea where this conversation was heading. didn´t the old man say he wanted to avoid philosophical rambling? "A lot of spirits were inspired by the presence of rocks, plants and animals, hence the ludicrous amount of nature spirits. The presence of the spiritual energy led to the forests growing and the animals prospering, in return the chi of the land supported the growth of the guardian deities. This is the oldest meaning of yin and yang chi." The man sighed at Korras quite startled face. Still he continued. " Lateron this concept of interwound opposites was translated to human relationships, war and peace,male and female… you can see that it stands at the core of cosmos.
Somewhere in time humans came into being and they were a much greater source of energy for the spirits than animals. That´s because humans also have an ego, like spirits. We mortals can become ghosts, something similar to a demon, and the enlightened ones actually become gods. We are not that different from the spirits as we think. The first to take an interest in humankind were the lion-turtles. They became a sort of teacher for humankind, maybe they even created us – who knows?" Korra blinked in astonishment. "The first cities were built on the lion turtles who gave the humans the ability to control chi, who enabled them to bend the elements. With that something very significant happened – something that shook the world in it´s very core." The old man waited for Korras response. "I´ve no idea? City gods formed?" she guessed vaguely. This whole spirit mumbo jumbo never would be her strong suit. Master Feng chuckled. "Yes, that also happened. Much more important was the fact that the spirits, for the first time during their existance were faced with something that could change them against their will, the human mind." He closed his eyes. Korra scratched her head – the human mind did change spirits? How bonkers was that? The mother of faces was just the mother of faces and Koh the face stealer was Koh the face stealer! "But Koh the face stealer is evil and monstrous – so how come he´s still there! Nobody want´s a monster that can steal your face in a moonless night!" she exclaimed. "And I´ll not start with the demons and the ninetynine hells!" she accused the old man. "Oh my child – you´re truly adorable." He chuckled to himself, making the avatar blush again. "I´m NOT adorable – I´m a grown woman!" Korra grumbled. "The answer to that is easy – there are a lot of humans who want Koh to be evil, there are people with perverted desires, murderers' rapists, thieves and the likes. Some sects even worship demons MAKING them real!" he responded. Korra seemed to get a faint idea of understanding. The old man groaned and cleared his throath. " Let me give you an example. The republic policeforce believes that their headquarters are protected by Ousen the Steelbreaker! They all think he as razor shaped hands, huge teeth and looks outright hilarious! Even if it´s just a mere century since they started believing this – Ousen the steelbreaker has already stopped some criminals from escaping the jail during Kuviras invasion!" he responded. Korra gasped.
"All this spiritual energy of ours links us with other the energies of our surroundings, it shapes us and it shapes the spirits." He explained." The Avatar just is present because every person in the world believes it, too. Rava and you becoming one – that also is the result of a man's resolve." He stated accurately. "It is because a man named Wang thought it possible to contain a spirit in his body. And he was so good at truly believing that he willed the worlds chi to make it that way." The old man nodded serene and Korra gulped dryly. "Another example. The separation of the world from its elemental realms also was something just enabled by an enormous amount of spiritual energy that created an artificial barrier. It was building that barrier that killed the first avatar and led to a war between the growing civilizations of the four nations, enraged nature spirits and traditionalists." He knacked his knuckles. Korra listened eagerly, besides Lady Katara nobody had dared to teach her in such an unorthodox way. "The Lion turtles disappeared as well and the humans remained to truly conquer this world. However, the spirits were not fading away, maybe because they still were worshipped as deities and maybe because the barrier Wang erected was nowhere near to being impenetrable. It waned especially when the pull between the worlds was greatest, on a moonless night and on a foggy morning." He elaborated. Korra nodded, even today the spirits were most powerful in such a time. "You might understand better why the ritual is what connects us to the spirits and grants us the power to banish them, or call them." He looked at Korra expectantly but the avatar still had no clue. She shrugged wordlessly. The man opened his eyes. "Through ritual we humans control our spiritual force in the higher realms, it is the only way we can control our chi, like the spirits do in every waking hour. The bending forms, all part of a ritual to bend the chi of stone, fire, water and air." He turned silent. "You´re talking as if humans could be something godlike." Korra commented dryly. The man chuckled "We can, because we have both surpassed our mere mortal spirituality, you because you were born the Avatar and me – because I trained very hard." Korra gasped in astonishment as ethereal, reddish flames wavered around the old man who opened crimson glowing eyes. "Whoa!" Korra felt a stirring in her head, but she grit her teeth. Rava was tethering on the borders of her mind again, but this time she would not let the spirit take over her mind. "I am a son of the rainbow your godliness. We people of Wuji Shije never forgot the old ways and we always were close to the spirits. We are one with the world and that makes us warriors second to none. This is the reason why our mountains never were conquered by the lowlanders and why we are still ruled by the lady of the falls." He stated. The old man's voice was much deeper and somehow unnaturally loud. Then he sighed and was the same jolly looking old fellow again. No traces of reddish glow left. The avatar was startled, did this man just imply that the people of the southern mountains would be able to subdue any army they wanted to?
"Erm… do you say that your people could – conquer the kingdoms?" she cocked an eyebrow. He shook his head. "I wouldn´t go this far, there aren´t many that are willing to become a spirit-sword. That is the ancient meaning of the word Bu shin." He explained. "And even less have what it takes. It is very dangerous to face the trial. Usually one of five applicants returns from the top of mount Wuji and not all that return remain themselves. Some of them are twisted perversions of their former self – monstrosities that must be killed. And others – are touched by the spirits and leave their homes to thrive in the world. Some of them even might be the men you see exorcising ghosts for a living." he furrowed his brows. Korra felt there was something else he did not tell her. "And – you also have a Raava?" Korra wanted to know. The old man chuckled. "No, a true Bu Shin relies solely on his own strength." He responded with a hint of arrogance. Korra eyed the old man more closely and wiped her nose. He wasn´t telling her everything. "Come on, no nonsense anymore. I know that the Bu Shin have something to do with the plains of doubt, shang gri la and some kind of dragon spirits!" Korra responded. Now the mans jaw dropped. "How would the Avatar know the secrets of the inner circles!" he blurted. "Cause I visited these plains?" Korra cocked her head. "However, I´d like to know where your power comes from old man." She was tempted to underline her statement by glowing up herself. "Y-you visited the plains of doubt? That´s impossible – our ancestors and Rava aren´t on the best terms exactly. They wouldn´t have let you come back to the mortal world!" He responded. "Ancestor? I wouldn´t say that Ryo Meiji was one of your ancestors." Korra snorted. "Stop bullshitting me gramps!" she was short of being angry. "What do you expect your godliness? That I tell you thousand years of history over a cup of tea? It´s not as if becoming a Bushin would be something impossible for somebody who´s not from wuji shije." He scratched his head. "Do you still not know what a ritual is?" the old man asked. "What the blody hell are you blabbing. What does it matter what a ritual is, just tell me how you got these powers!" Korra demanded to know. The old man snorted. "You´re not very polite your godliness. Not even my people a so direct." He responded.
"I´ll tell you again – a ritual is nothing but a form to describe something too abstract to understand otherwise. Pouring tea is a ritual. And it differs throughout the nations quite strongly. The firenation uses matcha powder and porcelain cups, in the nations rhey use tea flowers. The watertribe boils the leaves in milk and my people ferment the tea so that it becomes dark. But lastly all nations make tea!" He paused. "the same is true on a much more individual and complex level for more complex acts – like summoning a spirit. The ritual is just a description of the pathway. So of course, there may be other ways to become a Bu Shin than those of my people." He responded. Korra somehow understood. "So anybody can become…that?" she asked. "Everybody who´s able to subdue a Kami of war in the plains of doubt - yes. It´s an experience that shakes the very core of who you are" He responded with a faraway gleam in his eyes. Korra gulped dryly. This day wasn´t as shitty as she had thought five minutes ago, at least she had learned something. "So, would the people of Wuji Shije help me? We both know that the armies of Chu da will not stop on borders when they start marching. Can they teach me a ritual to stop Wu Dang practitioners – human possession!" She responded. "The old man nodded. "I am not the Lady of the Falls your godliness. The Lady sent me and so I came to Ba Sing Se. It seems your fates are entwined, so you´ll have to accompany me and see for yourself." He responded. "If the lady will aid you… the matrial prowress of the union will be strongly enhanced. I´m not one of the greatest spirits swords, but I can assure you that five men of my caliber could take out a platoon of formidable soldiers." He responded. Korra nodded surprised. She never had viewed her visit in Ba Sing Se to take a turn towards the supernatural. "I guess it´d be good to see that queen of yours Master Feng." Korra sighed. "But at first I´ve got to deal with the mess I made in front of the pairlament." She sighed. "You made history today Avatar Korra – we just want to hope that the people in these halls make the right calls. The man closed his eyes. "But the dragon vein hums contently, I guess that´s a good sign." He grinned. "Your aura is almost blinding your godliness." He complimented a disturbed Korra
Authors note: With this I am back dear readers, if you still stick with me. I´m finally graduated and have started working as a material scientist in a company s and interestingly I seem to have time for writing.