You would think that with the closure of Wan Shi Tong's library, all remaining archives of the origins of the Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit - aside from what little was passed on by word of mouth was lost. When the Gaang took some downtime in Ba Sing Se, the Earth King excitedly told them of archives they had found that the Dai Li preserved.

In it there was a lost creation myth of the Fire Nation that was surely stamped out due to the implication that the Fire Nation was borne on the back of a Koi of all things.


Gajamina and the Painted Lady


When the world was new, Gajamina fell asleep, allowing dirt and soot and green growing things to spring up on the highest points of his fins. In his never ending slumber his swam ever so gently, allowing birds, beasts and finally humans to settle upon his back. Then one day, while Agni held his court, a single ember fell from the skies and boiled it's way to the depths where Gajamina slept. Gajamin did not wake but he was in pain. Great pain. So he thrashed. The lands that formed on Gajamina's back grew hostile, fire spewed forth from the earth and the peoples cried out to the spirit realm for help.

At that time, the Painted Lady was a wandering spirit, still new to the world. She held no allegiance to an elemental court even though the Court of Water had extended an invitation as she was a river spirit. But there was one gift she had that even Tui and La were surprised at, for they knew she had no teacher - yet the art of healing was hers.

She heard the cries of the people dwelling on Gajamina's back and said, "Why do we not help them?"

They replied, "Child, we are. We need to decide who goes to soothe Gajamina for our duties are many and even we cannot be everywhere at once."

She said, "Then I will go, for I will not turn my back on someone who needs me!"

The Painted Lady travelled into the depths where Gajamina slept and with her healing powers soothed the gigantic Koi-that-bears-the-isles. When she emerged, she was declared a hero.

The people of Fire honoured her and so the Court of Fire she joined. To this day the people of the Fire Nation who live long her rivers honour and celebrate her deeds. So when you have a fever, or are in need of being healed, petition the Painted Lady and if your need is great, she will come.


There was also this other tale, about why the Moon waxes and wanes.


Why Tui Rests For A Night


Tui had grown weary. Every night she shone brightly to light the way and pull the tides. But she needed rest, and her light was too bright. La noticed his love was tired and her strength in their celestial dance of push and pull was waning.

"My love, whatever is the matter?"

"I grow weak heart of mine. I need to rest, but how can I? Every night I shine bright for all to see and in the day Agni rules the skies! There is no time that's dark enough for me to sleep."

Now the Blue Spirit, the Herald of Dragons at that time was beholden to no Court. For while dragons are creatures of Fire, they are also creatures of Balance, and so as their Herald, the spirit masked in blue was a part of no Court.

He was negotiating with the Kami of the North Wind that day about the treks the dragons would take as they moved across the skies when he overheard the conversation between Tui and La.

And he thought, 'This is unfair, the Moon is weary and she has no time to rest. The Ocean is concerned for his bride, what will become of the people if the Moon were to falter?'

And so he came up with a plan.

The Herald of Dragons was as a dragon himself, and the flames he bent were as theirs. Agni often delighted in his visits as only he with his dragon flames could produce a spectacle of many-colours-at-once. But for this he needn't use his flames. He needed the smoke.

The plan was simple, as Tui grew weaker, he approached La for protection, as not everyone knew of the growing fatigue of the Moon Spirit and suggested his plan. With some reluctance, La released the woods he held in his grasp and allowed the Blue Spirit to build his fire. Seven days and seven nights passed and Tui noticed the night growing dimmer and dimmer, till the Moon itself was blacked out.

"Oh La! Have you found a way I can rest?"

"My love, the Herald of Dragons, the Blue Spirit has played a trick on your light and blacked it out so you can rest. I provided the wood so he could produce the ash needed to darken the skies."

The masked spirit smiled and bowed and extinguished the fire, for seven days and seven nights he bid the smoke wane and when the Moon was fully rested she gleamed in full strength again.

"Thank you Blue Spirit, he-who-tricked-the-light. Know you are always welcome in the Court of Water for your services."

This all happened before Gajamina rested, while the World was just born.


And there was one, hidden deep in the archives. A love story.


The Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady


When the world was still young, Koh-Face-Stealer roamed the realm. None were safe except for the masked, the veiled and the expressionless. And so the Painted Lady set forth, hunting down the Face-Stealer. During her hunt she fell into one of the servants of the Face-Stealer's trap.

Now the mask of the Blue Spirit was fearsome indeed, and easy to mistake as one of the servants of the Face-Stealer's if one was not familiar with a Herald's garb. The Blue Spirit grasped her wrists and whispered low and gravelly, "I'll save you from the Face-Stealer." And he did.

The Painted Lady was not pleased, for she realised that although he was not a servant of the Face-Stealer, he was the one that caused the air to grow smoky once a moon. She learnt that he too was on the hunt for the Face-Stealer and scoffed.

"I will defeat the Face-Stealer for my people's need is great. Trickster this is no time to play your tricks."

The Blue Spirit was affronted, "You rise with the moon, but I rise with the sun. You say you're doing this for the world and the people everywhere, but my people have been directly affected by the Face-Stealer's machinations."

The Painted Lady thought a moment, "Fine. We shall be allies."

Then, at the moment of the final strike against the Face-Stealer, the Blue Spirit got a message from Tui and La to retreat. Leaving the Painted Lady alone without the one ally she had. She grew angry at the Blue Spirit and the Court he sought refuge in.

Eventually, the Blue Spirit sought her forgiveness, and after a series of trial proved himself worthy of her friendship and she welcomed him back with open arms. But that, my friends is a different tale.

Now, the day came where they faced down the Face-Stealer's most powerful servant. And the Blue Spirit was struck down while protecting the Painted Lady.

In that moment as she healed him she realised her feelings for him had grown.

"Thank you." She said, and lifted his mask and split her veil. From that day on the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady were one.