I don't own Avatar the last airbender just my Oc.
Chapter 8
"Okay Katara try again." Liling asked "Its a bit tricky but I'm sure you'll get it." Liling decided to teach Katara a few simple things that she knows since they made a pit stop to rest a bit when Aang wanted to go with them but Liling told him that it was to teach Katara first then him, both of them were at the stream while Sokka and Aang were at the campsite, Liling moved her hand bending the water. Katara watched her fully concentrated on what Liling is doing, the water was in mid air then turned to an icicle shooting up in the sky.
"Wow!" Katara said her eyes widen in excitement.
"The key is getting the wrist movement and timing just right." Liling explained."Now lets see what you can do."
Katara nodded and started to bend the water, she moved the water the same way as Liling turning it into an icicle only that she didn't aim right at the sky it redirected towards Liling.
"Look out!" Katara panicked
Liling reacted fast moving a stream of water deflecting the icicle to a tree, Katara watched in amazement that Liling didn't panic at what happened, she quickly frowned knowing that she almost hurt her friend she slumped her shoulders. Liling patted Katara's shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Katara said apologetically.
"It's fine Katara, you're not the first waterbender to do that." Liling said "I did the same thing when I first started, Let's try something a bit easier."
Katara nodded and smiled, excited for the next lesson.
Meanwhile with Sokka and Aang
"So...how long have you and Liling been friends?" Sokka asked while whittling some wood with his knife trying to kill some time before the girls get back.
"I guess for a long time now, ever since I met her when she was in Omashu." Aang said "She had an uncle that lived in Omashu so she traveled with her parents to visit him." He was playing marbles with Momo smiling happily.
"But isn't she a waterbender?" Sokka asked "So wouldn't her relatives live with their tribe?"
Aang suddenly stopped, He froze for a bit trying to think of what to say.
"A hundred years ago it was different some water tribes people go to Omashu or other places as a change of pace or some of them are mix marriages with other nations, arrange marriages..." Aang started rambling off. "Her parents thought that it was for the best that she'd travel and visit other relatives so I really don't know much."
Sokka shrugged his shoulders. "All I know is that she makes a mean seaweed noodles soup." Sokka said "A bit spicy though but good."
"She loves spicy foods just like her dad." Aang said "But what she makes the best fruit pies that I ever had."
"Fruit pies?" Sokka repeated. "She looks like the type of girl that enjoys sweets, sewing, cleaning-"
"I see you haven't changed your sexes thinking." Liling said dryly walking up with Katara behind her.
"I was just saying that you girls like that stuff and-"
He was immediately cut off by Liling streaming a small water turning it into a snowball lunging it at him, hitting his face full of snow.
"Jerk." Liling said
"How was the lesson?" Aang asked
"It went well."Liling said "I'm sure once we get to the North Pole we'll have more fun together." Liling smiled at Katara and at Aang.
Meanwhile...
In the docks the scarred prince was gathering information to find out about Aang's trail since he lost sight of him a few weeks ago.
"Was there a monk traveling here?" Zuko asked in a shop.
The shopkeeper shook his head. "I haven't seen any monks here just our regular customers." He said placing his hand under his chin. "Then again...earlier this morning there was a rather pretty young lady with a water tribe boy."
"The girl was she wearing a green haori? Big brown eyes? With her hair in a white bun holder?" Zuko describing Liling.
"Yes, that's the young lady." The shopkeeper replied.
Iroh raised an eyebrow at his nephew's description of the young girl. "Interesting Prince Zuko." He said
"What is it uncle?" Zuko asked glancing at his uncle.
"I find it interesting that you would describe that young lady even though you've only seen her a few times with the Avatar." Iroh said with a amused smirk. "Maybe you might have a small crush on her?"
"What? It's not like that! It's because she's traveling with the Avatar!" Zuko snapped he turn his head to try to hide the slight flush of embarrassment in his cheeks, it's not like he likes her he just had a better look when he held her in Kyoshi island. When he stared in her eyes, her dark brown eyes were big and somehow made him feel lost in it for a second, it was something he couldn't describe.
'What am I thinking?! Agh!' He turn his head and tore his attention away from the conversation to continue with his investigation.
Back with Liling and the others
Sokka was sitting across from her, whittling at piece of wood while Katara and Liling were lying in the middle of the saddle and peering over the edge at the clouds. Aang was lounging on Appa's head, a piece of grass hanging from his mouth and his hands behind his own head.
"I love days like this." Liling said dreamily, "Its so relaxing."
"Those clouds look so soft, don't they?" Katara murmured suddenly, her tone dreamy as she looked at the clouds passing below them, "Like you could just jump down and land on a big, soft cottony heap."
"I bet they are soft, maybe softer than a giant stack of wool."Liling dreamily said
"Maybe you both should give it a try." Sokka said pausing in his whittling to smirk at the females.
"You're hilarious." Katara said sarcastically, glaring over her shoulder at Sokka.
Liling stared at the clouds with a relaxed smile on her face.
"I'll try it!" Aang exclaimed, laughing as he jumps off of Appa's head with his staff, "Yeah!"
Liling immediately snapped out of her trance and instantly and peered over the edge of the saddle with Sokka and Katara, watching as Aang free-falls towards a large cloud below them.
"Lucky Monk." Liling whispered she leaned closer to look over the saddle, only to turn around a moment later when a soaking wet Aang landed on his backside behind the small group after snapping his glider shut.
"Turns out, clouds are made of water." Aang concluded.
"No, i never thought of that." Liling said sarcastically letting out a small laugh.
Liling moved her hands removing all of the water from the young airbender's clothes. Katara and Sokka looked blandly at the two benders before something in front of them caught Katara's attention.
"Hey, what is that?" She questioned, moving towards the front of the saddle, the other three following her a moment later.
" I can't believe it.…" Liling murmured, looking at the burnt land.
"It's like a scar." Sokka commented softly.
Aang had landed Appa in the middle of what probably used to be a clearing in the long-gone forest and the four teens had started looking around. Liling frowned as she looked at the burnt tree stumps and ash covered ground, kneeling when she noticed some footprints in the grey ground.
"Listen. It's so quiet." Sokka murmured as he walked to stand he then kneeled when he saw the footprints. "It's like there's no life anywhere."
"Aang?" Katara questioned softly, "Are you okay?"
"They did this..." Liling whispered looking at the footprints reaching to a conclusion."I...I can't believe they would do this..."
"Fire Nation!" Sokka snarled when he realized who made the footprints and he got to his feet, his fists clenched, "Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for—"
"Shh!" Katara shushed her brother, putting her finger to her lip.
"What?" Sokka snapped, dusting his legs off, "I'm not allowed to be angry?"
Katara doesn't answer and pointed to where Aang was standing with slumped shoulders beside Liling who wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. Aang fell to his knees with a sigh, Liling kneeled next to him.
"Why would anyone do this?" He asked softly, scooping up some of ash and letting it fall through his fingers, "How could I let this happen?"
"This isn't your fault, Aang." Liling consoled her friend softly as Katara took a few steps toward them.
"Aang, you didn't let this happen." Katara gently said, folding her hands in front of her, "It has nothing to do with you."
"Yes, it does." Aang muttered as he looked at the burnt land. "This is my fault. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature, but I don't know how to do my job."
"Aang..." Liling said "You're still young and still trying to learn about being the Avatar, there some stuff that would happen but it's not your fault..we need to do what's necessary."
"That's why we're going to the North Pole." Katara said gently, "To find you a teacher."
"Yeah," Aang huffed "A waterbending teacher. But there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me."
"The Avatar before you?" Sokka questioned as he moved closer to where they were, "He died over a hundred years ago. How are you supposed to talk to him?"
Liling looked over Her shoulder and glared at Sokka for not comforting her friend.
"I don't know." Aang sighed, looking down at Momo when the lemur crawled into his lap and he started petting him.
Liling sighed quietly looking at the scorched area around them with sad eyes. She kneeled to the ground touching the ashes feeling something in the small ashes, she let the ashes fall between her fingers looking at acorns.
Meanwhile with Zuko
"Uncle, it's time to leave!" Zuko shouted as he searched for his uncle, "Where are you? Uncle Iroh!"
"Over here."
"Uncle?" Zuko said when he spotted his uncle relaxing in a natural hot spring, his clothes draped over a branch, "We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him."
"You look tired, Prince Zuko." Iroh commented serenely, ignoring what his nephew just said as he gestured to the hot spring he was in, "Why don't join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?"
Zuko's face became pinched with irritation as he glared at his uncle, "My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!"
Iroh opened his eyes slightly to look at his hotheaded nephew, "You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself."
Taking a deep breath, Iroh used Firebending to breathe out steam from his nose and heat the water, which sent up even more steam.
"Enough!" Zuko snapped, waving the steam away, "We need to leave now. Get out of the water."
"Very well!" Iroh agreed, standing up and revealing the fact that he was completely naked.
"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes. But be back at the ship in a half-hour or I'm leaving without you!" Zuko stated, shielding his eyes and looking away as he hurried back to the ship.
Iroh smirked and lowered himself back into the water with a contented sigh, tilting his head back to rest and took a short nap.
Back with Liling and the others
Liling stared at the acorns in her hands.
'Liling, look there's lots of acorns here.'
'But why are there so many?'
'The other trees drop them it's very natural, it means that more trees will grow.'
'Can we plant some of these near your house grandma?'
'Of course we can, more trees means that the forest will be livelier and the spirit of the forest will be happy too.'
Liling smiled softly holding the acorns.
"Hey, Aang!" Katara called out. "You ready to be cheered up?"
"No…" Aang sighed only to yelp when an acorn hits the side of his head, "Ow! Hey, how is that cheering me up?"
"Cheered me up." Sokka quipped with a laugh only for an acorn to hit his head too, "Ow. Yeah, I probably deserved that."
Liling giggled holding the acorn in between her fingers. She walked over to Katara and Aang.
Katara kneeled in front of Aang and showed him the acorn in her hand, "These acorns are everywhere, Aang. That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back."
"She's right, the forest will be greener and full of life again." Liling smiled she crouched beside her best friend as Katara placed the acorn in Aang's hand and closed his fingers over it.
Aang looks at his hand for a moment then smiles up at The two girls. "Thanks, Katara, Lils."
Liling held a few acorns and buried one, she started to pray so that the spirit of the forest would listen to her prayers that the forest would be back to its beautiful self.
"It might take awhile but im sure it'll be full of life soon." Liling whispered looking at the burnt trees.
Katara gasped when she saw an old man with a walking stick approaching. Liling stood on her feet as the man came closer.
"Hey, who are you?" Sokka demanded, also standing and moving into a slightly defensive position since the man was closest to him. Liling kept her guard up just in case.
"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible." The man stated walking towards Aang, "But those markings…are you the Avatar, child?"
Aang glanced at Liling and Katara, who nodded in approval, then nods himself with a small smile.
"My village desperately needs your help!" The old man exclaimed, looking at the young Avatar almost pleadingly.
The sun was setting when Aang, Katara, Sokka and Liling followed the old man to Senlin Village. The village was partially destroyed, some of the houses nothing but crushed wood remains while others were halfway there.
The old man lead the four to the large, in a building in the center of the village, the four looking around as they passed the ruined houses.
"This young person is the Avatar." The old man said, gesturing to Aang after they had entered the building full of people.
A man in his mid-thirties turned and approached the group as he bowed to Aang. "So, the rumors of your return are true! It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence."
"Nice to meet you too." Aang greeted the man with a small smile after straightening from his own small bow, "So, is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm not sure." The leader stated hesitantly, looking away from Aang.
"If there is any trouble I'm sure we can help, so what's the problem?"Liling said
"Our village is in crisis!" The old man exclaimed, coming to stand beside the village leader. "For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit."
'Hei Bai?' Liling thought 'The name sounds familiar...'
From behind Aang, Katara and Liling glanced out the open doors at the sun almost setting while Sokka merely frowned at the two men.
"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka asked
"We do not know." The village leader replied, walking forward and placing his hand against the doorway, "But for the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near?"
"Winter solstice?" Liling repeated
"What happens then?" Katara asked
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely." He explained
'That isn't good...why is Hei Bai attacking them?' Liling thought
"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction." The village leader stated, looking at the four over his shoulder, "Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen."
"So, what exactly do you want me to do exactly?" Aang asked carefully.
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself?" The old man questioned as he crouched slightly in front of Aang. "You are the great bridge between man and spirit."
'That is the Avatar's job.' Liling thought. 'But Aang seems a bit unsure of it...'
"Right…" Aang muttered uncertainly, "That's me."
"Hey, great bridge guy, could I talk to you for a second?" Katara whispered to Aang then lead him over to an open window away from the others, "Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this."
"What's wrong?" Liling asked
"It's just... I don't know anything at all about the Spirit World." Aang mumbled, looking away when Sokka followed him, Liling and Katara, "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!"
"Aang, just stay calm." Liling soothed "I'm sure you'll able to help them and stop Hei Bai from doing this, my grandparents told me about my great grand father telling them that every Avatar goes through the similar process about trying to figure things out about the spirit world. Sometimes it's easy sometimes it's not."
Aang sighed and relaxed his tense posture, letting his hands fall from his hips and hang from at his sides.
"So… Can you help these people?" Katara questioned carefully.
"I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just…come to me." Aang said, smiling nervously at his three friends and lifting his arm slightly when Momo landed on his shoulder.
"I think you can do it, Aang." Katara said encouragingly, tilting her head slightly with a sincere smile on her face.
"Me too, just use your head." Liling said with a soft smile.
"Yeah," Sokka agreed, his expression similar to Katara's as he nodded his head, "We're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster."
Liling smacked the back of Sokka's head earning him a yelp. "You have a big mouth Sokka." Liling muttered. "Have some faith that Aang can do this."
Liling turn her head and smiled.
"I know you can do this." She said
Aang smiled and nodded at his best friend, Liling is always the one to be positive and encouraging when it comes to certain situations he was glad that she was here with him.
Meanwhile...
Iroh slept peacefully in the hot spring,Snoring occasionally until a sudden rustling in the nearby trees was heard.
"Who's there?" Iroh called out somewhat blearily, only to smile when a meadow vole appeared on the rim of the hot spring, "A meadow vole! I should have known."
"You startled me, little one." Iroh stated and gently took the small creature into his palm then sighed, "It seems I dozed off and missed my nephew's deadline, but it was a very sweet nap."
The meadow vole climbed off of Iroh's hand and ran around the rim of the hot spring again then began jumping up and down squeaking wildly only to dart away when the ground began to shake and a cloud of dust appeared on the path leading to the hot springs.
Iroh grunted in surprise when the rocks lifted upward, trapping him between three spikes of earth as three Earthbenders were around the hot spring surrounding him.
Another soldier grabbed Iroh's clothes from the branch they had been hanging on and held them up to another Earthbender, "He's a Fire Nation soldier."
The fifth soldier, who Iroh thought was the captain brushed past the man holding the robes and stopping in front of where Iroh was still trapped, "He's no ordinary soldier. This is the Fire Lord's brother, the Dragon of the West. The once-great General Iroh but now, he's our prisoner."
Iroh glared at the Earthbender captain.
Back with Aang and the others...
Liling looked out the only open window in the large building, watching as Aang walked out into the abandoned street alone. She wanted to go and help him but Aang insisted that he would go alone.
"Hello?" Aang called out as he walked further towards the village's entrance, gripping his staff tightly in his hand as the sun began to set further, "Spirit? Can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm here to try to help stuff."
Liling continued to watch Aang with Sokka and Katara from the window.
"This isn't right." Sokka grumbled in annoyance. "We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up."
"If anyone can save us, he can." The old man stated calmly from behind the three teens, but that only served to further annoy Sokka.
"That still doesn't mean he has to do it alone." Sokka grumbled.
"You're right Sokka." Liling agreed tightening her fist as they watched Aang walking towards the main gate just as the sun set and night slowly taking over.
"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei Bai?" Aang called out, standing in front of the gates,
"Well…spirit, uh… I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" Aang stated, holding his hand out then twirled his staff and slammed the end against the ground.
Nothing happened and Aang looked around.
"Okay…" He muttered "Well, I guess that's settled then."
Aang turned around and began walking back to the main building, Totally unaware of the soft whispering that had started up in the forest beyond the village's gate or the large black and white creature that had suddenly appeared behind and began to follow him, panting heavily.
Hearing the heavy breathing, Aang paused then turned around and looked up at the large, six-armed, black and white monster towering over him.
"Uh, you must be the Hei Bai spirit. My name is—" Aang began only to be cut off when Hei Bai released a bright blue blast of energy from his mouth at him before walking right over him, towards the village.
"My name is Aang! I am the Avatar and I would like to help! Hey, wait up!" Aang shouted at the spirit before running to catch up while Hei Bai began smashing buildings then destroyed a tower with an energy blast, "Uhh…"
"The Avatar's methods are…unusual." The village leader noted from behind Sokka, Katara and Liling as they watched Aang chase after Hei Bai as it destroyed parts of the village.
"It doesn't seem to be interested in what he's saying." Sokka stated, looking up at the village leader, "Maybe we should go help him."
"No!" The old man denied instantly, holding a hand out to stop Sokka , "Only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei Bai."
"Aang will figure out the right thing to do, Sokka, Liling." Katara said soothingly in an attempt to stop him.
"Aang...you better not get hurt." Liling whispered crossing her arms over her chest her hand cleft hard on her forearm.
Aang ran after Hei Bai, wincing slightly when he smashed another building.
"Please, will you stop destroying things and listen?" Aang pleaded as he leapt onto the building behind the Hei Bai, "I'm trying to do my job as spirit bridge. Excuse me, would you please turn around?"
Hei Bai ignored Aang, as he smashed at a empty house in front into the ground with his second pair of arms.
"I command you to turn around now!"
Hei Bai turned around, smacking Aang with one of his black arms and sending him flying into the roof of another building.
"That's it! He needs help!" Sokka snapped, running out of the building.
"Sokka, wait!" Katara yelped, rushing after Sokka but was stopped by one of the men.
"Sokka's right Katara! I can't let my friend get hurt by that spirit!" Liling snapped rushing out of the building.
"Hei Bai, over here!" Sokka shouted, launching his boomerang at the spirit but he doesn't even seem to notice, so he raced towards Hei Bai.
Aang's eyes widened slightly when he saw his friends running towards him, "Sokka, Liling! go back!"
"We'll fight him together, Aang." Sokka said standing in front of Aang, Liling was standing on Aang's other side.
Aang shook his head, "I don't want to fight him unless I—"
Aang's words where cut off when Hei Bai suddenly grabbed Sokka with his second arms and fled into the dark forest. Snatching up his glider and snapping it open, Aang quickly began chasing after the fleeing spirit, disappearing into the forest.
"Aang! Sokka!" Liling shouted following after the two boys.
"Sokka!" Katara shouted as she ran towards the village entrance.
The villagers gather around whispering quietly amongst themselves as they stared into the forest.
Meanwhile...
Zuko walked he already told his uncle to be back at the ship but he didn't see him, he got tired of waiting so he went to get him. His thoughts on what his uncle said earlier still stuck to him, so what if he described the girl, she was traveling with the Avatar! So it was natural thing to remember the enemy! When he had a held her back on Kyoshi there was something in her eyes, there was something that he got drawn to them. He couldn't describe what it was, He stopped in his tracks.
'It's nothing, it's just my imagination.' He thought brushing it off angrily.
Zuko pushed away a branch and walked towards the hot spring where his uncle had been, pausing when he didn't see Iroh anywhere.
"Uncle! Uncle where are you?"
"Sir," One of The Firebenders started, "Maybe he thought you left without him."
"Something's not right here." Zuko said as he looked around, he looked at the destroyed hot spring in front of him, "That pile of rocks."
"It looks like there's been a landslide, sir." Another Firebender soldier stated, looking up at small hill behind the hot springs.
"Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally." Zuko growled as he examined the rocks then straightened up when he figured out what happened."My uncle's been captured by Earthbenders!"
Meanwhile with Aang and the others...
Aang flew through the forest on his glider, dodging trees and any low hanging branches as he chased after Hei Bai and Sokka and was finally catching up to them. Liling tried her best to run after them but was very far behind.
"Aang, over here!" Sokka called out when he saw Aang. through the trees, "Help!"
"Hang on, Sokka!" Aang shouted back, flying over the trees as he chased Hei Bai into the burnt remains of the forest he and his friends had looked over early that day.
'This is bad! This is very bad! Hei Bai better not eat Sokka!' Liling thought running through the forest the green slowly blended to the burnt part of the forest that she was in earlier.'Why would Hei Bai do this? What does he want? Why is he doing this?!'
"Sokka! Aang! Guys!" Liling shouted she saw Aang on top of the bear statue.
She got worried climbing up to the statue and touched his shoulders shaking him to try to wake him up.
"He's not responding...could it be what grandmother Ling said? Since your the bridge between worlds... "Liling whispered. "That you might be in the spirit world?" She shivered at the cold night and looked at Aang, she took off her green haori placing it on his shoulders. "That will keep you warm until your back in your body.
Liling climbed down and looked at the statue.
"I'll stay here until you return Aang."Liling said "If any firebenders are near I'll protect your body until your back." With determined eyes Liling decides to do was to sit and wait by meditating, practicing her breathing exercises like her father had taught her.
'Firebending comes from the breath, since no one is around it's good to practice it now, just in case.' Liling thought.
Meanwhile with Iroh...
"Where are you taking me?" Iroh asked the Soldiers as he was on the back of one of the soldier's ostrich horse, wrapped in chains with his handcuffed arms crossed over his chest, the soldiers didn't let him put his clothes on so he was in his undergarments and sandals.
"We're taking you to face justice." The captain responded.
"Right." Iroh drawled slightly, "But where specifically?"
"A place you're quite familiar with actually." The captain stated, sounding slightly smug as he glanced back at his prisoner, "You once laid siege to it for six hundred days, but it would not yield to you."
"Ah, the great city of Ba Sing Se." Iroh mused with a slight nod then closed his eyes.
"It was great than you were," The captain said "Apparently."
"I acknowledge my defeat at Ba Sing Se. After six hundred days away from home, my men were tired and I was tired." Iroh said as he yawned, "And I am still tired."
Closing his eyes, Iroh relaxed against the soldier in front of him before falling off the ostrich horse with a thud. The soldier paused looking down at the old man on the ground. Two of the Earthbenders grab Iroh by the arms and haul him to his feet, putting him back on the ostrich horse. None of them notice the single sandal lying on the ground where Iroh fell, nor did any of them notice the small, clever smile that appeared on the old man's face as they continued their journey.
Around twenty minutes later Zuko kneeled on the ground and picked up a sandal that was lying there then sniffed it.
Zuko made a face of disgust, "Yeah, that's Uncle Iroh alright." Holding the sandal in one hand, Zuko quickly climbed back on his rhino.
Back with Liling
Liling opened her eyes after finishing her meditation, her eyes glanced at the statue that Aang was sitting in, still not moving a muscle. She wondered if he was okay, she wanted to do something to help she felt so useless in this situation.
"I hope your okay Aang..."Liling whispered looking around the burnt forest, her hand went in her pocket taking out the acorn and looking at the bear statue. Her eyes widened then she finally remembered why she knew the Black and white spirits name.
'Liling, I don't ever want to see you do that to any tree!' An elderly woman with her long white hair was braided, with amber eyes, scolded her granddaughter, she lightly gripped her cane comically hitting her granddaughter on her side, it didn't hurt Liling since she was used to harsher training from her parents.
'But grandmother! I had to practice my waterbending somehow! Mom told me that water is everywhere so I thought that the tree would be good practice and-'
'I don't want to hear it young lady! Now go and pray for forgiveness to Hei Bai!' Ling said dragging her granddaughter to the small statue outside her home.
'But!-'
'No buts! The spirit of this forest might be angry at you for doing that!' Ling continued to scold her. 'There's no thinking of what he would do!'
'He's a bear.' Liling commented 'They just get honey from a tree.' She was then comically smacked in the back of her head, she yelped and rubbed the back of her head.
'He may look like a bear but if you make him angry he'll turn into a giant beast! And takes you away!' Ling explained.
Liling let out a sigh knowing there was no way of talking her way out of this, she kneeled in front of the statue and clasped her hands together to pray.
'Oh great spirit Hei Bai, I'm sorry I ruined your tree with my bending, please forgive me.' Liling said loudly that her grandmother could hear it. 'I promise you that I won't harm the trees in your forest.'
After she was done her grandmother smiled.
'Liling, there's spirits that can be friendly to you and there's spirits that could harm you. Hei Bai is a very calm spirit but can be angered if you do something to his forest.' Ling explained she held an acorn in her hand. 'Lets plant this in the old tree's place, and pray to the spirits that it will grow strong and healthy.'
'Alright, grandmother.' Liling said with a soft smile.
'After that We'll have some tea maybe a game of Pai sho.' Ling said with a smile. 'Maybe this time you'll win.'
Liling's eyes widen at the sudden realization.
"That's it! That's why I know his name!"Liling exclaimed "That's why he's attacking people in the village! Oh Aang, please get back!" She looked up at the sky. 'Thank you grandmother Ling! Thank you for your wisdom!'
She glanced up hoping that Aang heard her but nothing not a single sound or movement from the young Airbender. Liling paced back and forth occasionally glancing at Aang.
Back with Iroh...
Iroh was still tied up and on the back of an ostrich horse as they rode through a mountain, Iroh glanced up at the sky then gasped quietly the spirit of a dragon with Aang on his back fly through the opposite direction.
"What's the problem?"The captain demanded when he saw the shocking look on Iroh's face.
"Nothing." Iroh quickly said before an idea popped in his head and he looked at the captain, "Actually, there is a bit of a problem. My old joints are feeling sore and aching, and these shackles are too loose."
"Too loose?" The captain asked in disbelief.
"That's right. The cuffs are loose and they jangle around and bump my wrists." Iroh stated, showing the captain what he meant before looking up innocently, "It would help me if you tighten them, so they wouldn't shake around so much."
"Very well." The captain looked towards the soldier sitting in front of Iroh, "Corporal, tighten the prisoner's handcuffs."
The ostrich horses were brought to a stop and the corporal got off from his ostrich horse then moves towards Iroh. Taking a deep breath, Iroh breathed out and heated one of this cuffs, using his other hand to shield the steam from view then just as the corporal grabbed the cuff, Iroh pushing the man's hand onto the overheated metal. The corporal screamed in pain and yanked his hand free, falling to his knees as he clutched his burnt hand.
Iroh lightly smirked and jumped down from the ostrich horse then kicked a blast of fire from his feet at the two Earthbenders still mounted in front of him, causing the ostrich horses to panic and toss their riders. Having landed on his back after he had kicked the fire blast at the soldiers, Iroh quickly rolled down the hill while the Earthbenders attempted to control their distressed animals.
Iroh grunted and groaned as he rolled down the hill, as he tumbled. The Earthbender captain hurried to the edge of the path and hit Iroh's rolling body with a rockslide, trapping him under a pile of dirt. The captain and two other soldiers quickly slide down the incline until they reach Iroh.
"He's too dangerous, Captain." One of the soldier stated and gestured towards the unconscious man under the rubble, "We can't just carry him to the Capital. We have to do something now!"
"I agree. He must be dealt with immediately and severely." The captain agreed with his soldier.
Iroh winced slightly and spat out a rock then opened his eyes into tiny slits, a small smirk appearing on his face.
Zuko stared down at the ostrich horse footprints he was following when he heard a vaguely familiar noise come from behind him.
"The Avatar!" Zuko growled slightly when he saw the Aang's flying bison in the sky and he tugged on his rhino's reins about to follow the bison only to hesitate and look back at the footprints.
Zuko looked at the footprints then back in the direction the sky bison had flown, his eyes narrowed as he thought about his decision.
Meanwhile with Liling
"Aang please wake up."Liling whispered she glanced up at the sky then gasped quietly looking at the spirit of a dragon with Aang on his back.
The dragon flew through the sky towards the bear statue where Aang could see his body sitting on top of the statue's head and Liling there looking at him with a shocked looked. Raising his arms and cringing, Aang braced himself for impact as the dragon sped towards the statue before slamming into it, disappearing into it while Aang returned to his body.
Liling blinked a few times of what she just saw was true. That her friend rode in the back a dragon, A dragon! For Spirits sake!
Aang opened his eyes slowly then looked around he noticed that he had Liling's Haori wrapped around him, He jumped to the ground, staring up at the bear statue, then at Liling that was still in shocked. He waved his hand over her face snapping out of her trance. She immediately hugged him.
"You're okay! Oh thank the spirits! "Liling exclaimed hugging the Airbender a bit too tightly.
"C-can't breath..."Aang mumbled gasping for air.
"O-oh sorry.."Liling said letting him go as she took her haori putting it back on. "So you went to the spirit world?" Aang nodded his head. "It's just like my grandmother said!" She smiled at Aang. "Lets go get our friend back!"
"But I don't know how..."Aang said Liling placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Aang...grandmother Ling told me about Hei Bai, he's the black and white spirit but he's also the spirit of the forest." Liling explained
"That's why he's so angry!"Aang said "He's angry that his home was burned down..."
"But I think there's a way to help him."Liling said showing him the acorn.
Aang nodded knowing what she meant, he opened his glider and manage to take Liling with him, flying back to the village.
"You're back!" Katara exclaimed, hugging Aang then hugged Liling, "Where's Sokka?"
"I'm not sure…" Aang said quietly just as the sun set and night fell.
Back with Iroh
"These dangerous hands must be crushed." The Earthbender captain said, staring down at Iroh's hands were chained to a flat rock, surrounded by the Earthbending soldiers.
The captain Earthbends a large rock into the air and hovers it over Iroh's hands, then began to drop it.
Iroh's eyes widen slightly as the rock about to crush his hands was kicked away and his nephew appeared in front of him, Zuko then broke Iroh's chain with the heel of his boot.
"Excellent form, Prince Zuko." Iroh praised Zuko as he got to his feet.
"You taught me well, Uncle." Zuko stated and moved so he and his Uncle were back-to-back, facing the soldiers surrounding them.
"Surrender yourselves. It's five against two." The Earthbender captain said "You're clearly outnumbered."
"Ah, that's true." Iroh agreed, then smirked at the captain, "But you are clearly outmatched!"
The Earthbender began throwing rocks at Iroh and Zuko but Iroh easily destroyed the rocks with his chains. Zuko kicked fire at one soldier before swiping his leg out and kicking a fire blast at the feet of the Earthbender behind him, knocking the enemy soldier to the ground and causing the rock he'd been about to throw to fall on top of him.
Zuko smirked and turned in time to see two other Earthbenders launch a large rock at him which Iroh quickly stopped by grabbing it with his chains then he threw it back at the two Earthbender soldiers, knocking them into a wall of stone.
The captain now the only one left standing, launched three rocks at Zuko, but he dodged each of them easily, countering it with his fire blasts, the captain dodged it. Zuko's eyes widened slightly as the Earthbender captain brought up a large mass of rocks and earth, raising it high above his head, leaving Zuko unable to dodge the attack. But Iroh swiftly swung his chains low and wrapped them around the Earthbender captain's ankles, knocking him to the floor and causing the pile of rocks to fall on him.
With a smirk, Zuko placed his hand on his uncle's bare shoulder, "Now would you please put on some clothes?" Zuko questioned sardonically, much to Iroh's amusement.
"We need to get back to follow the Avatar." Zuko said
"Maybe we'll see that young lady again, who knows you both might have something in common." Iroh smirked in amusement.
"Will you stop it! That peasant girl isn't any of my concern!" Zuko snapped turning his head.
'Ahh they grow up so fast.' Iroh thought with a amused look on his face.
Back with Liling and the others
Aang and Liling waited quietly for Hei Bai to show up, Katara and the other villagers watching from inside the main building, this time Liling stayed close to Aang so that both of them would try to help the spirit.
The two waited for a few more minutes before Aang gave up, and turn around to go inside the building Liling followed suit. They passed by one of the houses when Hei Bai crashed through the house, shooting an energy blast to the sky.
"Ah!" Aang yelped, throwing up a shield of air around him and Liling as the woods and other things fell around them.
"What are you two doing?!" Katara cried out from inside the main building, watching as the two stood in front of the furious Hei Bai, "Run!"
Blue-white energy shooting from his mouth briefly, Hei Bai rushed towards the main building with a screech. Aang ran forward with Liling behind him, Aang jumped over in full speed over Hei Bai, placing his hand against Hei Bai's forehead as he flipped over it, seeing the blurred image of a panda where instead of the six-armed monster in front of him for a brief moment.
"Lils is right! You're the spirit of this forest!" Aang exclaimed, landing on the main building's porch in front of Hei Bai, "You're upset and angry because your home was burned down."
Liling walked carefully under the Hei Bai and came to a stop at Aang's side, looking up at the silent spirit as it stared down at both teens.
"When I saw the forest had burned, I was sad and upset, but my friends gave me hope that the forest would grow back." Aang said to the spirit as he pulled the acorn Katara had given him and showed it Hei Bai then placed it as his feet.
"Hei Bai, I saw all of those acorns all around, so that means the forest will grow back maybe even bigger and more beautiful than ever." Liling said with a kind smile looking at the Spirit.
Aang and Liling watched as Hei Bai picked up the acorn with one of his second arms then turned, his giant body shimmering before transforming into a giant panda. Aang and Liling watched as the now peaceful spirit left the village, a small forest of bamboo growing in front of the entrance as Hei Bai disappeared.
"Sokka!" Katara cried out happily, rushing towards her brother as he and the other three villagers Hei Bai had taken exited the bamboo.
"What happened?" Sokka asked Katara as he pulled away from her embrace.
"You were trapped in the Spirit World for twenty-four hours." Katara explained, looking up at her brother with concern, "How are you feeling?"
"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom."
"Seriously?" Liling asked
"Yeah, I seriously need a bathroom!" Sokka said he practically ran to find a bathroom.
The two girls glanced at eachother until they both lightly giggled.
"Thank you, Avatar." The village leader stated gratefully, as he looked down at Aang standing in front of him with his three friends, "If only there were a way to repay you for what you've done."
"You could give us some supplies," Sokka said matter-of-factly, "And some money."
"Sokka!" Katara chided Sokka, while Liling smacked the back of his head.
"You don't ask for Money!" Liling scolded,
"What?" Sokka demanded with a slight pout, "We need supplies."
"Supplies I can understand but money?"Liling responded.
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey." The village leader reassured them with a smile as he bowed before walking away to help some villagers gather supplies for the Gang.
"I'm so proud of you, Aang." Katara said to Aang, touching his shoulder lightly, "You figured out what to do, all on your own."
"Actually i had some help from Lils."Aang said "And from someone else too."
"Not me, you gotta thank granny Ling ever since I was really young she was constantly telling me stories about each of the spirits that she heard from her grandparents." Liling said
Aang smiled looking up in the sky as Liling looked up. 'Thanks, grandmother...' Liling thought
"And there's something else." Aang said
"What is it?" Sokka asked
"What's up?" Liling asked
"I need to talk to Roku and I think I found a way to contact his spirit." Aang explained, moving to stand in front of his three friends.
"That's great!" Katara said eagerly.
"Sweet!"Liling said
"Creepy, but great." Sokka agreed
"There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island," Aang said "And if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak with him."
"But the solstice is tomorrow!" Katara said with dismay as she, Liling and Sokka exchanged worriedly looks.
Aang rubbed the back of head, "Yeah and there's one more problem… The island is in the Fire Nation."
'Home? We're going to my home? That's not good! Not good at all! I haven't been home in a hundred years!' Liling thought glancing at her friends while Sokka and Katara looked at each other fearfully.
"Monkey feathers!" Liling mumbled clenching her fist. 'I wasn't expecting to go home now! What should I do?!'
There you guys have it! Liling is going back home! Will she reveal her heritage to Sokka and Katara? or her firebending? Wait and find out! Please leave a review and tell me what you guys think!