Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter. Chapter twenty, another milestone. Once again, I never would have made it this far without your support. Now, before we get started, someone asked/pointed out that there has been very little physical description of Ryou himself. In my defense, the vast majority of this story has been told through his eyes and Ryou describing himself would be a little narcissistic. Well, I've decided that it's high time I fixed that and gave you a proper description: Ryou stands at an even six feet tall, his hair is a coal black color that is kept trimmed close to his scalp by the time of LOK. His eyes are hazel, a mixture of brown and green, his skin tone is dark enough to suggest that he might have a Water Tribe heritage, and he is usually clean shaven. Or a short haired Nanashi from Sword of the Stranger, whichever is easier for you to process.
And with that, we're off to the races:
You know, traveling with two women isn't all it's cracked up to be. Things get even more complicated when both of said women are highly trained in various combat arts, are hot headed, and generally at each others' throats all the time. They go from bad to worse when the sleeping conditions are cramped and there's not enough room for everyone.
"You red headed tramp, I'll cave your skull in!" This was how I woke up to find my two companions in the morning. Korra was standing on one end of the small inn room holding a lamp like a bat while Takeko was on the other, holding a drawer she had ripped out of the small nightstand next to the bed. The two women were hot with anger, which was literal in Korra's case as smoke was coming from her nose.
Sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the only bed in the room, I rubbed what little sleep was left from my eyes. We seriously didn't have time for something like this today. But I had figured out the hard way a long time ago that there are some cat fights you just don't get mixed up in. This? A spat between an Agent and the Avatar? I had half a mind to get out of the city, much less stay in the same room as the two of them.
"You'll need more then a lamp, you half baked fraud!" Takeko shot back.
"Seriously, you two? It's not even eleven yet," I said as I looked at my watch. Up until we had gotten here, these two had actually maintained a professional relationship. Now though, they seemed to be at each other's throats with growing hostility in every passing moment.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" they both roared, briefly taking their eyes off each other to glare at me. I held my hands up in mock surrender. Oh well, if these two wanted to kill each other that badly, who was I to interfere? All I wanted was to not be caught in the crossfire.
"What are you even arguing about, anyway?" I asked. This gave both women pause as they regarded me and then each other.
"Um, what were we arguing about?" Korra asked. Takeko answered with a shrug, and I just shook my head with disappointment.
"Honestly you two, if you're gonna kill each other, at least get your priorities straight. Or wait till noon, I don't really care which," I said as I stood and went into the bathroom to conduct my morning business. Things had somewhat mellowed out when I stepped back out. They weren't yelling at each other anymore, but they were still on opposite sides of the room sulking in silence.
"Come on, we got things to do," I said.
"It's time to go to the spring?" Korra asked, perking up. Takeko did as well, but she made an effort for her movements to be less noticeable.
"Yes," I answered. Korra was excited, not to the point that she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, but enough that you could almost feel the happy rush she was giving off. Takeko was more reserved. She never voiced any impatience or rush to get to the spring like Korra, but you could tell that she was getting restless.
The Red Archer had also been showing more and more signs of aging as time continued to pass. Her hair lost a little more of its luster with each passing day, and her skin was beginning to show more lines. When we had first encountered her all those months ago in Republic City, she looked to be a youthful woman in her mid to late twenties. Now, she looked like that young woman's mother in her late forties or early fifties.
I could understand her toe tapping need to get to the spring. She was literally racing against the clock and trying to outrun time. But just because I understood didn't mean that I cared. Takeko had tried to kill me on more then one occasion. She'd even blinded me once. There are a lot of things that can be forgiven, but mutilation and attempted murder are a little trickier then a stolen wallet. But a bargen is a bargen, and she had kept up her end of the deal. As a result, I was honor bound to hold up my end.
We set out after eating a light lunch, leaving the city behind and heading into the hills. The closer we got to the Oasis, the more gloomy the landscape seemed to be. Trees seemed to be dead, or sickly at least. The ground was a kind of dark oily color, like fire had scorched it at some point. Finally we arrived at a small stream that flowed out of a narrow valley.
"This place feels…off," Takeko finally said, breaking her long silence. She had her bow in her hand with an arrow nocked as she studied the trees around us.
"I agree, something's not right here," Korra added, her hand dropping to her sword hilt. I didn't say anything, but my hand was on my own sword hilt, and my eyes were studying the landscape around us. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. It wasn't a curious gaze either. Whatever it was, it was hungry.
We came to a set of large pools and paused for a break. I naturally stayed away from the water's edge. The water was simply too dark to see the bottom, and with the chills I had been getting since we'd entered this valley I wasn't taking any chances. Korra, however, felt that we needed more water and began to fill one of her skins from the pool.
"That's probably not…" I started, but was too late. The water in front of her exploded as a large creature sprang from the depths and tackled her. The monstrosity had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. It's skin was a pale milky white, green color with scales, it hands had long sharp claws on the fingers and webbing between each didget. A screech came from it's mouth, revealing several rows of razor sharp teeth.
Hands on Korra's shoulders, the creature forced her to the ground and made to tear out her throat with it's teeth. An arrow struck it in the side of the neck, forcing it off the Avatar and sending it splashing around in the shallows of the pool. Without a second thought, I extended the blade on my sword and jumped into the water. I stabbed the beast again and again until I was satisfied that it was finally dead. Grabbing it by the hair, I dragged the beast out of the pool and onto dry land.
"What is that thing?" Korra asked as she regained her wits.
"I don't know. Some kind of human fish hybrid," I answered as I studied the creature. It appeared to be female, based upon the long hair and breasts that it's human half possessed. Of course it's anatomy could be totally different from a humans and this was actually a male, but I doubted it.
"I've only ever read about things like this," Takeko said as she studied the body much more closely.
"So what is it?" Korra asked. The archer turned the head of the creature one way and then another.
"A human. Or at least it use to be. This unfortunate soul is the result of a possession by a Spirit," she said.
"I'd heard of such things, but I never thought the changes would be this extensive," I said. Believe it or not, there are things even I haven't encountered. Spirits, ones of this kind of power anyway, had been absent from the world long before I started walking it. Despite my encounters with beings such as the Observer, I still knew relatively little about them.
"Assuming the victim survives the possession, they are deformed to resemble the Spirit that possessed them, but they usually retain their sanity. This one, the changes must have been so great that she had no choice to be revert to a more primitive state," Takeko explained.
"So there's an evil Spirit on the prowl in this valley," Korra said.
"Well, not exactly evil. Like humans, all Spirits are capable of good or evil. If imbalance occurs, darkness can take over," Takeko said.
"I take it your old Master taught you this," I said.
"Yeah," she replied, rubbing the back of her head. I nodded, having thought as much. If he was old as I thought, it wasn't overly surprising that he would know about Spirits. With that happy little bit of information stored away in our heads, we set off again. It was probably another hour or so of walking before we finally reached the cave. The valley walls had narrowed down to just the cave entrance itself while the stream flowed out of it.
Korra produced a large flame in the palm of her hand while Takeko readied another arrow, and with that we walked into the dark maw of the opening. The walls of the cave were damp and a light draft sent chills down my spine. Finally, the tunnel opened up into a wide round room. In the center of the room was a large stone arch standing over a rather large fountain of water. Enshrined in the arch above the fountain was a dark green crystal orb. Around the orb were lines of writing, which extended down the arch and onto the walls around the room.
"What kind of writing is that?" Korra asked. The symbols were similar to the characters that were in use around the world, yet they were stylized different, in a simpler more stick like form.
"It's Dragon Speech. The old language of my ancestors," I said.
"We're a long way from Kyoshi Island," she noted. I didn't say anything, but I knew she had a point. The Old Tounge, as it was called during the days of my youth, was still used in some cases around the Island. All of the Kyoshi Warriors had the symbol for warrior on one wrist and the symbol of their rank on the other. Many of the shrines dedicated to Kyoshi herself, and Ban before her were in the language as well. But this, this was the farthest from my home that I had ever encountered it.
"If I had to guess, I'd say it has something to do with that orb," Takeko said.
"Can you read any of it?" Korra asked me. I walked over to one of the two spots where the arch met the wall and placed my hand upon the writing there. It had been a long time since I had actually read anything in this language. To be honest, I wasn't sure if there was even anyone left who was fluent in it. But, like many things with practice, it slowly began to come back to me.
"It's mainly a warning not to disturb the orb," I said, giving a very rough translation.
"I don't understand. It's just a glass ball, why put so much effort into protecting it?" she asked.
"Because it's not just a trinket used by a fortune teller. It's a piece of the Hong ," Takeko said.
"The Hong? I've never heard of that," Korra said.
"I have. It's a fairy tail, told around the campfire by power hungry treasure hunters," I said.
"But what is it?"
"Xian's Hong is a collection of crystal orbs said to be able to control Spirits," Takeko said.
"A child's tale," I reiterated. Let me give you a quick rundown of the story. Several thousand years ago there lived a shaman/alchemist/wizard guy by the name of Xian. Driven by a quest for power, or an attempt to protect his people from rampaging Spirits depending on the story, he created eight different colored crystal orbs from a rainbow colored dragon. Don't ask how, cause I don't know. That part never made sense to me. Anyway, he created one for each of the four nations, and a second to represent both the light and the dark contained within all things.
Supposedly, Xian succeeded in his goal. But he became so powerful with the Orbs that his four students came to fear him. They then killed him in his sleep and scattered the Hong to the four winds in the hope that no one would ever be able to wield that kind of power again.
When I was younger, I had given the legend a chance and gone in search of it, mainly cause I was board and had nothing else to do. But in my travels and research, I came to the conclusion that it was just that, a legend. Something for people to waste their time on. Standing here, now, in this cave with this green piece of glass wasn't about to change my mind on the topic.
"Right, let's get done what we came here to do," I said.
"Um, Ryou. There's no pool," Korra pointed out. She was right. There was the fountain of water, a few small rings that held water, and then the stream flowing out of the cave, but no actual pool to bathe in.
"Oh. Right. This could be a problem," I said, realizing the problem.
"Hey, what about me? Can I still use this thing or is that gonna be a problem too?" Takeko asked.
"Bathing and having a healer with you would get the best results. But for now simply drinking from it will slow down the aging and buy you time," I said. The archer glared at me, but began to drink from the fountain none the less.
"So what about my bending?" Korra asked. I stood there in silence, pondering what to do. The spring not having a pool wasn't something I was ready for.
"Why don't you try using the orb? It's spiritual and shit," Takeko suggested as she came up for air. Both Korra and I looked at each other before looking at her.
"Spiritual and shit?" Korra asked.
"Hey, I am ninety six years old and I'll talk however I damn please."
"Ninety six? Oh, so young," I said. Korra snickered and Takeko glared. The young woman quickly regained her thought process.
"It doesn't hurt to try," she said. I looked up at the orb before sighing and letting my head fall back.
"Fine. Let's get the damn thing down." Korra wasted no time, going over to the arch and scaling the thing like a hog monkey. She reached the orb, drew her sword and jammed the blade into the housing that kept the object in place. With a few grunts, and a muttered cuss word or two, the orb popped free and I caught it before it could shatter on the stone floor.
It was lighter then I expected, a clear jade green color with a ruby red earth symbol in the center. The thing also seemed to have a soft glow to it, and it felt warm to the touch like someone else had been handling it the whole time.
"Okay, that's done. What now?" Korra asked as she dropped down next to me.
"Now you…meditate with it in your lap, I guess," I said as I handed it to her. She gave me a look.
"Seriously?"
"Hey, the lack of a pool threw me off and I didn't have a plan B," I defended. Korra huffed, but otherwise sat down in a dry spot on the floor and began to meditate with the orb in her lap. She had only been doing this for a couple of minutes when we heard it. A blood curdling howl that echoed up the cave.
"What the hell was that?" Takeko asked as she stood from her spot by the fountain. I drew my sword and a torch, igniting the latter and throwing it down the cave. Clawing their way toward us were several more of the creature we had encountered at the pools in the valley.
"Trouble, and a lot of it," I said, extending the blade. Korra opened her eyes and went to stand.
"How do we handle this?" she asked.
"You finish with that, we'll handle this," I said. She reluctantly sat back down while the archer took a stance next to me with her bow.
"I cannot believe I'm standing here with the man who ruined my life to defend the Avatar."
"I can't believe you're still blaming me for all your problems," I replied.
"Shut the hell up and kill anything that gets past my aim."
Korra looked around her. Gone was the dark, dank cave, replaced by brightly lit clouds. She recognized this as the place where she had encountered Aang and Roku before, but this time something felt different. From out of the clouds came a woman. She was tall, dressed in a green kimono and armor of a Kyoshi Warrior, yet she lacked the makeup. Still, Korra recognized her all the same.
"Avatar Kyoshi," she greeted with a respectful bow.
"I must say I have been looking forward to our meeting, Korra," Kyoshi said as she began to circle the young woman with one of her fans folded in her hand. When she was behind Korra, she gave the current Avatar a quick swat on the rump with the fan, causing her to jump in surprise.
"My husband's taste in women has not changed, I see," she said.
"Oh. Um, Ryou. Right," Korra said, her face turning red. Upon seeing this, Kyoshi smiled.
"Relax, child. I do not hold anger. My time has been passed for a long while. And besides we're both the Avatar, you are me, and I am you. It's almost poetic," she said.
"It is a little strange," Korra confessed.
"You're sitting in a cave holding a crystal ball while the semi immortal husband of one of your past lives fights off monsters with a sword. Strange is just a day in the life of the Avatar.
"I have so many questions."
"I know you do. But our time grows short, and I have warnings that I must pass on to you," Kyoshi said.
"Oh. Warnings. Roku and Aang didn't give me warnings," Korra replied. The previous Avatar gave her a look of patience, silently telling her to zip it.
"The orb you possess, Xian's Hong, it's real. And there are those out there who would kill to get their hands on it. You must not let this happen."
"Don't lose the magic ball, got it."
"Beware the man known as Unalaq. His actions may seem to be for the greater good, but he only serves his own selfish agenda."
"Wait, Unalaq? As in my uncle? That Unalaq?" Kyoshi didn't answer, but continued on.
"And, finally, trust in Ryou. He has dedicated himself to you more then you know," she finished.
"Gee, I hadn't noticed what with us sleeping together and what not," Korra said, the words falling out of her mouth before she realized she had said it.
"Yes, that was always one his more satisfying perks," Kyoshi said with a soft purr, causing Korra's cheeks to turn crimson again.
"So do I have my earthbending back?" she asked, pushing past this moment of embarrassment. Kyoshi stepped forward and placed her hand on Korra's shoulder. A green glow sprang forward as the two women regarded each other.
"I am really starting to hate fish," I said as I beheaded another one of these monstrosities Takeko was firing arrows down the tunnel, killing most of the things coming toward us. Killing most of them, but there were still a few that were getting past. A fact that just made my life that much harder. One of the creatures sprung off of the floor toward me, teeth barred and claws extended. I fell back, stabbing upward into it's belly with my sword as it sailed over me.
"Your girlfriend better hurry up, my quiver is almost empty," Takeko said.
"I got faith in her. Your aim, not so much," I replied as I decapitated the creature I had just stabbed, making sure that it was really dead and not just playing.
"Gee, thanks for that vote of confidence," she said as she let another arrow fly. A groan came from down the tunnel, from behind the thinning ranks of the creatures. Then it appeared, a massive Spirit with the form of a Koi Dragon and dull jade in color. Half fish human abominations were one thing, but a Spirit?
"OH COME ON!" I yelled in frustration. The Spirit advanced quickly, its arms, legs, and face were that of a dragon while the rest of the body was that of a koi. It would have been a sight I would have found rather ridiculous, if not for the fact that it had fangs and claws barred, ready to rip me and my companions to shreds. It trampled and killed what few creatures were left in the tunnel as it came directly at us.
Until it slid to a halt and sat on it's higen legs like a dog waiting for a command from it's master.
Both Takeko and I looked at it and then at each other in confusion. A soft green glow out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, causing me to look behind us for the source. There was Korra, standing just behind us with the orb in her hand. She raised it a little higher, and the artifact glowed a little brighter. The Spirit's form began to glow as well, matching the orb. Then, the glow faded, and the Spirit faded away into a soft shower of sparks.
"Go in peace," Korra said as she lowered the orb. Again, the Archer and I shared a questioning look, as if to ask each other that we had indeed just seen what had just happened.
"What the hell just happened?" I asked, giving a voice to the unspoken question.
"Takeko was right, the Hong is real, and this is a piece of it," Korra answered.
"And who confirmed this for you?"
"Kyoshi." I sucked my teeth in annoyance. Of course, it had to be her. At that moment, Korra came up and full on punched me in the mouth. I reeled back from the hit in surprise, cupping my mouth in pain.
"What was that for?!"
"She said to give that to you so that you would know it was her," Korra explained. I rubbed my lips a little, making sure I wasn't bleeding.
"Should have guessed, I recognized the handwriting," I muttered.
"How did you figure out how to work it?" Takeko asked.
"I'm not really sure, it just kind of came to me," Korra answered, looking into the orb.
"And we're back to stumbling by the seat of our pants. Joy," I said with little enthusiasm, "Come on, we should get moving."
"So where to now?" Korra asked as we rode on Ashe over the mountains. We had parted ways with Takeko back in the city. Both sides of the deal were complete, so we saw no reason to continue to travel together. Besides, at the rate things were going we probably would have killed each other anyway. Honestly, I wasn't overly disappointed to see her go.
"North. The Northern Water Tribe has the last Oasis," I said.
"What are we going to do after my bending is fully restored?" she asked. I paused in thought. What were we going to do once she had all her bending back?
"I guess that choice will be up to you," I said.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. You are still the Avatar, after all. What you say, goes. Besides, we'll have figure out something to do with your new toy," I said, motioning back toward the saddlebag that contained the orb.
"I suppose we will. Wait, you're still willing to stick with me? Even after we fully restore my bending?" she asked.
"Is that even a question?" I replied. Korra wrapped her arms around my midsection before giving me a kiss on the cheek. It was clear my answer had made her happy.
"I love you," she said. I rested my hand on top of hers while I guided Ashe toward the horizon.
"I love you to."
And cut. That's it for this chapter. A quick production note for you, the Dragon Speech is actually just Japanese, so sorry to any Skyrim fans who were hoping for a Dovah reference. Also as a quick reminder for those of you who may have missed it. Timeless, the prequel to Ageless, is now out. Be sure to check that out under my profile or under the Avatar, Last Airbender collection. But all that aside, I want to hear from you. If you guys like it or don't like it, I want to know. So please, review, or PM, or send a courier or something. Remember to ask questions or make observations, and I'll see you all next time.