=== Omashu ===
"We had her, we fucking had her" growled Tanya, she turned to Ty Lee "But you let her get away"
Ty Lee flinched, Mai putting a protective hand over her… giving a bored glare at Tanya. Azula was also disappointed to a point, but understood Ty Lee was… a little out of practice.
"But she…" started Ty Lee
"WHAT?" snapped Tanya
Ty Lee shivered at remembering, recalling the site of a 4 tailed Ai charging her. No one appeared to have seen it, getting Tanya ever more enraged that she was making things up, to get out of trouble. Iroh being in the room stroked his beard.
"Hmm… sounds like a similar instance with Zuko" said Iroh, getting Tanya to look over
"How so?" asked Tanya
Zuko crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
"Back on Kyoshi Island, we had manage to surprise the town and Avatar with an ambush" said Zuko "From what i recall… it looked at if i woke her, and wasn't too happy. After a short fight… a giant fox with nine tails, the size of a mountain appeared before me, standing over her over. No one else saw it but me"
Tanya looked over at Ty Lee, after thinking it over.
"You said she was hunch over, washed in red chi?" said Tanya
Ty Lee nodded her head, Tanya smiled, she put her arms behind her back and nodded.
"I see… giving the situation, with the info Iroh and Zuko provided… and with my own personal experience. That form you saw… must have been her Avatar State" said Tanya
Azula looked over
"Her what?" asked Azula
"Her Avatar State… the avatar enters a state of great power, in a desperate situation" said Tanya "I don't know why she didn't enter it to fight us all, or why she only shown it to Ty Lee. But we know more of her now… and she knows less of us. She hasn't seen what you or Ty Lee can do… so we got some advantage"
Tanya turned to Mai, pointing at her.
"You mother… she manufactured those… weapons, correct?" asked Tanya
"Yes… she did" said Mai
"I wanted her to make more… we all need to be equipped with the finest" said Tanya, she waved her hand "And while she's at it… armor"
Mai seemed to take a hissing inhale
"Hmmm… you don't want armor" said Mai
Tanya tilted her head.
"Why?" asked Tanya
Mai reached into her pouch, and with a twirl pulled out a kunai… holding it up. After a few moment it started to glow while in her hand… she tossed it over. Tanya caught it and inspected it… it started to glow much hotter.
"I don't see what problem" said Tanya
"You noticed how hot it glows… are you trying to make it do so?" said Mai
"Try… you mean" started Tanya
In that instant the kunai burst into flames, getting Tanya to jump in surprise. She lessen the flow of chi into the blade
"Now… if you were in a suit of armor, and that happened" said Mai "You'd be burned to ash"
Tanya nodded her head, tossing the blade back to Mai… who caught it.
"How soon can your mother get us set up" said Tanya
"A Day... two at most" said Mai
Tanay again nodded her head
"Until then, everyone do as you want… but once we are to move out, we do so without hesitation" said Tanya
=== Group ===
Appa flew high above a swampy mach land, heading towards the great city of Ba-Sing-Se. Momo was sitting atop Balto's head as he swing in the weightless harness under Appa… deep in his slumber.
Steering Appa, per usual was Aang… he lazyly held the reins. Behind him, the rest of the group, minus Ai had on new weights… Smellerbee included. The weights had gravity seals, only affecting the wearer… as to not bog down Appa with an extra few hundred pounds.
Each of them struggled to move there arms or legs as they were told to resume their day to day life. Ai had abandoned the idea of the shells… and just went with bands around the legs and wrist.
Everyone had taken to them well, being use to the weights… all but Smellerbee. Smellerbee, was currently pinned down, trying her hardest to move… but was unable.
"Ai, how heavy did you make hers?" asked Suki
"75lbs on each" said Ai "She's gonna need to arm and leg muscles if i plan to teach her some Inuzuka moves"
"Don't you think your taking things to fast with her?" asked Suki
"We don't have a choice… with Tanya on our trail, and with how skilled they are, we need to be ready to fight" said Ai "Having damaged muscles is better than being dead." she then pointed "Also, don't forget, I started Katara off at 300lbs on her back… and she doesnt show any signs of injury"
"That's… fair" said Suki
Ai nodded her head, then quickly turned to Aang
"Aang" said Ai, not getting a response "Aang… Aang" still nothing "AANG"
Aang flinched and looked over, a glace in his eyes faded
"Uh… what?" said Aang
"Why are we going down?" asked Ai
"We are?" said Aang, pulling the reins, getting Appa to go back up "Sorry… i didn't notice"
Ai quickly hit Aang upside the head
"Well notice harder… you're the pilot" said Ai
"Sorry, but… it just" said Aang, looking at the swamp "I feel like… the swamp is calling to me"
Sokka looked over
"Is it telling you where we can get some meat?" asked Sokka
"No… it wants me to land, it wants our help" said Aang
Ai looked over the side, looking down at the swamp… she sneered at it. Similarly Momo hissed, Appa groined and Smellerbee growled at it. Katara looked over at Aang.
"Something feel… evil about it" said Katara "I think we need to avoid it"
"Agreed" said Aang
As Appa started to fly higher, a massive tornado burst from the swamp… getting the group to look back. Aang snaps the reins again, getting Appa to fly faster. Appa as fast as he could, going where Aang directed him to go… but no matter where they went, the tornado followed.
With swamp land for miles and this tornado seemingly being supernatural in nature, there was no escaping it. The tornado came down on them, sucking them all up… throwing them across the swamp in different directions.
As they flew across the sky Ai looked around for anything of source point, spotting a massive tree towering over the other, said tree looked as if it once had a massive flower bloom atop it. Ai pointed it out.
"We regroup at the tree" yelled Ai, before vanishing below the canopy
Ai spun around and slowed her fall, swinging her feet down to stabilize herself and hitting a tree, shattering a branch. Ai flipped back off it and landed on a rotten old stump sticking out of the muck.
She looked to try and see the tree she marked out… it was visible, but barely. Positions of the other would vary if they could see it. Ai then sniffed the air, in hopes she could sniff them out… all she smelled was rot.
And then she tried to listen, when she first landed it had be moderately quiet… but that didn't last. All the creatures in the swamp made there noises, making it impossible to pick out just one.
And so, Ai started towards the tree alone, hopping from stump to stump until she found land
SPOOOSH
Ai looked over at the source of sound, to see Smellerbee brust from the water, in a complete panic. Realizing what was happening Ai jumped over, landing on the water… she reached down and grabbed Smellerbee, pulling her onto her.
She clung to Ai desperately, whimpering at the deep water she had fallin in… and nearly sank in.
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down, I've got you, I've got you." said Ai
Ai helped her to the shore, and once she was Smellerbee jumped off Ai with a unintended kick to the chest. Ai stumbled back a bit as Smellerbee shook the water off herself, Ai shielded herself from Smellerbee's assault. Smellerbee jumped on top of Ai and licked her face like a wild dog.
"Okay, okay, Smellerbee, you're welcome." said Ai, the kissing not stopping "Smellerbee, stop… stop. SIT"
Smellerbee hearing that word, quickly moved back… panting her ass firm on the ground. Ai wiped the saliva off her face… then looked around once more.
=== Suki ===
Suki, was currently tangle up in a mass of vines… she tried reaching into her pocket to grab a blade. With her being tightly wrapped up it wasnt gonna be easy… and she'd be here for a little while, she just hoped nothing came along and saw her as a meal.
And just as she thought that a beast came out of the shadows, its fur was brown and cover in filth… lumbered out and scanned the area. Suki remind as quiet as she could, just from the look of it she knew it was a carnivore.
It sniffed around a few times, then looked up to spot Suki. Suki's eyes widened as the beast bared its fangs, still stained with blood from its last kill. It reared up on its hind legs, mud fell from its body, revealing some white fur.
"Oh… it just you Balto" said Suki with a sigh
As Balto stepped forward, seemingly to free Suki… Balto, burst from the bush, slamming the creature Suki assumed was Balto. The tackle knocked most of the mud from the imposter Balto… revealing it to be a Panda-Dog, a very peaceful creature.
Its teeth wasn't stained with blood… but probably Bamboo-Beets. Balto slammed into the Panda-Dog again, biting down on its arm and shook violently.
"Balto, no no… heel" said Suki, as the Panda-Dog let out cries of pain from Balto's assault
Balto stopped his attack and looked up, dropping the helpless creature. The moment he did it ran away, letting out a cry of fear. Balto retorted with a bark of his own, with… from what Suki saw, an apologetic look on his face.
Balto turned back to Suki and stood on his hind legs, biting down on a vine and ripping it away, slowly freeing Suki.
=== Katara and Sokka ===
Katara used her bending to push around the swamp water, but with how filthy it was, was having some difficulty. But it was enough to at least get them from land to land with little contact with the water.
Katara looked over at Sokka, then pointed.
"You got an Elbow Leech" said Katara
Sokka looked over, and in a panic frenzy started to jerk around looking for it.
"Where? Where?" asked Sokka
"Where the hell do you think?" said Katara
Sokka stopped for a moment, then looked at his elbow… to see a leech, about the lench of his fore arm latched on to his elbow. He grabbed it, and like with the creatures in Omashu, he gently rubbed it… and it let go.
"Hope you enjoyed the free meal, you bastard" said Sokka, tossing it back into the water
The moment he did, he must have dropped the leech on something under the water… as something came flying in an arch towards him. Sokka reached out and caught it… a small bag, upon inspection… it had a few gold coins in it.
Sokka just blinked, then chuckled.
"Thank you for your business" said Sokka, he looked over at Katara, stopping "You… got a Back Bug"
"Hmm" said Katara, looking back at it.
On her back, holding tight was a 10 legged, 3 eyed monster with massive pincers taking up the entire length of her back. It let out a thunderous bellow, getting Katara to go white.
"Waahhhhhhh, get it off me" screamed Katara, running into the foliage "For the love of spirits, get it off me"
Sokka running right behind her, following her screams and roar of the bug
"Katara, don't run off" said Sokka
=== Aang ===
Aang landing was anything but pleasant… landing on a branch, between the legs stopping his fall. As he let out a weak cry he shifted off the branch and fell, only to do it again… then again, then one last time on a low hang branch.
As he crawled off the final branch and landed on his feet, he took a few steps… then a Rat-Bat slammed into his crotch, getting him to fall over one last time. The Rat-Bat shook its head, and let out a hardy laugh.
"Ho Ho, Nut Shot, Always Funny, Ho Ho" said the Rat-Bat, flying away like an angel he was
Aang coughed and shakingly stood up… then turned his head.
"Hello?" said Aang
"H… Help me" came a voice
Aang took a step forward, groaned at the acking in his groin. He took a few steps towards the source.
"Hello?" said Aang
"Young Avatar… I am in need of your help" came the voice
Aang let out one last grunt and stood up straight.
"How can I help you?" said Aang
There was a moment of quiet, the voice was gone… a weak energy came towards him, and he followed it.
=== Ai and Smellerbee ===
With both girls being used to moving through the tree, it was easy for them to avoid the water and other wildlife of the swamp. Ai stopped and searched for a moment, trying to feel out anyones energy… no luck
This swamp, the two spirit living in it masked all else in it. Ai sighed, she looked over to see Smellerbee just sitting there… waiting. Off in the distance behind her was Shion, waving to Ai.
Ai waved back at her mother, turned to look for the large tree she…
Ai whipped her head back to see her mother, standing high on a branch in the distance, smiling and waving. Then she stepped back, going behind the tree. Ai practically flew across the gap and look behind it… not seeing her anymore.
Ai's heart sank, cursing herself for fall for such a trick… then look back to see Smellerbee still waiting for her, either not seeing what she did… or not caring. Then a thought came to Ai… was it genjutsu, if so… who casted it.
Smellerbee heard something, getting her to turn her head. In a few trees over where massive white… Monkey like creature. It reminded her of her pack of Gorilla-Wolfs. Latched onto the massive white furred one, where smaller brown furred ones.
Ai looked over, and jumped back… the creatures seemed unmoved by it. Ai tilted her head as she inspected them… something about this things, reminded her of something. Then a few of the young ones started to cry… getting the creatures to started to leave.
"Onbuu… onbooo" cried the baby things
Ai's eyes widened, she couldn't believe it… they exist. The Onbaa really does exist. She thought her dad was just making up a story, where he and a Baby Onbaa joined forces, traversing a world full danger to take on an evil witch who wanted revenge on Naruto.
Come to think of it… maybe that was the part he made up.
Many little onbaa had crawled up the tree looked up at Ai and Smellerbee. Ai noticed that they looked kinda cute, she looked up to see the older ones not reacting to her being so close and she decided to pick one up, as she did one of them climbed up and latched onto her back.
"Oh, you want a piggyback ride?" said Ai
"Onbuuu.. onbuuu!"
Ai just giggled as the rest of babies were pouting because they all wanted piggy back. One was already holding onto Smellerbee, whom seemed to be familiar with this.
Smellerbee sniffed the air for a moment and she was looked at the giant creature for a moment.
"Onbooooooo" grunted the creature
Smellerbee grabbed Ai's leg to tell her something.
"What's wrong, Smellerbee?" asked Ai
"Follow big one, follow big one." said Smellerbee.
Ai was looking at the large creature and both her and Smellerbee follow the white creature. As they were following the white creature, Ai looked at some parts of the swamp was different. Both her and Smellerbee saw ruins of building and a tower.
Ai stopped for a moment, now having more of the Onbaa latched on to her. She looked the tower up and down, having fond memories of her Chunin exam. Once again, out of the corner of her eye she saw her mother…
Of course, Ai knew this probably wasn't the swampy remains of the forest of death. But it just reminded her of the old training ground.
This time the illusion appeared behind Ai, getting her to turn as the illusion Shion smiled at her. She then started to walk away, looking back at Ai, then moving again… only to stop and look back once more.
Ai, now curious what this illusion was wanting… followed suit. She follow the spirit of her mother and as it she stood in center of sun beam. Ai touch her and smile, as she felt something... but her hope was shatter when she saw an old root that look like a person. She collapsed to the ground and cried her eyes outs and the Onbaa babies comfort her.
After a few moment, Ai stood… seeing her mother off in the distance again, then time seeing slightly saddened. She turned and walked away. This time Ai followed, without the intent to touch.
The little Onbaa, once getting out of range of their mother, to which she barked, let go and started to move back towards her.
Smellerbee also followed Ai, resulting in the same bark from mother, as the little Onbaa released from her and rushed back.
=== Suki and Balto ===
Suki, riding atop Balto to stay out of the swamp water looked around, looking for the clearest path if possible. When she spotted land, she point it out, so Balto wouldn't have to swim through the swamp as often.
If he ever did have to swim thought it for long, Suki would clear him of leeches once on dry land. As she was checking for leeches at this moment, something catch her eye… she looked over to see a young girl in white robes.
She turns to Suki, her eyes white as the ice… she smiles and puts her hands up to her mouth and giggled. She turned and ran away from the two, surprisingly fast. Suki quickly got Balto and pointed.
"Follow her" said Suki
=== Katara ===
Katara, in her panic from the massive bug on her back… and managed to pull ahead of Sokka, and get herself lost. A catfish crocodile assisted in that… as Sokka had stepped on it, angering it and chased him away… as Katara was still freaking out.
Katara held her head and signed… upset at herself for panicking the way she did, and for getting lost. As she sulked to herself and tryed to back track, something caught her eye… she looked over to see…
"Mom?" said Katara
Katara's mother smiled and turned away from her, walking through the swamp. Katara stumbly ran forward and after her mother, not knowing it was an illusion. No matter how fast she ran, her mother seemed to be faster than her at just a walking pace.
"Come now Katara, stay close… dont want you getting lost" said Illusion of Katara & Sokka's mother
=== Sokka ===
"I shouldn't have said anything, I should have just walked up and knocked it off" said Sokka, pacing back and forth on a plot of land
As Sokka paced back and forth, two figure looked down at him from on high in the tree. Both women, one shorter than the other by just a few inches.
The first and slightly shorter one had short black hair, with a swift of red going to the left in a single bang. A deep blue kimono with a red obi and black trims. Attached to her waist was two odd looking curved blades, with circular like handles and no guard.
In her hand was a lemon, she bit down on it and ripped it in half, chewing on it like it was candy.
The second and taller one had long black hair, with a swift of blue going to the right in a single bang. A blinding white kimono with blue obi and golden trims. Attached to her waist as a long black blade and a small black tanto.
In her hand was one of those tea cup plates, with said cup sitting atop it. She used her other hand and took a sip of her tea.
The soft sound of slurping and chewing got Sokka to turn around and look up to see the girls. Both then tossed aside there food and drink, and pushed off the branch, landing on the ground with ease.
"Who are you?" said Sokka
Both girls turned away from him and started to walk, occasionally looking back… prompting Sokka to follow.
=== Aang ===
Aang, still trying to find the voice calling to him… ventured deeper and deeper into the swamp, further and further away from the tree Ai suggested to meet at.
Like the other, an illusion came before Aang… the same girl Suki saw, but when the voice call to him again, he turned from her. Unbeknown to Aang, that got the girl to give a panicked look… and shift forms, as it faded.
Aang moved faster, jumping from tree to tree… has he did he saw Master Gyatso, sitting in a tree, waving him over. Aang did stop for a moment, but remember that Gyatso was dead... so he pushed forward.
Aang landed in front of a large, old knot of a tree… its bark was black and cover with thorns. And the ground around it was as black as ash.
"You've come… thank you" said the voice "I feared the tornado i used to get you to land had injured you to the point of death"
"You summoned that tornado" said Aang "My friends could be hurt"
"I apologize if they are… but i had no choice" said the spirit "I need to be free, and reclaim what is my own"
"This swamp?" asked Aang
"It was not always a swamp, years of flooding and rains turned what was once a forest… into a swamp" said the spirit "I use to run this land… going about my duty giving to me by the spirits on high. Then she came"
A wisp of black smoke form from the ground, showing Aang images of the tale. A humanion male, assumable him… then a female figure came in.
"She was jealous of what i had, she told me how to rule this land… and when i didn't obey, she attacked me, taking my forest from me" said the spirit
The female swung out her hand… and long, wiggling spikes shot out and struck the male figure. He himself also swung his arm up… as something flowed from his hand, destroying the spikes.
"We battled for many years… but alsa, I could not best her, and with cruelty, she sealed me away" said the spirit
The female clapped her hand together, and a large tree wrapped around the male figure.
"However, I was able to tire her… as soon after she went into a hibernation state" said the spirit
The female sprite stretched and yawned, she floated upwards a pit and lay aloft in the air, sleeping.
"During those time when she sleeps… is the only time I am able to make contact with the outside, but I fear she will wake soon… and i haven't much time left before I am gone all together" said the spirit
"Ok… Ok, I'll help you however i can" said Aang, then smiled "Oh… I almost forgot, my name is Aang"
"Ah, Young Avatar Aang… I thank you, and once I, Hexxus is free… I shall reward you" said Hexxus
With that Aang pulled out his glider with a twirl, and started to inspect the tree.
=== ? ===
A giant figure with purple skin opened her green eyes with black sclera, around her eyes were purple mark looking like a mask. She wore a green dress made of leafs, as well as her gloves and leggings.
Purple Maple leafs adorned the upper part of her dress, her waist and her shoulders. Sitting atop her feet were daisies. The vines she used as her aloft bed undid themselves as she stepped down.
Her long, wild green-ish hair with lighter green-ish bands flowing in the wind. She cracked her neck to the side, it making a sound similar to the snapping of a branch. She shifted her head over to see both Appa and Momo in her small, in retrospect to her size, clearing she had.
Momo was sitting atop Appa eating small fruits he found, as Appa was enjoying melons… from Gaia's personal garden. She narrowed her eyes, then the glare lessened as she inspected Appa.
"You… your an Air Bison" said Gaia Everfree, moving her hand down and with one finger rubbing his chin. "I thought you went extinct"
Appa enjoyed getting his chin rubbed, especially since Gaia was able to rub all of his chin. Gaia, if she wanted… could pick Appa up, like he was a Guinea Pig-Hamster.
As Gaia rubbed his chin, his tongue flop out of his mouth… spilling a large amount melon onto the ground. Soon after Momo and many other small animal rushed over and feasted on the mushing watermelons
Gaia reached down and plucked one of the watermelons from its vine, popping it in her mouth like it was a grape, and shattering between her teeth with ease.
She looked off in distance of the swamp, feeling something inside it… something she hates. Humans… Mortals. Slowly she raised up and made her way forward, from the massive tree she called home.
=== Night ===
By following the illusions of someone loved and lost, or someone they never knew, the group had all managed to find each other… with the exception of Aang.
They all sat around a fire, talking about their experiences. Ai being pulled into a hug when she was tricked not once, but twice by the swamp's illusions.
"Well, good new… all we have to do is find Aang, Appa, and Momo now, and we can put this awful place behind us" said Sokka, taking his machete and cutting a few extra branches down.
In that instant, a branch nearby, surprisingly looking like a hand… slapped him across the face, getting his cheeks to swell. Sokka stumbled backwards in confusion, shaking his head.
"D-Did you all see that?" said Sokka
Ai nodded and readyed herself, feeling something approaching.
"Yeah… i did" said Ai
The ground broke near Sokka, getting him to scuttled backwards as a root started to grow and extend. The other stood in attention as the root grew to massive size, then cracked.
A hand slipped through the crack, breaking it open as Gaia Everfree stepped out. Her intimidating size brought fear to the group, with the exception of Ai. Gaia looked around the surrounding area… to see many tree's missing there limps, a small pile of freshly cut wood, then the fire.
Gaia's eyes filled rage, of all things the human could bring into her swamp…FIRE. She took in a breath and blow as hard as she could, blowing out the fire with ease. She stomped her foot once, getting the ground to shake.
"GET OUT OF MY SWAMP" yelled Gaia, unleashing a blast of wind
Out of instinct at seeing a large threatening creature, Sokka grabbed his boomerang… and hurled it at her. The boomerang spun through the air and pinged off of her head, falling to the ground like it was nothing.
In that instant all the surrounding tree lost their leaves in a explosion of anger, replacing them all with thorns. As did Gaia's leavey dress, it now was cover with black roots and thorns as she roared at Sokka.
She thrusted her palm forward firing thorns from her hands, getting the group to scatter and run from the oncoming attack.
"Now that's just great, you pissed her off" said Ai
"She was already pissed at us" said Sokka
Sokka jumped back, avoided a out growing vine… sliding across the ground. Katara spin on her foot and launched a stream of water and Gaia, but that didn't seem to slow her down in the slightest.
Gaia swung her arm out as vines brust from the ground, getting them all to jump back. Ai moved her hand down and to the side, an orb shining within it and rushed forward.
Ai jumped into the air, getting Gaia to watch and trail her… Suki shaking the ground under her, getting her to stumble slightly. Ai twirled downwards the trusted her palm out.
"Rasengan" yelled Ai
Gaia threw her fist forward, connecting with Ai's palm… blasting her backwards, destroying the Rasengan with easy. Ai spun and twirled in the air, going through hand signs as Sui and Sokka rushed forward.
Suki used her earthbending to shake up the ground, in hopes of throwing of Gaia's balance. Sokka gave in at her leg, swinging his machete as hard as she could… getting stuck in her bark like leg.
"Oh come on" yelled Sokka, looking around
Gia was looking down at Sokka who was holding a tree branch. He was shaking in fear as Gia used her vines to slapped him a couple of time until his cheek were swollen. Sokka collapsed to the ground with his cheeks swollen like a chipmunk.
"Sokka!" yelled Katara.
She waterbend a giant water whip to slapped Gia in the face. Gia was looking at the young water bender and unleashed a fury of vines upon her. Suki perform hand signs and placed them on the ground.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" said Suki
The ground started to shake as a barrage of vines hit the wall. Suki was trying her best to hold the wall up. Then Smellerbee jumped on top of the wall and jumped into the air. She started to spin a lot faster now.
"Tsuga!" yelled Smellerbee.
She started to take out some of the vines while Ai was building up chakra into one attack.
"I will rid this swamp of you humans, every last one of you. I will keep my home and those who live in it safe from predators like you." said Gaia.
Then a Kunai with a paper bomb tag on it hit Gia in the face. She scream out in pain. She was looking at an army of Ai. Then they started to charge as they were forming the Rasengan in each hands.
"Giant Rasengan Barrage!" yelled Ai.
The barrage of Rasengan hit her hard which cause her to scream out in pain. Suki threw more paper bombs which they exploded which caused a fire on Gia's body.
She was getting really upset. She was being overpowered by mere humans.
Katara water bend a water slicer and she send it to Gia which cut her to pieces. Smellerbee fired off another Tsuga to hit Gaia in the eye.
"Wind Style: Rasen-Shuriken!" said Ai.
She threw the Jutsu which cut a lot of vines which the effect hurt Gaia in the process.
"ENOUGH!" yelled Gaia.
She slammed her hand to the ground which cause it to shake. Then vines popped out of the ground grabbed everyone. They were all snared into the vines. As they struggled to get free, Gaia was looking at all of them, sap like blood dripping down her face and wounds.
She moved her hand to command the vines to squeezed them all to death. The vines started to squeeze their arms, legs and throats. Ai was trying to resist the vines but the strength of the vines were too strong.
"Hey kid, just let go already. Let me have control so I can teach her a lesson or two." said Yin Kurama
"No way in hell. I am not about to let you out." said Ai said, struggling to breathe.
"Well, can't say that I didn't try to save your life." said Kurama
Vine grew from Gaia, sealing up her wounds to heal herself… she cracked her neck, snapping it like twigs.
"As the mother of natural, I sentence you all to death against the crimes of nature." said Gaia, her glare darkened "This forest is off limits to mortals, yet you dared to enter… If not for the fact you commited a crime, i'd commend your bravery"
Sokka wormed his way out of vines, enough to take in a breath.
"If you didn't want us here, why the hell did you force us in" said Sokka, the vines tightened once more from Gaia command.
All the vines loosed lightly, Gaia turned to Sokka.
"I did no such thing" said Gaia, her size growing as she approached
"You did so… we were flying away, then you pull us in with a tornado" said Sokka
Gaia growled, the vines around Sokka tightened slightly.
"Mortal… do you know why this forest is forbidden to you?" asked Gaia
Sokka shook his head, as did the other.
"For starters… this is the last known rainforest in the world… many creatures and plants alike call this place home." said Gaia, pointing at the remains of the fire "And you do that… you bring Fire into it… it causes death. You human destroy my tree for your homes, kill my pets for your food… and all without giving thanks to me, or the creature for what you were given"
"Ok… Ok, got us there" said Sokka, taking in a breath "But we'd keep the fire contained… we needed warmth and to dry off"
Gaia didn't seem appeased by the statement, and resummed.
"But more importantly… the reason mortals are forbidden from my forest… is it doubles as a prison" said Gaia
"A Prison?" asked Ai
"Well, not the swamp itself… the Prison is within the swamp" said Gaia "And the prisoner is to never be released… as his crime toward nature is unforgivable. Many a time have I awoken to find a human nearly freeing him… as he told stories of me being the evil one and promised them rewards should they help… another reason I despise humans, greed"
There was a long pause, Ai tilted her head back… sighing.
"I think i know where Aang is" said Ai
The other looked over… then realized what she was talking about. In that instant, a massive pillar of black energy shot towards the sky… in an instant Gaia recoiled in pain as she felt something in the swamp.
Smoke filled the sky, and the sound of animals panicking… and the sound of a roaring fire. Gaia looked towards the direction the prison was in.
"No… he's been freed" said Gaia "I have to stop him"
Gaia took off towards Hexxus, prepared to fight him once more… even if it would kill her. Without her watching over the vines, the other were able to escape.
"Come on… lets go clean up Aang's mess" said Ai
=== Hexxus ===
Hexxus looks at a nearby tree and smiles. He reaches out a tendril from his body and his moldy, slimy, oozing tentacle forms into a hand, the moment he touches the tree it begins to fills with his pollutant essence and begins to drain it of life, it began to swivel up, the bark began to moisten and break down, the leaves shrivel up and dies, the branches weaken and break and the roots and the water around the begin to blacken and rot.
Aang panicked as the wildlife around him started to rot and die just from Hexxus mere touch. He looked at the spirit with pleading eyes.
"Wait, what are you doing… your destroying the your forest" said Aang
Hexxus looked over at Aang, or at least he thinks he did… a gooey smile formed and melted away.
"Oh you foolish little boy… did it not occur to you, that there was a reason I was imprisoned, in a tree of all things?" said Hexxus "I'm not a benevolent spirit like that nature loving Gaia Everfree… I bring the rot, i bring the decay… I am pollution, I am death incarnate"
"What have I done" said Aang, holding his head
At that moment Gaia and the other came into the area… seeing this Hexxus bore his tendreals deep into the ground, and started to vastly pollute the ground and surrounding area.
Gaia falls to her knees, shaking the area around Ai and the others and creating craters with her knees. She was holding her stomach in pain and began to cough and heave as if though was about to puke. Her body then began show these black veins on her arms and they slowly grew.
At the same time Hexxus's body began to take form, taking in all the smoke from the burning trees. A smoking body formed as well arms, hands, he had a head, but no eyes, nose or ears, but he managed to keep his smart ass mouth.
He floated over water, and it began to blacken, become dirty, greasy and even slimy just from his presents. Not only that but smog began to spread from Hexxus's body and permeate the swamp.
Ai takes out several Kunai and coats them in Wind release chakra and throws them at Hexxus, they hit his body, the wind nature in the Kunai manage to damage his body, but Hexxus's body recovered back to its normal disgusting state.
Sokka draws his machete and tries to charge at Hexxus, but his run was slowed due to the state the water was in and Balto was caught within it so he could not help. Much to Sokka's and everyone's shock.
Hexxus stood in front of Sokka, Sokka takes his blade cuts at Hexxus, however his blade passes thought the smoky body like nothing… yet it then stops blade dead, and it slowly started to seep inward. In a panic Balto tried to bite and claw at him, but the attacks pass through him and even went into his mouth making Balto sick.
"Does anyone smoke? Mind if i do" mocked Hexxus
Hexxus open his mouth and a large smoke cloud fall from his jaw and onto Sokka and Balto, both began to choke, cause their eyes to turn red. Katara runs over to her brother and points her fingers at Hexxus like guns
"Water Style:Double Water Gun!" said Katara
She blasts his head into smithereens. Smellerbee grabs Balto while Katara grabs her brother and get away from Hexxus.
Hexxus's head reformes as he laughs at their attempts, making the infected slime rise from the ground as hands and arms and try to grab them, but Ai intercepts this, she takes a deep breath and forms multiple hand signs and fires.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!" said Ai
The attack cuts the arms and the wind makes the sludge blow back a little. It was clear that Things like Chakra and jutsu were the only things that would be effective against Hexxus.
In that instant, Gaia comes slamming her giant fist down onto Hexxus as Katara and Smellerbee get out of the way. Suki uses her earth style to make blocks of stone rise from the ground for her, Ai, Smellerbee, Katara and herself to stand on. Sokka and Balto were both unconscious on a single block, but they were unconscious and their breathing was shallow.
"Smellerbee… stay with Sokka and Balto" said Ai, she turns to Suki "You too"
Suki nodded her head and hops over to Sokka, Balto and Smellerbee… then uses her earthbending to move the massive stone away from the fight.
While Gaia was trying to crush Hexxus with her fist, a new body rose up from the sludge and up to her face.
"Hello my wilting willow." said Hexxus, he points at Gaia's hair and sees it wilting a little and the black veins spreading.
He points over at nearby trees and his smog and sludge kills them the same as he had done before.
"Wilting and weeping ever so." said Hexxus in a suave manner.
He points down at her fist and a mouth made from the sludge tried to bite down on her hand, it sinks its teeth in and pierces her green skin. Gaia cries out in pain.
Ai jumps up Gaia's body and attacks Hexxus, she coats her body in fire nature and hits his body, causing it dissipate. Katara forms multiple hand signs and makes large amount of water using hr chakra, and made a wave blade that she used to cut the teeth off of Gaia's fist. Ai lands on Gaia's shoulder while she looks and sees that the forest was dying and the pollution was spreading further away from them.
Hexxus returns and tries to attack Suki from behind, Suki puts up a Mudwall, but is immediately smashed to bits, He attacks again with Suki trying to block the attack, she fails and is sent back only for Gaia to stretch out her hand and catch her. Ai jumps down at Hexxus with Katara going after him as well, she forms hands signs and focuses her nature release.
"Water style: Water Vortex jutsu!" yells Katara
She then fires a whirlpools of water of her own making in Hexxus's direction. As she did Suki put her hand to the ground and the block of stone she was standing on got taller turning it into a pillar, when the jutsu hit it broke it and hit Hexxus. However when the attack was done Hexxus's current form was standing, his body splintered, broken, but he was recovering and smiling. The water that Katara had created became polluted.
"That stings, haven't felt that in a long time." said Hexxus, a frown formed "I don't like it"
He slammed his hand and made spike rise from the ground to try and stab Katara, but Gaia quickly sweeps arm and tries to destroy the spikes and Hexxus. However he turns his body into a smog, but Ai attacks his body using Kyuubi Chakra coating her body and manages to hit Hexxus and to his surprise knocks him to the ground, Gaia then uses her power to make vines ruse from the pollutant sludge to try and strike him, only for him to dodge them expertly
"Same old Gaia." commented Hexxus.
He then touches the vines and drains them off their life, hurting Gaia in the process. Suki moves multiple hand signs and touches the pillar she creating causing it to extend and splinter into multiple javelins
"Earth style: Earthly rain!" said Suki
The pillar then extend to stab Hexxus, but he breaks apart his body to avoid the attacks. Katara then tries another jutsu, but Ai stops her.
"It's making him stronger." said Ai "Everyone stop"
Ai focused what Chakra she had and created lightning release. She then attacks Hexxus, he tries to evade, but Ai's speed proved too great, she dashed through him like a nail clean through wood and destroyed his smoky body.
Ai landed on a tree branch and jumped back to survey the area… unknowingly landing on Gaia's shoulder
However one of the dead trees exploded revealing his new body… a skeleton in a oily cloak, he cracked a smile. Never before had Hexxus have this level power… this destruction. He let out a laugh as flames burst from his mouth… something that once took a great deal of effort to do, now effortlessly.
Gaia looked at the other, at Ai… the very human she was trying to kill moment early, have been here fighting this demon… and not fleaing. Grant it, there attack had been slowly fuling him… but only due to the pollution currently in the area.
The only ones whose attacks seem to be doing anything… was the water bender who created her own water… at the girl currently on her shoulder.
"His body is naturally creating oil… if I use lightning or flames now, it will just cause more damage" said Ai
"My forest, its dying." said Gaia.
"I know… and I'm sorry" said Ai "And i'm sure Aang is too… he'd never want this"
"Can we save her?" asked Suki. Katara shook her head unsure
"Not until we kill him." called out Ai.
Ai expected to hear a complaint from Aang… but he was still kicking himself for freeing such a thing… and his airbending would be of no use. Now more than ever, this was a moment were this teaching of every creature deserving a chance… was proven wrong.
Ai noted how her Kurama's chakra was able to harm Hexxus, she shook her head… she just have to use hers. She looked at Katara and Suki.
"Stall for time, I have a plan." said Ai.
Katara then went through multiple hand signs and Suki did than same, she then spewed a torrent of water from her mouth in Hexxus direction.
"How polite, I didn't order a drink, but where's the rocks?" asked Hexxus.
Suki made blocks of stone rise above Hexxus's sludge and sends them on his way with Katara's attack.
"Oh thanks." said Hexxus.
AI had made it up to Gaia's shoulder and spoke into her ear.
"I have a plan, if I do this right then it might save your home and finish Hexxus." she said. Gaia nods.
"Fine, I'm listening." she said.
"A long time ago, the 7th and 4th hokage of my village was able to share a power to an entire army that protected them." said Ai "I'm gonna try to do the same"
"And that will help us stop him?" asked Gaia.
Ai nods.
"Right, but I haven't done anything like this before, and I need to funnel my chakra through you and the whole swamp." said Ai.
Gaia was hesitant hearing this, however sealing Hexxus wouldn't work again and as long as he was in this forest the way that he did, he couldn't die… not with how toxic it is.
Ai sees Katara getting tossed around like a rag-doll until she was thrown against a tree. Suki was already on her stomach facing down in the sludge. There were not other options left.
"Okay, do it now!" ordered Gaia
Ai called forth as much of her chakra… her body going into Sage mode, despite the warning of not to do it, and she gave as much as she could, she coated her entire body and she felt the power in her veins. She touched Gaia's shoulder and allowed all of her power to travel into Gaia's body.
Gaia however felt strange and panicked and the amount of power began to flow through her body, she flailed about believing she was on fire. She would have killed Ai if it wasn't for one of her trees recovering from what Hexxus had polluted began to recover and even bloom flowers.
"W-What?" said Gaia.
She stopped and realized that her body was fine, she was even healing, then looked at the rest of her swamp as it began to glow a divine color with Ai's Sage chakra. It looked as if though the damage that Hexxus had created was vanishing Even the water that contained his essence was becoming pure again… truly pure. Katara slowly got up and witnessed what was happening and saw Gaia and Ai together
"Gaia's connection with nature with Ai's power, its helping the swamp comeback." said Katara
"AAHHH!" yelled Hexxus.
Ai, Gaia and Katara look over and see Hexxus writing in pain, his form was melting, his sludge and smoke was vanishing, it was hurting him and taking his power away.
"Gaia, what have you done, make it stop!" yelled Hexxus.
Gaia looked over at Ai who nods. Ai then drops to the ground. Hexxus charges at her and swings his fist at her only for her to dodge the attack and strike him in the side of his head. The attack causes Hexxus to fly backwards where Gaia would stomp on his body repeatedly like an insect.
Hexxus tried to form smog to suffocate her but it dissipates in a matter of moments. She stops stomping on Hexxus's body and kicks his body to a tree.
Furious, Hexxus uses whatever power he has left to make his body grow with whatever power he had left until he was much large than Gaia and strikes Gaia, but she quickly recovers from the attack. Ai could see that the power she had given Gaia was fading, she needed to finish it now.
Ai lands on Gaia's shoulder, and starts to run down her arm.
"Extend you hand and channel you energy into it… rotate it, and compress it as much as you can" yelled Ai
Gaia nods and goes as Ai said… once Ai reached her wrist she added her own and did what she could to help contain it. Seeing them preparing an attack Hexxus went to stop it… but soon found a vine wrap around his neck.
Hexxus tore it off with ease, but soon found another around him… and another. As well as the water coming up his legs and freezing. Slabs of earth, from deep underneath rose up and effectively pinned him.
The Rasengan Ai was helping Gaia make was getting bigger, and bigger. Ai manly using her chakra to rotate it… while Gaia added the newly formed power from the healed forest to its size, and compressing it.
"More… more… MORE" said Ai
Gaia nodded as the Rasengan shined brightly… with a natural color, with a radiant energy that Hexxus would soon be intimate with… Nature.
Ai looked up at Gaia, nodding her head… telling her it was ready. Gaia nodded back and rushed forward, each step quaking the ground. The shaking freed Hexxus of his binds… he looked down at the other with a sneer, then a shine hit his eyes.
He looked forward to see a large rotating orb come slamming into his face.
"Sage Art: Gaia and Ai's Nature Rasengan" yelled Ai
The Rasengan quickly over took Hexxus… the overwhelming power of a newly fully realised Gaia, thanks to Ai… and Ai's sage chakra. It was took much… and the spirit of pollution was completely destroyed.
Until he reforms again in a few hundred year… but for now, he was gone. With a laugh and a smile Ai pumped up her hand… before sage mode dissipated on its own, her eyes rolled back… and she started to fall.
Gaia moved her hand out and formed a flower in her palm to cushion the fall. Then eased her down to the ground… and let her off. Katara ran up and pulled Ai's unconcuse body into a hug.
Gaia looked down at the group… then out to the forest that they helped protect. Maybe she was wrong about the humans
"Uh… excuse me, uh… miss?" yelled Sokka
Gaia looked down at Sokka… shrinking down to relatively small size… about 6 feet tall.
"Gaia Everfree" said Gaia "Mother of all plant life"
"Right… Sokka… uh, eater of meats" said Sokka with a smile
Gaia's eyebrow cocked up in an unamused joke. Sokka cleared his throat.
"Yeah, sorry about that... I make jokes when I" started Sokka, then stopped "What was with the illusions we all saw?"
"Due to years of fighting with Hexxus, before his first selling… this land was bathed in our powers. One of Life, One of Death… there is now a thin line between this world and the spirit world. As such… it tends to show people those whom they have lost. It shows that they are still with you in one way… or another, as time is the biggest illusion of them all"
"Uh… I saw someone I never meet" said Suki
Sokka nodded his head, as it was the same with him. Gaia chuckled, humans, so stupid… she actually missed it. She just merely moved her hand to her head, and tapped it a few times… watching as they were forced to figure out the answer by themselves.
Now that Gaia thought about it… with Hexxus gone, the swamp was no longer dangerous. A thunderous growl boomed in her ear, she looked over to see a Herculean Tyrant Kabuteri Beetle on her shoulder… with the tail of what use to be a fox in its mouth.
Well… not as dangerous. So the human can return… as long as they dont bring pollution.
"Someone to meet, someone to meet" chanted Smellerbee
"Thats… right" said Suki, she knelt to Smellerbee "Did you figure that out all on your own?"
"On own, on own" chanted Smellerbee
"Ok… so, it's someone too meet" said Sokka, clapping his hand "Now all we need to do is find Appa and Momo"
"I assume you're talking about a flying bison and a lemur?" asked Gaia "I'll take you to them"
=== Tanya ===
Now with a new katana in hand, Tanya channeled lightning into it… it spark wildly, much like her chidori. Tanya smiled at it and swung it to the side… chuckling.
"Chidori… Blade" said Tanya "That sounds about right"
X
Next Time: The Blind Bandit