Aang rolled his shoulders and rocked back on the balls of his feet. Across the field, the Sieshin Lord was limbering up as well. Aang kept his eyes focused on his opponent and not on the girl who stood beside him, a worried crease in her brow.
"How can you be so sure you're going to win?" Toph demanded to know. "Or that he's going to honor his word?"
"I can't," Aang said bluntly. He reached for his toes, his eyes never leaving the Sieshin Lord. "But I have to try."
"I think you're crazy."
He looked at Toph accusingly as he straightened up. "Why are you so set on me sacrificing you, Toph? Don't you care about your own life?"
"Of course I do!" Toph scowled at him. "But I also understand that my life isn't worth the fate of the world. You should know better than that, Aang. Or did you not actually let go of your earthly attachments again?"
Her words stung him. He had. At least, he was pretty sure he did. Aang hefted the staff in his hands and drew himself up tall. "I did." He swung it experimentally. Aang was sure he could work with it. "And I know what's at stake here, okay? You don't have to remind me."
Toph crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "So if this doesn't work, will you do it, Aang?"
He clenched his teeth, his eyes falling closed. He didn't answer her for a long moment. Then he opened his eyes and fixed them on the Sieshin Lord. "I won't have to. This is going to work."
"Have you even practiced fighting without your bending? Are you sure you can take him?"
"I wouldn't have signed up for this if I wasn't sure." He didn't tell her that he wasn't completely confident in his abilities. But he was desperate, and he had no other choice. He had to do this. "Do you think I've got all my past lives just hanging out inside of me and I don't bother to learn anything from them?"
"I don't know. Do you?"
Aang let out a frustrated sigh. "Of course. I meditate, and I talk to them. I've picked up a thing or two." He twirled the staff in his hands. "I might not be Zuko with his broadswords, but I'm not helpless, either."
He swung the staff in his hands experimentally. It was just like his glider. Even without his bending, Aang was sure he could weaponize it.
"Maybe you should've challenged him to a fight topside," Toph muttered. "You could win that easily."
"You don't think I'm going to win, do you?" Aang dropped the staff to his side and looked over at her. "Your severe lack of confidence in me isn't very helpful, Toph. If all you're going to do is talk about how you think I'm going to lose, then maybe you should view the fight from further away."
Toph gritted her teeth. "I think it doesn't matter to you what I think. You haven't been listening to a word I've said since we got here!"
"That's because you're so bent on being self-sacrificial—"
"For the benefit of the world!"
"—that you don't even consider what you're asking me to do!" Aang leveled her with his gaze. "You're asking me to take your life, Toph. To kill you. That doesn't just go against the monk's pacifist teachings. That goes against everything that I am." He dropped his gaze. "You're my friend. I could never forgive myself."
Toph pressed her mouth into a thin line as tears pricked her eyes unbidden. She blinked them away before she jabbed a finger at him. "You were willing to kill Zuko for the good of the world! Why am I any different?"
Aang reeled back as if she had slapped him. He blinked hard, frowning. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe that's part of why I can't do this?"
It was her turn to look stunned. She could see a look in his eyes that seemed to show his heartfelt thoughts that he couldn't quite manage with his words. Toph opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, and closed it again.
"Excuse me. Not to be rude but...if you two are done arguing like an obnoxious married couple, I'd like to begin."
They both looked back over at the Sieshin Lord. He spun the katana in his hand, a wolfish smile crossing his face. Aang tightened his grip on the staff and nodded once. He didn't look back at Toph as he stepped forward to meet him.
The Sieshin Lord strolled leisurely forward, as if they weren't about to engage in a deadly fight. Aang kept his face clear of all emotion and cleared his mind of all thought. Years of meditation made that easy enough. The only thing he could think about now was defeating the Sieshin Lord.
It was the only thing that mattered.
The Sieshin Lord raised his katana. Aang planted his root firmly and brandished his staff. He watched him closely, searching for the twitch of muscle that would give away the attack.
Aang saw it. The sword jabbed out and Aang brought his staff up just in time to block it. He pushed back against the Sieshin Lord, forcing the spirit to retreat. Aang moved forward to attack, but the Sieshin Lord was ready for him. Aang felt the force of his attack reverberate through him. He withdrew and stepped back quickly. Even without the use of his airbending, Aang was still quick on his feet.
The Sieshin Lord lunged forward, sweeping his blade out in a great arc that caused Aang to jump back again. He brought the staff down and caught the katana as the Sieshin Lord withdrew it, forcing the blade to the ground. Aang dragged the staff up and saw the end of it pass through the air in front of his opponent's nose.
Blood-red eyes flickered to his for the briefest of moments. "I'm impressed," the Sieshin Lord drawled. Then the katana was soaring upward.
Aang didn't know if he could actually die here in the Spirit World. He didn't know if his spirit was susceptible to the same types of injuries his physical form was, but he wasn't too keen on finding out. He leapt back in time to avoid a cut that would have scored him from hip to collarbone and ducked down as the Sieshin Lord altered the path of his blade.
He swept his staff low and forced his opponent to jump back. Aang finished the move with a quick upward cut. The staff knocked against the Sieshin Lord's thigh and he heard the spirit grunt.
"Kick his ass, Aang!" Toph whooped from somewhere behind him, but he couldn't let her distract him.
Aang lashed out again and nearly jabbed him in the chest, but the Sieshin Lord knocked the staff aside with his forearm and swiped the katana toward Aang. He raised his staff in time to block the blow. The blade bit into the wood and the Sieshin Lord pressed forward, trying to force Aang to his knees.
He dropped down and moved away, but not quickly enough: he felt the sword cut across his shoulder. Aang felt the blade slice through his skin and he grunted at the pain. It hurts just like it would topside, Aang mused quickly as he spun around, lashing out with the staff. That's good to know.
The fight carried on. Aang hadn't been lying when he told Toph he was no expert, but overall, he thought he was faring well against such a skilled opponent. The Sieshin Lord was brutal in his attacks. He played offense, his attacks coming so quickly that Aang could only block and parry. Aang tried to sidestep and avoid his attacks when he could as he searched for an opening, but he was hard-pressed to do so. The Sieshin Lord had picked up the pace. He was just too fast—even faster than he was.
Aang was very grateful that he had taken the time to learn from his past lives. Over the years, when he meditated, he would talk to previous Avatars. He learned a lot from them, mostly about where they had made mistakes or triumphs, but some of them also taught him things like this. Avatar Thokmey, an airbender, had taken up the art of the sword as a pass-time, and had become quite skilled at it. He had taught Aang during his meditations and had passed on that knowledge.
A staff wasn't the same as a sword, but Aang wasn't really trying to hurt the Sieshin Lord either—although his opponent clearly didn't have the same qualms. He would honor his convictions and defeat the Sieshin Lord without trying to inflict major bodily harm.
After a particularly violent clash that left Aang with a cut across his chest, he and the Sieshin Lord drew back, circling. Even in his spiritual form, Aang could feel the exhaustion of battle creeping in. And it wasn't the same as physical tiredness; this was taxing his spirit energy.
As far as he could tell, the Sieshin Lord wasn't tiring out. His stamina and spiritual energy were far greater than Aang's. But Aang had anticipated as much. He knew, if he had any chance of winning, he would need to finish this quickly.
Aang feigned to the left. The Sieshin Lord moved to counter him, and Aang brought the other end of the staff up. It thudded resoundingly against the spirit lord's elbow with enough force to knock him off balance. While he recovered, Aang closed in, bringing the staff up in a sweeping blow that caught the Sieshin Lord in the belly. The breath left him and he staggered again, bringing the katana around to launch a furious attack. Crimson eyes glittered murderously.
But Aang was prepared for this: he brought the staff around to catch the katana. He felt the force reverberate into his arms and he pulled back up, trying to keep the spirit off-balance. The Sieshin Lord pulled back and Aang lashed out, aiming for his opponent's stomach again.
This time, it was the Sieshin Lord who was ready.
Too late, Aang saw the fox-man bring his foot up in a sharp kick. It caught the end of the staff and sent it flying upwards. The Sieshin Lord twisted in a roundhouse kick. The staff flew from Aang's hands and bounced across the grass several feet away.
Aang dropped and rolled as the black blade sliced the air where he had stood moments before. He bounded back to his feet and dodged a swing that would have slit his throat.
The fight had changed. Weaponless, all Aang could do was avoid the Sieshin Lord's sword.
"Come on, Aang!" Toph shouted behind him. "Get your staff and get back in there!" She clenched her hand into fists and gritted her teeth. I swear, if he dies while I can see, I'm going to kill him!
Aang bounded backward as the Sieshin Lord advanced. He ducked and weaved around the swinging blade, but he wasn't fast enough. He cried out as the katana nicked his raised forearm.
"Do you surrender?" the Sieshin Lord snarled.
Aang gritted his teeth as he ducked again. "Never!"
The staff wasn't far off. If he could get closer to it, he could grab it. He could still win this.
Aang bobbed and ducked and dodged the Sieshin's Lord ferocious attacks as he tried to make his way back toward his staff. But the Sieshin Lord was onto him, and he kept circling around and forcing Aang back from his staff.
Aang stumbled over a tussock of grass. The Sieshin Lord pounced like a tigerdillo. Aang faltered as he struggled to regain his balance, throwing himself to the side to avoid the sharp blade. He landed hard, catching himself on his hands. He scrambled forward and pushed himself up onto his feet, spinning around in time to dodge a wide sweep of the katana.
"Surrender!" The Sieshin Lord growled. "You can't win this, Aang!"
"I won't give up!" Aang shouted back. He thought about Toph. Her life depended on him winning. He couldn't admit defeat. His grey eyes flashed like hot coals. "I will never give up!"
"You foolish boy." The Sieshin Lord lunged and Aang faltered back again.
With each step he took, he ended up further and further from his staff. He couldn't win without it. He couldn't get close enough to the Spirit Lord to attack him with his bare hands—not that Aang was confident in his abilities to do that—and he was running out of options fast.
Come on, Aang, think! Then he saw his window of opportunity, and he took it.
The katana sliced through the air. Aang narrowly avoided it as he dropped down and rolled, bounding lightly to his feet behind the Sieshin Lord. He sprinted for the staff, all too aware of the Sieshin Lord's footfalls behind him. Aang scooped the staff up in his hands and in one fluid movement, turned back to face his opponent.
Wood met steel and Aang could feel the strain in his arms as he pushed against the spirit lord. His opponent was taller and stronger, but Aang resisted, digging the heels of his boots into the grass. He clenched his teeth and held steady. He couldn't falter. He couldn't lose.
The Sieshin Lord pierced him with his ruby eyes. His face was contorted into a wolfish snarl that sent chills running through Aang. He bore down against the Avatar, the muscles of his biceps bulging at the exertion.
Aang could tell the Sieshin Lord had underestimated him. He hadn't expected Aang to put up as much of a fight as he did. What did he think I would do? Aang wondered. Toph's life is on the line. I wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Do you know what this move is called, Aang?" the Sieshin Lord asked, his voice strained. "It's called body-to-body, when your weapon is locked with your opponent's. It has its advantages for the larger opponent, as they can use their weight and strength against the other person. However, for the smaller opponent, it's quite problematic." The corner of his mouth curled into a sinister smirk. "I can feel your spirit energy waning. How much longer do you think you can hold out?"
"As long as I need to!" Aang rasped out.
His momentary distraction allowed the Sieshin Lord to press against him. The katana crept closer. Aang's arms burned. His whole body seemed to tremble. As loathe as he was to admit it, the Sieshin Lord was right: he was running out of energy.
"I was afraid you would say that."
The Sieshin Lord withdrew suddenly. With the force suddenly gone, Aang lurched forward, thrown off-balance. His opponent was ready for him.
There was no time to react, to deflect, to block.
The Sieshin Lord brought the hilt of his katana up and thrust it into Aang's chest. It connected solidly. Pain radiated from the center of his chest out to the ends of his limbs. Aang teetered backwards, and with a sweep of his foot, the Sieshin Lord knocked him onto his back. The air left him in a sharp gush and Aang lay limply against the grass.
The tip of the katana pressed against his throat. The Sieshin Lord looked down at him, a sneer crossing his face. His voice was cold. "You lost, Avatar."
Aang closed his eyes as shame and guilt washed over him. Hot tears pricked the back of his eyes. What am I going to do now? Aang thought miserably. How am I going to save Toph and the rest of the world? I failed.
"Aang!" He heard Toph's footsteps on the grass but he couldn't bear to open his eyes and look at her. He couldn't.
"Look at me, Avatar." The Sieshin Lord's voice was calm and demanding.
Aang couldn't resist the power in his voice. Slowly he opened his eyes, glowering up at the spirit.
To his surprise, there was no malice in the Sieshin Lord's eyes. In fact, it almost seemed as though he was...amused? Aang blinked owlishly; that couldn't be right.
The Sieshin Lord withdrew the katana. It disappeared from his hand, and he extended his open palm to Aang. He looked at the outstretched hand for a moment, wondering if this was some kind of deception or trick.
"A victor should never taint his victory with dishonor, Aang," the Sieshin Lord said, as if he could read Aang's thoughts. "Our fight is over. Come now."
Still uncertain, Aang allowed the Sieshin Lord to help him to his feet. His skin burned where the katana had cut him, and Aang pressed his hand to the gash on his chest, wincing. He swayed unsteadily on his feet, and was nearly knocked over again when Toph tackled him in a hug, her face pressed to his shoulder.
"Twinkle Toes! I thought he was going to kill you!" Her voice, muffled by his monk's robes, was thick with emotion.
The Sieshin Lord snorted. "Oh, please. I was never going to kill him, you know." His mouth twitched in a smile. "He's the Avatar. You do realize what that would do to the balance at a time like this, don't you?"
Toph pulled back, her jaw clenched in rage. She jabbed a finger at him. "You weren't going to kill him, huh? Well, you sure had me fooled. If you aren't going to kill him, then what's the plan? You were just going to let him lose before you made him kill me?"
Aang gripped her waist, to keep himself upright as much as to keep her from throwing herself at the Sieshin Lord. "It's okay, Toph. I'm still not going to do that to you."
"Aang, you don't have any other options left!" Her green eyes pierced him. Tears shone brightly in them, and Aang looked away. "How else are you going to find out how to stop the Conduit?"
"Well, that's easy: I'm going to tell him."
Both of them looked at the Sieshin Lord, jaws agape. Aang blinked hard, his hand falling away from Toph, not quite believing he had heard the spirit lord correctly.
"Come again?" Toph's voice was several octaves higher. "What do you mean, you're going to tell him? All of that, and you're just going to tell him?"
"Toph, don't argue with him," Aang hissed from the corner of his mouth. "We don't want him to change his mind."
Amusement twinkled in the Sieshin Lord's eyes. "Oh, I won't be changing my mind. Once I've made it up, I rarely change it." He spun on his heel and started back toward the willow, glancing back at them over his shoulder. "You're coming, aren't you?"
Aang started forward, but Toph caught his wrist. "What if it's a trick?"
"I have to try, Toph." Aang smiled at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "If he says he'll tell me, I have to believe him. Like you said, I don't have any options left."
Toph opened her mouth as if to argue more, but then she closed it and held his gaze instead. She wasn't sure what color his eyes were, but they were beautiful. She couldn't believe that the Sieshin Lord was just going to tell him. She had been certain she was going to lose Aang forever.
She slid her hand down his wrist to lock their fingers together while she wrapped her other hand around the crook of his elbow. She couldn't bear the thought of letting him go. She felt like she had been too close to losing him. Aang squeezed her hand gently.
Together, they followed the lord of spirits back to the willow tree.
The Sieshin Lord stepped under its shadows and turned to face them before he sank languidly to the ground. He rested his elbow on his crossed forearm, cupping his chin in one hand. His expression was unreadable. Aang didn't know what to make of it.
But he didn't hesitate as he joined the fox spirit beneath the dark boughs. He sat cross-legged before him, Toph still at his side, and met his eyes unflinchingly, his face stoic.
Despite the weariness tugging at his spirit, and the ache of the cuts he had sustained during the duel—let alone the shame of losing that duel—Aang felt remarkably calm. It was as though everything he had been through, everything he had done over the last few weeks had culminated in this moment.
Suddenly, it felt as if it was always meant to be this way.
Toph sat beside him, her hands now gripping her knees. Aang could sense her tension. He could see it, in the ramrod-straight line of her back and her lips, quirked down at the corners, as she focused her gaze on the Sieshin Lord. He wanted to reach out to her and tell her it was all going to be alright, but Aang knew she wasn't going to believe him, not until she saw it for herself.
And maybe he really didn't blame her. He knew how hard it was to accept that destiny, that duty, so readily. He admired her strength. He couldn't even bring himself to sacrifice her. She had so calmly accepted herself as a sacrifice in his quest. She hadn't fought it or tried to find another way, as he had. She had looked destiny in the eye and said she would do it. And then to have someone come and say they were going to alter it…
"You fought well, and with honor." The Sieshin Lord's voice was low. "You proved to be a formidable opponent, one who challenged even me, in all of my knowledge and skill." A smile ghosted across his lips. "I'm more than impressed, Aang. I am honored."
Aang stared, wide-eyed, at the spirit lord. He blinked owlishly, wondering if he was hallucinating.
Toph evidently felt the same way. "Wait, what? You beat him at the duel, but you're still going to tell him what he needs to know?" Her brow furrowed as she stared at the Sieshin Lord. "What's the catch."
"No catch. Not all victories come with the blade of your sword at the throat of your enemy," the Sieshin Lord said sagely. His eyes fell on Aang. "The Avatar has proven himself to be worthy, even without my usual toll. And, I must admit, all of this has been incredibly entertaining for me. It has put me in a rather good mood. It has put me in such a good mood, in fact, that I think I may expand the options for forms of future payment for my knowledge."
Aang let out a breath of relief. He bowed low to the Sieshin Lord from his seated position. "It is an honor to learn your knowledge."
"Your spirit is taxed and your time here runs short, Aang, so I'll make this quick." The Sieshin Lord pierced him with his eyes. "How much do you know of Spiritual Fusion?"
"Spiritual what now?" Toph frowned.
Aang furrowed his brow. "I don't think I've ever heard of that. What is it?"
"It is similar to what occurred when Wan fused with Raava ten thousand years ago, but on a much smaller scale," the Sieshin Lord explained. He pointed a slim finger at Aang. "That is how you stop the prophecy, and that is how you prevent you and the Conduit from destroying each other."
Aang leaned forward earnestly. "How do I do that?"
The Sieshin Lord offered him a humorless smile. "It's quite simple really. Let me explain it to you."
Aang listened.
"I'm telling you, if something was wrong, Iroh would tell us!"
Keiko glared at her brother over her shoulder as she strode down the cobblestone walk to Iroh's house. "He's been back in Ba Sing Se for weeks and we've barely seen him, let alone heard from him. And he's here with the Avatar. That doesn't worry you at all?"
Rumi chewed his bottom lip for a moment, his pace slowing as if that had just occurred to him. "Maybe." He tried to grab Keiko's arm, but she pulled away. "But that doesn't mean we should just barge into his house and demand answers!"
"We're not barging in anywhere! We're going to politely knock on his door and check in on him." Keiko shot a vicious grin over her shoulder. "Or are you just afraid to get your tail whipped by Master Toph again?"
Rumi colored red up to the tips of his ears as he recalled how easily the earthbending master had whipped him a few weeks ago. He glowered at her. "No. I just think this is rude, Keiko."
She turned down Iroh's front walk. "Well, it's too late to turn back now. We're here."
It was late evening and the sun was setting. They had bickered about checking in on Iroh all day, and once they had closed the Jasmine Dragon for the evening, Keiko had told her brother that she was going to his house to make sure he was alright. Rumi had argued against it, and had continued to do so, even though it was fruitless. Once Keiko had made up her mind about something, it was almost impossible to change it.
Rumi let out a sigh as he eyed his boss's house. "I swear, if this turns out to be nothing, I'm going to kill you, Keiko."
"Whatever." The girl hurried up to the door and knocked. She bounced in place as she waited impatiently for someone to answer.
"See? He's not even here."
"Then where is he?"
Rumi shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he left again."
"Without telling us? Fat chance of that." Keiko knocked again, a little louder this time. "Come on, Iroh. Open the door." She furrowed her brow, trying not to worry too much. She hoped Rumi was right, but something deep in her gut told her that he wasn't.
Rumi crossed his arms over his chest and waited down on the front walk. He just knew his sister was about to make a fool of herself, as he imagined Iroh answering the door, all cheery and just fine, explaining that he had just been preoccupied entertaining his guests.
But he had to admit, it was a little odd that Iroh hadn't even come by the tea shop since that first day.
Keiko raised her hand to knock again. "Maybe he took them over to the garden behind his house. You know how much he likes it there."
Rumi sighed. "We're going to go check, aren't we?"
Keiko jogged down the stairs and met her brother on the sidewalk. "Yes, we are. Come on."
The siblings cut along the side of Iroh's home to the narrow alley that ran behind the homes that lined this street. Keiko didn't stop to knock at the gate and instead stepped through. She stopped so suddenly that Rumi bumped into her.
"What is it, Keiko?" But then he saw it too.
Iroh sat before the pond. On the other side, she saw the Avatar and Master Toph. They were sitting cross-legged, heads bowed together. Aang was glowing. His arrow tattoos were lit up with a white light that bathed the garden in its iridescent glow.
"Iroh?" Keiko's voice was filled with wonder and a hint of terror.
The old man turned, his eyes widening in surprise. He got stiffly to his feet and shuffled over to them, hands held out as if to shoo them away.
"What's going on?" Keiko asked, her eyes still trained on the glowing young man.
"Keiko, Rumi, you shouldn't be here." But he didn't sound angry, or even like he was going to ask them to leave.
Keiko tore her eyes away from the Avatar and looked at Iroh. "Iroh, what's happening to the Avatar?"
Iroh searched her face before he turned to her brother. Rumi stood frozen, his hand clasped tightly around his sister's. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have even let her drag him over here. But these weren't normal circumstances.
Rumi fixed his eyes on his mentor. "The Avatar's visit wasn't just a social call, was it? You've been keeping something from us."
"Yes." Iroh closed his eyes. "It does not involve you. The two of you should not be here. I need you two to go home."
"And pretend we didn't see anything?" Keiko's tone bordered on indignance. A sad look fell across her face. "You don't have to keep things from us, Iroh. We would understand, whatever is happening." She hesitated. "If you need our help, you just have to ask."
Iroh studied his tea-making disciples and heaved a heavy sigh. In a way, he was grateful they were there. He had missed them, and he had hated keeping something like this from them. And he wasn't sure what was happening with Aang and Toph. He had only seen the Avatar do anything like that once before, when he had first emerged from the iceberg...he would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't worried. Something might have gone wrong in the Spirit World. He hoped that wasn't the case. Perhaps the Avatar had found another way.
"I appreciate your willingness to help. And I'll tell you what I can," Iroh said at last. "I don't know if you can be of any help, but I feel it would be wrong of me to keep this from you any longer."
The siblings exchanged a look. Then Keiko settled her gaze on Iroh and nodded once, her face set in a determined frown. "We're here for you, Iroh."
Iroh led them into the garden. Aang still glowed on the other side of the pond. Toph almost seemed to disappear in the light. He had wanted to check to see if he could feel her pulse still, or if Aang had done it...but he couldn't bring himself to do so.
Iroh sat across from the siblings. His face was tired and drawn. When was the last time he had gotten a good night's sleep? He couldn't remember. Iroh let out a deep breath. He looked up at them. "The balance is being threatened, and Avatar Aang is once again trying to save the world…"