Book 1: AIR

CHAPTER 16:

THE SPIRITS

The rocky landscape made it difficult for anything to live there. Plants died from lack of nourishment and no animals could with stand the harsh winds that blew across this barren land. It was a small island off the main shore of the volcanic continent. It was always clouded in a thick mist that no one could penetrate. This is where the spirits gathered this night.

They came from all corners of the earth. There were big ones, small ones, ones who ruled over the rivers and ocean and others who tamed forests and deserts. Many had elemental powers while others had none but the intimidation factor. They all shared one thing though.

"We must do something of these benders that are infringing upon our rights and duties as spirits of this world." was the shout that all of the spirits gave.

"They walk as if they are better than us. Did none hear of the incident with the Red Witch? They are shameless beings with no morals for the laws we constitute over our territory."

"They give up faith in us. Believe that we are no longer needed to help them. Look at Mizu. Koh himself destined her fate and Tui and La watched over her. She has turned her back on us. She must pay."

"Did we not deliver her from the Unagi at the North Pole?"

"Did we not cause the assassins hearts to feign as they searched for the earth boy?"

"Did we not help the mountain children to understand the way off the mountain?"

"We cannot take full credit for that. The Aer child thought it out herself."

"But if we had not put this idea of airbending on earth than she would not have had an inkling to do so."

The spirits fought back and forth, some for the benders, others against, and others that stayed in the middle and were swayed by the tide of debate.

Mizu was walking solemnly along the shore. What had the thing meant?

"I know who you are, but I cannot fully tell you until you know yourself."

What did he know, and why would he tell her only after she found it out herself. It made no sense. "There must be something else I'm missing." Mizu whispered to herself as she kicked up the sand.

"Mizu, daughter of destiny, you are a doomed person."

Another cryptic message to add to her thoughts. "What does he know?" Mizu asked no one in particular. She jumped over a large block of wood and kept walking. She looked up from the sand beneath her feet and saw the land end. It was a peninsula. She set her pack down and lay down in the sand. And tall grass around her.

"I guess I'll spend the night here." Mizu said as she lay back and look at the stars. "What do they have planned for me?"

Kizu had returned to full health. The maids were removing the bandages to reveal the deep and soft scar beneath the mess of wraps. He rolled his arm around like a windmill and flexed his arm to try and get back into the swing of normal functions. "Much better." He said happily.

He bowed his head to the servants and then turned to Oma, who was resting on her balcony. He walked out of the curtain to see her. "Thank you for saving me." Kizu said to her. She turned to him and smiled.

"It was my duty." Oma said as she gave a small curtsy. "You are an acquaintance of mine. You may stay here and rest for a couple of days. At least until you feel comfortable enough with your arm."

"I'd like that." Kizu said, silently withholding the fact that he had no job. This would be the only place he could get food now.

"And it would be a pleasure to have you." Oma patted his head and Kizu walked back inside as the maids wheeled in breakfast on a white cart. Kizu sat down at the small table in the corner to eat, but Oma did not leave her perch, her eyes too occupied with the man glancing back at her.

Zhong walked out onto the deck of his ship, his hands shaking and eyes darting every which way. He scanned the sky and walked over to lean on the railing. "General, is everything all right?" one of his subordinates asked.

"Yes, everything is fine." Zhong said with a small gruff voice. "But what I want to know is why you aren't at your post!" Zhong flared up at him and the soldier ran away with his tail between his legs. The Captain shook his head. He turned to one of the soldiers.

"He is off." The Captain said as he sat down, hoping to avoid Zhong at all costs. "I don't think he can take much more of the suspense."

"Suspense of what?" the soldier asked as he polished his sword.

"The suspense if knowing the Master approved his request or not." The Captain stated. "That's why he's so anxious. The Master probably said something to make Zhong fear for his position or life, or both."

"Captain!" Zhong roared. The Captain winced when he heard himself called. He composed himself and walked to where Zhong stood on the deck below.

"What is it, General?" the Captain said with a bow.

"Have we got any information on where those kids are?" Zhong asked.

"None as of yet, but we had tracked them down to going along the coasts of these islands. They won't be too far inland."

"Tracked? How can you track something and not know here they are!" Zhong roared at him.

"Well…not tracked per say. More like prediction."

"Well, that's entirely different now, is it?" Zhong made a harsh motion in the air. The Captain recoiled and fled back to the steering platform.

"Like I said, he's losing it." The Captain said. Zhong began to pace the deck, his hands sweating and eyes darting everywhere. The Captain heard something faintly come out of his mouth.

"Mother…father…must have revenge. But…benders…are evil…I'm not."

Zhong retreated to his cabin quickly. The Captain heard a drink being poured into a glass and thought nothing else of Zhong.

"He's taken up drinking then." The Captain said as he walked back to the soldier. The Spirits knew what Zhong was up to. They knew his soul…and it wasn't drinking.

"There is also the case of Oma and Shu." The conversation between the spirits continued. "Their love is yet decided."

"A pair of love sick lovers from two rival cities, and not just any cities. The most influential and powerful cities in the world."

"Yes, their story has yet to have an ending. But like that cherry-blossom tree his mother planted on the top of that mountain, I do believe their love should bloom, against all odds."

"But you know the other fate of the cherry-blossom?"

"I'm sure he does, as we all do."

"Then theirs is now fated. Now we must redirect our attention to these benders once again."

"And again we will have to divert away from it."

"Why should we? They are why we called this gathering of Spirits for. We should decide how to battle them."

"Take them down a peg."

"But as powerful as we are, destiny still has the final say."

This was true. All of the spirits stopped their chatter and looked to one another. Fate was what brought them here and it is destiny that continues to guide them. The Spirits grumbled and began to depart, their affairs against the benders left unresolved and all other choices they had made just as insignificant. Fate had the final say, they knew that.

Shu did not appear on the mountain that day. In a small panic, Oma fled her mansion and took to the mountain. It was nearly night and no one had seen her leave. She reached the peak and stopped. Two cherry blossom trees had grown in this place, their buds now beautiful and rare flowers. The branches sagged from the lanterns hing in them, lit with a flickering candle and warm feeling. The bench had a single pink rose lying on it. Oma walked over to the bench and took the rose in her hand. She sat down on the bench as the stars began to winkle and the full moon rose.

She wrapped her shawl around her and looked around. A hand extended to her. She looked up into the face of the owner.

"Shall we dance?" Shu asked as Oma took his hand. From somewhere, sweet music began to play a light waltz for them. Shu took Oma in his arms and they began to twirl around the mountain top oasis. The songbird added his lyrics to the piece, singing out into the two towns on either side.

And Oma and Shu danced.