I will put this story on a break for a little while.
I got lots of school stuff to do and I also am kind of bored at LoK right now.
Anyway I here I have my non finished version of chapter 7.
Slowly my eyes opened. I was in a bed in a bright room.
"...awake! He is finally awake!" I heard an excited voice shout, running away.
I heard footsteps coming back to my room. Five figures, one of them a child entered the room. That would be Lin, Tenzin, Bumi, Kya and Jinora.
"Good you're awake" the first of them said. "We have a lot to talk about."
I groaned. "What happened? I only remember being angry at those... what were they called again?"
"You took down a majority of the Dai'Li on your own." Lin answered. "Quite impressive" she added.
"Michael, we are seriously concerned about if we can trust you." Tenzin laid a hand on my shoulder. "First you said that you lost your parents, then you say that they were members of the Red Lotus and you still haven't said where you are from."
"Oh" I began to remember. "Yeah. That." I slowly answered. I was really tired.
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I lied to all of you. I just thought you wouldn't believe me, so I thought about some easy-to-believe stories.
Have you ever thought about the theory of different universes?" I asked.
"No" Tenzin answered.
"Well as I said, it is only a theory. According to it there are many universes each of them a bit different. For example there exists a universe where the Fire Nation won the big war and there is a universe where the primary color of the water tribes is lightish red instead of blue. Basically every possibility exists in one universe. So if I flipped a coin there is one universe where I get head and another that is exactly the same apart from me getting tail." I explained. "Where I am getting at is that I am from another universe. And honestly I have no idea how I got here."
"That sounds... possible. Unlikely but possible." Tenzin slowly said. "It still doesn't explain why you would be here. Also your rather... special bending powers aren't explained." Lin criticized.
"I also don't have the answers to that." I admitted. "You probably want to know why I know about the Red Lotus and other stuff I shouldn't know about."
"That would be my next question." Tenzin calmly said.
"You know, back in my home universe there is a show that contains you as the main characters. I thought it would mess with your mind to know that you are just a character inside a show. So I had to lie to you." I did it. I finally found a way to explain this whole you-are-just-a-character-in-a-show thing. "I'm sorry. I just thought it would be better for you not to know."
"So you are saying that we are not real because we are just a part of a show?" Lin angrily stared down to me.
"No, no, no! I never said this. I just said that you are existing as unreal entities in another universe that. In here you are as real as you can get. As I said there is an infinite amount of universes and because of that every real person in one universe exists as an unreal person in another universe. But in here..." I paused. "You are real and there is nothing that can take away reality from you." now the headache was too strong and I passed out.
When I awoke again, the room was empty. I slowly got out of bed. I was still wearing my old, still dirty clothes. Add to TODO-List: get new clothes. I got out of the room and walked through the airship - as far as I could tell I was in Asamis airship - looking for Tenzin or Jinora, maybe Ikki. TODO: learn new alphabet
I found Jinora and Kai on the top deck, leaning on the railing.
"Hey guys, may I speak to Jinora for a moment?" I asked, walking to them. "I kind of need you to do me a favor."
"Sure, what is it?" she asked.
"Well I need to learn your alphabet. Where I come from we use another one - with less complex symbols but more symbols per word." I ranted. "I am sort of an analphabet now."
"Oh, I didn't expect that. How do you have the same language and a different alphabet."
"I have no idea, never thought about it."
"In a few minutes we will stop to buy supplies, mainly fuel for the airship and food. after that I will have time for you." She promised.
"Good. maybe I can teach you something about my alphabet as well." with that I left, searching for something to kill time with.
I found Mako and Bolin talking to each other. The moment he spotted me Bolin nearly tackled me to the ground.
"Hey Michael, I saw you shadow-bending in that Dai'Li military compound. Can you teach me how to do that? I really really REALLY want to do be able to do that. like become a shadow and dragging stuff around by using their shades and stuff." He ranted like a little child begging for sweets.
"Hey there Bolin, could you please get off me first? I know earth or rather the shadows is the element of fear but tackling your teacher to the ground isn't the best way to generate those emotions." I tried to calm him down. He got off me.
"Sorry, I got a little over-excited." He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "It's just... Tenzin told me how you took out that one Dai'Li soldier by becoming a shadow and then manipulating other shadows and itsoundedsocoolandIreallywantobeabletodothis." he ranted.
"OK, Ok, I will see if I can teach you any of this." I put my hand on his shoulder. "But I only got time until the next stop."
"Great, that would be about one hour. Now how does that become-a-shadow-thing work? what do I have to do?"
"That is one of the more difficult moves, lets try something more... basic. Do you have anything to create a shadow?" I asked.
"Well, I always have dirty boots, maybe I could form a rock if I had a few more boots to take dirt from." He suggested. He tried to bend the dirt of his boots to eye level but only threw himself on the ground trying.
"Ow, maybe that wasn't such a good idea." he held his head.
"No actually that was a great idea, you just cant bend the dirt while the shoes are on the ground."
"When are shoes not on the ground? Its like their purpose of existence. They are on the ground so our feet aren't."
Instead of answearing I walked around him, imitating a stork.
"Oh yeah I guess that will work."
So we walked around the ship looking for people to get dirt from. After five minutes we found Bumi and Tenzin walking around the ship talking to each other.
"You got the timing right Bolin?" I asked.
"left, right, left, right" he chanted, moving his hands back and forth in the rythm of Bumi walking. "left, right, left" Instead of the next 'right' he made a pulling motion with his right hand. A few pieces of dirt flew into his hand. He put it into the pocket he already put his own shoe dirt into.
"right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right" he made another pulling motion, this time with his left hand. Once again he could increase the amount of dirt.
"Well done, is this enough for one small disk?" I asked him. He shrugged, then bent the dirt out of his pocket and formed a DVD-sized circle of dirt between his hands.
"Is that enough?"
"Well I was hoping for a bit more but I guess this will do the job. Let it float about one meter before you."
He looked at the disk, moved it, then looked back to me. "Like that?"
"Exactly. Now, Shadow is the Element of fear, so It's either I scare you or you remember what fear you felt, your choice."
"I think I will take the remember option." he said. "Now what is there? That one oro-bending match? no that's not enough. The day Amon almost took my bending away, wow that was scary, his finger came down to my forhead really slowly, I thought it was going to be over. His mask, the way he spoke without moving his lips still give me nightmares. On every stage I can see him taking away Lightning Bolt Zolt's powers, how desperate he looked with his abilitys decreasing from second to second."
I decided to rip him out of his phantasy. "Hey Bolin" I shaked him. "You seem to have built enough fear. now use shadow-bending to move that disk." he stared at me for a few seconds before realizing what I just said.
"Oh, right." he shaked his head. "How do I do this?"
"Concentrate on the shadow. Then imagine it a bit more left. that should move it. Then stop controlling and the disk should move."
Bolin took a deep breath. "Alright, lets do this." he looked at the rock intensely. His eyes moved a bit to the right, so did the shadow. A shine found its place in his eyes.
"Have you seen that? I moved it."
"Yeah, good job. Now split it." I ordered.
He took once more a deep breath, then looked at at the disk and its shadow. small cracks appeared in the shade while sweat dripped down Bolins face. After a few seconds the disk fell to the ground. "Sorry, I guess that was too difficult."
"At least you didn't cheat and use earth-bending." I tried to cheer him up. "Don't ever, ever, EVER use that on any animal or human. The deformation would just be too cruel."
"But you used it against those Dai'Li and it was super awesome and..." He began but was silenced by a glare of me. "OK I cant fully control it and it could easily kill in the most gross way I can think of." his voice faded while speaking.
"Hey maybe I can accelerate the ship with it." his voice jumped back up. With this in mind he ran to the very front of the airship and leaned over the handrail.
Looking intensely downwards his face got red. he quickly got back. "Nope, haven't got enough fear." he then narrowed his eyes and seemed to focus on something quite far away. "Hey I think I can see our next breakpoint."
I was the first to run down the ramp of the airship. My first stop was the river where I washed my face and put off my shoes to clean my feet from all the dirt they collected. God I haven't taken a shower since I arrived here. Gross! Add that to the list.
When the bottoms of my feet touched the water surface it became a few tones darker. As soon as the dark layer on my feet was gone I dried my feet in the sun and then put my shoes back on and looked what the guys were doing.
I saw all of the adults except Lin sit around the radio, probably receiving some transmission about more airbenders. Korra played fetch with her polar bear dog while being urged to leave. She created an orb of air around a ball and then shot it away pretty far. The white giant animal immediately ran after it in an attempt - or rather a challenge - to catch the ball before it touched the ground.
"Ooh!" I shouted in "me too! me too! me too!" I begged the avatar like a seven year old child asking for cookies. I had a hard time hiding laugher at how funny Korra looked right now. "Uhm. Go for it?" she hesitantly asked.
Having gotten the start signal I also sprinted after the ball, trying to beat Naga.
Maybe this wasn't a fair fight because I used the light-teleport to surpass her but at the moment I didn't care.
When I reached the place I anticipated the ball to come down I stopped to analyze the trajectory.
I adjusted my position, drew my fist back and inhaled deeply. I took a quick glance to the polar bear dog running my way and then focused entirely on the ball. Its velocity was redirected toward Korra when it met my fist. However it left a pretty big amount of pain. Paralized by the agony I wasn't fast enough to get out of Nagas way and so she ran me over.
Now the big polar bear dog was standing over me growling because I destroyed the ball. I leaned to the right and pointed to the ball flying back. Naga also turned his head to the right and let go of me. I used this to take her head and push it slightly more to the direction I pointed at. At first there was some resistance but then she must have noticed the ball. The entire body turned and the girl almost stomped me. Then all I noticed about Naga was some branches breaking and the sound of giant footsteps going away.
"OK." I dusted off. "Time to go back."
- Meanwhile at Korra -
Lin looked confused. "What... was that? Is this guy drugged?"
"I don't know. I just hope he doesn't cause any problems with Naga." Korra said. She then narrowed her eyes, looking in the direction she threw the ball. "Wait, is that..." The very same ball she air-bent away was now coming back to her at the same speed and the same height.
The next thing they noticed were the heavy steps of a polar bear dog running after that ball.
I appeared next to Korra. I looked at the ball then at Naga and then back to the ball. I grabbed Korra by the arms and pulled her to the side, just in time for her not to be crushed by the polar bear dog who just caught the ball in flight. Before the moment could be any awkward I let go of her and took a deep breath.
"Phew. That was a close one."
"What the hell did you do?"
"Well I got there first, punched the ball back, made Naga notice and then saved you from getting crushed."
"OK... Uhm Thank you I guess" she said slowly. "I wanted to ask you for favor. I saw you teach Bolin shadow-bending. Even though he is a very capable earth-bender and could barely shadow bend at all I wonder if you could teach me as well. Maybe some light-bending too?" she awkwardly scratched her head.
"Wait, did you spy on me?"
"No I just walked past you too and couldn't help but notice."
"Good. But I have to warn you. as you already know the 'other' elements do require a lot of power to use. You could weaken or even loose the ability to bend some of the elements you can bend now." I warned her. "Also you don't have your former avatar spirits to restore it. But you could consult Raava if this is a good idea." I suggested.
"Yeah that seems to be a good idea. Loosing elements isn't that good." she sat down and closed her eyes.
After a few minutes I heard a loud horn noise. "GUYS WE ARE MOVING ON EVERYONE GET ON BOARD OF A SHIP. THE AIRBENDING RECRUITS GO TO THE NORTHERN AIR TEMPLE SO GO INTO THE SMALLER BLACK SHIP. EVERYONE ELSE GET INTO ASAMIS AIRSHIP." Bolins voice boomed over the place.
Hearing this Lin walked away and to her airship.
"You guys better get moving." she reminded us.
Noticing us not going to the airships, Tenzin walked to us. "What are you doing? You were told to go to the airships." then he noticed Korra.
"please don't tell me she meditated into the spirit world." he said.
"I'd have to lie if I did so."
"Alright, I will leave Oogi here. Bring Korra to Zaofu as fast as possible. There is our next air-bender. Michael, you head to the Northern air temple after you have dropped Korra off." With that he left. I saw the airships take off and disappear behind some mountains after a minute or so.
Korras eyes fluttered open. "Raava says that she has never seen or noticed your kind of bending. But she also has some power left for me to learn it. Wait, ..." she looked around. "Where is everyone?"
"They had to leave. Tenzin left us Oogi here so we can catch up to them."
"Alright then lets go!"
It turned out that I sat in the saddle and Korra took the 'driver seat'.
"So... bending... first teach?" Korra asked. (So... about lightbending... what is the first thing you want to teach me?)
"Sorry, the wind is kind of too loud for me to understand you."
" Don't loud help bending." (I don't see how being loud helps me lightbending.)
"We don't understand each other"
Instead of answering, Korra motioned me to come to her and moved a bit to the right. I used Oogis fur to crawl next to her.
"So, what is the first thing of airbending you're gonna teach me?" she asked eagerly.
"That would be the teleport. It's the first and only move I learned yet. I think lightbending allows you to manipulate light around you but Ihaven't figured out how you do that. Not yet." I drifted off.
"So how do you do that teleport?"
"I don't know for sure but I think you turn your body into light, then travel that way and then rematerialize again."
"sounds pretty dangerous. what if a part of you in light form is lost?"
"Oh, that hurts a lot. But I haven't had any problems with that so far. Just once."
"Once? When was that?"
"Kai locked me, Mako and Bolin in a train in Ba Sing Se. I had to pass through glass in order to escape. It hurt pretty bad."
"Oh, then I don't know if I really want to learn this."
"Come on, I wasn't really wounded, it just hurt. Also it stopped after not even a minute."
"Hmm, I guess I can try but if I get in any way I will stop."
"Good. Can you see what's below us?"
"Why would you want to know that?"
"The feeling of free fall makes it easier to lightbend. And honestly I would prefer water over rock as the material to land on."
"I will take a look." with that Korra took her glider and jumped to the right side. After flying next to Oogi for a bit she came back.
"There is an ocean below." she reported.
"Good. Leave your glider here. you won't need it."
She put her glider back in the saddle and locked it there with some belts. "Ok, what now?"
"Jump!"
"Do I have to?" she hesitated.
"Do you prefer it if I push you over?"
"No!"
"Good. Then jump." I insisted. "Look you are the avatar, meaning you are an air- and a waterbender. Those two are the only elements around here, what are you afraid of?"
"Well, if you look at it that way there really is nothing to be afraid of." then she lightened up. "Hey I noticed you like games, how about that: the last one down there is the worse multi-bender!" she jumped.
"Challenge accepted!" I muttered to myself.
I saw Korra below me, forming a star, or was it a bird without wings? I dunno...
I went head first, always having an eye on the avatar. When I met her I adapted her stance so we would be on the same altitude for a while.
"Can you feel it? the freedom of falling?" I asked her.
"Yeah, it feels amazing."
"Good, now about the lightbending, to teleport I only concentrate on whereever I want to go. For a beginner I would prefer something solid..."
"The only solid things around here is us." she interrupted me.
"Exactly, I will go down a bit and when I do that star again, you concentrade on me. let's hope it works." I once again went into a diving position and began to descend faster than Korra. I looked back up and saw that she was further away than I expected. I stopped my fall by doing the star. Suddenly I felt something touch me and turned around. I saw an extremely cheerful Korra on my back.
"It worked. Thank you so much. I can't believe I can light-bend. Oh my spirits this is so amazing."
While she was celebrating I had other worries. the ocean was coming towards us much faster than I would like to. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!" I yelled, getting into a position with my feet first so I would protect the rest of my body.
The first pain I felt was me crashing into the water. The second pain I felt was another body crashing into me under water.
"Ow, that hurt." I muttered as soon as I reached the surface.
"Sure did!"
I turned around to see Korra swimming next to me. the water around her glowed, so she must be healing herself.
"By the way Michael, you bleed." I looked down and didn't see anything. then I checked my shoulders and noticed two wounds on each of them. I guess that's from Korra crashing into me.
"Can you create an ice platform please? and remove the salt water from the wound?"
"Sure thing" She did as I asked. At first it was felt little creepy, an ice floe forming around you isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but then I was lifted onto an ice couch. "Thanks that's even more than I asked for" I said while getting up. "No problem, really... " she climbed on the floe. A shadow passed us. "... I hope you thought of a way back to Oogi." "Way ahead of you" I looked at the bison and disappeared.
TODO: Add some "Why aren't you upset about not being home" dialogue, then finish chapter