Dying To Survive
Chapter 14- Clinging Doubt
"There can be no defense like elaborate courtesy." E.V. Lucas
..::-::..
A chilling breeze danced about in the air as Katara stood and gazed at the shadowy surroundings. The air smelled of a distant field of flowers, and instantly she remembered that they had been traveling in one before Katara had fallen into Chuundu's layer. A moment of recollection brought Katara's eyes on the verge of tears, but she took a deep breath and shook her head. The stars shined with hope above her and she knew that somehow they would manage to escape their imprisonment. Zuko stood a few feet away from her, not saying a word since the last time they had spoken. Silence created an invisible barrier between them as Katara started to drift away step by step. Zuko lifted his head and turned to see her white kimono vanishing into the darkness. He let his jaw drop and immediately ran after her.
"Katara, wait!" he screeched. She twisted her frame in shock as she snapped out of her trance.
"Zuko… what happened?"
He came to her side and panted slightly. "You just walked away. Don't you think it's better not to go anywhere?" he asked her.
Katara nodded and shivered. "I know I shouldn't have left you, but it was like there was someone out there calling my name. My feet moved on their own."
Suddenly, lights flashed across the star-filled sky. One by one, parts of nature sprang up with a glow. Beneath their feet, an illuminated path of grass grew rapidly. To their left, a few crossed pillars knocked into each other and the rubble slid down, the sound crashing into their ears. Katara winced and when she opened her eyes, she saw Zuko gazing at the water trickling through the air. She yearned for the cool liquid to touch her outstretched fingers, but it darted the other way and fell onto the ground with a loud splash, the string of water becoming a river and finally settling into a solid pond of glistening water. The sounds disappeared as Katara looked at Zuko oddly.
"Is this happening because I moved?" she asked quietly.
"Probably," Zuko said and sighed. "Chuundu warned us about this, but now we'll just have to wait for something to happen from our past."
Katara thought she sensed a spike of coldness ringing in his voice. She didn't want him to think of her as the reason why time after time they became entangled in these situations. She hadn't seen him smile once for a long time and then she remembered how he had saved her. Every ounce of her body wanted to ask him, but she feared an angry outburst.
Zuko watched with curiosity as Katara hunched over the pool of water. She dipped her fingers into it and then stood up.
"The future is the past, or that's what Chuundu said. I know it's useless to try to solve his riddle, but maybe if we put our heads together, we might figure this out," Katara implied. She turned around and faced Zuko. He put his hand on his head and looked around. The pillars were oddly familiar as was the grass and the water as well. It felt like he had been in that kind of surrounding before. Zuko knelt down into the grass and inhaled its purified scent. He looked up at Katara and sighed.
"Maybe he meant that we'll come back to the places and situations we took a part of in the past. Doesn't it seem familiar where we are now?" he asked her.
Katara looked around and up at the stars. She shivered as a new dim gray light shot up from the pond. It grew wider and stayed in the form of a thin blanket of mist. Katara took a few steps to her right and observed it intensely. As she reached for it, Zuko narrowed his gaze.
"Don't touch it," he said.
"I can touch it if I want to, Zuko. Besides, it doesn't seem harmful. If it's a clue, then I want to learn more about it. There's got to be a way out of here," she said, mesmerized. Zuko clenched his hands and winced as he awaited the seconds anxiously before Katara's fingers touched the mist.
She held her breath as the wind blew into her face and caused her fingers to brush through the mist. As she did this, it whirled around in place and then formed into a solid being. Slipping on the drops of water underneath her feet, Katara was caught off guard and fell backwards. The figure swooped forward quickly and held her in place just as Zuko was going to take a step forward. He halted immediately and froze when he realized who it was. Katara opened her eyes slowly and gasped when she saw Jet's playful smirk.
"Do I always have to save you? Well, I guess that's what I love about being with you," Jet said smoothly. Katara stood up and stared at Jet's face. His entire body was shimmering with a gray translucence she hadn't seen before. Her fingers reached forward again, fascination overwhelming her mind. She felt his fine hair and the beauty rubbed off onto her fingertips, making her heart feel warm and delicate. For some unknown reason, his angelic presence was making her forget about everything else that had surrounded her, including Zuko.
"Jet, is it really you?" she asked.
"Of course it is," he said and held onto her more tightly. Zuko couldn't stand watching them any longer. The frustration of the scene immediately sent bolts of fury rippling through his veins. Since that time in the garden, Zuko had gained a sense of intense displeasure when seeing another man with Katara, especially Jet. Somewhere deep inside, he had developed not a single shred of trust for the man and the feeling lingered still to the very moment when Jet's smile was making Katara swoon. He could have taken a stand, said something to stop them from coming any closer to each other, but Zuko couldn't move. His teeth clenched and his eyes burned with hatred as he saw Katara laugh at an inaudible joke.
"Do you really think so, Jet?" she asked.
"Of course! I could be with no one other than you," he said and started to lean his head forward.
Zuko's heart was hammering in his chest. The beads of sweat trickled down his face as the surroundings started to glow more intensely. This moment was all too clear and familiar in his memory. He remembered how in the temple, Jet had approached Katara in the courtyard as well. Zuko had witnessed it, but had done nothing. There would have been no logical explanation of his actions and the same situation was occurring now. Zuko couldn't go stop Jet; Katara would want to know why he was so adamant about it. After all, it was her own decision, but Zuko didn't want her to make the one that would cause him grief.
Their faces inched closer together as Katara closed her eyes. Zuko's face was blown up and covered in a deep red from holding his breath for so many agonizing moments. He turned around, but as he did, Zuko heard the smallest of whimpers. His head jolted back and he immediately ran towards Katara. Jet's translucent gray form was tightening its grip on Katara's neck so that she couldn't get away from it. Zuko yelled and hurled himself at her, bringing Katara down onto the path of grass that was illuminated against the darkness of Chuundu's world. Katara's eyes bulged as she coughed and regained her breath. Zuko pushed himself off of her and swerved his head to the right. Jet's form was lifting into the air and as it smirked, the light grew dimmer. Zuko looked back at Katara and panted, his whole body shaking from the release of adrenaline.
"Are you… all right? I saw that he was... hurting you and so…"
Suddenly, the air echoed as a slap emanated from Katara's palm. Zuko touched his cheek in confused repulsion as she pushed him away forcefully. Katara frantically looked for Jet's form and cried out in desperation.
"Jet! Come back! Don't be afraid of him! I won't let Zuko hurt you again! Jet…" Katara fell to her knees and sobbed as the realization that he was gone strained her body. For those few moments, all of her worries and previous entanglements melted away. His magical presence had seeped into her and all she had needed was him. Nothing else would have given her such a feeling of elation and peacefulness. Zuko winced as he saw the effects of his attempt to sway away from the past.
"How could you Zuko? You gave away my only hope for a better life with someone who cared about me," Katara said quietly.
Zuko took in her words slowly and it all came to him within a moment. In the past, Zuko had done nothing to interfere, yet he was compelled to do something about it at that time. If he answered her question truthfully, the past would derive from a repeated future, as Chuundu proclaimed was the same. He had figured out that to change the course of time, was to repeat history but force a different outcome. Zuko stood up and gawked at Katara as the realization had sparked a fire inside of him. All he had to do was speak his thoughts and they could leave Chuundu's layer.
"Katara… don't you think I…"
She sniffed and wiped away the tears as she looked up at Zuko. The feeling of betrayal was beginning to fade as his sincere voice echoed in her thoughts. Looking up at him, she half-heartedly expected an honest answer, but to her shock, she instead saw a shimmering angel hovering next to Zuko. He stood immobilized as Laia's fingers brushed his face gently. A knife jabbed through her heart as Laia continued to float closer to him until finally, her arms were embraced in Zuko's, and the two stood harmoniously in the middle of the pool of water.
"Will you be there for me?" Laia asked him.
"Always," he replied, without hesitation.
Katara gripped onto the grass and tore a few blades out. She thrust them to the side and forgot about Jet's random appearance a few minutes before. The veil of sorcery that had been implemented on her left no trace and she stood up with renewed fury. Katara realized once again that she had traveled to the Spirit World with Zuko, and it was him she had grown to depend on, not Jet. In her current frame of mind, she needed Zuko to be there for her, so that they could work as a team and find a way back. For Laia to appear and ruin that bond was a threat Katara took as a direct aim to her strength and dominance. She stood up and began to place one foot in front of the other slowly. Then as each footprint fell heavier into the ground, she picked up her pace and yelled.
"Get away from him!"
Zuko's dull eyes widened and the color returned to his face as he twisted his head to the right where Katara was running. Laia sneered and kissed Zuko's cheek as she began to float away. Katara reached Zuko and panted. Her eyes blinked and then she looked around nervously. The grass spread farther and the rubble from the collapsed pillars disappeared into the wind. Zuko shifted uneasily as he had realized what had happened just then. It was all so quick that it seemed like his imagination, but there was no other reason Katara would have been standing right next to him, her hair frizzed around her head as if she had received an electric jolt. He looked down at her and blinked.
"What just happened?" he asked her.
Katara took her time before answering, not knowing if she should spill her thoughts into the open for him to dice up. She didn't know if she could bare that torture again. She sighed and looked into his long face.
"There was an illusion of Laia and you told her you'd be there for her… always," Katara whispered the last of her response. Zuko seemed shocked as his hair was ruffled slightly. He never thought that Katara had a problem with Laia's presence near him. It was the first time she had shown any sort of weakness in her tough demeanor, except for when she was actually physically ill.
"I wasn't aware of that. Everything was beginning to black out and I couldn't see anything except for a grey haze," Zuko said. Katara's eyes widened as she recalled feeling the exact same way before. Her words came out slowly as the comprehension unfolded.
"It was the past… and it happened again! Chuundu was right. We're never going to get out of here," Katara said sorrowfully.
Zuko frowned and then took a deep breath as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Katara looked at him and narrowed her eyes in confusion. He remembered what he was going to say and as the dark night surrounded them, he knew it was the only way to break the curse.
"Katara… you asked me a question as you were coming out of your illusion," Zuko said.
She scrunched her face in deep thought and blinked. "What are you talking about? I didn't ask… you…" her face broadened as she recalled the words she had spewed out at Zuko. His fingers tightened on her shoulder and her heartbeat droned on faster.
"I can tell you remember. I was going to answer you, but something got in my way."
Katara swallowed hard as Zuko's hand fell to his side. They stood in front of each other, Katara waiting anxiously for him to reveal his thoughts to her. Everything around them started to change with each passing second. A small aura of light was peaking up from the distance and Katara faltered as the aura surrounded Zuko's head so that his whole frame shined.
"You haven't lost everyone who cares about you, Katara. I'm not some monster who doesn't have feelings," he whispered gently. Katara's heart swelled as the affirmation she had been waiting for so long finally came. Her lips rose into a gracious smile as a single tear fell from her blue eyes. Zuko steadied his gaze and became startled as Katara stepped forward and brushed the dust off of his shoulders.
"Then that means we think the same. I'm not going to let you out of my sight from now on. Besides, what would you do without me?" she asked playfully. Zuko's face lightened considerably as her warmth spread through the air and into his smile. She sighed and then folded her arms while Zuko observed her beautiful features.
"So does that mean you lied to me?" she asked curtly.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and frowned again. "When did I do that?"
"As if you don't remember. I asked you a while ago why you had protected me in the Fire Nation. Your answer was simple and actually hurtful…" her voice trailed off. Zuko saw the area around them vanishing and he knew that in order to beat Chuundu at his own game, he had to completely tell her the truth. Zuko stepped forward and let his fingers comb through Katara's loose hair. His head bent lower towards her as the light began to shine brightly everywhere.
"Yes, I lied. I think I would have gone crazy if I let my father kill you. I would never be able to face myself again," he said. Katara's voice hung in her throat as his eyes bore down into hers. She couldn't believe that after all this time, he had confessed his true reasons for his actions. The response overwhelmed her and she closed her eyes as the beating of her heart echoed in her ears and finally vanished along with everything else surrounding her. The last thing she heard was Zuko's voice calling out her name and then disappearing as well.
The shattering walls of the world of repeated time fell into oblivion as Zuko and Katara's bodies floated up into the sky. Chuundu appeared out of nowhere, his crooked smile appearing once as the light shined on them. He sighed and rubbed his balding head where the strokes of time separated for only the second time in his eternity.
"You are wise young man. You overcame the falsehood of time and now you will return to your rightful place in the Spirit World. It has been most entertaining helping you along, and I wish you both luck on your journey," he said. Zuko moaned and cracked open his eyes momentarily, just in time to see Chuundu's sleeves wash over Katara's head and then his own. Zuko passed out and as he did, felt his own weight disperse into the wind.
..::-::..
A hooting animal jumped through the brush as Katara began to stir. Her body felt numb and the distant memory of a dark place clouded her thoughts. Once the prickling in her fingers subsided, she pushed herself up and managed to blink her eyes open. All around her, the morning light was shining and the bright green bamboo grove enthralled her shock. Suddenly, she wondered where Zuko was and at that moment, she looked down in surprise to see that he was sleeping right next to her. A deep blush rose to her cheeks but then a soft glimmering memory swept through her mind and she remembered what had happened in Chuundu's domain of time. Zuko's soft resting face warmed her heart as she brushed the hair out of his eyes. She snickered to herself and then laid back down into his arms, carefully as to not wake him up. The animal hooted again and Katara closed her eyes, listening to the slow beat of Zuko's heart. She sighed and pretended to fall asleep. Her muscles were beginning to relax and her body was less stiff than previously. Their white kimonos stood out from the green grass they laid on, but she wasn't worried about staining her clothes. All that mattered was that she was with Zuko.
After a few moments, the morning light distracted Zuko and his eyes fluttered open. A heavy weight was laid out on his chest and he groaned as his hands pushed whatever it was off of him. Katara's head swung abruptly and she rolled away from him a few feet. She grumbled as she pushed herself up. Zuko's shocked expression paralleled her fury as she was getting ready to pummel him.
"Is that how you greet everyone in the mornings?" Katara asked as she crawled towards him with a sadistic smirk on her face. Zuko winced, ready to receive his punishment for his rude behavior. Instead of a smack in the face, Zuko felt her fingers ruffle his hair. The longer she did it, the more force she exerted and then it finally began to hurt and Zuko cried out in pain.
"Stop already!" he said with frustration. She obeyed and sat down next to him. Zuko was about to yell a stream of filthy words at her, but her dazzling smile stopped him. His face relaxed and he sighed as he shook his hair back in place, with no luck. It stuck up in odd directions and didn't stay flat. Katara stood up and Zuko followed her example. She jabbed him slightly in the ribs and pointed at their surroundings. The mixed lofts of grass with square bits of wood were scattered everywhere in the jungle that encompassed them. She took a few steps forwards and brushed her fingers against the pile of hard bamboo shoots that stood tall near her. Many of them were bundled together and sprouted thick leaves at the top.
"This is definitely different from Chuundu's place, don't you think so?" Katara asked Zuko.
He nodded and a slight pink tinge bloomed in his face. Katara smiled and dragged him through the newest destination they had found themselves in. She was in a playful mood and Zuko could tell from her lively laugh. The more they walked through the grove, Zuko started to change his mind about being in the Spirit World. It was actually exciting being with her in the foreign place.
"Why don't we slow down?" Zuko asked suddenly.
Katara caught her breath and nodded. They walked slowly and close to one another. She realized that neither of them was speaking about what had happened. Zuko caught her sighing as Katara scratched her head in puzzlement.
"I just don't understand it though! How did we get here and out of Chuundu's place?" she asked out loud. Zuko stiffened and when she looked up at him curiously, he straightened up and kept his expression still.
"I figured it out. We were supposed to do the opposite of what we had done before," Zuko stated. They walked on ahead and their feet trampled through loose piles of leaves. Katara heard a crunch and winced, not wanting to see what she had stepped on.
"What happened though that was different? I remember that Jet was there… and then it gets a bit fuzzy."
Zuko cleared his throat as he pushed a stalk of bamboo out of the way.
"I realized that I had to do something to get you away from Jet. But then Laia came and distracted me," he said hesitantly.
Katara turned her head the other way and crossed her eyes in anger. She remembered the feeling perfectly.
"That's right. When she came… oh I was just so furious!"
The water-bender kept walking forward but halted when she realized Zuko wasn't following her anymore. She twisted around to face him and saw that a playful smirk was plastered on his face.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Seems like you were jealous."
Katara repulsed and moved back a bit while she slammed her arms down her sides and then brought one back up and out to the side. "Jealous? You've got that all wrong Zuko. How could I be…"
Her eyes widened as Zuko took a few steps closer to her and let his expression grow darker. His lips tightened into a straight unmoving line and he set his eyes on her for a moment.
"Do you understand it now? What had to happen? If you had acted then as you are right now, we would still be trapped with no where to go but in circles," Zuko said with a raspy quiet voice. The branches raked against one another in the jungle as the creatures that stirred made Katara's nerves jump.
"What are you saying Zuko? Are you telling me that you had to tell me those things because you just wanted to get out of there?" she asked him, suddenly enraged.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and looked away from her as she leaned her chin up.
"No. For once… I was honest with my words," he said. Katara's mouth dropped as he started to walk ahead of her. It took her a moment to recollect herself, but then she sprang forward and ran to join Zuko again. She didn't say anything, but a small smile spread across her face. Zuko noticed her silence and allowed himself to smile slightly before becoming serious once more.
The bamboo stalks started to change their color as they moved onward. Each bundle was becoming darker and less vibrant. Finally, the ground began to shed its grass as the blades withered away. Zuko narrowed his eyes and put his arm in front of Katara as he surveyed a group of deep violet bamboo stalks. Their slits were completely black and a shadowy mist was hovering around it.
"Come on. Let's keep moving," Zuko said quietly. Katara's happiness dropped as she observed the drastic change of the environment. Suddenly, they were no longer in a pleasant looking jungle with exotic bamboo groves, but instead, it seemed like the sickened version of a graveyard. Dried and broken branches laid in tangles and heaps as they passed the shortened lengths of the bamboo. A creature began to chirp, its cry slow and eerie. Katara held onto Zuko's arm as they walked on hesitantly.
"Zuko, should we go back in the other direction? I'm getting a bad feeling about this," she said.
He took a deep breath before analyzing the situation. The feeling of impending danger was growing in his stomach and his feet barely touched the grey ashes of the ground. They took a few more exaggerated steps before stopping completely.
"You're right. We shouldn't keep going in this direction."
Katara nodded and immediately let go of him and turned around. Her jaw dropped as she saw that in every corner, the devastation seemed to never end. Katara looked at the ground in hopes of finding their footprints, but they had disappeared as soon they had made them. She bent down and poked the soft ashen ground with her finger. When Katara lifted it back up, the hole she had made dissolved. Zuko stepped away cautiously, trying to scan his brain for a solution to yet another problem they had encountered.
"Zuko… this is bad. Where are we going to go?" she asked. He put a hand to his head and growled as he flung it out into the air again.
"I don't know, all right? Let me think," he said in aggravation. Katara swallowed her fear and tried probing the earth once again. An inaudible gasp of air soared into her lungs as her hand was swallowed into the ash. Before Zuko could turn around and look at her, the coils of branches near the bottom of the bamboo slithered towards her and grabbed her ankles. A deafening scream of shock jolted Zuko's attention back to Katara. His eyes widened and his heart flung itself forward inside his chest as he saw a group of prickly vines soar out of the ground, wrapped around Katara's wrists. The four groups of wooden vines jerked Katara back and thrust her into the piles of darkened bamboo shoots.
"Katara! Don't move!" Zuko ordered. Her back arched as she tried to pull away from the entanglement, but the more she tried, the less room she had to breathe. Zuko's eyes burned into hers and she stopped struggling at once. The vines snapped from below and rooted her feet into the ground. She moaned as her arms spread out to the sides and her wrists became attached to the wood. Her breath slowed down as the black mist started to circle around her head. Zuko gritted his teeth and snatched his swords from his side. He ran forward and swung them at the hard outer shell of the bamboo trunk Katara was tied to. Katara cried out at the same moment his blades scratched the surface. Zuko recoiled as the beads of sweat trickled down Katara's face. She hung her head and then looked up at him while coughing.
"It hurts… don't do it again," she moaned. Zuko growled angrily and looked around for any signs of a way to help her. He struggled with his decision, but after a few more seconds, the pain seemed to vanish from Katara's face and he stepped up right, putting away his swords. Her eyes drooped, however, and she gasped as the black mist whistled in her ears. Zuko, and everything around her, got lost in a vast empire of blackness in which she was crumbling into. The firebender let his jaw drop as he saw the fog creeping slowly into Katara's eyes.
"Katara! Are you okay?"
"Zuko…. I can't… I can't see anything!" Katara cried out. She whimpered as her numb body began to drift into the world of the ill-stricken bamboo. Her thoughts spun in chaos as a desperate thirst developed in her mouth. A few more seconds passed and Katara gasped as her inner core was invaded by the mist.
"I've finally found some food," a dark voice spoke. Katara flung her head to the sides as Zuko watched in agony. He couldn't stand it anymore and walked up to the tree which was hurting Katara.
"I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt. It's the only way Katara!" Zuko yelled. She heard his voice but saw nothing and then whimpered as she awaited the cruel pain. Zuko stood next to her, breathing heavily as the vines started to tense up once more. He bit his lip and then pulled hard on the vines. They broke in half beneath his strength, but Zuko was propelled back by a shattering cry. Katara's arm fell to her side after it lashed out a stream of darkness towards Zuko.
"Don't come near me again!" she barked. The excruciating pain reared up her arm and into her shoulder. It felt like Zuko had ripped her entire arm off. That was when Katara realized that she had been forged into the bamboo and was now a part of it. Her thoughts spun again and a thought suddenly came to her.
"But it's a part of me too…" she whispered.
She shut her eyes and the darkness became more bearable than before. Katara saw her own world that she was in control of. Katara focused on her breathing and Zuko watched intently as she stood up right against the heavy bark. Her feet were sinking slowly into the ground but she quickly grabbed the bark with her loose arm as another vine came shooting up from the roots. It coiled around her wrists and Katara breathed, relaxing the tension in all of her joints. Her mind searched for her own source of chi that hadn't been used for so long. Surprisingly, she found it almost at once, in the shape of a white stream of light. It was buried underneath a dust cloud and once she brushed that away, the white stream became clearer and began to swirl up into the space of her mind. Katara's eyes opened as she took a deep breath and propelled the chi through her body.
"Spread out into the darkness," Katara chanted. Zuko watched in awe as her wrists and ankles began to glow. The small orbs of light grew and then shot through the branches. The whistling of the shadows died out and extended through the bamboo, illuminating it with a sheer pureness that hadn't been there before. Katara fell away from her imprisonment and Zuko caught her instantly. She gasped and curled her fingers into Zuko's arms as the howling died away. Katara looked back and sat there with a smile of relief on her face. The tall bunch of bamboo was beginning to gain back their color and the ashes were blown away. A hard plate of ground surrounded them as the leaves rustled and were painted a dazzling ivory. Zuko looked down at Katara who was still sitting next to him.
"Did I do that?" Katara asked in disbelief.
Zuko stood up and helped Katara do so as well. "I don't know how, but you did."
The air's scent became light and fresh as the atmosphere became less burdensome. The heaviness faded and Katara perked her shoulders up as she took a deep breath of air, the pain and darkness gone. She looked at Zuko and smiled.
"I'm glad you helped me," she said.
Zuko looked away with a frown. "But I attacked you."
"You didn't know it would happen like that. Besides, it's over now."
The two of them turned around and gazed at the bamboo as a hole immerged and grew. A white circle of light spread out as a head of pasty hair came flying forwards. Zuko and Katara stepped away from each other as the creature sprang through the air and somersaulted. Katara gasped and fell to her knees. Zuko saw the hole close up, rolled his eyes and moaned.
"Phft, what is this… phftt… is this ash?" Ryuu exclaimed in disbelief. She stuck her tongue out and wiped it down with her fingers repetitively. Katara's smile grew as she suddenly squeezed the treefly into her embrace. Ryuu's white hair stood on its end and her wings fluttered instantly, not expecting to be attacked right after coming through the portal.
"I don't believe it! Ryuu! You found your way back to us!" Katara exclaimed in joy. Ryuu realized who was hugging her and all four arms wrapped themselves around the woman automatically.
"Katara! My friend! I missed you so much! You have no idea what I…"
Ryuu's perky cheer dissolved as she hovered away from Katara's confused expression. Zuko eyed the treefly curiously, not knowing if they should trust any creature that crept out of the cursed stalk of bamboo. Katara reached out a hand to the treefly, but her violet eyes cast sad shadows on her cheeks as her head hung low.
"Ryuu… what happened to you once you left us?" Katara asked softly.
She wiped her dirty cheek and straightened out her silvery gown. Ryuu floated around Zuko's head and he raised his eyebrow in thought. The treefly shook her head sadly as she observed the man.
"He doesn't trust me. Maybe I shouldn't tell you two. It's not like he'd believe me anyways," Ryuu said with sarcasm. Katara opened her mouth and then crossed her eyes as she pointed at Zuko.
"Zuko! Stop looking at Ryuu like that!" Katara demanded. He sighed and ruffled his hair as he let go of his suspicions.
"Fine. Tell us what happened."
Ryuu's eyes opened wide as her skin tightened. She shook her head violently and a golden mist fell from her wings onto the ground.
"No, we can't talk here! Follow me!" Ryuu said quickly. Katara nodded with determination and dragged Zuko along as they ran after the flying form of the treefly. Her orbs of light were flickering on and off and as Katara ran, she realized something terrible must have happened to the treefly. They jumped over piles of loose vines and dodged branches that were sticking out. The smell of dense marsh lands was filling up Zuko's nostrils and his head rolled around slightly. Katara tugged on him and he shook his head quickly.
"How much farther?" he called out to Ryuu.
"We're getting close!" she called back as she flew up higher, her wings batting against the leaves that rustled around her. They had left the bamboo grove; only a few stalks remained, and the ground beneath them wasn't stiff any longer. It turned into a soft spongy field of dirty orange soil. The daylight they had awoken to was beginning to stream through the treetops now and Katara squinted to see that there were tall bonsais growing in the distance. Zuko noticed this as well and raised his eyebrows in astonishment. Ryuu floated down towards them and folded her bottom arms as the others pointed to the distance.
"That's where you'll be headed now. But first, let's rest here."
A group of grey round stumps blossomed from the strange ginger ground. Zuko prodded one on its side and it flapped its ends up and down slowly before settling down. Ryuu managed to chuckle as she covered her smile. Katara sat down on one of them gently and bounced up and down slightly as the squishy fluid beneath her circled inside of the odd plant.
"Sit down Zuko. It's not going to attack you," Ryuu said confidently.
"I don't need to sit down to hear what you have to say," Zuko stated. She shrugged and flew around in a few circles.
"Suit yourself. Katara, are you comfortable?" Ryuu asked.
"Yes I am… Ryuu? What happened…" Katara asked quietly. The treefly frowned and looked up at the leaves that fluttered like an open net. Gazing back at Zuko, she recalled the time when the three of them got separated.
"I was taken to a distant part of the Spirit World that I haven't been to before. Actually, I've known about it but I always avoided it for a reason. The dark shadows are something I've dealt with many times. When I got lost, they attacked me and I had a hard time fighting them off. I was surprised they had grown so strong but then, I witnessed a horrible event! The deadest part of the Spirit World was turning inside out! The sky was turning all these deep shades of red and… I ran away. I wanted to find you two so I could tell you!"
Ryuu panted for breath after she finished. Zuko's distrusting look faded and he let his arms drop to his side as he contemplated the new information. "Did they hurt you a lot?"
The treefly jumped slightly at his sincerity. Katara's eyes softened as a faint tinge crept onto Ryuu's face. She folded her arms as she landed down to the ground with her rounded legs.
"No they didn't! I didn't let them get me!" The treefly shivered as the memory replayed itself in her mind. Katara put a hand on her shoulder and brushed her fingers through her white hair. Ryuu sniffed and wiped under her nose with the back of her hand.
"Actually… I was lucky. They went away suddenly, and I don't know why."
There was a small gap of silence as the croaking bellowed in the forest. Katara turned quickly but Ryuu shook her head.
"It's all right. There are some creatures in the Spirit World that can do you no harm," she explained. Zuko craned his neck in the direction of the noise and then looked back at Ryuu.
"So then why did we have to come here to talk?" he asked her.
Ryuu smiled slyly as she jumped up and then landed on one of the mushroom shaped plants. "This is a place of spiritual cleanliness, believe it or not! Those who take a rest here are fully restored and ready to go after a few minutes! Besides… I didn't like how that area felt back there! It made me shiver," Ryuu said. The treefly caught Zuko and Katara glancing at each glumly and at once she furrowed her eyebrows.
"What's this? I sense a secret alliance brewing! Did something happen to you too?" she asked curiously.
Katara sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Well, first, we found our way to the Spirit of Time…"
Ryuu gasped and clasped her head with her hands as her eyes bulged. "And you made it out of there?" she asked in amazement. Zuko rolled his eyes and smiled at Katara momentarily. Ryuu saw the spark in Katara's eyes and turned around quickly to see what the big deal was. Zuko's face immediately turned solemn and he gave the treefly a quizzical look.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Zuko asked in response. Ryuu scoffed and turned back to Katara.
"Yes… we managed to get out of there by forcing a different outcome for the future…" Ryuu raised her eyebrow and scratched the side of her face in confusion. "It's a long story, but when we woke up, we were in that bamboo grove. I think Chuundu transported us there, but I don't know why. Then, the bamboos started to change color, they became darker…"
"And they attacked Katara. What is this place anyways? When you die and go to the Spirit World, do you have to try and not die again? It's illogical," Zuko said. Ryuu and Katara hesitantly smiled and Zuko shook his head while exhaling.
"But you're all right now?" Ryuu asked.
"It's only because… well… I'm not exactly sure myself but…"
A harsh breeze nestled in between the three and Katara closed her eyes for a moment. Zuko shielded his head with his arm and Ryuu clung to Katara's feet before she was blown away. The leaves rushed against one another in a flurry of excited whispers. The air became damp in Katara's throat as she blinked towards the outside of the colorful area they were resting in. She gasped as a familiar looking woman stood against a lean tree with no branches. Her arms fell to her sides and her head hung low. The woman's black hair draped in front of her face and Katara saw a glinting black eye staring directly at her through the fine strands.
"Katara…"
Zuko turned to face the woman as the wind settled down. His eyes widened as Katara ran to the woman and helped her stand up before she slid to the ground.
"Kyoko!" Katara exclaimed. Ryuu noticed the woman as well and a broad smile appeared on her face. She flew after Katara as the water bender started to help Kyoko stand up. The dark circles under her eyes drooped and Katara's own eyes started to fill up with tears as she saw the pain the woman had endured. "Are you all right?"
Her white kimono was stained at her side but Katara brushed her finger on the fabric unintentionally, and the tufts of dark color floated into the air and disappeared. She stared in shock and then looked up to see that Kyoko was smirking and giving Ryuu a secret handshake. Katara stepped back and bumped into Zuko. He looked down at her and whispered into her ear.
"Looks like they know each other," he said. Another duplicate came out from behind a tree and bowed her head so that her hair was hanging low just like Kyoko's. "That's Aya right?" Katara nodded and Zuko stepped forward as Ryuu chattered away with Kyoko. She fluttered her wings and gave a high five to a suppressed Aya who smiled meekly.
"I haven't seen you two in so long! How've you been…"
"Were you attacked?" Zuko asked, interrupting Ryuu's conversation. Kyoko's eyes buzzed with anticipation and then a smile appeared on her face as she squinted and waved a hand at Zuko.
"I'm fine. It was just a little scratch but Katara healed me," she said. Katara gasped and then narrowed her eyes disbelievingly. Ryuu fluttered around nervously as she led Aya to sit on one of the grey seats. Zuko crossed his arms as Katara walked up next to him.
"How could I have done that? I can't waterbend in the Spirit World!" she exclaimed. Kyoko shared a quiet glance with her friend and then sighed as her smile disappeared. Her face dragged out as she pushed her hair behind her ears. Kyoko took a deep breath and found a seat near Aya. The older one who was with Ryuu spoke next.
"It's true. We were attacked. They're called the Yizun. Dark shadows overpower the balance of light particles and they become alive, draining energy to become even greater in power."
Zuko's eyes broadened as he listened intently to what the calmer of the two was saying. He trusted Aya more than he did Kyoko just because she seemed more stable, but the new information he had received gave him a feeling that maybe something would come out of their troubles.
"Is that what attacked us before? And did the Yizun attack Ryuu?" he asked her. Aya sighed and looked down at the mustard colored ground. Her toes touched the spongy material for a moment and then she looked up.
"Yes. Times have changed in the Spirit World. The Yizun are growing larger in number and no one can do much about the situation," Aya said.
"No one, except you," Kyoko added. Katara leaned forward slightly and Zuko blinked, not believing he heard right. "In the Spirit World, there are creatures that walk around aimlessly, but more in number are souls, the minds of people who have died. Our chi is gone though, so we can't do anything but exist in this place. The two of you are special because you still have chi flowing through your bodies. Although you can't bend because of the unique properties of the Spirit World, there are other ways you can use your chi here. Some thought it might be possible for humans to come and help us. It's been talked about since the Yizun have began their attacks on souls as well as creatures."
Katara looked down at her hands and touched her fingers together slightly. She recalled what had happened when she calmed down and decided to find herself and her source of chi. Zuko gazed down at her face and saw that she wasn't as shocked as he was. He grumbled and narrowed his eyes. Another situation had come about, and he didn't know what his role was. So far, he hadn't accomplished anything. Katara had done most of the hard work, even though he said he would protect her.
"That's why you've encountered beings that know of your purpose in the Spirit World. The Spirits aren't allowed to use their powers to change the way of this world. It's always been an equal balance of light and dark, because those are the two elements behind every particle. Push and pull, as they say," Aya said somewhat cheerfully. "That's why we all need you to help fight."
Katara clenched her fists and stared at Aya and Kyoko deeply. Zuko huffed angrily and looked away. Kyoko raised her eyebrow as her straight black hair fell in front of her face once again.
"Is there a problem, Zuko?" she asked.
He turned towards her and squinted. "How are we supposed to fight if we don't know how to use our chi like you said only we could do?"
Katara shifted uneasily and looked at Zuko from the side.
"Actually, Zuko, I think I know how we can fight. I did it when the bamboo was going to drain me of my power," she said.
For a moment, Zuko looked at Katara and despise grew within him. Since he could remember, she had been outwitting him in every aspect of his life. Even though he knew he couldn't blame her for that, Zuko couldn't stand being so worthless.
"Well then, maybe you can fight on your own! You don't need me if you can do it by yourself already!" he yelled. Aya and Kyoko shared an uneasy glance as they stood up slowly. Katara dropped her jaw and threw her hands up in the air.
"You're being so stupid, Zuko! I need you to help me! I can't do it by myself. You were the one that said we should work together! What's gotten into you?" Katara asked, her voice echoing the hurt he had caused her pride. He hadn't acted this way for a long time.
"No, you don't need to say those things. I know when I'm not needed. Why don't you just go fight off the Yizun, and come find me when you're done so that we can go back? You can do it by yourself, so go!" he yelled.
Katara's eyes itched from the water that began to slide around her eyes. She pursed her lips together and folded her arms authoritatively.
"Fine! I'll do it! If you're going to be a jerk, then that's all right by me. Come on Ryuu, we're going to head straight like you said we should. Zuko, just stay here where I can find you again. It's not going to be my fault that you were so stubborn and selfish!" Katara's voice rang in his ears as she stomped away angrily through the marsh land. Ahead of her was the field of normal grass and strangely tall bonsais. As soon as Katara stepped out of the purified area, she felt the heaviness weigh down on her shoulders again. The trees were sparse and the light was shining dimly again.
Zuko watched her leave and he muttered to himself as his eyes crossed.
"She'll be back. She won't leave me," he said. Zuko saw Ryuu's pained expression as she twisted around and waved at him. She left the area as well and then Zuko sighed and stretched his arms out. He looked from side to side and then realized that Aya and Kyoko weren't there any longer. A sudden strike of nervousness spread through his body and his legs gave way as Zuko fell down onto the smooth grey plant. He winced and then felt a shock from his bosom. Zuko moaned and rubbed his backside as his vision went blank.
"I can't believe he said those things! How could he, after all we've been through?" Katara asked the treefly.
"In general, men are like that, right?"
"I guess… but still. He had no reason to make assumptions like that. I never say that I can do things by myself, and doesn't he realize that there are lots of Yizun lurking around? I can't do it by myself…" Katara's words drifted away as she turned her head around. The place where they had rested was no longer visible and she bit her lip anxiously.
"Is it okay to leave him there?" she asked Ryuu.
"Of course. It's the purified area where not even the Yizun can enter. There's a mystical power guarding it and no evil being can enter," Ryuu said reassuringly.
Katara sighed and walked on further. The orange glow in the sky was growing darker and the bonsais stood stiffly in place, rooted to the ground and the grass that surrounded their crooked trunks. The Spirit World was full of twists and surprises, but Katara wasn't prepared for the next one she was about to encounter. As she blinked, Katara thought she saw a village up ahead of her. Ryuu didn't seem disturbed, but it was the first time Katara had seen anything like it in the time she had been there.
"Uh, Ryuu? Do you see those souls up ahead, or is it just me?" she asked hesitantly. There were men and women of all ages covered in white kimonos just like she was, but their translucent glow was just like that of Aya and Kyoko's. A small roof like tent was propped up on one trunk of a bonsai and it stretched out for a hundred meters or so. There were colorful silk ribbons floating around in the air as the souls sat around at tables, laughing and pointing at one or the other. Entranced, Katara moved forward more quickly than before. Ryuu fluttered her wings and smiled to herself.
"Yeah, I see it! I didn't have time to tell you, but there are gatherings like this one in the Spirit World for souls. It's sort of like a reunion, except not many know each other because the Spirit World is so huge and there are so many souls," she explained. Katara's blue eyes lit up with excitement as she approached the corner of the tent like atmosphere. The sky was lustrous like a sunset and the buzz of human noise awakened her body, each hair perked up, listening to what was happening around her. Ryuu saw someone she recognized and zoomed off, leaving Katara alone. Katara hugged herself and hunched her shoulders momentarily. When she felt a hand touch her, she jumped and backed away.
Back in the area where Zuko had fallen unconscious, his thoughts were buzzing and he was beginning to see more clearly. A familiar hushed pair of feminine voices rang through his ears as he was waking up.
"Things are not as they seem. Beware of those you can trust, and trust those you don't want to. Danger lurks and no one is safe," the voices said in unison. Zuko sat up right and panted as he looked around to find himself completely alone. Katara hadn't come back and the light was growing darker. He stood up groggily and ran through the barrier immediately. He took sharp breaths and ran forward, knowing that he had to find Katara quickly.
Katara blinked and her lips parted slightly.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," a young man said. Katara's heart sped up and her face became flushed as he showed off his handsome white smile. His amber eyes seemed to be alive and were sparkling with a sincere passion for life. He wore a white kimono like the rest of them, but she could tell that he was built well, most likely from working so hard during his past life. His jaw was fine cut and his chin was lined with short hairs. The man's black hair was pulled back into a top knot like those the Fire Nation men wore.
"It's… it's all right! I shouldn't have reacted that way, I'm sorry!" she said quickly.
The man chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck before taking Katara's hand in his. He stared into her eyes and mesmerized her with his own. When his eyelashes swooped down, Katara's heart jumped. He picked her hand closer to his face and kissed it gently. The man stood up right again and let go of Katara's hand, but it stayed in its place, hovering away from her body.
"My name is Lu Ten. It's a pleasure to meet a lovely young woman such as yourself," he said politely. Katara's cheeks burned and she finally took her hand back. His presence seemed so lively and warm, that she didn't think twice about who he had been in his previous life. She smiled back at him and placed her hands behind her.
"My name is Katara. It's a pleasure to meet you as well," she replied.
Lu Ten looked around for an open spot to sit and he extended his arm for her to loop hers around. "Would you care to join me for a dance?" he asked her shyly. Katara backed away slightly but then took two large steps forward with a giddy smile. All thoughts of Zuko's rudeness had been erased for the moment.
The firebender who had frantically run along the same path Katara had taken a few minutes before, spotted the tent and saw Katara's excited face at the corner. She was talking to some stranger and not knowing what the gala was about, he ran even faster. In a matter of seconds, just as Katara was about to wrap her arm around the man's, he jumped into the glowing light that was under the tent. Katara gasped at his sudden appearance, and in the process clung to Lu Ten's arm. Zuko panted heavily and after a few seconds brought himself up straight.
"Zuko! What are you doing here?" Katara asked incredulously. Lu Ten's ears perked up at the name and he turned to face him in awe.
"Zuko, is that really you?" Lu Ten asked.
The voice sounded strangely familiar, and as soon as Zuko looked at the man more closely, his stomach scrunched inside of his body and his eyes widened.
"Lu Ten?"
Katara had lost her initial glow of happiness as the confusion and abruptness of Zuko's arrival began to settle in. She let go of Lu Ten's arm as the two men looked up and down each other.
"Cousin Zuko! It is truly you! It's been so long since we have seen each other! But you are so young still… has the war…"
Zuko was in a state of utter shock. His cousin, who had died during the early years of his life, was standing before him, in the form of a deceased soul. Zuko's brain jump started and he stopped gawking once he realized what he was doing.
"No… I'm not… gone yet from the world… actually, I'm still alive and well… it's complicated…" Zuko managed to sputter out.
"That's splendid news then! I'm not sure how you have come here, but it must be an exciting tale! It must wait, however. I promised this young lady a seat at a dance," Lu Ten stated and then smiled warmly. Katara eyed Zuko suspiciously and then folded her arms while she glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Zuko narrowed his gaze and remembered what the voices had told him. He shouldn't trust those who he would find to be trustworthy. Zuko grabbed Katara's wrist and dragged her away from his cousin. Lu Ten's smile wavered as he looked at the two of them questionably.
"Zuko, is there a problem?" he asked. Katara grumbled angrily and pushed Zuko's grip away. She stood there, full of hatred.
"Katara, we can't stay here. There's danger and…"
"What danger Zuko? Ryuu said that this is a normal gathering for parted souls! Why would I have to leave here if there's nothing that will attack me?" she asked. Zuko's uncertain gaze rested on his cousin's face as his heart flickered apprehensively inside his chest.
"I just know that there's someone who isn't trustworthy here. Don't ask me how I know, I just do," Zuko stated. Katara mocked a laugh and stepped closer to Lu Ten. She folded her arm with his and looked back at Zuko.
"Lu Ten is here to protect me," she said bitterly.
Zuko clenched his fists and breathed deeply. "I'm sorry, but I don't trust you, cousin."
Katara's eyes widened along with her mouth and then she glared at Zuko.
"Zuko! Apologize to Lu Ten right now!" she hissed through her teeth. Lu Ten looked from Katara to Zuko timidly and then rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's all right, Katara. I'm sure my cousin has his reasons. After all, he's been through a lot and he might have changed his mind about the Fire Nation and its people, even me, his own family," Lu Ten added. Katara's disgust for Zuko at that moment doubled. She couldn't understand at all how Zuko could be so cold-hearted.
"Leave."
Zuko looked at Katara in disbelief. Her resolve was firm and she didn't waver even the slightest bit. A soft breeze rustled Zuko's hair and he exhaled sorrowfully.
"All right. I'll leave," he said quietly. The air on Katara's neck pricked her skin and as Zuko turned away, something inside of her longed to reach out to him, to tell him to not leave her, but Lu Ten looked at her and her thoughts became buried in the back of her mind.
"Shall we proceed then? Another round is about to start," he said enthusiastically. Suddenly, Katara found herself entranced once again by Lu Ten's gracious personality. He was no where near as demanding and rude as Zuko was. With a joyous smile, Katara nodded, and the two of them walked into the charming atmosphere where the celebrations never ended.
A/N: YES!!! I've finally gotten this done and up! I really am excited about it so much!! It took so long to write... well, it just took a while before I got to writing it up! most of it was written yesterday I really liked how this chapter came about... the beginning might have been slightly weak, but the ending... oh... I just love these kinds of twists, huh??
that being said, please please please review!! I know lots of you read this, but I never get the chance to know who, except for my awesome friends who always do!! Besides, half of the fun for me is writing, and then the rest is talking with you guys!! So please leave a comment, whatever it may be!! I'll be sure to respond, if that's what you're wondering...
one thing I'd like to mention- the "dance" that someone was talking about isn't what you think it is... hehe, something a little different I guess for ? of the ch. I'll ask: what do you like more- the spirits or the souls they encounter?? (remember, how you answer might affect how I write the rest of the fic! or bits of it anyways)
THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!! (and soo sorry for the wait!)
-Monika-