SMST P7A: The Ethereal Path of the Avatar! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: For this week, I will restrict most of my work to 1000+ words per story, in an effort to "catch up". C&C are welcomed.
Part 15
Aang and the gang follow the old man to his village. Upon entering the village, everyone could see damaged buildings.
"Look at all this damage," Sokka says, as he scans the area.
"So much destruction," Aang says.
"Is this related to your problem, sir?" Katara asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid," says the old man. "We believe that the spirit that is harming us comes from the forest."
"But why would the spirit hurt you?" Goku asked. "You didn't help the Fire Nation burn your own forest, right?"
"Of course not, Goku!" Usagi says.
"How would you know?" Ranma asked. "Whose to say that some villagers weren't forced to burn down their own forest, as a sign of loyalty?"
"I assure you that my people and I did not help the Fire Nation soldiers," the old man says. "Come; let us confer with the others…"
The old man and his fellow elders discuss the nature of the attacking spirit, and how it was connected to Aang's role as the Avatar…
"I wish I had someone to help me in my role as the Avatar," Aang says with a sigh.
"We'll help you, Aang," Katara says.
"It's not that," Aang says. "I'm suppose to learn how to be the Avatar from my previous incarnation: Avatar Roku."
"Wait," Usagi says. "Are you referring to that last statue back at the Southern Air Temple?"
"Yeah."
"I mean, I'm glad Usagi, Ranma and Goku are here to help me train, but to be an Avatar…"
"We understand," Ranma says.
"Still, with all of us here, we should do alright," Sokka says, as he flips his boomerang.
"Right," Katara replied. She then turns to the old man and his companions. "When does this…spirit come to the village?"
"At the setting of the sun," the old man says. "That's when the 'Hebei' spirit comes."
"And then what?" Goku asks.
"We rebuild…if we can."
"Then we shall prepare for the spirit's arrival," Ranma says. "Aang, as the Avatar, will 'greet' the forest spirit, and the rest of us will be here to back Aang."
Soon, Aang stands at the entrance of the village, nervous about what was suppose to come next. He looks up to see Ranma and Usagi in position, while they were hiding. They wanted Goku to stand back to protect the village. Plus, there was a full moon that evening, so
"Are you guys SURE this is the plan?" Aang asked nervously.
"Well, the old man did say that the it's your job to confront the spirits of this world," Ranma says.
"But we'll be here," Usagi says.
"…"
"Relax, Aang. What could possibly go wrong-?"
THOOM!
Some sort of giant animal thing appears in front of Aang. It appeared to have four sets arms, though one pair was more massive that the other.
"Guys, what am I suppose to do next?" Aang asked.
"Ranma-" Usagi began to say.
"Wait," Ranma says. "Aang, talk to the Hebei."
"Um, okay," Aang says. He then focused on his thoughts on the spirit.
"Um, spirit, could you NOT damage this village? It wasn't their fault that the forest was burned-"
"RRRROOOOAAAR!" the Heibei roars, as it leaped over Aang, and begins to attack the village.
"I don't think THAT worked," Sokka says sarcastically.
"We got to get out there," Katara says.
"No, we have to stay," Goku says.
"Why?"
"Dad and Mom are still out there, remember?"
"Oh, yeah…"
Just as the Hebei spirit was about to smash its first house.
KTCH!
"Errr?" the Hebei spirit says with bewilderment.
"Aang says that the village was not at fault," Ranma says, as he caught the fist of the Hebei while glowing. Ranma was altering his aura so that he could grab spirits at will. However-
"RRRROOOOAAAR!"
The Hebei unleashed concentrated blast of air into Ranma's face, knocking him backwards a dozen yards away.
"Ranma!" Usagi says. "Okay, then…MY TURN."
Usagi raises her hands.
"Moon Prism Magic!"
FWOOM!
While Usagi was spinning around to transform into her hero guise, Sokka's eyes widened.
"Wow," Sokka says with hearts in his eyes. "Usagi is certainly cute-"
KLONK-KLONK!
"Ow!"
"Don't' stare!" Katara yells.
"Yeah, that's my Mom!" Goku says.
"Hey, I'm not the one whose spinning around nearly naked, you know!" Sokka says defensively.
Meanwhile, Ranma gets up to do battle. However-
"Wait," Aang says. "Maybe we shouldn't fight the Hebei spirit."
"Aang, the Hebei spirit is not going to listen to reason," Ranma says.
"And that's where I come in," Sailor Moon says to Aang.
"Um, interesting look, Usagi," Aang says with a blush.
"Thanks."
Sailor Moon then turns to the Hebei spirit.
"Spirit! I am Sailor Moon, champion of Love and Justice. And in the name of the Moon…I shall punish you-"
SNATCH!
"Hey!" Sailor Moon yells, as the Hebei spirit suddenly grabs Sailor Moon, and takes off back into the forest.
"Usagi!" Ranma says, as he takes off running.
"Ranma, wait up!" Aang yells, as he unfurls his staff glider, kicks off into the sky…
"That did NOT go well," Sokka says.
"We should follow them," Goku says, as he runs outside.
"Goku-!"
Meanwhile…
"Yahhhhhhhhh-!" Sailor Moon says, as the Hebei spirit carries her off.
"Usagi!" Ranma yells, as he runs after his wife. He picks up speed, and-
THWONG!
"Got you!" Ranma yells, as he grabs the spirit. The spirit roars, as it tries to shake Ranma off.
"Oh, no you don't!" Ranma says. He looks back, sensing that Aang was close behind them.
"Aaag, grab Usagi! I'm going to force this guy to let her go!"
"Okay!" Aang says, as he manages to catch up. "Usagi, grab my hand!"
Sailor Moon looks up to see Aang close by. She reaches out to grab Aang's outstretched left hand…
GRAB!
"I got her, Ranma!" Aang yells.
"Okay," Ranma says, as he slams his fists onto the spirit's back.
THWACK!
"RRRROOOAAARRRR!"
The Hebei spirit lets Sailor Moon go, allowing Aang to grab her. Unfortunately, the maneuver was a bit awkward, causing Aang and Sailor Moon to crash into the dirt ceremoniously.
"Oof!" Aang and Sailor Moon yelps.
Ranma looked back to see that the two were safe. Unfortunately, just as he was about to hop off, the spirit grabs Ranma.
"Hey!" Ranma yells. "Let me go-!"
Ranma turns to see that the spirit was heading into the burnt areas of the forests.
"Where are you going-?"
FLASH!
The spirit and Ranma disappear…into a statue of a bear.
A few minutes later, Aang and Sailor Moon arrive at the statue of the bear. All around it, were stones shaped as bear cubs.
"This is where the trail ends," Sailor Moon says. She then takes a look at the statue.
"Oh, no!"
"What?" Aang says.
"The spirit must have taken Ranma with him…in THERE."
Aang looks at the statue…
"We should tell the others what had happened," Aang says.
"Right," Sailor Moon says. "The village elders may know more about this…phenomenon…"
She then looks back at the statue again.
"Don't worry, babe…we'll get you out of there…"
Unfortunately, things became complicated when they learned, upon returning to the village, that they were spirits themselves.
"This is not good," Sailor Moon says.
"Not good?" Aang complained. "We're spirits!"
Sailor Moon looks at Katara trying to convince Goku that her parents and best friend were okay, with Sokka yawning.
"Wait, I know a trick," Sailor Moon says. "I learned it from a sorceress once…"
"Wait, what are you-?" Aang asked.
Sailor Moon enters Katara's body…
SNAP!
Katara noticeably jerked, as Sokka and Goku notices this.
"Katara, are you okay?" Sokka asked.
"She looks like she's in a trance or something," Goku wondered.
"Katara" smiled.
"Never felt better," "Katara" says. "Look, we have a slight problem…"
Tbc.