Tempest:
"Asami is really going to be mad about this," Mako muttered glumly. "Am I ever not in the doghouse with her?"
"Are you two-?" Kazon asked curiously.
"Oh no, nothing like that. She's just a friend but she's also my superior now. It makes things a bit complicated," Mako responded, taking a sip of water from his bottle.
Sho-tahn chuckled as he tied his bag shut. "If you don't mind me saying Chief, I'm amazed you never tried it on with her. President Sato is one hell of a woman and she's stunning to boot."
"Ah well we-uh, used to date. Before she dated Korra," Mako said with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Oh," Sho-tahn said quickly, before shrugging as if to say 'fair play.'
They all looked up as Zukoh entered the broken building, ducking low under the sheet in the doorway. "Nice and quiet as we'd hoped. The portal isn't exactly teeming with spirits but there's a few buzzing around as expected. We'll sneak as close as possible and then strike fast through it. Without proper recon, we can't be sure what'll lurk on the other side."
"We're expecting a fight, don't worry," Kazon said with a grin. Zukoh grinned back at his brother, his face lighting up behind his short beard.
"You wusses wouldn't last two minutes in a real spirit fight," came an irritated voice from the outside. Akirai was keeping watch, yet she clearly couldn't resist proving herself even now.
"Yeah, we get it Auntie, we get it…" Kazon said over his shoulder to the sheet in the doorway, fully aware the name would royally piss her off. When he heard a kick impact the wall outside, he laughed silently, earning a disapproving look from Mako.
"Your Highness, please. This is still a serious mission and a dangerous one at that," the Chief of Police said, frowning. "I can't order you to remain silent but I'd appreciate it if you'd-"
"That's a good point, actually," Zukoh considered. "We're all fairly evenly ranked; Mako's Chief of Police, I'm Grand Lotus, Kazon's a Fire Prince, Akirai is technically a Fire Princess…"
"Less of the girly crap nephew!" Akirai called in angrily.
Sho-tahn coughed awkwardly. "Erm, actually Your Highness…"
"Ah, of course. Although you sparred with the Avatar, so you're hardly just anyone, eh Sho-tahn?" Zukoh said kindly.
When the larger man looked embarrassed, Mako stepped forward. "He's right. I've known you for some time now and you're one hell of a Firebender, as well as a loyal friend. You're the only other person we chose for this mission for a reason."
Sho-tahn blinked rapidly a few times before pulling a face and looking at the ceiling. "That's very kind of you both…" he mumbled. "So, uh, um, what's the game-plan here? Jahn wanted the portal taking back?"
Mako shook his head. "Not as such. He asked me to ensure there was a safe perimeter around the portal by the time he arrived. I'm not sure what he plans but if we can setup a checkpoint the other side of the portal, it means our troops can march in and retake Republic City."
"What's left of it, anyway," Zukoh muttered.
"When's Jahn planning on arriving?" Kazon asked Mako curiously.
When the Chief shrugged, Kazon rolled his eyes. "Figures. He'll get here when he needs to though. I knew he'd be fine in the spirit world and I know he'll turn up to help us out soon."
Zukoh nodded. "He's done a lot of growing up from what I've heard. I even noticed a change in the lad when he left our compound, as though he'd grown simply by learning Firebending. How's his proficiency come along?" he asked his brother.
"Not too shabby. He could easily kick Akirai's ass into the ground, I'm sure," Kazon said aloud, immediately laughing when he heard an outraged cry from outside. Zukoh pinched the bridge of his nose, also trying not to laugh but succeeding better than his younger brother.
When Kazon finally wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes, he sighed. "It'll be good to see him again. It's been rather nice being part of a team, as opposed to just the royal family. You know, something a little less formal. Iroh the Wise was always fond of the little things and I've got to admit it's growing on me."
"I'll stick with the finer things in life, in that case," Zukoh replied slightly smugly.
"Gentlemen, can we get back on topic?" Mako asked quickly, jumping into the conversation.
When they all nodded, Mako walked over to a shattered window and pointed out beyond it. In the distance, the spirit portal bloomed into the sky like a beacon. "That's the target. If all goes to plan, we get to it with no fighting and once through, we ensure we set up defences immediately. Once we're set, I'll radio through with this," he said, holding out his small earpiece. "President Sato extended the range at my request, though I'm not sure she knew what I'd do with it."
"Yeah, she's gonna be super pissed about this," Zukoh conceded. "I can kiss my position goodbye if we're caught."
"If it works though, we'll have retaken the city, assisted the Avatar and helped end the war," Mako finished. "It's worth the risk. I wouldn't disobey Asami if I wasn't sure this would work. I'm just honoured you'd all come with me."
Kazon shrugged. "It's worth a shot. The strongest Firebenders in the world will make short work of this, surely," he grinned. "Well, the strongest Firebenders and their servant outside…" he said loudly.
"LISTEN HERE YOU LITTLE-" Akirai yelled, storming into the building as Kazon fell off his chair laughing.
"Jahn! Get back here!"
"There's no time! Come on!" the Avatar yelled back over his shoulder. He was sat atop Eyuta, clutching his ribs with one arm but gesturing forward wildly with the other.
Tilia barely had time to take a step before the spirit animal burst forward, taking off after Ornatok up the hill and into the trees.
"Dammit!" she swore loudly, kicking at a small piece of wood by her feet. "This is the problem! He never thinks things through! He just charges in and hopes his magical Avatar powers will save him!" she shouted angrily at Anik, who raised his hands as though he was about to be attacked.
The tavern locals were emerging through the gap, looking round in amazement at the destruction. Chunks of wood lay quite far away, thrown everywhere by the force of Ornatok's Waterbending.
Tilia sat back down in the dirt heavily, her hands rubbing her temples. She took a few deep breaths and rolled her shoulders, trying to relax. Her eyes were closed, yet she felt Anik sit down next to her. When she finally opened her eyes again, Anik and Kuan were sat with her, just staring out into nothingness.
"You know, we've followed you across the world and back. I don't regret my choice, as I wouldn't have met Kuan if it weren't for your quest to find Jahn. I'm pleased we've found him again, as he's turned into one of my best friends. Your interest is clearly more personal than that," Anik said wisely, not looking sideways at the younger girl. "After all this time, I can understand you have mixed feelings. Trust me when I say that denying yourself happiness only leads to regret in the future."
Tilia frowned. "What're you saying?"
"I spent far too long upset over my break-up. That was why I left the Tribe, to go distract myself from the pain I was feeling. They say only time heals a broken heart, yet you keep pushing Jahn away. What is he supposed to say to make you forgive him?" Anik asked.
The Metalbender sighed. "He just left us all, Anik. I know he thought he had no choice but…he didn't say goodbye, he didn't explain. The last thing I know, he kisses me and then he's gone."
Kuan sniffed somewhere to her side. "From what Anik told me, Jahn wanted to do that a lot earlier than he did."
Anik nodded. "Yeah exactly. Give him a break; the last girl he was interested in starting seeing his childhood rival and then exiled him through a spirit portal. That's a little worse than getting dumped, don't you think?"
A silence settled on them, broken only by the drunken cursing of the tavern dwellers leaving the building somewhere behind them.
"There's just too much going on right now. I don't even have time to think about my own feelings, let alone discuss them with him," Tilia finally said.
Anik laughed. "You had a year and a half to think! What've you been thinking of, a new brand of iced cream or something? Oh hey, hang on, spirit flavour! A dash of-"
"Not the time," Kuan said quietly, nudging his boyfriend with his body ever so slightly.
"-of…erm, anyway, you need to discuss it with him before he goes off the reservation," Anik finished quickly.
"I must say, he doesn't seem like how you described him. You painted the picture of a slightly unsure, patient young man. The Avatar I just met didn't exactly match that description," Kuan said.
"He's definitely changed. I guess there are some things which just change people. Like you said, we have a lot going on. Knowing the Avatar, he's probably focused on the mission. Knowing Jahn, however, he's probably thinking about you quite a bit," Anik said with a slight smile, finally turning his head to look at Tilia. She met his gaze with a slightly sad expression, showing faint signs of embarrassment.
"I forget that sometimes Jahn has to be two people," Tilia conceded.
"It must be quite lonely," Anik whispered. "Though he always has us."
"Not when he runs off after crazy Spirit Eaters," Tilia responded, finally clambering to her feet, followed by the two others. "So what do we do now?"
Anik clapped his hands together, trying to dislodge the dust from his palms. He shrugged, looking round as if hoping for an answer. His eyes widened slightly and he pointed quickly, making Tilia and Kuan spin round on the spot, gazing up into the air.
Above the trees, a flying bison groaned its way towards them. It landed heavily by the tavern, making many of the patrons swear loudly in shock. As they watched, an Airbender vaulted over the side of the saddle and landed gently on the ground, the wind softening her landing. Another face poked over the saddle, grinning widely. "About time!" the other Airbender shouted down.
Anik's face lit up, his smile wide. He spread his arms wide, embracing the female Airbender tightly. "Ah, it's so good to see you again! How did you find us?"
Jinora smiled back. "I sensed some strong spiritual energy as we flew by, so I guessed it might be Jahn. It's been a long journey. Where is he?" she asked tentatively.
Anik's smile faded. "Ah, well…" he began awkwardly, looking up the hill where the Avatar had disappeared.
The water splashed harmlessly to Eyuta's right side, though the animal had darted left just in time. Ornatok's aim was impressive, yet between Jahn's bending and Eyuta's speed, they'd not been hit yet. The giant water orb was still rolling through the trees ahead of them, picking up leaves and foliage but expelling them just as fast. Ornatok didn't seem to need to breathe at all; not once had he come up for air.
Jahn gritted his teeth as pain flared in his side; his arms were raised, awaiting the next attack. The water flew straight at them, yet Jahn stopped it in mid-air and sent it flying back with one swift movement. It hit, yet the water was absorbed by the orb immediately.
"Come on buddy, get me closer," Jahn mumbled to Eyuta, patting his side with one foot. The Luxiyi lowered his head, charging at full speed. Ornatok came closer and closer, the orb rolling like a juggernaut through the countryside.
As Eyuta came within a horn's reach of the orb, Jahn prepared himself for his retaliation. Suddenly, Ornatok spun round to face him, still floating eerily in the giant orb of water. A tendril flicked out at an incredible speed, clipping Eyuta's forelegs and tripping the animal. They tumbled to the floor, the Luxiyi groaning with pain as he rolled over and over, legs flailing. Jahn landed on his side heavily, feeling the air knocked from his lungs yet again. He lay there wheezing, trying to look around for his friend. Eyuta had vanished.
"Rolling around on the floor seems like a common past-time for you Earthbenders," Ornatok's snide voice came from behind. Jahn lay his head back on the floor and tried to block him out, focusing on trying to resume breathing normally.
"I'm glad you took the bait. It'll all work out as long as we all go along with the plan," the Waterbender continued to say. He must be outside the orb, unless he'd found a way to talk underwater. "Problem is, I know you'll keep coming after me. Even if I go home and make things right with Eska and my son, you'll be there, banging on my door and ruining my life. Your father wanted you alive but my future will be far more secure with you dead. I'd say I'm sorry, Avatar, but in truth, yours will be the only human life I won't regret taking."
Water coiled around Jahn's neck, tightening quickly. Jahn immediately grabbed for it, only for his hands to plunge into the liquid uselessly. Of course there was no way to pull it off. He tried to bend it away, yet the lack of air was making his vision blurry and thoughts unclear. He needed…the…hard to….
His lungs were screaming at him as the water rose up to form an orb around his head, gushing down his throat and up his nose. Jahn writhed on the floor, unable to stop Ornatok choking the life from him.
"Argh!" he heard a yell from behind. Eyuta had appeared suddenly, his camouflage removed as he'd charged into Ornatok's orb of water. With the Spirit Eater's focus purely on Jahn, the Luxiyi had managed to plunge right through Ornatok's defences and stab him in the leg with his antlers. The water immediately dropped to the ground around him as he fell to the floor; Jahn suddenly found himself free of the water and so sat up, choking up water but felt his lungs expand as he took that one magical breath. As soon as he inhaled, his eyes began to glow brightly and he slowly rose into the air, still silently retching water from his open mouth.
The Spirit Eater rounded on Eyuta angrily. "Spirit filth!" he spat from the ground, raising his hands and intricately moving them round. The water, now soaking into the soil, rose once more to hang in the air, thousands of droplets awaiting Ornatok's move. He flicked his hands at the Luxiyi and the water immediately flew towards Eyuta, freezing as it went. The ice aimed directly for the Luxiyi's softer flank; deadly daggers of frost flying for the kill.
The soil rose up in a great blanket, stopping the ice in its tracks. Ornatok looked round with wild eyes as Jahn hung in the air, supported by a small tornado beneath his feet. In one palm, a blue flame danced brightly, whereas water coiled round his other arm. Small boulders floated around him, slowly revolving around as the Avatar State melted the ground underneath him, creating a small pool of lava which bubbled up to fracture the earth.
"No!" Ornatok yelled, throwing his arms up into the air quickly. The displaced water rushed to his call once again, propelled by his enhanced bending. It swelled up into the giant water orb again, lifting Ornatok off the floor. He lashed out with several water tendrils; each attack was blocked by Jahn's bending. Fire evaporated the water, air knocked it aside, earth blanketed the liquid offence.
"Eyuta, move!" Jahn said in his deep voice, layered with the voices of all the past Avatars. The Luxiyi shimmered and vanished, its cloaking ability making it completely disappear. Ornatok slammed an icy spike into the ground where Eyuta had lain, yet it sank into the dirt harmlessly.
Jahn clapped his hands together and a huge whirlwind of fire roared forward, surrounding Ornatok's orb of water in a deadly vortex. It surrounded him completely, sending up steam where it collided with the water. As small liquid coils began to creep through the flames, Jahn tightened his fists, his anger fuelling his bending. The fire started to glow, brighter and brighter, getting hotter and hotter until the flame was white-hot.
Jahn let the fire rage for a few moments longer before spreading his arms wide. The flame immediately burst apart, the last wisps dying on the wind. Inside, Ornatok stood awkwardly. His face was slack and he looked dazed. The last of the steam rose up and faded as Ornatok fell to his knees, his hair singed slightly.
The Avatar descended back down to the ground, his eyes fading as his feet touched ground. He walked over to Ornatok slowly with a determined expression. "You need to answer for your crimes," he said quietly.
Ornatok looked up unsteadily. His eyes were slightly crossed but he managed to smile slightly. "And what are you going to do?" he asked, swaying slightly. "Lock me up in your imaginary prison?"
Jahn frowned. The Spirit Eater had a point.
"You really, really, didn't think any of this through did you?" Ornatok laughed weakly, still looking dizzy.
"I've had different priorities. I can always take you to Republic City and make sure we make a jail for you. When you're in prison, you can tell me exactly what's going on with my father," Jahn said, pointing at the ground decisively.
Ornatok shook his head, still smiling. "I'm not going to prison, Avatar. I'm going home. I've done what Rizem asked of me; he's probably well out to sea by now. You should leave me and go chase him."
The Avatar frowned. "He asked you to…distract me? Why? What's he doing!?"
"His plans aren't small. Everything you blame me for is his fault. Your father is the reason this war is ravaging the world. I just helped fan the flames," the Spirit Eater explained. "He'll help end the war too, don't you worry. The cannon will see to that. Spirits aren't natural; we both know that. They invaded our world eons ago and took over. Imagine what we could be if they stopped oppressing us, imagine a perfect world with no spiritual horrors!" Ornatok shouted.
Jahn walked up to him slowly, keeping his breathing steady. As he looked Ornatok in the eyes, it took every bit of self-restraint to keep calm. "I AM one of those spiritual horrors. I am human and spirit both. You started a war between our worlds and you made me the heart of it. I can imagine a perfect world; one where people like you don't kill for sport. I've thought this through more than you know and here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to find my father and stop whatever it is that he's planning. I'm going to end this war and repair our two worlds. And then, Ornatok the Spirit Eater, I'm going to come back for you and ensure you never see the light of day again. Enjoy your home while you can because you won't have long before I come for you," Jahn whispered, before pulling one arm back.
The punch landed squarely on the side of Ornatok's face, sending him sprawling to the floor, totally unconscious. The Avatar stood over him, looking down in anger at the prone Spirit Eater. After a few tense heartbeats, he turned away.
"Eyuta!" he shouted. When his friend ran over, he vaulted up onto the Luxiyi's back. "We need to go back. We need to find that spirit cannon," he said. Jahn kicked Eyuta's side lightly and the Luxiyi took off back down through the forest.
The Satocycle raced across the uneven terrain at incredible speeds, occasionally leaving the ground completely due to the various scars in the landscape. Beifong's eyes narrowed as she watched carefully; driving such a fast vehicle through a war-torn battlefield was difficult enough without all the crumbling human architecture around. Despite the challenge, Beifong couldn't help but marvel at the invention; it was a prototype that Asami had been working on as a pet project. This two-wheeled Satocycle was far faster than any Satomobile by a considerable margin.
The wiring was still showing in places under her, as the vehicle wasn't yet fully finished. It had an engine, two wheels and a seat, however, which was all that was needed to get to the portal quickly and intercept the idiots she was chasing. Asami had given her whatever she needed and this was most definitely on her 'much needed' list. The only potential problem was the volatile engine; it apparently ran off some new fuel or some rubbish. Lin hadn't paid much attention until Asami had mentioned the word 'explode'. If it overheated, it'd be sweet goodnight Beifong.
Lin had never felt more betrayed. Her successor had deliberately disobeyed orders and taken matters into his own hands. The Fire Nation royals were just as bad and she'd certainly expected better from that Sho-tahn. If she didn't catch them, there would be catastrophic consequences. Asami had only informed her of the Borderland only minutes ago, so Mako had almost certainly been left in the dark. If they breached the Borderland, the spirits would be relentless.
"Mako! Come in!" Lin shouted down to her chest once more. A radio was attached to her chestpiece which was tuned to Mako's earpiece. "Mako!" she yelled once more, stilling focusing on controlling the wild vehicle.
The wheels left ground as she sped over an earthen ramp, soaring far and landing heavily on both wheels. The handlebar shook slightly but she held tight. She was getting too old for this crap; technology was becoming increasingly more complicated. Unnecessarily so.
"Chief, I-!" Mako's voice suddenly said through the radio before instantly cutting off. The radio reception round here was awful, given the lack of amplifiers. At least he was still alive; that meant they probably hadn't reached the portal yet.
Asami had warned her of approaching the portal, yet Lin was not concerned for her own safety.
"No offence Lin but it's not your safety that concerns me," Asami had said in response. "This is a matter of urgency; when Avatar Jahn came through the portal, it terrified the spirits. They're scared he intends to wipe them out. They all retreated through the portal and sent a representative to treat with me. I discussed the terms of a temporary ceasefire with a spirit who holds some weight among their ranks. It was overseen by a third party…a…well, a lion-turtle."
"What!?" Lin had retorted, having looked up from her bag with a disbelieving look on her face.
"Indeed. Unlikely as it is, the lion-turtle negotiated for both sides. We agreed to setup an area around the portal on both sides: a Borderland. The lion-turtle would oversee it and make sure no spirits or humans enter until we discuss terms of peace. If anyone is to breach it, the spirits made it clear that it will be an act of war and they'll flood Republic City."
Lin had frowned. "Those idiots could get us all killed…"
"And ruin our best chances for peace. Make sure they don't enter the Borderland OR the portal and bring them back," Asami had ordered.
A slope brought Lin's focus back to her current situation. The cycle slid down it quickly, leaving Lin's stomach in turmoil due to the acceleration. She'd entered the crater around the portal, created in the instant of the portal's formation. Beifong still remembered the day; the explosion had been incredible.
"Mako! Where the hell are you!?" she yelled into the radio once again, hoping for an answer. She felt even more pissed off when she was met with silence.
Something huge burst from the ground in front of her, rising with tremendous speed as it clambered out of the earth. Lin immediately slammed the brakes and skidded to a shaky stop, leaning on one leg as she watched the lion-turtle emerge from the ground. It was impossibly big; it towered over her by many metres.
"Get out of my way, you overgrown tabbycat," Lin shouted up to it.
The lion-turtle rumbled ominously. "Disrespectful. Who are you, human, to order me so? Why do you approach the Borderland?"
"The human who'll kick your ass so bad that you'll be hiding underground for weeks. I'm here to find some of my subordinates before they do something ridiculous and you're in my way," she said, nodding at the lion-turtle.
The animal laughed lowly; it sounded like rocks grating on each other within his throat. "I have heard of you. The human leader told me about you, daughter of Toph. She told me you speak for her, so I shall tell you what you want to know. The humans you seek bypassed me as I came through the portal; they have already gone through. I have been waiting to see the outcome of their folly."
"What!?" Lin gasped. "They don't know about the ceasefire! They'll get themselves killed! You've got to help me!" she said to the titanic animal.
"No," was his response. "Kragaeh is neither human nor spirit. I do not fight for either side; I wish for peace but what will be will be. If your humans wish to be violent, then you will reap the seeds of your destruction."
Lin revved the engine loudly, nodding her head to the side. "Then move and let me fix this mess, seeing you're as useless as a teapot made of ice."
"Good luck, friend of the Avatar," Kragaeh said to her as he carefully stepped aside. Lin nodded and revved the Satocycle; it lifted up onto its back wheel for a few seconds before rocking back down and taking off quickly, propelling her through the spirit portal within seconds.
Beifong blinked as she emerged into an alien world, full of gigantic mountains and barren land. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how the worlds were connected; it seemed strange that this could all exist in exactly the same place where she'd just been.
"Chief? Is that you?" Mako's voice came through the radio, sounding nervous. Lin skidded to a halt quickly, the cycle spinning round in a circle for a moment.
"Mako? It's me. Where the hell are you!?" she asked angrily.
"We're far over to your left; we can see the portal from here. What're you doing here?" Mako asked.
Lin sighed. "I'm glad you're safe," she said quickly, her relief shining through her rough exterior for a second. "Now get your prancy ass down here now! You're in direct violation of everything we stand for; are you trying to make the spirits attack!?"
Silence as Mako considered her question. "Er…Chief? The mission was always to take back the portal, right?"
"When we had the forces and when we were prepared for a siege! Not a ragtag bunch of idiots throwing fire around! None of you even know about the Borderland!"
Static came from the radio, along with sounds of a slight struggle. A female voice came through the radio, sounding just as pissed off as Lin felt. "I know about it; we're not all men out here," the voice said, emphasising the point.
Lin wasn't sure how to respond. "This…I'm speaking to Akirai, correct? Your Highness, how could you possibly know about the Borderland when I was only informed-"
"Some of us listen in, Lin Beifong. We're more than capable of surviving out here so stop breathing down our bloody necks. You can take Mako back though, he's too much of a worrier," Akirai responded.
"You're not wrong…" Lin muttered back. "I need you all back here now though. If the spirits realise we're here…"
"Yeah yeah keep your metal knickers on, we're coming. Here, your old lady wants a chat-" Akirai said to somebody else, still holding the button on her radio.
Lin almost hurled her radio away but clipped it back onto her chest-plate with a deep breath in. Her blood pressure was incredibly high and the doctors were trying their best to get her to stop losing her temper. It took some effort. Toph would be impressed; she'd never quite mastered that level of self-control.
As she waited, she looked around, noticing the area around for the first time. Korra had once explained that the Spirit World was beautiful and covered in spiritual plants, though the area around the portal was just as charred and barren as on their side. Fighting had occurred here, yet humans hadn't been into the spirit world through this portal for some time. If the Avatar had caused this, maybe they had a chance. He seemed even more powerful than Korra.
The mountains surrounding the portal towered immensely high, even from miles away, circling around to form a small crater of sorts, just like the crater in Republic City. Lin watched carefully as the group came towards her from one of the mountains, trekking along reluctantly. She placed the Satocycle on the floor carefully as she considered her next move.
It was a full ten minutes later until the group reached Lin. She was a good way from the portal, having walked out to meet them, but she could still see their glum faces illuminated brightly from the glow. Mako especially seemed downbeat; he kept his eyes away from Lin's disapproving glare as she walked up to them. Only the woman, Akirai, seemed to have no care for her actions. She walked right up, looking around as if bored, occasionally fiddling with the radio now clipped to her own chest.
"What the hell were you all thinking?" she scolded immediately. "You've all broken a ceasefire we had with the spirits! We need to get back through that portal immediately or you can kiss your sweet behinds goodbye."
The two Princes shifted awkwardly. "Look, we were told that we'd be establishing a perimeter here soon. With Jahn coming here, we wanted to show him we'd actually done something," Kazon began.
"We're more than capable too. We're the best Firebenders around. Plus, y'know, we have Kazon too," Zukoh said honestly, grinning slightly as his brother punched him in the shoulder.
Lin pinched the bridge of her nose. They even looked almost identical and they certainly shared the ability to royally piss her off. "Enough of your crappy joking. This is serious."
"We know," Kazon replied, frowning.
"I'd have expected more from you all. Especially you three; you're all royalty. You should know actions have consequences," Lin said sharply, pointing at Kazon, Zukoh and Akirai.
Their aunt shrugged. "I'm here to protect these two; my brother would skin me alive if anything happened to them. Sure, I might not agree with their plan but I wasn't gonna let them go and I certainly don't answer to you or your bloody ceasefire," Akirai retorted, spitting on the floor.
Lin frowned. The Firebender was very similar to herself. She could sense the similarities; there was a begrudging respect from both of them. Not that she'd even admit that.
"Chief, what ceasefire?" Mako asked. "Why would we be planning an invasion if we're making peace?"
Lin sighed. Clearly they were going to have this chat now, rather than later. "President Sato negotiated a temporary truce until the Avatar can arrive. We're aware that the Avatar is currently gallivanting across the continent on his own personal mission, so we couldn't be sure how long the ceasefire would last. President Sato decided to start building our forces and planning an invasion, just in case things go south. If anything were to arise, we'd push through the portal and secure it, allowing us to retake Republic City."
"It's the key strategic point in the whole Earth Kingdom," Sho-tahn pointed out from the back.
"Exactly. If any human or spirit went in, they'd be immediately attacked and the war would be back on with no hope for peace. You'd better make sure that-" Lin continued, until something from behind the group caught her eye.
Dark clouds were building rapidly, billowing outwards atop the mountains like a blanket smothering the world. Red lightning flashed between the clouds, creating a dangerous display which started to move towards them. Below the clouds, a swarm of something dark swirled and flew towards the portal at haste.
The group turned, all eyes widening as they spotted the danger. A shrill shriek split the air; a claxon sounding throughout the entire area on repeat.
"Portal. Now," Lin ordered, backing up slightly. She'd never run from a fight but this wasn't just any fight.
"Yeah, good point. Kazon, you first," Zukoh said, pushing his younger brother slightly.
"We go together. Come on," Kazon said, clapping him on the back. "Akirai, keep up," he said, his usual cheery tone now stony. His aunt nodded, her face grim as she watched the spirits grow closer.
"JUST GO!" Lin barked. The group jumped as if electrified; they all ran for the portal, Akirai actually outpacing all of them. Lin could just see Mako running alongside her from the corner of her eye; even now, he was slowing down to ensure she'd be safe. Despite his stupidity, she always admired his loyalty.
They just reached the Satocycle as the spirits reached them. They moved with unnatural speed; the storm lashed down on them with incredible ferocity. There was no rain; only lightning and immense winds. A huge swarm of spirits soared over their heads and flocked around the portal in a whirlwind of wings; they covered the portal completely, blocking the light completely as they flew round and round. The lightning continued to flash through the sky, though it didn't strike the ground anywhere.
The group immediately skidded to a halt, staring up in awe as the spirit swarm revolved around the portal. From inside, they could hear huge booms, as though something was knocking on a very large door. The noise was accompanied by a quick rumble through the ground every time, causing Mako to frown.
"They're trying to close the portal!" he yelled over the howling winds.
"Why!?" Lin shouted back. That didn't make sense; if anything, the spirits should have gone through to attack Republic City. Were they scared of something?
Akirai immediately ignited two roaring flames in her palms, holding them at her side in preparation. Kazon and Sho-tahn followed suit, backing away slightly in trepidation.
"Don't bother, humans. The price to pay for your betrayal is death," a voice said from behind them. It was strangely raspy but clear despite the maelstrom around them.
They spun round and Lin gasped slightly as they beheld the spirit horde stood before them. They'd been so focused on the flying spirits that they hadn't even noticed the masses running towards them. The speaker was a strange looking spirit with a wolfish appearance.
"We were promised peace but you just won't leave us be," the spirit continued. Its mouth didn't move; it spoke via telepathy. "You will die here now, nameless humans, in the world which conquered yours. Your deaths came at the hands of Zhansha and the free spirits of this world."
"Wait!" Zukoh cried out. He walked forwards slowly, his hands up in surrender. "This was a misunderstanding! Our leaders didn't tell us about the ceasefire, we didn't even know there was one! We've been betrayed just as you have!" he yelled.
The wolf spirit cocked its head just like a human might. "Not told? Lies."
"Not lies! We swear to you on our honour that we didn't know! We didn't come here to fight!" Zukoh continued.
"Zukoh…" Kazon warned carefully, inching closer, his face worried as his brother neared the wolf spirit.
"Get away!" Akirai yelled, her face contorted with genuine concern.
The Grand Lotus shook his head. "We need to trust each other if we're to stop all the fighting!"
Zhansha stood, very still despite the winds pulling at its patchy fur. After a few seconds of thought, it snarled. "Wan Shi Tong was right! Humans lie!" it screamed, pointing one clawed hand at Zukoh.
As the spirits leapt forward, Zukoh swiped across his body, licking the front lines of spirits with a horizontal plume of flame. It bought him enough time to turn and run back to the group, panic clear on his face. The spirits were huge and shapeless; Zhansha's anger and all the fighting during the war had turned them dark as Vaatu's energy had once done, all those years ago.
"Push them back! Come on Kazon, even you can do it!" Zukoh shouted, punching fire rapidly. His brother stood by his side, flames roaring from his fists and flying with every kick. Despite their impressive bending, the spirits kept on coming, no matter how many they knocked down.
"On your right!" Kazon yelled, blasting a spirit back from his brother. Even as he did so, he just spotted a shape flying towards him from his left. There wasn't enough time to turn, he knew in an instant. Within a second, he braced himself for the hit, eyes just closing in expectation.
Something collided with his chest, pushing him back. He stumbled over his own feet, tumbling onto his back heavily. The wind was knocked from his lungs as he landed, helpless as the spirit collided with Zukoh, merging with his body and disappearing from view.
The Grand Lotus stiffened suddenly, as though electrified. Kazon immediately scrambled to his feet and just caught Zukoh as he fell backwards. Kazon lowered him to the ground quickly, placing one hand on Zukoh's forehead. "Zukoh!? Zukoh! Come on bro, don't leave me…not now…" he pleaded desperately. There was no response from the Grand Lotus, however, and Kazon started to cry as he tried to wake his brother. Zukoh lay silent, eyes closed and mouth slightly agape. Within a few moments, the spirit emerged in a sudden flash, towering above them both with glittering eyes and shadowed claws. Kazon snarled in anger but before he could even move, something immensely hot flashed past him and turned the spirit into flecks of ash and dust.
Literal sparks flew as Lin watched Akirai fired lightning into the crowd, her face furious. The lightning seemed wild and dangerous, as though the Firebender was well past caring for her own safety. Zhansha howled in response; the noise was a chilling combination of wolf and human. The flying spirits round the portal all spun up into the clouds, vanishing as the portal's glow illuminated them all once more.
Kazon looked up quickly at the light, stunned. Hands grabbed at his clothes, trying to pull him away. "COME ON!" Sho-tahn yelled, yanking the Prince up and away from Zukoh's body. Kazon kicked and punched, though the larger man was too strong to be denied. He pulled Kazon back, little by little, as Akirai and Mako provided some cover. Lin leapt forward, bending the earth up to stop the spirits from advancing.
Something crashed down near to her, the heat washing over her face. The spirits from above were descending and the strange red lightning was raining down on them, slamming into the ground with incredible ferocity. The swarm circled round and round, descending with every cycle.
The cycle. It lay behind them, still quiet. Lin suddenly remembered Asami's advice about overheating it. It could prove to be a valuable distraction.
"AKIRAI! CYCLE!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. The Firebender snarled as she spotted the cycle, nodding despite her quick attacking motions. Sho-tahn and Kazon passed them, gradually backing towards the portal as the swarm slowly came down on them.
"CHIEF, RUN!" Mako yelled, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the portal. They sprinted, not looking back as they ran straight for the portal. Kazon and Sho-tahn had just reached it, though the spirits had them all surrounded. One tackled Sho-tahn away from Kazon and pinned him to the ground, slamming one huge fist into the Firebender repeatedly.
The flame that engulfed the top of the spirit was flecked with blue; it burst from Kazon's kick, a continuous torrent of flame that simply melted the spirit into nothingness. Sho-tahn remained still on the ground, so Kazon grabbed him by his clothes and dragged him slowly through the portal. As soon as they went through, it flashed quickly.
Lin and Mako reached the portal not long after. They skidded to a halt, turning quickly to see how far Akirai was behind them. The Firebender was stood in place, not far from the cycle, her hands moving left and right constantly. Sparks flew as her arms moved, keeping the spirits just far enough away, as none wanted to be the first to attack.
The wolf spirit, Zhansha, stood in the swarm, just as tall as the hulking behemoths around it. It caught eyes with Lin and snarled; in that one moment, Beifong understood its nature. A spirit inhabiting a human host. An abomination.
"Akirai! Come on!" Mako shouted loudly, beckoning. When she looked over her shoulder, she shook her head ever so slightly. Her scarred face and one good eye looked at them and a slight smile crept across her face.
"Mako sure Kazon's safe. Tell my brother I tried my best to—ah—protect them…both! Tell Kazon to make it count," Akirai's voice said through the radio on Lin's chest-plate. Her own, also clipped to her chest, was broadcasting across to them despite the lack of any antennas, unaffected by the hordes of spirits surrounding them. "Tell him to find his daughter and keep her close. Family is everything. Tell him."
Lin nodded resolutely. She started to back into the portal as she saw the flying spirits swarm Akirai, flying round and round, obscuring everything from view. Lightning flashed inside the swarm, crackling out and disintegrating spirits as they backed up.
Just as the portal swept them away, Lin spotted a gap in the swarm; Akirai stood tall, her face fierce as she pointed directly at the Satocycle, the lightning tearing forth at incredible speeds. A half second later, she saw a flash and they both fell through the portal into Republic City. The explosion on the other side was so immense that she felt the tremors even on their side.
"Lin, come on, we need to get away quickly!" Mako said, helping her to her feet.
Beifong shook her head. Instead of running, she simply backed away as the portal shuddered. "They were trying to close it. They won't pursue."
"Chief, you can't expect them to-" Mako protested, still leaning on the balls of his feet, ready to run.
Lin waved a hand, frowning. She could read people incredibly well; spirits weren't entirely different. She knew defensive tactics when she saw them; despite their aggressiveness, they were simply trying to drive them away.
She sensed Kazon not far away, crouched low with the unconscious Sho-tahn, still breathing in heavy ragged gasps. His heartbeat was incredibly fast and Lin could even sense his anger and his suffering through the tiniest vibrations in the floor.
The portal groaned suddenly. It boomed thrice, as though something was trying to slam a gigantic door shut. The beacon of light in the sky suddenly began to lower, as though a tower was toppling down. The great orb of energy began to change colour, as though some form of energy shield had been placed over it. It grew a little smaller, seemingly turning in on itself as the portal was forced shut by the spirits on the other side. Within moments, the portal was closed and Lin sighed with relief.
Mako fell to his knees beside her, exhausted. They all stayed there, silent except for Kazon's soft crying as the dark clouds rolled softly across the night sky.
(Hello everyone, AvatarJahn here! Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Consider this a 'mid-season' break, as it were; I won't be uploading for a few weeks now as i'm focusing on finishing off writing Book Three before I continue uploading. It won't be long though before Jahn's story is concluded, so I hope you keep reading when the break is over! Thanks again!))