The next day Danny and Aang led the way to the shrine. Danny had found a total of three candles. Toph and Sam trailed at the back of the group. Toph explaining a few more of the earth-bending basics. Tucker and Sokka spent the walk bonding as neither of them could bend and could relate. Katara spent the walk listening to Danny explain a few of his encounters with previous spirits to Aang. Katara could tell that Aang appreciated the advice and stories since he didn't have much experience dealing with spirits. There hadn't exactly been a lot of opportunities between finding bending masters to learn from and running from the Fire nation.
They reached the shrine by mid-morning. Danny and Aang examined the shrine closely for another ten minutes before resigning to trying to fix everything by lighting the candles. Toph blindfolded Sam during this time and ordered her to see using vibrations. After a few tries and a few painful hits from Toph's earth-bending, Sam started to get the hang of it. Tucker and Sokka spent the entire time joking with each other having found that they had a similar sense of humour.
They watched the candles and the tiny flames flutter in the slight breeze for a few minutes.
"Alright, second problem. Aang, let's get you into the spirit world," Danny announced and sat down on the ground. Aang joined him.
"You're sure it'll work this time?" Aang asked. Danny shrugged.
"It should. But I need to go in there anyway to ask around about this spirit. Might as well do both things at the same time," Danny replied. Aang nodded and closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply.
"You guys be alright for a couple of hours?" Danny asked the group.
"Sure, you go ahead man," Tucker affirmed. Danny nodded with a smile.
"If you have to move our bodies, take us to where we camped last night," Danny suggested and took a deep breath and closed his eyes as they glowed green.
Katara and Sokka frowned at each other.
"That's usual for Danny. We once got attacked while he was in the spirit world. Took him hours to find his body and that was only because Sam went back and left him a note. So now every time he goes into the spirit world out in the open, we set a second meeting place in case we have to move," Tucker explained.
"Smart," Sokka complimented as Aang's tattoos began to glow as Aang joined Danny in the spirit world. Tucker nodded. Then the three of them sat down and watched Toph training Sam.
Aang got up on to his feet and scanned the new surroundings. He was on a stone plinth in the middle of a shallow lake. Then he saw Danny and yelped in surprise. His black hair was now pure white, his eyes glowed green and his body glowed slightly. His light coloured clothes had turned so dark, they seemed black. Danny turned to him and smiled.
"Sorry, probably should have warned you. Didn't think since no one has ever seen me like this. This is my spirit form. It's unique to people like me," Danny explained. Aang nodded dumbly, staring at him. Danny snorted and shook his head.
"I think I look better with dark hair, what about you? White makes me look like an old man," Danny joked. Aang smiled weakly and shrugged.
"You just look so… different. I wasn't expecting it," Aang replied.
Danny nodded and pointed off in the distance.
"We should head that way. My gut is saying that we'll find answers in that direction," Danny suggested. Aang nodded and took a step that way.
"Woah! Hang on Aang. That mightn't be water. Could be a spirit or a portal deeper into the spirit world. Let me check first and I'll show you the warning signs," Danny warned. Aang gulped and stepped back. Danny walked to the edge of the plinth and knelt down to peer deeply into the water. He nodded.
"No worries, it's water. Just me being paranoid or something. I'll show you how I know, come here," Danny called over his shoulder. Aang knelt beside Danny. Danny smiled.
"Alright, you need to get really close and look into it. I mean really look. If something is moving then it's not water. If it's completely still, usually it's water. Then you need to focus on your sense of smell. If it smells of anything, don't touch it. If it doesn't then it's water. I wouldn't try drinking it unless you're desperate but it's safe enough to touch," Danny explained.
Then they both straightened and Danny stepped off the plinth and waited a second before motioning for Aang to follow him. They waded through the ankle-deep water and soon reached the shore. Danny scanned the trees ahead of them before walking purposefully forwards.
"Shouldn't we mark our way or something," Aang suggested cautiously. Danny blinked at him before smiling and shook his head.
"Spirits, particularly the ones here, love to mess with markers. Also the surroundings tend to change. You need to focus on your instincts and internal map here Aang. My gut is telling me that that other path is a dead end. This way looks safe to me," Danny answered. Aang glanced at the well-lit rejected path and then looked at the ominously dark winding pathway Danny had chosen.
"You're sure?" Aang asked. Danny nodded.
"Aang, close your eyes and listen to everything around and inside you, Raava should guide you here since she used to live here. She's been here many times with many avatars. Listen to her guidance," Danny advised. Aang frowned at Danny but sighed and obeyed. Deep inside, he felt a feeling drawing him towards the path Danny chose. He took a small step towards the one he would have chosen and felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding. Aang opened his eyes and blinked in surprise. Danny smiled kindly.
"It takes practice to learn to listen to those feelings," Danny informed him before walking to the path he had chosen.
After a long time the dark pathway opened up into a desolate clearing with a large fire pit but a dying fire. Danny frowned at it.
"Hmm, doesn't look like our candles are doing anything," Danny commented.
"No, they did help. But not enough," a voice informed them. The spirit from the village emerged from the shadows. Now the spirit seemed calmer, brighter. It was no longer a simple shadow with dangerous claws. It took the form of a beautiful woman with unusually large hands with wickedly sharp fingers. She had long flowing blonde hair and bright red eyes. Then she spotted Aang. She hissed angrily at him and her hair floated up into the air and her eyes seemed to flicker with fire.
"You dare bring him here!" she growled. Danny stepped in front of Aang.
"Sorry, Aang, I'm going to have to overstep," he whispered. Aang remained silent.
"He's here to help me find out what happened to your fire. I'm sorry his presence offends you but he cannot return to his body without me. Please, I'm trying to help you," Danny lied. The spirit glowered at him.
"You're lying to me," she grumbled. Danny smiled.
"Causing anger, no? Is it helping?" Danny bluffed. The spirit took a deep breath and nodded.
"It is. I'll let this insult slide. But be warned avatar, I have not forgiven you," the spirit announced. Danny stepped away from Aang and Aang nodded.
"I want to apologise for the trouble I caused you for my absence. There is no excuse for it. I am truly sorry and I want to make it up to you and all the other spirits," Aang apologised humbly. Danny glanced at the spirit. She seemed shocked before smiling and her hair fluttered down to settle around her shoulders.
"Gratitude avatar. It is a nice change from your usual approach of ordering us to forgive you," the spirit mentioned. Aang frowned but held his tongue. He could ask Danny what she meant later.
Danny approached the fire. His expression grew stony and hard.
"I see, you're fire is fuelled by strong feelings. Anger, love, revenge. But not sadness or fear," Danny remarked and stepped away, his expression relaxing into his more familiar gentle but serious expression. The spirit nodded.
"I'm the spirit of passion. And nothing creates fiery passion than revenge, love or anger," the spirit confirmed. Danny nodded.
"But fire, pure fire also fuels it, right?" Danny continued. The spirit nodded.
"So our candles, they did help?" Danny prompted.
"A little. My fire has been nothing but hot embers for weeks. You have brought it back into actual flames," the spirit admitted. Danny smiled and nodded.
"Thank you. I believe I have a way to fix this. Would it be enough for this to be refuelled by fire annually?" Danny inquired. The spirit nodded.
"As long as it's more fire than a few candles," the spirit agreed. Danny bowed.
"Thank you for being so understanding. I know it isn't your nature and we appreciate that greatly," Danny concluded and straightened. Aang copied Danny's bow and thanked the spirit as well.
Back to the problem at hand. Any guesses what Danny's idea might be?
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Until the next chapter.