Chapter 34: The Painted Lady
While Korra dealt with the press before heading to the Fire Nation for her part in Firelord Izumi's call to arms, Jinora and Kai had been searching the islands near Ember Island. They had been looking all morning and into the afternoon, trying to find a special village while on the wing. They weren't having much success, unfortunately - even the spit of islands at the tail end of the Fire Nation was spaced far enough apart that it was difficult to find anything. Jinora said, barely managing to out-speak the howling wind, "I wish I had Pepper, a map and a spyglass for this - it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack." Kai yelled over the airbending-created wind, "The Zhu Li was pretty heavily laden as it was, with everyone aboard. Korra was pushing it by bringing her polarbear-dog, Naga, along. If we had brought Pepper, we'd have needed to bring Juicy, Lefty and Oogi too." Jinora laughed, saying, "You're right, Kai - even though she wishes she had a different airbison, Opal still seems to love juicy, snot and all." Laughing harder, Jinora added, "Opal was telling me she likened the reason she keeps Juicy to why she kept Bolin around after his work for Kuvira."
As her own laughter and Kai's was drowned by the wind, Jinora felt something odd - an energy that somehow seemed familiar, though she had never experienced it personally before. What was even stranger was that it wasn't associated with her grandfather - it was associated with grandmother Katara! Knowing that the island they were approaching just might be the right one, she told Kai, "I just felt an odd energy, and I think this might just be the place. Let's go see what we can find." As they landed out of sight of what must have once been the village, Kai said, "I thought this was a fishing village, Jinora - I didn't expect houseboats and electrical lines!"
Whipping out a drawing that Asami had made for her based on Katara's descriptions the previous day, Jinora was amazed at how much the village had grown since her grandmother's time. Pointing at one of the biggest surprises, Jinora said, "I didn't expect a factory to be at the head of the river - that and its pollution was one of the reasons my grandparents Katara and Aang stayed longer than they had planned!" Kai whipped out an eyeglass Varrick had parted with reluctantly before they left this morning, saying, "The water looks clean, though - I guess Zuko or Firelord Izumi made the factory being clean a priority, given the old Team Avatar's experience here." Jinora heard an audible grumble, Kai saying after, "Why don't we go into town for something to eat - something tells me the fish won't be like they were in your grandmother's time, given how the water is sparkling." Given what Kai said next, he really hadn't been lying to Jinora or Su on the Zhu Li yesterday, as he said, "Sparkling like your eyes, do, Jinora - I don't need any gold." Jinora didn't even fuss when he kissed her on the cheek without permission and put his dark arms around her tighter than usual.
Jinora's eyes widened in surprise. She knew she had grown a lot over the past four years, both physically and emotionally, but… this was unexpected. She had only heard descriptions of the small sensation she felt, and not from other airbenders, aside from Opal. Cheeks blushing, she said, "That sounds like a good idea, Kai - I'm hungry enough to eat some fish myself, vegetarian or not. Plus, I wouldn't want to be rude - the 'villagers' might recognize me if they have electricity now and houseboats, and they will certainly recognize the arrow on my head." In a comment more fitting his usual nature, Kai said, "I don't see why Opal doesn't have her tattoos yet - she helped you save Korra from Kuvira outside Zaofu, and if she uses the new projectiles Asami came up with make to full effect, she might just help take down Jinshu Kuangmai." Seeing Jinora's vaguely horrified look, Kai explained, "If that's not worthy of tattoos, I don't know what is - airbender pacifism or not. That man's a monster." Kai picked up a rock that closely resembled one of the "Satot" rounds Asami had described in-transit with Opal to the other airbenders before the commotion on the back of the boat, his eyes gleaming. After shouting, "This is for Zaofu, Jinshu Kuangmai!" Kai shot the projectile with great accuracy at the head of a nearby large flightless bird she didn't recognize, it connecting with a thunk that made Jinora wince. Kai ran over, using his airbending to dust it off, saying sheepishly, "Oh, sorry - I should have just killed the bird without comment. I just don't know how comfortable you are with taking life yet." Jinora asked softly, "What did that gray fluffy bird do to you?" Kai coughed nervously, saying, "Mother Suyin was telling me before we had to propel the boat yesterday that it's good manners to bring food if you're a guest, and I figure I may as well start somewhere." Jinora was still staring at the bird's body, Kai reassuring her, "Don't worry, Jinora - I'll carry it. I know killing still bothers you."
As Jinora and Kai walked towards the village, Kai carrying the odd fluffy grey bird over his shoulders with no small effort, Jinora said lowly, "Despite what I said yesterday about me being more willing to kill." A single tear escaped Jinora's eye, and she continued, "Kai, honestly? I'm not sure what it would take for me to be willing to kill. Even the bison rustler would be pushing it, for now." Jinora sighed deeply and said "I guess I need to start seeing more shades of gray, if I'm to be of any help once the Spirit Civil War is over. We'll be fighting living beings, not unambiguously evil Dark Spirits who want to enslave humanity." Continuing in a less morose voice, she said, "At least the bison rustler was a fairly clear-cut case of what my father, Raava and Korra have started to convince me would be a morally okay time to take a life." Seeing Kai had stopped with a confused look on his face, apparently not sure what to make of her own swinging feelings, Jinora said softly in his ear, avoiding the strange grey bird's body only barely, "You know - if it looked like he was going to kill you."
What with Kai's unusual reaction to her following kiss, he must have felt a sensation equivalent to what Jinora had experienced earlier, though his wide grin indicated he clearly knew what it meant. Given Kai's age, it couldn't have been very strong anyways - Katara had told her that boys mature slower than girls when Tenzin wasn't around during the chaos of the past weeks. Jinora remembered with a deep frown that Meelo had interrupted before Jinora could learn exactly what would be aroused in Kai, or anything really specific. Typical siblings… she still resented Ikki slightly for interrupting Katara when she was about to say what happened to Zuko's mom. Jinora found herself resenting Meelo much more now, as these unusual thoughts made her cheeks flush - but not in embarrassment.
Kai started to speak, but stopped, saying, "I like the color of your cheeks, Jinora - prettier than a ruby." This just made Jinora feel that sensation again - but stronger - but she didn't dare let Kai know. She was still trying to make sense of it herself. Kai continued with a laugh and a joking voice, "Your father's right - no grandchildren yet. If Aang could wait, so can I." Kai let out a genuine sigh, saying, "I don't feel like I'd make a good father yet anyways, even if I were old enough - I bet I won't even be able to see this Painted Lady we came here to try and win over." Jinora didn't have a good answer to the last part, so she just put her arm around Kai's waist, just refreshing the flush on her cheeks and the other feeling. She said, tussling Kai's jet black hair while looking in his jade green eyes, "You've made a lot of progress, Kai. Let's go meet the people in town before we think about our official business." Jinora made a mental note to ask Opal as well as Kai more about sexuality - she remembered how Kai knew the thingie's real name, whatever they were. Even Korra, a 22-year old grown woman, didn't know their real name, despite Korra having apparently used them herself. Opal could help Jinora with what even Jinora knew were decidedly feminine feelings.
As they both approached the town, Kai said, "Maybe we can help each other grow - I'll help you get over your reluctance to kill. More importantly, you can help me make sure I never take life without cause by teaching me more about what spirituality means." Jinora found herself nodding before she had time to think. Kai laughed nervously, saying, "Though I think you'll have a lot more to teach me than the other way around - I was pretty rotten until the Earth Queen imprisoned me." On an odd impulse she couldn't restrain, Jinora started speaking with a softer, more playful version of her own voice akin to something Asami might have made while talking to Korra. Her lips moved, as though possessed, as she said while grabbing Kai's shoulder, completely ignoring the soft feathers of the dead bird, "You'll have plenty of things other than violence to talk about, Kai, given my upbringing and your own knowledge. I remember the thingies. And you knowing their name when Korra didn't." Jinora let out a loud "Eep!", covering her mouth. Where had that voice come from, let alone the words she said it with in, or her hand grab! Jinora heard a loud thump while thinking, Kai apparently having fallen over much as he did yesterday.
Kai remained down for some time, as though he didn't ever want to get up, his cheeks flush and letting out a contented sigh. Once he stood back up and dusted off the odd bird, Kai hugged her tightly. Jinora noticed something odd added to his embrace, somehow instinctively knowing what it was. Her face flush with embarrassment and pleasure once again, she listened to a deeply blushing Kai say, while he laughed, "That… would be something for a later time, Jinora. A LOT later. You seem like you don't even know what part of my body felt good earlier and just now, much less ready to know the name or shape of a thingie. Let alone its use." Kai laughed, saying, "Though that grab makes me think it might not be as far off after all. You didn't even avoid this weird bird's body, you were so intent." Jinora giggled, her cheeks still red as she was pointing at the part of Kai he was trying to talk around, saying, "You're right - I didn't know, until just now, when you hugged me." Jinora heard her father's voice in her head, yelling "Now don't YOU make me a grandfather before either one of us is ready, Jinora!" before a shocked Kai said, "Oh. So I guess you know more than I thought, Jinora - good." Not knowing what to make of all these confusing new feelings, Jinora said, "I need to think on all this, Kai - maybe after we try and convert the Painted Lady to our cause we can talk some more."
Both Jinora and Kai didn't say much after that while they approached the edge of the lake the town sat on, out of a combination of thinking and getting more comfortable with her obviously more mature body. She half considered projecting to Asami and asking her for more information, but realized with a start she wouldn't be of much help, given Jinora liked Kai and not one of the new girl airbenders. Even Asami's lover, Korra, might not be of much help, given Korra had never got past dating Mako, and some primal part of Jinora wanted to do more than just date Kai. Confused by all these thoughts, Jinora stopped momentarily, saying, "I need to meditate, Kai. I won't be going to the spirit world, either - I just hope this works."
As Jinora sat down, she was pleasantly surprised to see Kai joining her side in a meditative pose, though he did not close his eyes. Kai said softly, "I don't know if I'm ready to truly meditate yet, Jinora - I need to open my mind and deal with purely emotional hurt first." Before Jinora could object and suggest Kai meditate on what was troubling him, he said, "I'm not going to meditate like you are for a bigger reason - if I have an experience like Kuvira's I don't want to be booted into the Spirit World like she was. I don't have an Avatar to come and rescue me. Even your own father, Tenzin, needed rescuing, and he's a very spiritual man." Some tears coming to her eyes, Jinora said, "I wouldn't want Koh the Face-Stealer to snatch your handsome face, Kai - you're right. We both need to be cautious, even if I have an Avatar's blood running in my veins."
Jinora took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on her father's father's energy. When she opened her eyes, she was disappointed to sense she was in the Spirit World after all. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes once more, she remembered the stories of grandfather Aang's youth in a torrent of thought. As the memories went beyond what she had learned, the previous ones simultaneously becoming crystal clear at the same time grandfather Aang's life unfolded before her, she realized something special was happening. She even knew what happened to Zuko's mother now!
She watched grandfather Aang's life mesmerized. The wonderful memories associated with Katara, Team Avatar and grandfather Aang's children, including Tenzin, and horrifying memories of Yakone, "Phoenix King" Ozai, "Princess" Azula and the encounter with Koh the Face-Stealer were transmitted with special intensity. When she opened her eyes, she rubbed them with disbelief - she knew grandfather Aang was close, but she didn't expect him to be anything but a blue image!
Grandfather Aang said softly through fleshy lips, "You look like you're surprised to see me as anything but a blue projection. You should be safe here, Jinora, for the same reason you don't see me as a spirit." Grinning broadly, grandfather Aang said, "You can just call me Aang, Jinora. You should be safe here, since my blood runs through your veins - or more accurately, my genes and deoxyribonucleic acid , or DNA." Laughing lightly at Jinora's perplexed expression, Aang said, "I don't care what Raava thinks of sharing scientific knowledge with humanity, especially given that Korranium will not be a suitable replacement for tuber-vine power - only fusion will. Korranium has too much destructive potential, as Asami has already figured out by now." Jinora said, still very confused, "I came here to get your advice and help on taking life away in good conscience, or creating it with Kai - not science. You'll have to talk to one of the brain trust members about any information you find important - Meelo might be the best, given he shares these 'genes' and 'DNA' with me." Aang laughed, saying, "Varrick or Zhu Li might figure out those two by the time Meelo is ready or even inclined to try meditating. He inherited my playfulness and Katara's attitude, along with a warrior's mind, I can only guess from where Bumi got his." Jinora laughed, remembering that genes and DNA weren't the only things Aang mentioned - whatever they were. Jinora asked, "What about Korranium, Asami, and this 'fusion'? Given you didn't mention those, it sounds like any use of Korranium or 'fusion' is a long ways off."
Aang's expression turned to that of horror, clearly not liking what he had to say next. Aang sighed, saying, "You better hope that Jinshu Kuangmai gives up on the idea of turning the Fire Nation to glass after the trap Korra set for him succeeds, or that he doesn't find any Korranium. Korranium could be used to create a nasty weapon that would cause far more damage than the spirit energy blast caused in Republic City. What Asami has named 'Asami particles' would linger at the blast site, even spreading across the landscape beyond the blast." Jinora had started crying at Aang's description of what a Korranium weapon could do, and she began crying even harder when Aang kept talking, his own eyes watery. "If enough of these weapons are set off, the Asami particles would envelop the globe, eradicating life as we know it with their ability to break down the DNA I mentioned earlier, as well as causing cancer and many other, horrible side effects." Aang took a deep breath, continuing, "If Jinshu Kuangmai can manage to make these weapons, he should be able to create even worse weapons soon after - fusion bombs. Partially using the very process I hope will someday replace tuber-vines, I might add."
Jinora asked, feeling as though she were shrinking, "Wait - what could these weapons do that's worse than a Korranium bomb?" Aang did not speak, but instead asked her to close her eyes, and Jinora saw a horrible vision - more disturbing than what Long Yumao desired to do with humanity.
As though from space over another, much larger world, she saw a cityscape that looked much like Republic City, with unfamiliar metallic forms flying over it peacefully. All that changed when she saw what looked like a very advanced and large Meesile that was being powered by something closer to the power of Sozin's Comet than Lipowder, given the huge flames propelling it. The odd Meesile gradually grew smaller and smaller, the end constantly falling off. A cone on its head -the only thing left - opened when it reached a slightly downward position relative to the curvature of the unnamed planet. This sent at least seven smaller cones flying, these individual cones somehow honing in on individual targets. She noticed many more of these horrible large Meesiles approaching the odd landmass in various stages of breakdown, as well as what looked like more leaving it, though these were all intact. Jinora's soul chilled when she realized what she was witnessing - the extinction of life on another planet, not much different from her own.
Her vision was brought back to the peaceful city. In a flash of blinding light near what must have been its center, she saw an immense sphere spread outwards, incinerating everything in its path, vaporizing most of the heart of the city. She heard a massive roar, as though this planet had been rent in two, and saw a massive shockwave come screaming from the massive central explosion. Jinora realized the sphere was very close to the white of that of Raava, except with a sickening orange hue that resembled what a Dark Avatar's eyes might look like. As soon as the shockwave ended, her vision was thrown back to a planetary view, seeing a thousand suns erupt on its surface, even the dark side illuminated. Most of the points showed a horrifying mushroom cloud up close instead of the big explosion like she had seen.
Her eyes finally opened by themselves and she was panting in terror, cradling her small, small body while sobbing - Jinora felt as though she were four. Aang walked over, no longer 12 but a much more reassuring older age, saying through a choked, deeper voice, "That, Jinora, is the potential for beings to destroy their own world. To plunge it into a darkness more final than anything Long Yumao could hope to do, or even Vaatu if he won every Harmonic Convergence from now until the end of time." Jinora asked, "How could they do that? All those living things, snuffed out in less time than it takes to boil a pot of tea… what happened to this world, to make them fail so miserably and thoroughly?" Aang hugged Jinora tighter, saying, "What you saw was a failed world, one from a different plane of existence entirely. A world without bending, and most importantly, one whose love ran out. Vaatu won, even though they have a different being of darkness associated with their plane of existence, as well as one very, very sad being of light."
Aang hugged her deeply, and she could feel herself return to normal size. Aang said, with uncharacteristic glumness, "You saw what happened there, Jinora. Even if Long Yumao is defeated, if Jinshu Kuangmai is not crushed soon enough, the Fire Nation will probably share a similar fate to the unnamed country I showed you." Jinora asked, "Can I at least know its name? The images… I need to know." Aang said quietly, "Its name is not important - the planet is nothing but a lifeless shell now, all of its peoples, animals and history lost forever. Much as our own nation, the Air Nomads, once were, except for me." Breaking the hug, Aang had an extremely angry look as he said, "Except in that planet's case, there was no last airbender. They made their own attempt at forming a moderating body, similar to the United Republic of Nations, after a particularly devastating war that saw the use of one Korranium weapon and another using a metal derived from Korranium." Before Jinora could cry, Aang finished while crying himself, "Except their organization did not have enough power to make a difference. On their plane, there is no Avatar, no accessible spirits - only the two beings I mentioned, the physical realm, a good place for people like Uncle Iroh or us, and another akin to the Fog of Lost Souls."
Aang continued, his face sullen, saying, "I didn't show you that to expand your knowledge of the vast, infinite universe and other planes of existence, Jinora. I showed it to you to drive home that even when Long Yumao is defeated, if the United Earth Republic doesn't eliminate the Earth Empire quickly enough, Jinshu Kuangmai may find a way to use spirit vines to mimic these horrible fusion and Korranium weapons. Or, even worse, make the actual weapons." Jinora asked angrily, half feeling like stepping on Aang's foot in anguish and anger, "I want to know what that has to do with becoming more comfortable taking a life, much less making a new one with Kai when we're ready emotionally and physically."
Aang sighed without any sadness in his voice, saying, "Everything, Jinora. I know a lot more of that planet's history than you do, and multiple times, if someone had been willing to kill one individual, its history would have taken a very different course. You wouldn't recognize any of the names, as they had many languages instead of one, so most would mean nothing to you." Jinora asked, not caring about a dead planet anymore, "What about what Katara called 'sex ed'? What does that have to do with the vision?" Aang laughed, saying, "That sounds just like Katara. Jinora, do you remember what I said about the planet? How it had run out of love?" Jinora nodded, liking this new twist in the conversation. "I don't know what you said to Kai earlier - along with Raava, I can only take in information that's near Korra, with only Raava able to sense past Korra in extreme situations. But I think I'll 'say' this without knowing what you and Kai talked about. Just know this: you shouldn't let your love run out - even if it runs counter to what your father taught you about being an airbender, especially as it relates to sex. You wouldn't be here if I had followed the Air Nomad rules exactly." Aang sighed contentedly at this oblique reference to his relationship with Katara and their family, continuing, "Times are changing, Jinora, and from what I have seen and heard, so has what it means to be an airbender."
Closing Jinora's eyes with his hands lightly, Aang said as an image of a younger Katara appeared, "I may have been unwilling to kill anyone myself, preferring to take people's bending away instead, but if anyone looked like they were about to kill Katara, I'd cut them down in a second. Even if it meant death for them." An image of "Firelord" Ozai appeared in Katara's place, Aang saying, "When dealing with individuals such as Ozai, you should always try to take the peaceful route." An image of Aang with eyes and tattoos glowing appeared, trying to get the image of Ozai to surrender much as she had seen Aang try before energybending. Aang must have deliberately changed the outcome of the vision from what really happened, as Jinora was surprised at what happened next.
Ozai managed to break Aang's tenuous hold, knocking the smaller form to the ground with a powerful punch. Ozai began generating lightning to finish what Azula had failed to do, all those years ago in Ba Sing Se. Jinora saw Aang yell, eyes normal and crying, "No - I won't die here, not yet!" Aang's eyes glowed strongly as he yelled at a surprised Ozai, in an angry multivoice, "I won't let you kill, me, Ozai - I have too much to live for!" As the light from Aang's tattoos and eyes became almost blinding, his 12-year old form yelled, "I want to be with Katara, you monster!" The Aang in the image re-formed an elemental bubble, Ozai somehow managing to break it by unleashing the large amount of lightning he had generated. Aang said angrily, "I wanted to spare your life, but you leave me no choice!" as Ozai began to generate more lightning, intending to finish Aang off, and given how much lightning he was creating, Aang wouldn't be able to deflect enough to live.
Eyes flaring again, the image of Aang began to perform an odd airbending form Jinora had never seen before, but quickly realized what it was when she saw the breath leave Ozai's terrified being, his own lightning finding a sink in his dying body, causing burns everywhere. Aang said, "I am sure Zuko will understand - he told me to just kill you in the first place," as the life slowly faded from a terrified Ozai's eyes and the last of the electrical current dissipated.
Jinora's eyes opened, her father's father's hand leaving her face. Jinora said, "I think I understand now. It's okay to kill in self-defense, or in defense of those you love." Aang added with a weak smile, "You might want to take note of that airbending form, Jinora - it's also okay to kill preventatively, though only in extreme cases, such as Ozai or Jinshu Kuangmai. Raava was sharing with me something Korra witnessed in a vision over the night before you 'called' me here, and trust me - there is nothing redeemable in that man." Jinora crossed her arms, saying, "You saw something in 'Phoenix King' Ozai, so I fail to see how Jinshu Kuangmai is any different." Aang started to laugh, but stopped when he saw her own souring expression, saying seriously, "Let's just say Jinshu Kuangmai got a serious offer from Vaatu to be his next Dark Avatar, and only Harmonic Convergence being ten thousand years or so away from now stopped him from accepting it fully." Realizing that Jinshu Kuangmai was no different than Unalaq, who she had helped defeat without qualms when he was in his Dark Avatar form, Jinora decided that Opal was right after all. Jinora said with a mix of horror and anger, "I don't think I have any qualms about killing anymore - at least not Jinshu Kuangmai. That's just awful!" Aang looked like he was waiting for something, so Jinora added, "I'll think about Kai whenever I'm fighting Dark Spirits and let my anger fuel my bending like a firebender if it looks like he'll get hurt. If that will even work with airbending, that is," and Aang gave her an approving nod and smile, laughing at her last comment.
Aang said, grabbing Jinora by the shoulder, "Korra can show you what happened with Jinshu Kuangmai and her… own vision later with infobending. Given my own upbringing as a genuine Air Nomad, I think Opal, Katara or Kai would be better suited for 'sex ed'." Aang blushed slightly, saying as he shrunk back to his "new" 12-year old size, "To be honest, Katara had to teach me quite a bit, and given what Raava has said about Korra and the… thingies, Korra could do with a Katara session of her own, aside from the one I helped with yesterday." Before Jinora could take a deep breath, close her eyes and leave, Aang said, "Wait! You have something you need to do, Jinora, other than win over the Painted Lady - Korra's close bond with Raava means I can't try and tell Korra what I showed you. Raava would just block me from saying anything about things not discovered yet, much less show you that vision." Jinora listened intently as Aang said, "You're going to need to let Korra infobend the vision about that planet I showed you out, as well as the warnings about Korranium, fusion and Jinshu Kuangmai. I didn't show you that to scare you or convince you that killing can be justified, Jinora - everyone needs to know that weaponizing Korranium is a very bad idea, especially given how small our own planet is compared to the shell that was named Earth." Given the wink that followed, Aang hadn't let the name of the planet slip on accident, and Jinora returned the wink with one of her own.
Aang added, as though remembering something important, "Keep in mind, Jinora, that this was only one of many fates for the planet still called Earth. I just showed you the most relevant 'reality' - a violent end to their former Cold War." As Jinora smiled, glad to know this "Earth" was not really dead and also not really caring what kind of war caused the destruction she had witnessed, she began to get her head around the universe, the different plane, and alternates. She remembered well what she witnessed Aang go through earlier when he was trying to unlock his chakras and the vast infinity of existence.
While Jinora was on the verge of getting something profound, she heard Aang laugh, saying, "There was even a version of Earth where two people must have been able to see our universe, and pretty clearly too - they made two television shows: 'Avatar: the Last Airbender' and 'The Legend of Korra.'" Jinora's eyes looking at him again, she saw a smiling Aang say conspiratorially, "When you show Korra that vision, ask Korra to ask Varrick if he wants to make some movers of his own about Earth's history, once he's done with his new projects. Just call them works of fiction." Smiling more comfortably now, Aang continued, "I think a lot of people would find 'World War II' particularly interesting, as well as the creatures that live on Earth. They're almost all just… not right." Grinning widely, Aang said, "I figure I'll have plenty of time to sneak stuff past Raava with your help once things settle down." Aang vanished right after, as though Raava had noticed his little asides and had enough.
When Jinora came to, she noticed Kai had his eyes closed, breathing deeply. Jinora shook him, saying, "Hey! Did you forget about Koh and Long Yumao?! I don't want to lose you, not after what I just saw!" As she hugged Kai deeply, she felt that wonderful sensation again, savoring it instead of dismissing it, much less feel ashamed of it as a small part of her had earlier. After a while, she noticed a new feeling, this one not likely linked to her maturing body. She felt a tight, warm feeling in her chest, one that came close to the feeling of love that Korra or Asami were mentioning more and more frequently. Kai's body did something familiar as well, and instead of dismissing it, Jinora focused on the little pressing form as well as her own pleasure, finding the feeling in her chest intensifying.
To her surprise, it was Kai who broke the embrace, asking, "While I liked that, a lot, especially the feeling in my chest, I'm curious to hear what your grandfather showed you that was so horrible." Ignoring Kai's request, Jinora hugged him again, saying, "I'm glad you felt the feeling in your heart as well, and not just the other nice feeling. Even more so that you liked it the best out of the two." Kai said, after Jinora let him go of her vice-grip, "Whatever you saw in there, think we can talk about it over lunch? The… Kainora bird is probably starting to spoil slightly, and I don't want it to go to waste." As Jinora helped Kai carry the bird, which surprised Kai to no end, she said, "I'm afraid a lot of what I saw in there is very sensitive - I'll talk with you about it before we try to find the Painted Lady."
As Kai and Jinora yelled for a boat to take them into the village - no, town - of Jang Hui, she heard excited small shouts of, "Look, it's Aang!" followed by scattered shouts of, "Why is he holding a boy's hand? Is he gay like Korra?" and raucous adult laughter, one of whom said loudly, "You silly kids - Aang is dead, and Korra's the new Avatar! It must be Jinora and Kai - I heard over the radio that there was a huge conference at Ember Island!" After a boat approached and picked them both up, along with the Kainora bird, Jinora was vaguely disappointed to see there weren't any interesting looking characters around like that slightly more than borderline crazy man Katara had met when she was here, all those years ago.
As Kai ran off to help a chef prepare his earlier kill, Jinora wandered the town, asking people about the Painted Lady when she could finally get them to stop asking questions about herself. Some of them shrugged dismissively, making Jinora want to airpunch them into the water surrounding their fancy houseboats. The people in more modest houseboats were much more helpful, telling Jinora that the Painted Lady was usually only seen around nighttime by a select few, but not much else. The people living in houseboats that Jinora was pretty sure were worse than the huts of Katara's time were the most helpful, some even producing antique figurines of the Painted Lady, usually saying something like "Those rich snobs don't even believe in her."
One woman's response caught her attention in particular, the older woman telling her, "You must be Jinora. My name is June, and not the one from your grandmother's youth. I'm the closest thing this town has to a truly spiritual person, and I see the Painted Lady from time to time." Before Jinora could speak, June said, "Not too long ago, maybe yesterday, I noticed that the Painted Lady was much, much more physical - you can shake her hand now." Laughing, June added, "Though I still don't think just anyone can see her, given the looks the people from the fancy houseboats were giving me when I was talking to her yesterday."
Jinora said, glad she could get a word in finally, "Thank you, June. Is there anywhere we can see the Painted Lady during the daytime? I have some information I need to give Korra." June nodded, saying, "Oddly enough, sometimes I find her staring at the factory and its clean, sparkling water during the daytime, sighing in contentment. One of the first things she said to me was 'Please thank former Firelord Zuko and Firelord Izumi for making the factory clean. I am glad we can live in harmony now.' I was actually involved in the maintenance of the factory itself until I got too old, and remember helping place huge filters with charcoal bits in them on the pipes." June coughed, saying, "Those filters still need to be changed, but Firelord Izumi makes sure we get new ones frequently. I hope this Spirit Civil War or Jinshu Kuangmai fellow don't put a damper on that. The Painted Lady would not be happy, and probably vanish again, if those filters aren't kept clean."
Jinora was worried - if Firelord Izumi stopped supplying filters, the Painted Lady wouldn't turn on humans, but she certainly wouldn't help them, given the spirit is so tightly bound to the town and the waters around it. Jinora's stomach growled, prompting her to ask June, "Is there anything vegetarian to eat around here? I'm starving, and would like to avoid eating meat if I can." June said, getting up slowly, "I'm afraid I don't have any protein that isn't meat for you, but from what I have heard, ever since your grandmother helped clean up this village, there's been freshwater kelp growing around the village in spots. I have some, somewhere. Now, where did I put that dried kelp and fresh fish…" June picked up a bottle and quickly put it back down, but not before Jinora saw the label - "shirshu poison". Putting it together with the shirshu picture in what appeared to be a shrine to a lost loved one she had seen when June let her in, Jinora couldn't help but say gently, "So I guess you are June the bounty hunter. I noticed the shrine to a shirshu earlier, who must be Nyla, but said nothing of it until I saw that bottle of shirshu poison."
June turned around, with tears in her eyes, saying, "Yes, I am, Jinora. I was doing some tracking work after the war and Nyla and I got caught on the job, the well-armed bandits holding myself and Nyla hostage for an outrageous price." Taking a deep breath and crying intensely, June sobbed, "The ransom was refused, and Nyla somehow knew if she fought like a lion turtle against them when she got the chance, I'd have time to get away." Walking over and picking up her co-worker and pet's picture, June sniffed, "I got away, obviously, and she did not. I quit doing bounty hunting after my terrible loss, wandering the world much as I have heard Toph did, using what money I had left to buy this sub-par houseboat and settle here, in Jang Hui. I wanted a nice, quiet place to live." Jinora gave June a hug, saying, "That's just awful! I can't imagine loosing Kai - I mean, Pepper." June laughed, saying, "You should enjoy it while you can, Jinora - you're only young once." Smiling, June added, "You must be 14 now - old enough to start feeling some of the more interesting parts of love." Jinora just blushed silently.
As Jinora ate some sushi with June, not minding the fish in the least and her blush gone, Jinora said, "I assume you changed your hair so people wouldn't recognize you. I see you've covered up your tattoos as well." June nodded, saying, "Yes. But, enough about me - let's talk about you." June pointed at Jinora's own tattoos, saying, "Given your actions over the past four years, it's nice to see those arrows in person - especially when I'm not tracking the one wearing them." Jinora let out a small chuckle as June said, "I pay attention to world events, especially since I am no longer a player in them. Not since Nyla's sacrifice. I figure you're here to win the Painted Lady's assistance in the Spirit Civil War." June sighed, saying as she shook her gray hair, "It's not going to be easy. You'll need to convince her that not only will Firelord Izumi continue to provide filters for the factory, despite needing everything the Fire Nation has for war, you'll need to get her to see that Long Yumao is a big enough threat to warrant leaving 'her' town, Jang Hui." Jinora nodded her head, saying, "I think I'll need your help, June - I'll come back here with Kai when we're ready to talk to the Painted Lady." Seeing June nod again, Jinora returned to eating the fresh fish and kelp.
When they were finished eating, Jinora left, saying, "Be back soon, June!" as she waved goodbye. Jinora used her projection to quickly find Kai, idly wondering if people on Earth could do such a thing. Jinora found Kai near the chef, helping pass out slices of the Kainora bird. When Jinora joined him a short time later, even though she was full, she ate some of the Kainora bird anyways, not wanting to offend the chef. Jinora was glad the chef had put plenty of spice in while cooking it - the flesh wasn't very tasty. She could tell it was not good, even as vegetarian. Given how Kai asked quietly, "Got any sushi?" he didn't care much for the bird either. The chef must have overheard, saying slightly offendedly, "That's why we don't eat what you call a 'Kainora' bird, Kai - they may be easy to catch, but only a starving man would think they have any real taste. I prefer turtleduck myself." Kai grinned nervously, saying, "I didn't see any turtleducks, and I don't think my girlfriend here, Jinora, would have appreciated me killing one. At least this bird is ugly."
Joining in the laughter out of politeness more than anything else, Jinora realized she didn't even mind being called Kai's 'girlfriend'. It no longer sounded like he was claiming possession of a piece of gold - just describing his relationship with her. Not wanting to blush for any reason in front of the town's residents, Jinora said, "Come on, Kai - I found someone who can help us." Once Kai was at her side, she rapped on June's door, saying, "I'm back, June! I brought Kai with me this time." When there was no answer, Jinora just patiently stared at the door, only moving when Kai ribbed her, saying, "Hey - this lady's boat is gone! Everyone has one here - maybe she wanted to talk to the Painted Lady for us?" Jinora said, rubbing her side, "I know one way to check! Just give me a minute."
Focusing on June's energy, Jinora projected herself to her location, surprised to see her talking with the Painted Lady with frustration in her older voice. Noticing that they were both in front of the factory and its clear waterfalls, she broke the projection. Preparing her wingsuit for flight, she told Kai, "It looks like June is trying to help us, but not having much success! Follow me!"
Once Jinora and her boyfriend had landed on the shore somewhat close to the factory, Jinora found herself wishing she was a waterbender or the Avatar - June and the Painted Lady were too far from shore to talk to properly. Before she could try anything, Kai groaned, "Aw, come on - how am I supposed to help win over the Painted Lady if I can't see her?" Jinora stifled a snicker, saying, "Why don't you just sit here and listen to the water until I give you some sort of signal, or come back? I have the feeling this will take a short time - for better or worse." As Kai took a deep breath and looked like he was meditating, Jinora was about to admonish him, but something stopped her. Slowly, she realized with horror that she was trying to control Kai, just like her father tried to do with her. Gulping, she just yelled to Kai, "Now be careful, Kai - I don't want to come back and see you have no face!" Kai laughed, saying, "I had something much different in mind, Jinora - I don't think I'm going to be going into the Spirit World any time soon. Not until I fix some emotional issues first."
Remembering how her father had been unexpectedly dumped into the Spirit World after a breakthrough of his own, as well as Kuvira's impromptu meditation, Jinora said before flying off, "Just remember that you might accidentally enter the Spirit World, like my father did!" As Jinora took a deep breath and closed her eyes, she saw a familiar form, though it was just an image - that of Koh the Face-Stealer. As she opened her mouth to speak, the image skittered off, as though displeased with what she was going to say. Jinora said, "Remember - think of me for Long Yumao and keep a straight face for Koh, should it come to pass!" Feeling a mix of the impulsive feeling she had before speaking in what must have been a sultry voice and the other, purer feeling in her heart from earlier, Jinora sputtered out without thinking, "I love you!"
As she flew over to the boat, Jinora's face wash flushed - but she liked it. Given the smile June gave her when she landed gently in the back of the humble motorboat, the former bounty hunter must have heard as well.
Jinora had seen all sorts of spirits in her lifetime, but never a humanoid figure this striking. Uncle Iroh may have been wise, but there was something about the Painted Lady that made her stare in awe. Her feminine features, the red paint, the flowing black hair, that unique hat and dress… Noticing something troubling, Jinora asked, "Painted Lady, why is your paint so dark?" Jinora knew the answer in her gut, but wanted to let the Painted Lady speak her piece. The Painted Lady said, with an odd amount of emotion in her voice, "Over the past few days, I've been seeing this serpentine spirit over and over. Given that I was once human, long, long ago, and how your ancestors helped Jang Hui, I have been able to resist whatever it is he wants with me, but my own memories of what the Fire Nation did to my home have had some effect on my appearance." Jinora jumped back in shock when the Painted Lady said, "I don't know what the Avatar has told you, Jinora, but the stronger that serpentine spirit gets and the more followers he claims to have, the more my paint darkens, even though I resist strongly. That is what June and I were just discussing."
Jinora said, taking a deep breath to avoid being emotional herself, "Painted Lady, I think I might have a solution for your troubles." The Painted Lady nodded, her ghostly white hat moving with her face, saying, "Yes - what is it, Jinora?" Not having any idea what the Painted Lady's reaction would be, Jinora said strongly, "Join Avatar Korra and Raava's side in the Spirit Civil War, against this serpentine spirit whose full name is Long Yumao the Opportunist." Jinora's eyes widened when the Painted Lady's hat sprouted grey lines after the mention of Avatar Korra's name and gasped as the spirit's red paint darkened when Jinora said the evil spirit's own name. Clearly torn, the Painted Lady said, "I can see you just saw my paint darken slightly when you said that spirit's name, Jinora, as well as the lines on my hat when you said the Avatar's full name. It is the reason I did not say his or her name in the first place, and why June looked so exasperated before you came over." The spirit continued with hesitation, "I am afraid I cannot leave Jang Hui, Jinora, as I am sure assisting Raava would require. I am tied very strongly to the village turned town, and if what June was telling me about the Fire Nation and a human war is correct… I don't know if I would be of any help once the filters stop coming. The factory would spoil the waters of the river, weakening me."
No longer to contain her horror at the Painted Lady, known as a protective and caring spirit, being so defeated sounding, Jinora began to cry as she said, "I had no idea that… he was so influential, Painted Lady! I just want to reassure you that no matter what happens, the filters for Jang Hui will keep coming, even if not from the Fire Nation. Someone with great power and skill could make enough filters at once to last for years, Painted Lady - Avatar Korra." Jinora cried harder when the light grey lines on the Painted Lady's hat darkened, only to vanish completely as the spirit herself began to cry. The Painted Lady said painfully, "Even though I find no fault with Raava's current incarnation, part of me does, given my part human, part spirit nature. This is a very generous offer, Jinora, but I still cannot leave Jang Hui. It is my duty to protect the town, a duty that I relish."
June looked angry as she was about to say something, but Jinora interrupted the other lady with a blast of air, saying, "Not now, June - tell me what it is later!" June took a big sigh, somehow calmed down by the blast of air, and said while she re-covered her distinctive tattoos, "I just wanted to point out that Jang Hui, along with all of humanity, will be under darkness' rule if Raava doesn't get more followers than Bumju." Surprised June knew the little spirit that her uncle Bumi called a friend, Jinora said, "Yes, Painted Lady - this is why we came here to speak to you. We don't need fighters - we need spirits willing to try and convert others to Raava's cause more than anything, especially one as human and protective as you are." The Painted Lady sighed, apparently done talking, given what she said next. "I would fight for Jang Hui to the end of days if I had the strength to do so, Jinora, and while the human part of me does sympathize with your plight, unless something catastrophic happens, I cannot leave Jang Hui."
Jinora was starting to get very frustrated with this spirit's logic - if she didn't leave Jang Hui to help, it was likely that there wouldn't be a Jang Hui worth protecting! Jinora remembered what Korra had said about a stubborn spirit refusing to help Republic City. With an angry frown, Jinora finally connected the dots to the events Jinora had seen of the night following the battle, Jinora realized with fury it had been none other than Long Yumao himself who had refused to help Korra! Jinora took a deep breath, her face red with anger, and said very carefully, "I need to go talk to Kai. Painted Lady, all I have to say is this: if you don't help Raava right now, there may not be a Jang Hui to protect, whether it is enslaved by that serpentine spirit or turned to ashes and glass by Jinshu Kuangmai." Before Jinora could take off, the Painted Lady yelled, "Wait! Jinora - just who is this Jinshu Kuangmai, and how could he turn Jang Hui into ash, let alone glass? I've heard from June that humans are using spirit weapons now." The Painted Lady's paint took on a decidedly angrier red after the last remark, causing Jinora to panic and pretend she was Korra, Jinora placing her hand on the spirit's arm as though infobending - she couldn't reach the spirit's head.
Jinora was taken completely by surprise when she saw the Painted Lady's eyes widen in horror as she apparently took in what Aang had shown Jinora, beginning to cry again, somehow not marring her face paint. Jinora let her hand stay on the Painted Lady's ghostly white arm for a long time, information flowing freely. June was looking at Jinora like she was the second Avatar, and she asked Jinora, "Whatever you're doing, Jinora, can you do it to me after?" Jinora didn't want to wait, so she grabbed June's weathered arm, apparently getting no results. June said somewhat glumly, "It's too bad you can't infobend to anything other than a spirit, Jinora." Jinora laughed, saying, "I'm not infobending - my father's father never learned infobending, but even he could transmit information to and from spirits with a touch… though if I remember correctly, not anywhere near what I'm doing now, and back then it was an Avatar-only ability, being the link between the two worlds and all."
As though the Painted Lady could hear her innermost thoughts and feelings, she said, "Don't worry, Jinora - given what I know and what you have shown me, especially about the linking of the physical and spiritual world, anyone who is spiritually advanced enough can do what you just finished doing. This is a recent change - likely linked to my new, physical form. I'm not sure if I miss being mist yet." Jinora turned to the Painted Lady, just to look at her unique hat, and nearly fainted from joy, managing to stammer, "Painted Lady… y-y-our hat! It has…. blue… lines! Does this mean what I think it means?" Jinora looked at the Painted Lady's new nodding form in awe: not only did her hat have blue lines in Raava's pattern, it also had a large diamond shape that resembled the colored center of Raava's original form! Jinora pointed at the Painted Lady's pale chest, taking in the cloth of her robe and its new blue lines, another one of the characteristic Raava diamonds, with the Painted Lady's veil having fainter blue lines.
The Painted Lady said, her paint flashing between her characteristic red and blue, tending more towards the blue, "I saw the vision of this failed planet that Avatar Aang showed you, Jinora, and my heart broke into a million tiny mourning shards. What especially pained me was the knowledge that if nothing is done, our own planet could share a similar fate." The Painted Lady shook, as though she had just seen the ghosts of millions, if not billions. She continued sadly, "By human hands. Evil human hands, or even just careless or foolish ones." The Painted Lady shuddered slightly, continuing, "What I saw of that 'man', Jinshu Kuangmai… he's a bigger threat to Jang Hui than Long Yumao is. At least no such weapons or 'Meesiles' exist… yet." Her blue lines pulsing strongly, the Painted Lady said something that shocked Jinora: "I won't be done helping Avatar Korra or Raava until both Long Yumao and Jinshu Kuangmai are stopped, especially since the latter poses the greatest threat to Jang Hui, given the town lies in the Fire Nation."
Before Jinora could hug the Painted Lady, she felt an odd, calm yet concerned energy that was still happy… but felt as though its creator were hiding this fact, as it someone's life depended on it. Jinora's eyes widened as she realized whose energy it was, and why the happiness was hidden. Given how the Painted Lady's face looked, she must have felt it as well. Jinora remembered how Korra had received a call of distress from Kuvira, and figured something similar might be happening. Jinora grasped the Painted Lady's hand tightly as the spirit said, "Feels like someone needs protecting. Let's go, Jinora."