Chapter 35: Growing Spirits
As Jinora flew off to talk to a spirit he couldn't see, Kai grumbled in frustration - but not at the Painted Lady or Jinora. He was angry with no one but himself. Despite his attempts to meditate and resolve emotional wounds of his own, as well as the hurt he had caused others with his behavior, he just felt himself getting more and more frustrated, though he didn't let Jinora see it. Kai knew she was worried as is - the "I love you!" she had yelled didn't sound like it was just a profession of attraction. It was almost like Jinora was trying to cram in everything, in case she never saw his face again…
He was about to just sit and cross his brown arms and sit near the streams of clear water in a funk until Jinora returned, but as he did so, closing his eyes to shut out the world, he saw a medallion. Looking at its form, he wasn't excited because it was pretty or shiny - he was excited because of its shape. A shapeless thought drifted through his head, whispering, "This family has lost one son, maybe two - perhaps it is time a new son joined it fully" as he stared at the Beifong family crest before the thought faded into oblivion. Nodding his head, he was surprised to see the metal symbol stay still as though he was staring straight ahead at an actual object.
Standing up, he shouted, "Yes!" in triumph - given what Korra had shown him of Kuvira's ordeal, his earlier meditation hadn't been a waste after all. After he waved his arms in front of his face, wanting to make sure where he was, Kai stared at the crest again. Twisting slightly as though being metalbended, the Beifong family crest let out a single human tear, though Kai could sense this was a happy tear. When it finished its motion, the symbol for Air joined its side.
Remembering another detail from Kuvira's vision, he looked down and spotted a familiar orb, and fell over backwards in shock, coming to a short time later. Grinning widely, he yelled, "It's white! Almost all white!" as he ran to touch the sphere, carried forward by joy. When he got close, he slammed into an invisible wall which quickly materialized in front of him as a plane. Everything but the plane vanished, leaving him staring into endless light blue.
While Korra had not stressed the first encounter Kuvira had with spirituality or how Korra had seen Kuvira as a dark purple "mirror image" of herself, Kai suddenly realized that this is "where" he must be. Fully expecting to be staring at a purple image of himself, he was disappointed to see that the image he saw wasn't purple - it was blue. Groaning in frustration just made his blue-hued self laugh deeply, the image saying, "You may have made a lot of progress towards being on my side of the 'glass', Kai, but don't think just because you didn't run rampant like Kuvira did that you'll be getting off easy." Kai sighed deeply, cursing his purple hands and feet, finishing, "What do I need to do, huh? I felt what Korra describes as love for the first time today - that's got to count for something!"
While Kai was glad to see his blue self nodding, he did not look forward to experiencing what was in store for him next. His mirror image said, "Before you can hope to see the Painted Lady, you're going to need to feel the suffering your actions have caused others." Kai groaned, but before he could respond, his mirror image said with a chuckle, "Don't worry - parts of your journey will be good as well, unlike Kuvira's. I think you will enjoy seeing and feeling your defense of Yung, the greenhorn airbender trainee, as well as feeling the negative emotions you caused evil people such as the Dai Li instructor to experience." Even though part of Kai wanted to see the good parts first, he found himself saying, "Bring on the theft and hurt. I can handle it."
At first, Kai was puzzled by what replaced the endless blue - it was his first adoptive parents, happy to have a child of their own. He took in their happiness and what he recognized as love from earlier today with Jinora, feeling it as though it were a passionate embrace with a fully grown Jinora. This just made the pain, hurt and feelings of betrayal that followed his actions all the more painful, especially since they were strung out over the course of six months of real time and condensed. An apparent cycle repeated itself multiple times, alternating between light and dark, family and treachery. After who knows how long, the cycle stopped when he said "It's not all about me!" loudly and brokenly, continuing in a rage at himself, "Until I got airbending, I was a little selfish brat - and even that didn't cure me!" He knew what was coming next.
Right on cue, he saw his attempted escape into Team Avatar's arms again, once more experiencing the positive emotions first, wincing as he saw how they were willing to naively believe his lie and take him in, Korra even fighting to defend his falsehood. He felt Tenzin's desperation leading up to the encounter, his joy to find an airbender who wanted to join the new Air Nation, and his feelings of disgust at Kai's true nature. Kai didn't feel any good feelings aside from Jinora's until the Dai Li captured him, seeing how his little crime spree had affected the people he stole from. While a few of the people he stole from deserved it, there were a good number who were just keeping up appearances with their wealth, and the loss of their gold and jewels cascaded, some losing their jobs in the Upper Ring when that monster Hou-Ting found out they were "too poor". Bolin and Mako's frustration at losing their tickets and money as well as Mako's righteous anger stung particularly badly.
This whole cycle only repeated three times, punctuated at the end with the re-appearance of the endless blue, his blue self saying with a smile, "Good - now the horrible part is over. You're having a much easier time than Kuvira did - you were 'just' a thief, after all, while your new big sister turned into a monster. But even she's not as bad as… oh, whoops, said too much." Kai gave his blue doppler a quizzical look, making it sigh in relief. His mirror continued, glad to have apparently avoided saying a secret piece of information, "You can watch everything else as many times as you like."
Kai wasn't sure how many times he watched everything up to today, particularly lingering over his embraces with Jinora, practically watching his interactions with Jinora today obsessively, relishing the feelings Jinora felt with him. Kai opened his eyes after what was to be the final repeat of this most arousing segment, idly looking at his hand. "Wait - I'm blue! Blue!" He saw no mirror image now - just endless space. He heard a female voice intone in his head Good work, Kai - you might recognize my voice from the boat yesterday. After Kai yelled, "Raava?" and closed his eyes, the voice continued, saying It's time for you to 'fight', Kai - though your enemy self will look very different than either Kuvira's or Jinshu Kuangmai's. Kuvira was fighting solid metal, Jinshu Kuangmai flesh.
Kai laughed hysterically when he saw his opponent on the other side of the almost pure white sphere. A visage of himself made of golden coins with eyes made from large pieces of jade and luxurious fur for hair was staring in a mirror, admiring its ridiculous form. Kai shot a blast of air at the hilarious caricature, but it dodged the blast while laughing, saying, "I know what will happen if you win, but I'm not going to tell you! I'm just going to waste your time - I know I'm outmatched in this fight."
After a frustrating barrage of air blasts, Kai got an idea, remembering the Beifong medallion from earlier. Kai said loudly, "Mother Suyin Beifong", making the golden fool jump nervously. An odd shoulderpad with the twin labels of Earth and Air etched into it in steel appeared on his shoulder, along with an odd tube that ran comfortably down his arm, forming a glove over his hand. Idly experimenting, he laughed maniacally as he saw a metal slug similar to the shape of the rock he shot at the Kainora bird earlier fly at a high speed from his palm, hitting a "wall" with a satisfying thuck.
Knowing how he'd shatter this golden pest, he yelled, "Have some Beifong steel, you greedy idiot!" as he aimed carefully at the coin Kai's mirror. He loved the sound of the preening moron's mirror shattering, making it curse wildly, finishing, "Now I can't look at my handsome mug, or all the wonderful gold!" Smirking as the pile of coins tried desperately to touch the orb, Kai just riddled his doppler with rapid-fire metal slugs, jumping in for the kill once enough gold was scattered on the floor. With a powerful blast of wind - somehow with both hands - he scattered the coins and fur everywhere, using two final metal slugs to shatter the two jade eyes.
Kai ran over excitedly to the glowing white sphere, eradicating the last of the black on it with his touch and thoughts of Jinora and his new family. He heard a bone-chilling laugh from behind him that Kai recognized from the conference, turning around to see a massive metal form with a dark sphere embedded in its chest, angry red lines forming the symbol for yin and yang on its surface, red lines spreading a short distance from what must have been its "heart".
Oh, no. What is happening?! Even I don't know what's going on! Kai didn't like the sound of pure terror in Raava's voice - at all.
The metallic figure moved a massive arm, sweeping it into a blade as he did so, laughing, "Nobody can replace me. Nobody. Prepare to meet your end, Kai 'Beifong' - I know Vaatu didn't bother me for nothing." Thinking quickly, Kai shot two metal slugs into the unsuspecting form's heart, thinking of Jinora as he did so. Only one connected, but it had the desired effect. White lines spread from the impact site, making the metallic monster howl in rage. It clenched its shining metal teeth, apparently using metalbending to heal itself and discard the slug Kai had shot into its heart, saying, "I didn't expect an airbender weakling to go straight for the heart, but no matter. I have another weapon up my sleeve, but I won't use it just yet - I want to play first."
Suddenly connecting the metallic monster's comment about being replaced, the thought that had preceded all this, a particular individual's specialty and Raava's panic, Kai said loudly, "You're a Beifong, aren't you, Jinshu Kuangmai? That's what you meant when you said 'Nobody can replace me' wasn't it?" Given the metal form's howl of rage and the pulsing red lines in its chest, Kai must have been right. Jinshu Kuangmai screamed, "I am NOT a Beifong, you insolent brat! Not any more - Tonga is dead now! Now, prepare to join him!" Fancying he had a better chance against Koh or Long Yumao than against this horrible blood-iron bending monster, Kai had begun to meditate while Jinshu Kuangmai screamed, vanishing just before Jinshu Kuangmai's metal hands could begin moving.
When Kai opened his eyes, he recognized where he was from what Korra infobended to him - Xai Bau's Grove. He saw an older man with a sword standing in front of him, along with a young Water Tribe boy, both familiar somehow. The older man said, "What are you doing here, Kai? Surely, nothing could be worse than Long Yumao or Koh?" Kai shook his head, saying, "Whoever you two are, you're wrong - there is, and his name is Jinshu Kuangmai. Apparently, also Tonga Beifong." The young Water Tribe boy's eyes opened wide, saying, "Wait… what? Toph had a third kid? I… I gotta go, Kai. As much as I'd love to hear more than Bolin's jokes, this place isn't safe. I can deal with Koh, but would rather avoid his nasty friend." As Kai watched the young boy run off, he said, realizing who he was, "Bye, Sokka!" The older man, who must have been Piandao, said, "I too must leave - I may have been a good fighter in my lifetime, but only an Avatar could hope to kill Koh the Face-Stealer, much less his ally, Long Yumao the Opportunist."
As Piandao vanished, Kai heard the sound of many insectoid feet clattering first on rocks, then through water, finally the sound of their points sinking into soft grass. Kai knew what spirit this was, and he pretended he was a particularly stony Dai Li agent, saying to Koh's black and white mask when it finally appeared in front of him, "Hello, Koh. Your reputation precedes you - you won't be stealing my face." Kai didn't even consider laughing when the spirit cursed, saying, "Hello, Kai. I assume your goody-two shoes girlfriend, Jinora, warned you about me." Switching to a serpentine face, Koh hissed, "Why sssso ssseriousss, Kai? Did sssshe finally get you too?" Kai responded coolly, betraying no emotion, "Jinora issssn't as you know her, Koh. She's changed a lot - she's even starting to show sexual feelings and doesn't consider taking life as totally reprehensssible anymore."
Kai smiled internally as he heard Koh curse loudly through the face of a savage monkey, then scream, "I'm supposed to be the one toying with emotions, not some stupid human brat! Maybe Long Yumao will have better luck with you - I'm going to go harass Sokka. I have an old debt to repay him." Kai restrained his laughter until he could no longer hear Koh's many vile legs, apparently taking the next spirit by surprise with his mirth.
As a large serpentine form materialized in front of him, Kai realized he had been right about Koh and Long Yumao compared with Jinshu Kuangmai - Kai didn't find this new foe the least bit scary. Long Yumao screamed through his large beak as his hide danced angrily, "Enough with the laughter, you little scamp! Even the Avatar fears me, mortal! Just who do you think you are?" Kai stood up, saying, "My name's Kai, thank you very much, and Jinshu Kuangmai scares me more than you! Now get lost!" Long Yumao laughed hysterically, saying, "Really, that fool? He may be able to turn his three-year old self into a red mist, but can he do this?"
The spirit's beak opened wide, a large mass of dark energy forming in its maw. Kai easily dodged the cumbersome blast, saying, "At least Jinshu Kuangmai could have landed a strike on me - I'd have to be a moron to get hit by your attack!" Long Yumao began to curse in hatred, but was interrupted by a bright flash of light next to Kai.
As he hugged Jinora while watching the Painted Lady materialize, Kai said, "You did it, Jinora! You got the Painted Lady to join our side!" After they had both watched a fleeing Long Yumao scream, "Not another one! Damn Raava! DAMN HUMAN LOVE!" like a cheesy mover villain, laughing at his cowardice heartily, Jinora said, "I didn't actually do much, Kai - I just inadvertently showed the Painted Lady the vision Aang gave me earlier about a dead planet, along with everything Korra has shown us. She transformed into her new, much bluer form." Apparently, Jinora had heard the sound of frantic insects legs rapidly approaching as well, as she said, "You did a lot more. Let's talk about this outside, before Koh comes back." As Kai and Jinora vanished, the Painted Lady stayed behind, slapping Koh across his favorite masked face, saying, "You two are going to have a lot more trouble now, Koh! I'm getting out of here - I hate your disgusting oily skin!" After the Painted Lady vanished, Koh switched to a very sad face, moaning, "This deal has been a disaster so far - not a single face! Not a one!"
Koh's face changed to that of a savage monkey as he laughed at the noticeably reduced form approaching him, admonishing Long Yumao, "So far, I'm the only one who has come even close to doing anything useful! Look at you - you're slightly smaller now!" Long Yumao made to snap Koh in two, but Koh quickly used his body to wedge Long Yumao's beak open, saying with a laughing human's face, "How about you use your beak to talk and convert more spirits instead of snapping your most powerful ally in two. Rumor has it that the Moon Spirit, Yue, is about to be courted by mortals." Long Yumao said slowly, struggling to speak normally in his compromised position, "Get out of there, you oily freak! You taste disgusting!" Long Yumao asked a cackling Koh, now out of his mouth, "Just how do you know this, Koh?" Koh only began laughing harder, saying, "Unlike you, I don't see humans as pests, and watch what they do - I have my own channels to see and hear the outside world. I'm a much more ancient spirit than you, after all." Koh cackled as Long Yumao cursed and hissed angrily, Koh knowing he had something over the upstart spirit. He also knew that he didn't desire power himself - only faces. And power didn't get him faces.
When Jinora came to on June's boat, she was relieved to see that they were approaching Kai's body, his jade green eyes open now. While maneuvering the motor and gunning it to counter the strong current of the man-made falls, June said, "I'm glad to see Kai still has a face. I can't wait to hear what happened to him." Jinora looked up at the sky and noticed that the afternoon sun that had been beating down on Jang Hui was significantly lower by now. June must have seen the sun as well, as she took out a fancy train conductor's watch of Earth Kingdom make and said, "It looks like I'll have to wait for the next press conference, if there is one. It's almost 4:00 PM, and if you want to get back to Ember Island without exhausting yourself by nightfall, you'll need to leave quickly."
Jinora realized that even though Jinora had just met - and converted - the Painted Lady, she had to part with her. Jinora had a specific mission in mind for her as she said, "Painted Lady, given that even you were having trouble resisting Long Yumao's pull, I fear that another spirit from my father's father's youth, Hei Bai, may be in trouble as well. If Kuvira damaged his forest in any way, he's probably in his aggressive form already, so you'll need to be cautious." The Painted Lady nodded, saying, "I should be able to get to the Earth Kingdom faster than you might think, Jinora - I'm hoping I can go into the Spirit World and leave through the Republic City Spirit Portal. The barrier Avatar Korra made shouldn't harm or hinder me - not with the new blue lines on my clothes or pulsing change in paint color." Apparently, they had just reached the shore near Kai, as he yelled, "Wait! Can I give you a hug, Painted Lady? It's the least I could do after you helped scare off Long Yumao!" After the boat hit shore, the Painted Lady giggled as Kai hugged her, saying, "I think your hug with Jinora did just as much, Kai - I know Jinora showed me Long Yumao's hatred of human love, but I half expected him to curse me instead of your embrace with Jinora." Jinora joined the hug, blushing again as she said, "I'll project to Tenzin and let my father know of our success here while you enjoy your new ability to see the Painted Lady, Kai."
Jinora smiled as she heard indistinct chatter while sitting down on the shore, focusing on the sound of the water to drown out the conversation. When she began to project herself, she was surprised to see who she was facing. Jinora's gaze was fixed on Katara, who was talking with her son about bloodbending, of all things. Jinora stayed silent, curious to see what Katara was saying.
"I talked with Korra's parents, Senna and Tonraq, before the conference on the legality of bloodbending following their daughter's feat. We decided that it should only be legal for a fully realized Avatar without any major emotional issues to use at any time. The only other group who should be allowed to bloodbend is waterbenders who have been judged worthy by a tuber-vine or Raava, but only for medical use or in extreme emergencies. Under a full moon only, of course," Katara said, finishing by playing with a hair loopy. As Tenzin nodded in agreement, Jinora said gently, "That sounds like a good idea to me, too. Dad, you might want to come up with a similar official code for when an airbender can take life without remorse - you father, Aang, talked to me about just that earlier today, among… other, much more disturbing things." Jinora shuddered, remembering the Painted Lady's look after seeing the vision, as though the spirit had seen billions of beings snuffed out.
Tenzin said with suprise, "Jinora! Given the look on your face, whatever my father showed you must have been pretty disturbing." Her father looked like he was going to try and give Jinora's projection a hug, but he stopped, saying , "Wait - why did he show you, his 14-year old granddaughter, this horrible vision, and not Korra?" Jinora laughed weakly, saying, "This vision he showed me was not one from our world, dad - not even our universe or plane of existence." Jinora wanted to explain what she had seen, but found herself choking up instead, unable to speak… the thousand suns… Tenzin said softly, making the motion assosciated with infobending, "It's okay, sweetie. If you can't talk about what you saw, I'm sure Korra can take a copy of it out with infobending and show everyone else, if she sees fit to do so." Jinora said while weakly laughing, "That reminds me of the reason that Aang didn't show Korra this vision. Apparently, Raava doesn't want to show humans any scientific information they don't know already, but Aang sees it very differently. He was telling me about all sorts of things that I didn't know what they were, 'genes', some long name he shortened to 'DNA', 'Korranium' and 'fusion' being the first."
Tenzin's eyes widened as he said, "I didn't know that spirits had knowledge of the physical realm past our own, let alone other universes, and especially not that Raava has been holding this information back. I can see why, though - suppose Raava had shared knowledge of radios with Avatar Roku, who then told some Fire Nation engineers about radios before his confrontation with Firelord Sozin in the throne room. That would have given the Fire Nation another edge in the war - one it didn't need, I might add." Seeing her father slightly shaken, Jinora said, "Don't worry - this vision and the information I got about 'Korranium' and fusion weapons was a warning, not a detailed technical explanation of how those horrible huge Meesiles I saw worked, all their awful little cones, much less how each cone could incinerate an entire city." Working up her courage a little further, Jinora said through a pained voice, "The vision I saw, dad, was how intelligent beings could destroy their own world using something Aang called 'fusion bombs' as well as Korranium weapons. Think worse than Vaatu winning Harmonic Convergence, but without the help of spirits." Figuring this was a good transition to good news, Jinora said before either her father or Katara could react, "This vision and my ability to share it with the Painted Lady, along with what everyone knows already, was the reason she decided to leave Jang Hui and help Raava in our cause." After both Tenzin and Katara had calmed down enough that they could understand what Jinora had to say next, she finished, "All that the Painted Lady needs now is for Firelord Izumi to continue supply filters for the factory near Jang Hui - if the waters foul, she will lose a good portion of her strength, even though Raava's energy now flows through her."
Jinora waited a while, figuring her father would ask about her spirit infobending, and when he did, she answered, "The Painted Lady told me that I was able to share this vision with her because of what we know to be the recent energy pulse from the Republic City Spirit Portal, and that any sufficiently spiritually advanced person could have done so." Tenzin breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "I guess that's good - one infobender is one too many, at times." Katara laughed and said, "I disagree - strongly. In exchange for information about my love for your father, Korra showed me hers for Asami, and we both learned a lot from it." Before Katara could continue, Tenzin said, "You did WHAT, mother?! Please don't tell me either of you included the physical relations… that's just weird!" Katara laughed deeply, saying, "Oh, come on, Tenzin - don't be such a prude. Both Korra and myself were more interested in the actual feeling of love anyways, not the physical act." Katara continued as Jinora's father's face flushed red, "Your own daughter doesn't even know what a period is, despite having had at least one herself given what little she said to me before Meelo interrupted my attempt at sex ed. I think it's time she learned more of such things, before she gets first-hand experience with Kai." Jinora laughed, her cheeks flush, as Tenzin mumbled, "I suppose you're right, mother. I remember my father telling me about how you had to give him advice on sexual matters at times, given his upbringing." Managing to smile, her father said to Jinora, "I want you to start having 'sex ed' lessons with Katara, as it is convenient."
Jinora chuckled nervously, remembering that this was taking real time - she wasn't in the Spirit World, where time sometimes flowed capriciously after the creation of the new Spirit Portal. Most spiritual experiences she had heard of since its creation took real time, while a few were over as soon as they had begun. Dying to know what was the case with Kai's experience, Jinora said, "I'm afraid I won't be seeing Katara in the flesh privately for a while - I fear that Hei Bai may already be corrupted by Long Yumao, given his temper when his home is damaged. His forest's location bordering territory controlled by Kuvira and now Jinshu Kuangmai doesn't help either." Knowing her father would have a fit, she said gently, "I think Kai would be the best person to give me this information for now. He knows what thingies are, and even Korra didn't." Tenzin had the very negative, frustrated reaction Jinora predicted, making Katara laugh wildly, shaking her gray hair loopies. Once Tenzin had calmed down, Jinora said, "Don't worry, dad - Kai has changed a lot today. Given that he can see the Painted Lady now, he must have had a milder version of what Kuvira went through happen to him." Glad to see Tenzin smiling broadly, Jinora finished, "Now, I need to go find out what happened to Kai, and get on our way back to Ember Island. I've already sent the Painted Lady to talk to Hei Bai - hopefully she can reverse whatever corruption he has enough so that both Kai and I can safely talk to him. Remember - Jang Hui needs filters. You should probably explain to Firelord Izumi what has happened after this, dad."
On a much more familiar impulse - one that Jinora realized was close to those she felt before talking to Kai in a sultry voice or proclaiming her love for Kai - she said, "I love you, dad and grandmother Katara!" breaking the connection after she saw their contented reactions. After she broke the connection, Jinora noticed that the Painted Lady was gone, having already left on her first mission of conversion. Even more surprising, she noticed they were rapidly approaching what must have been the mouth of the river that Jang Hui sat on. Seeing her eyes were now open, Kai said, "There you are, Jinora! That seemed awfully long for just telling Tenzin Firelord Izumi needs to keep some filters changed." Jinora's cheeks blushed, remembering the talk of sex ed as she said, "I'll explain what happened later, Kai - I want to hear your story first." Apparently, June had stopped by her houseboat on the way to the delta and its strange high grasses sitting in volcanic soil, as June held out two cups of cold tea. As Kai and Jinora drank, Jinora recognized a sweet taste from the tea at the conference along with an odd jolt of energy.
Jinora's eyes widened slightly, and given June's reaction, that was what was supposed to happen. June said, smiling slightly, "I dabble a little with making different teas, and that one has a lot more caffeine than normal in it, along with something I discovered that has the opposite effect of shirshu poison." Jinora said with a frown, "I hope this little something extra isn't anything illegal - my dad will give me the lecture of my life!" June said with a serious look on her face, "All it does is keep you from falling asleep for a good time, or even getting tired. It's an extract from the freshwater kelp under the village - I was bored one day and boiled it like it was tea, drank it, and didn't feel sleepy for another five to six hours." Kai said as he finished his cup of tea, "I'll have to tell Varrick about this - it sounds like this kelp tea could be useful in keeping people who need to be awake and alert from nodding off, like Korra or soldiers." June smiled broadly, saying, "I've used it for a long time, and it does not seem addictive - I can stop without any ill side effects." Jinora sighed in relief as June rummaged through her bags, producing a bag with odd plants in it. While Jinora recognized their color from earlier, she didn't know what they were until June explained, "I figured that you would find these useful. I had some holdfasts stored in fresh water that a nice young man cut for me a few days ago, and I hope that if you put these on the bottom of a fresh, flowing lake like the one under Jang Hui, you can grow some of these plants yourself." Jinora touched one of these holdfasts, and was surprised at how wet it was. June said, as she put it back into the bag, "You're going to need to wet the bag in fresh water as you go, Jinora - I don't think it would survive being dried out."
As Jinora finished her tea, her eyes widening as she did so and a wonderful feeling of invincibleness permeated her being, June warned, "You'll still need to make some breaks along the way, even though you probably feel as energetic as Korra in the Avatar State right now. Eat this sushi I packed, then we'll need to part - hopefully I don't pass away before the Painted Lady or either of you come back." Not wanting to think about June dying, even though she was quite old, Jinora dug in to the sushi with gusto, realizing she was actually savoring the sweet taste of the fish's flesh as she did so. When she finished, she realized she didn't feel any more alert, despite having just eaten this… June kelp. Jinora asked after she licked her lips, "Why does eating this June kelp not make me more alert, June?" June laughed, saying, "It's not my kelp - it's Jang Hui's. To answer your question, for some reason, its unique compound only comes out if you boil it, the compound staying in the water."
Jinora said as Kai finished the last of his sushi, "I hate to leave you, June, but we need to be back at Ember Island by nightfall, especially if we want to talk to Korra about what myself and Kai accomplished today. I wish you good health." As Jinora buttoned her wingsuit into flying position, June said, "While I hope I live to see you, the Painted Lady and Kai again, maybe I will be lucky enough to be immortalized as Uncle Iroh was, given all my changes since Nyla's death. I know she should be there, waiting for me - there's a phrase that I love: 'There are no bad pets, only bad owners.'" Jinora wanted to say something about Raava's hope for a changed order for human spirits after the Spirit Civil War, but stopped - given what June had said, she might not have much time left.
Jinora instead just gave the sad old woman a big hug along with Kai, Jinora saying, "I'm sure Uncle Iroh will vouch for you, June - if Piandao or my granduncle Sokka can join Uncle Iroh, I'm sure you can too. Katara told me about Bolin's 'training' on the boat a little bit." June's tired eyes glistened as she chuckled, saying, "You'll have to tell me how that goofball Sokka got immortalized as a spirit - but another time. As much as I hate to break this hug, you two have a schedule to meet, the Jang Hui kelp is drying out and this brackish water wouldn't be good for it."
Jinora took the sack of Jang Hui kelp, her wingsuit somehow keeping the water off her skin, while Kai took a pack with some bottled tea and sushi logs in it. As Jinora took off, she noticed that her airbending was more powerful than normal, and given June's clapping, that was another unmentioned side effect. She asked Kai while on the wing, "Why don't you go first, Kai? My story is a lot more depressing!" Jinora noticed that even though the wind around her was stronger, she could still hear herself talk. Kai said as he turned towards an approaching island, "That bag is looking a little dry, Jinora - why don't I talk while you get it wet?"
As Jinora followed Kai, she looked at the island they were approaching with awe. It had many large palm trees, a central clear spring, and there were even spirits near the water. Most of them were small, but a larger one that had the head of a shark whale, humanoid arms and a tail was swimming around the pool intently. Noting that there were angry red lines on the larger spirit's head, Jinora cautiously snuck up to the water after she landed and put her hand into it, surprised to find that it was cool. Forgetting herself, Jinora bent over and cupped her hands, taking multiple drinks of the cool, refreshing water. When she looked up, the big spirit was next to her, baring its sharklike teeth through fleshy lips as its round mammalian eyes glowed red and yellow in anger, its "fingers" strumming the oasis' edge.
Jinora said, "How can I help you, spirit?" in a friendly tone, figuring that politeness couldn't hurt. The odd spirit opened its mouth, showing its second, red-edged set of teeth as it said in a rough voice, "You can help me by leaving this island, Jinora, granddaughter of Avatar Aang. While I may not like that arrogant serpent of a spirit Long Yumao myself, I like how 'human-y' Raava is becoming even less." Using a scaled hand to point at the mix of normal and blue, happier spirits circling above, he continued, "As you can see, no one here shares my distaste, and I would highly appreciate it if you and your boyfriend Kai just left the island. I want to continue swimming to distract myself from their grating glee." Crossing his arms angrily, closing his eyes and letting some steam out of his blowhole, the spirit finished, "And don't think you can change my mind like you did with the Painted Lady. If this island is turned to glass, I'll just find another one, somewhere else, even if I lose my special pool. It's not like anyone has used it in thousands of years anyways."
Obviously, whatever this spirit knew of what Jinora had shown the Painted Lady was not complete - he didn't even understand what people used to think was the Avatar's main purpose properly! Given his talk about thousands of years, he must have been very old- and out of date. Jinora said, while standing up and bowing, "With all due respect, spirit, part of Korra's job as the Avatar is to teach the Avatar Spirit, what we now know to be Raava, what it is like to be human." One eye opened, revealing the red and yellow eye again - though Jinora was pleased to see that it was not as angry a red now, and the yellow was weak. The spirit sighed as the red on his body matched the muter red of his eye, saying, "My name is Sharktar, and given how decidedly un-spiritual the Fire Nation has been for most of recent history, no one knows of me very well. Until Avatar Korra opened the portals, I even avoided appearing to humans at all, disgusted by their lack of reverence and destructive behavior. I spent all of my time during the 100 Year's War in the Spirit World." Finally uncrossing his arms and opening his other eye, he finished, "My memories of human's actions in the past were the main reason Raava's changed nature put me off enough for my changed appearance. I'll let you soak your bag in this pool's water, Jinora - I don't have anything against some plants."
As Jinora submerged the bag of Jang Hui kelp in the waters, she noticed that one holdfast had a small bud on it that was definitely not there before - and growing. As Jinora removed the bag in a panic, Sharktar laughed, saying, "Thousands and thousands of years ago, when this island was still open to humans, usually they loved that side effect - accelerated growth. I got a lot of young couples, most your age and younger. They were eager to skip ahead through what you mortals call 'puberty' so they could have more human relations with one another, or start a family." Seeing a parallel, Jinora said softly, "I guess that's something you and Raava share in common - you've both helped humans have children when they couldn't normally." The red color gradually turning back to the proper markings of a shark-whale as he spoke, Sharktar said, "I had forgotten that part of what Raava did for the current Avatar. I don't have a very good short-term memory, Jinora - why don't you refresh it for me?"
As Sharktar leaned his head forward and clamped his lips shut over his teeth, Jinora was still nervous, remembering his initial hostility. Jinora just wanted to let the spirit know what happened, and did not care for or even want to take advantage of his pool's gift, though she knew Kai would feel differently most likely. She placed her hand on Sharktar's rubbery forehead anyways, imparting the information she thought relevant to his own nature. When she removed her hand, she was not surprised to see he looked much as he had before, but his smile took Jinora by surprise - especially the teeth.
Sharktar said, pointing to a figure over Jinora's shoulder, "It seems like your boyfriend, Kai, has something to say to you. But before you do, I will say this: from what you showed me, the oasis is back open, though I would strongly suggest you keep your little brother, Meelo, away from it, from what I saw of him." Sharktar laughed as Jinora and Kai did, saying, "I think the only romantic relationship he's ready for is one with something you let slip: a 'Ferocious Lemur' fighter plane." Kai laughed harder as Jinora slapped herself on the forehead, asking, "Just what else slipped, Sharktar?"
Before he sank below into the seemingly endless depths of the spring, the spirit said with a sharp grin, "That's for me to know, and you to find out. I'll be back, should you decide to drink of this pool. To assist - unmeasured doses can have… unintended side effects. Let's just say if you drank as deeply after my change of heart as you did of its waters as you did earlier, Jinora, you'd be as old as Korra is." Just before his head vanished, he paused, saying through a pointy smile, "And probably naked, given how small your clothes are."
Kai laughed at what Sharktar had said as Jinora envisioned herself at the age of 22. Jinora found she just looked like a taller, stronger, curvier version of herself, though with some notable extra growth in the chest and hips, as well as an adult face. Opening her eyes, a good portion of her wanted to drink of the pool as she had before, but she remembered something her father had told her: "Life is not about the end of the road, it's about the steps you take and sights you see on it." When she told Kai this, he said with a smile, "Come on, Jinora - just a tiny drink? If for nothing else, just to make sure we can handle ourselves in battle better. I'm not exactly an imposing presence, you know." Jinora shook her head, saying, "I don't know - even if I aged to just 16, I don't know if I could handle my new body, given how much trouble a 14-year old body is causing me." Kai shook his head from side to side, saying, "You're right, Jinora - in my excitement for myself getting bigger, and possibly seeing an older you naked right now, I forgot you're having trouble as is."
Jinora said, "That's very considerate of you, Kai - you don't even know your real age and you're willing to forego a drink from this pool, all because of me." She blushed after and felt good in a way that made her seriously consider taking a drink again - she could see why Asami was so crazy for Korra. The feelings down there were just amazing. This desire must have been enough to bring Sharktar to the surface again, as she heard his gravelly voice warn, "Keep in mind this is irreversible. I do not believe there is a fountain of youth, Jinora, so you need to - hey, what are you doing, Kai? Did you forget I have all these teeth or something?" Jinora turned to see Kai knocked on his back, saying weakly, "Sorry, Sharktar, about trying to grab your head- I just figured you might be able to tell me my real age, given what you told Jinora about needing precise amounts of water. I'm an orphan." As Kai stood up, the spirit held out a scaly hand, saying, "Sure, Kai - you should have just asked. Just put your palm in my 'hand'." About 10 second after Kai did so, her boyfriend grinning widely, the spirit said, "It looks like your estimate was right, Kai. You are roughly 13 and a half years old biologically, though you're a lot older mentally and emotionally - most of that progress being very recent."
Remembering the image that Jinora somehow knew was accurate, she asked Sharktar, "Could you make Kai my age, 14 and a bit over, without busting his clothes or wingsuit? I figure with all his progress today he deserves some kind of big present." Sharktar laughed, saying with a final air, "I don't think that would be a good idea, Jinora - from what I could tell, given my specialty and the pool's waters, he'd probably rip most of his wingsuit except the pelvis area."
Half forgetting why they had come in the first place, Jinora said, waving goodbye, "We've got to go now, Sharktar - we'll make sure to tell people about your pool, if that's what you want!" Sharktar nodded his head, saying, "Thank you, Jinora - though something tells me Asami and Korra's children will have no need for my services." After the spirit disappeared and Jinora had put the island's location on a piece of paper, Kai followed Jinora as she took off towards the next island.
As they flew from island to island, periodically re-wetting the Jang Hui kelp holdfasts in fresh water, Jinora decided to break the serene silence by saying, "Part of what I experienced earlier was a very detailed vision - one from another planet on another plane of existence entirely. I don't want to describe it - it was too painful." Kai said, "Okay - I guess that means you want me, and just me to talk on the way back then." Jinora responded, barely avoiding choking up as she saw one of those awful suns overtaking Republic City when she closed her eyes, "Yes - I just saw a related, very disturbing image when I closed my eyes just now. Why don't you start with whatever personal breakthrough you had." Kai laughed, saying, "Your father is going to find part of this whole thing hilarious, Jinora - but I won't spoil it. I'll start with what I was trying to meditate on earlier today."
Jinora listened in rapt attention, periodically interrupting to ask questions. When Kai mentioned the thought that whispered in his head that would be important later, Jinora asked, "Who are the two sons? Toph only had two daughters, and I don't think Bataar Jr. has gone insane or turned on us - just yet. I didn't like how irrational he acted towards Kuvira, especially after seeing what she went through." Kai just laughed, saying, "You're going to just have to wait, Jinora - let's just say a certain individual is probably regretting his hubris right now, and it's not Long Yumao."
Listening to Kai as she touched down on yet another island and dunked the bag into some fresh water, Jinora was thankful for the tea June had given them to drink earlier. She didn't feel tired at all, despite having covered a great distance, even with the delay at Sharktar's oasis. When he finished describing the seemingly endless first cycle of pleasure and pain, she asked, "Just how long were you in there, Kai? It didn't seem like I was talking with the Painted Lady that long." Kai grinned as he finished a sushi roll, saying through his partially full mouth, "I don't know - everything felt like it was taking place in real time. It sounds to me like you took a longer than you think you did with the Painted Lady - showing her what you know about the past four days plus that vision must have taken a long time."
Once they had left the island, Jinora having devoured a sushi roll while she began to feel her "vegetarianism" slipping before leaving, Kai said, "The way you ate that sushi roll… it certainly doesn't seem like you're a vegetarian anymore." Jinora laughed into the wind, her hearing still heightened enough to carry on a conversation while in flight. As she said, "I figure if it's okay to kill, it's okay to eat meat, as long as the animal is killed humanely," she could taste the sweet fish flesh in her mouth, adding, "Why would Raava make fish so good if it's bad to eat?" Turning her head enough to see Kai's face, she smiled to see his happy expression as he said, "Sounds like something you need to tell your father - I'm sick of how some of the airbenders look at me when I eat meat!" Knowing she wasn't interested in just the new taste sensation that was meat, Jinora said, "Can you continue with your story? I want to hear more!"
Kai blushed slightly, saying, "This is one of the parts I'm most embarrassed about - Team Avatar finding me and my horrible behavior!" As Jinora listened, she was surprised that whoever "ran the show" saw fit to include the suffering of rich Upper Ring residents - she had always considered the super-rich to be not wholly human. As she thought about it, she realized this was one of her father's teachings - Varrick had been reprehensible at first, but he eventually came around. Even Hiroshi Sato had redeemed himself in the end, and his daughter was both rich and morally unimpeachable.
Kai must have noticed the pensive look on her face, as he said, "What - didn't your dad teach you that the rich are people like the rest of us?" Jinora said with an angry look, "No - I remember him and my mother Pema confiscating some Air Acolyte's property as a lesson on avarice, even though he earned the money he bought it with… even if he did take advantage of the other person." Jinora sighed as she swept towards an island with fresh water without consciously doing so, "At the time, I agreed with their actions, but after hearing your story about those rich people who got booted out of the Upper Ring by Earth Queen Hou-Ting, and realizing that Varrick and Asami are rich but still good people…" When she landed, some tears came to her eyes as she said, "Everything used to be black and white, good and evil for me, Kai - but over the past four years, I've seen that the idealistic philosophy of the Air Nomads is out of date. It lacks color, definition - most importantly, judgment." Kai hugged her tightly, making sure not to squash either's packs, saying, "Maybe that's what you're meant to do, Jinora - lead the Air Nation into a new age. One with less black and white, and more color."
Remembering something she had seen Korra do to Asami many times, Jinora said, "That sounds good to me, Kai - and when we're ready, I'll help you repopulate," punctuating the last part with a grab to his butt. Kai blushed deeply as another body part filled with blood, saying, "Sounds good to me too - maybe we'll need to pay Sharktar and his island a visit after all," as Jinora savored her boyfriend and his little friend. Remembering the vision of a 22-year old self, Jinora said, "Yeah - I think we'll both enjoy each other a lot more in mature bodies. I looked amazing!" Kai looked glum - apparently he had never gotten to see his older self, much less hers. Remembering what her father had said about journeys, she added, "Let's agree that we'll only drink of Sharktar's pool after we feel a much stronger attachment to each other, okay?" Kai nodded his head, adding, "You still have a lot to learn about sex anyways, Jinora - you might know what gets excited on my body, but you haven't said its name yet."
Some part of Jinora, one her father had tried his best to squash, couldn't resist. Breaking the embrace and pointing at Kai's crotch, she said "Penis!" She laughed wildly after Kai fainted, savoring the sensation finally saying the word gave her, having to wake him back up with multiple slaps to the face with the wet, cool bag. Kai rubbed his face, saying, "Where did THAT come from, Jinora? Even Asami doesn't call Korra's equipment by its proper name, from what little Korra showed me on accident!" Jinora giggled like a little, dirty girl, saying, "Well, maybe she should! I liked the feeling I got when I said 'penis'." Before Kai could faint again, Jinora blasted him with air to wake him up, saying, "It feels good to be a girl first and foremost instead of the daughter of Tenzin or an airbender, for once. I feel light, like some weight has been lifted off my soul."
Kai was rubbing his eyes, as though he had sipped cactus juice earlier. He stammered, "I d-d-don't care what June said about that tea, Jinora - I think I'm hallucinating! When you said that last sentence…you…" Kai didn't say anything for about two minutes, and Jinora couldn't stand it anymore, asking loudly, "What did you see, Kai? You're looking at me like I'm Zaheer or something!" Kai said, shaking his head, "Definitely the 'or something' - given you are starting to embrace your physical passions, I don't think you entered the void." Laughing loudly, Kai said, "You said a 'naughty' word in a very non-Air Nomad way, twice - penis!" Jinora felt light when she heard Kai say her new favorite word, and given his surprised yelp, something must have happened.
Jinora looked down at her feet, and was confused - she didn't remember trying to fly off, but her soles were clearly not on the ground. On a silly whim, she tried to fly around much as Zaheer might have, but she didn't move - just hover slightly higher. Shaking her head and feeling her feet hit the ground this time, she said to a stunned Kai, "Whatever 'this' is, it's obviously not what Zaheer did. He let go his earthly tether, while I'm starting to embrace it - and not just in a physical way." Seeing Kai's look of utter bafflement, Jinora said, "In any case, it's pretty weak right now, and of no real use. I'll make sure to mention it when it seems relevant, but no sooner - it's too early to say if I found another, less 'costly' way to fly like Zaheer did."
Not really wanting to think of losing Kai lest she scare him even more and take off for real, she said, "Why don't we use our wingsuits to fly again, Kai - and stop looking at me like I'm going to steal your breath or poison Korra with mercury! You're creeping me out." Jinora crossed her arms in a huff, feeling vaguely annoyed when Kai broke her foul mood by hugging her. Kai said, cradling her chin, "I'm sorry, Jinora - I just didn't know what to think when I saw your feet leave the ground like that. I'm sorry." As Jinora pressed her face into Kai's brown hand, she heard him yelp again, saying, "Okay, I think we know how it works now! Now let's just fly normally - this gives me the creeps still, sorry or not!"
Jinora said, laughing, "I guess it's going to be sooner rather than later, Kai - it's not like I can never think of you again. Especially if you're talking to me about a transformative personal experience." Kai took a deep breath, letting out a contented sigh, finally laughing, "I can't wait until whatever you call this is stronger - the reaction from Zaheer would be priceless." Jinora laughed, saying in her best impersonation, "You foolish little girl, you're supposed to let go your earthly tether, not embrace it! I'm not an Air Nomad, but I still think I am one! Guru Laghima said this isn't possible, so I won't believe my own eyes." Hearing Kai laugh just made her feel even lighter, though she didn't want to experiment with flying - just yet.
As Jinora and Kai took off from the island using their wingsuits and not whatever Jinora was going to call this, she couldn't help but notice her flying was much better than usual. In fact, it felt almost impeccable, as though only an Air Nation Avatar in the Avatar State could fly better using a wingsuit. This ease just made listening to the rest of Kai's story all the easier.
Jinora really like his description of the positive portion of his vision, especially how he obsessed over her feelings. When he got to the part about his golden doppler, she nearly dropped from the sky in laughter, but stopped above the water's surface. Kai was too busy laughing to notice or care, but Jinora decided to experiment and think about how Kai had savored her own feelings, and actually felt herself rising higher and higher. When she tried to direct her movement, however, she just dropped back down, closer to the sea.
Kai must have been watching after all, since he said, "Man - when do I get to do that?!" Jinora laughed, saying, "Given how I really don't know what let me do this half-baked flying anyways, I have no clue." As she thought of Kai again, he met her rising form and hugged her tightly, saying, "Whatever this is, it's a lot better than entering the void. Let's go - I still have a lot to tell you."
Jinora flew next to Kai, practically memorizing his every word. She laughed at his quips to the hilarious golden Kai, and howled with laughter when the golden idiot's mirror shattered and his response. As Kai described how he shattered the jade eyes, Jinora didn't like the fear in his voice. Before he could continue, she asked confusedly, "Wait - you just defeated your dark, or should I say, golden self. Why is your voice quaking?"
Kai took a deep breath, slowly starting to tell Jinora about what happened next with fear in his eyes. She felt herself stop forcefully and hover, and she hugged Kai tight as he talked about what happened through tears. Jinora said, through tears of her own, "His black heart, with what must have been Vaatu's red for lines… and how he spoke of getting a message from Vaatu, and being able to bend even though he had obviously not physically entered your vision…" Kai's face froze, in total silence. Jinora said, pointing at a nearby island, "I think I need to meditate a little, and get some answers. I might even be paying Zaheer a visit." Jinora didn't even notice that she was moving horizontally towards the island - she was too busy thinking of what might have happened, had Kai not escaped somehow. He hadn't even gotten past Jinshu Kuangmai's last line yet - "I have another weapon up my sleeve, but I won't use it just yet - I want to play first." The last five words chilled her heart.
When she and Kai landed softly on the island, Kai began meditating as well, needing to collect himself. Jinora took a deep breath and quickly joined him - her first contact would be Raava herself, hopefully. When she opened her eyes, she was in a sea of pumping blood, odd red shapes passing by, staring at Raava's human-y form. Looking around, she saw a vast cavern of emptiness walled by contracting, pulsating muscle, with strange pieces of sinew and constant beating, beating, beating. Jinora stared for quite some time, taking in her surroundings, what must have been Korra's heart - the real thing was much better than any textbook on anatomy she had ever seen.
Raava said, pointing to what looked like a massive valve, "Welcome, Jinora, to Korra's heart. I can sense you have some very important information for me - information that I would not dare share with Korra, given her struggles with Dark Korra of late. Plus, she's about to speak soon, and I don't want to bother her." Jinora said, "I'll let her explain what happened through infobending or manually, and I will let her take the vision Aang saw fit to show me that you didn't." Raava looked angry at first, but she took a deep breath, saying, "I only cut him off when what he was saying was irrelevant. Psssh, making movers about another universe using his endless knowledge… typical. Anyways, you look troubled, Jinora - and in multiple ways. Fill me in."
Jinora said, "Kai just finished telling me that not only can Jinshu Kuangmai and Vaatu somehow communicate, but that when Kai was undergoing a transformative experience of his own, Jinshu Kuangmai somehow managed to get into his 'vision'." As Raava gasped in horror at the first part and the teapot around her neck laughed maniacally, Jinora added, "And, somehow, given a threat that Jinshu Kuangmai made to Kai, his metal armblade and how he repaired the damage to his dark heart, he could even bend." The teapot began laughing even more intently, one of its clasps actually opening and a little black and red form poking its "head" out.
Raava was silent as Vaatu said proudly, "I may be weak right now, but Jinshu Kuangmai? He is strong, very strong. His human attraction to my energy lets me communicate with him in a very limited way, but even then, he has learned the art of dark meditation from me." Raava was too shocked to close the teapot, letting Vaatu continue, "Dark meditation is when a human who is most closely aligned with my own energy meditates on their dark feelings, usually towards a particular person they hate. I was surprised at first that Jinshu Kuangmai was able to dark meditate well enough to retain his bending in Kai's little 'vision'. That must have been his own human energy's doing, as I am still too weak to give anything other than information." Vaatu cackled menacingly, "I have no qualms about sharing information that mortal science does not yet know with Jinshu Kuangmai, unlike this girly fool." Raava finally shut the horrible spirit up by clasping his head back in, saying, "I had never told anyone before this, but Unalaq used a similar technique to contact Vaatu, using his hatred for how unspiritual humans were back then, particularly the Southern Water Tribe. Vaatu could still do some damage with Jinshu Kuangmai's help - he knows as much as I do, including secrets not known to man."
Jinora bowed, saying, "Thank you, Raava - now I must go ask another individual an important question: Zaheer." Raava waved her hands wildly, saying, "Wait! Don't try to contact him in the Spirit World - you know what he did to Aiwei!" Jinora said curtly, "I have a question for him on the power of flight. I will see you or your host, Korra, tonight." She broke the connection immediately, not wanting to hear what Raava had started to say about Korranium - the hurt of Aang's vision was still too raw.
When she opened her eyes, she turned to face Kai and make sure he still had a face. Now it was her turn to faint - he was hovering, his face flushed with a huge smile! When Kai slapped her awake with the wet Jang Hui kelp bag much as she had earlier, he said, "I tried meditating on my relationship with you, then actually said vagina out loud a few times with enthusiasm and no shame, 'meditating' on my love for you at the same time. Given your reaction, you saw it worked." He laughed with a smile, saying, "When I closed my eyes again, having opened them in shock when I left the ground, I was greeting by a half blue and black, and half red and black owl who called himself Wan Shi Tong. He had one blue eye, one yellow - as though he was torn." Jinora said, "I know that spirit, as did my grandfather - I'm surprised he wasn't fully red and in his serpentine form, yellow eyes blazing." Kai said, "He did sound rather angry, but his curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to know how I was hovering in the physical world. When I told him I didn't exactly know, and explained what I had been meditating on and my words, he laughed deeply, saying, 'Maybe Long Yumao is wrong after all. If human love and the embracing of physical passions can mimic the power of entering the void, he's on the wrong side. I accept this new decidedly 'earthy' airbending technique as a valid pass to my library.'" Kai stopped as he saw Jinora's widening eyes, so Jinora pleaded, "Please, continue!"
Kai made a show of going back and forth in front of Jinora, smiling happily as he floated and said, "After it materialized, I looked around his library and found all sorts of interesting information. When I went to the 'war' section of the library, at first he swelled into this huge, scary red-lined form with evil yellow eyes, but then he shrunk back to normal size and said, eyes still yellow and lines angry red, 'You better have a very good reason for looking in that wing, Kai! Speak, before I kick you out, or worse!' I explained Kuvira's use of spirit vines as weaponry and how she has a successor who is even more ruthless and the red vanished completely, replaced by black." Kai laughed, saying, "Then, he turned to a little fox and yelled, 'Why didn't you information seekers tell me this! First, Jinora's radio, then spirit weapons? This is unacceptable!' When the fox whimpered pathetically and it looked like Wan Shi Tong was going to bite him, on some impulse I jumped between them and took the blow. His peck hurt a lot." Jinora interrupted, saying, "Awww, you tried to help one of his cute foxes! Was he mad?"
Kai shook his head vigorously, rubbing a large bruise Jinora hadn't see before on his arm, saying, "No - he was shocked by my protection of what he saw as an incompetent spirit. He actually turned blue, like the Painted Lady, after saying something about selflessness, Avatar Wan and a cat-deer! Wan Shi Tong said he wanted to return his library to the surface when the Spirit Civil War was done." Jinora could hardly believe it, stammering excitedly, "R-r-really?" Kai nodded his head, saying, "Apparently, he thinks that humans are more worthy of knowledge than Long Yumao is or any of the spirits that follow him, given Long Yumao's limited interests. He said in a huff, 'Long Yumao doesn't like any knowledge in my library except that in the war wing and spirit wing. I always hated that. At least Raava is curious about everything mortal now'. Wan Shi Tong actually laughed, saying, 'Especially coitus.'" Jinora shared Raava's curiosity, but knew she could do nothing more than hug Kai suggestively over his stomach - for now. As she felt a welcome feeling in her own vagina, she hugged kai tighter, saying, "I never knew words could be so freeing." Jinora liked the feeling of love in her chest even better.
Ignoring Jinora's excited embrace and somehow knowing what word Jinora meant, given his wide grin, Kai continued, "I convinced him to put the library near Republic City instead of the Si Wong Desert, telling him that Jinshu Kuangmai would probably control the desert by the Spirit Civil War's end." Jinora could still hardly believe it - the last time she saw Wan Shi Tong, he was with Unalaq, and very grumpy! Jinora blushed, saying, "And I thought convincing the Painted Lady to join our side was a major victory. Did he say anything else?" Kai looked vaguely disappointed, saying, "When I asked him if any airbender could do this technique, he said, 'Hmmmm… I am afraid not, Kai. Given that only two people managed to fly by entering the void, it is logical to think that only a few can do so by strengthening their earthly tether properly. Even the individual known as 'Opal' may have some trouble, though not with being earthy.' When I laughed, he said, 'I can only make conjecture, but from what little I know, Opal's relationship with Bolin doesn't exactly seem equal. This would likely serve as a block.' I asked him how he knew about Opal and Bolin and he gave the fox behind me a glare, saying with flaring blue eyes, 'Apparently, some of my information seekers find human relationships more important than spirit weapons. But no matter - I know now, thanks to you.'"
Jinora didn't feel like laughing - she just said, "Wan Shi Tong is right - Opal can be sort of bossy with Bolin at times - it must run in Beifong genes and DNA." Seeing Kai's confused look, Jinora added, "Sorry, I forgot you haven't finished your own story, let alone heard mine." Wanting to add some levity, Jinora said, "I don't think we'll have that control problem, what with you being adopted and my own changes today. Especially this one," she finished, grabbing Kai's rear. Even as Kai hugged her back, Jinora felt slightly disappointed still - even if her father tired, tried, tried, Jinora could do something he couldn't again. Given how Tenzin had tried to raise Jinora to be a proper Air Nomad, she doubted he ever could strengthen his earthly tether in an earthy enough manner. Jinora knew you couldn't just say "penis" or "vagina" and fly - you had to really like the words and say them enthusiastically! Otherwise, saying either one would just be describing a piece of anatomy, like reading a school book, and there would be no freeing effect. At all.
Jinora said, feeling less disappointed after thinking the wonderful words, "I think I might just know how this new kind of flight works, Kai - you have to say sexual words with enthusiasm and without shame, something completely contradictory to what we have been taught being an airbender means. This lightens some acquired or taught burden on your soul, letting you float like a feather, no longer burdened by shame for your passions." Jinora laughed hysterically as Kai repeated his new favorite word at least ten times and laughing in glee, rising as he did so and taking her along for the ride, his cheeks flush with exhilaration and arousal. When he was done, he said while grabbing Jinora's chin, "I don't think saying the word vagina with enthusiasm and without shame was my problem. I never had anyone to think about while saying it that I loved - until I met you." Jinora's chest felt so good, she didn't notice any other feelings - emotional or physical. When they came back down, Jinora sighed deeply, hugging him, continuing her internal train of thought where she had left off.
Opal wouldn't be able to join Jinora and Kai until the flaws in Opal's own relationship were gone. After realizing Jinora hadn't started levitating until she finally stopped beating around the bush and called Kai's penis its proper name two times, she even had doubts about Korra. Given what Kai had told Jinora about how neither Korra nor Asami felt comfortable talking about vaginas during sex, of all things, Jinora knew it might take a while for Korra to fly - she had been raised mainly by the White Lotus, who were just as pre-occupied by spirituality as Jinora's father was. From what she understood, Korra's parents either never got enough time to talk with Korra in earnest about sex, or were fairly conservative themselves - maybe both.
Loving these words and knowing she didn't need to talk to Zaheer anymore, Jinora smiled, saying, "I doubt my dad could ever be earthy enough about it to fly, but maybe once my father sees us soaring together, he can strengthen his own earthly tether enough to be more fun." Grabbing Kai's butt and feeling herself rise off the ground, Jinora said, "Especially when he has grandchildren." Jinora felt the same strong feeling in her chest, and given Kai's playful grab of her breast, he did too. She said it out loud, proud - "Breast! Screw propriety!" Kai laughed as he said, "Agreed! If Raava didn't want me to grab, why does it feel so nice?" Jinora giggled, cooing "I'm glad you like it too!" as she felt a new sensation run down her spine. Neither noticed they were now high above the small island, too intent on each other.
It felt so good, to finally be more girl than airbender. Just now feeling the wind, she hugged Kai tighter and he returned the favor by massaging her breast, Jinora cursing her wingsuit's existence. Jinora said seriously, "All my life, I've been taught that spirituality is the be-all and end-all, but that's wrong. Just look at where our earthly tether got us." Jinora sighed, saying, "At times, Kai, I've felt more spirit than human - maybe that was part of the reason people found me annoying." Kai removed his hand to give her a proper hug, saying gently, "Yes, I think you're right - but we wouldn't be flying if you were still the same serious teenager you were a few days ago." Jinora kissed him, asking, "You want to finish your story now, Kai? I think we can just fly, hugging, as you finish."
The love she felt made it so she didn't wince once as Kai told the rest of his story without fear, except when she learned that Jinshu Kuangmai was actually Toph's secret wayward son, Tonga Beifong. Jinora felt what must have been Toph's hurt just by knowing, crying bitterly. Jinora said, hugging Kai tightly as they approached what must have been Ember Island, "I've seen what love running out can do to a planet, Kai - but in some ways, seeing what love running out can do to a person is more disturbing." Kai said, pointing to the island, "We're almost there, Jinora - you can show Korra what you saw, and then she can show everyone else. You won't have to carry that vision's burden alone much longer."
Jinora and Kai had made sure to hide their new flying as they approached, finishing their trip normally. They both agreed they wanted to save it to show one person Jinora knew would definitely be able to join them, if she could just say the magic word properly: Korra.
Jinora and Kai made record time, arriving back at Ember Island rapidly after Jinora stopped crying. They even beat Korra and Mako back, crashing what must have been a long, drawn-out braintrust meeting, Kai staring at the massive metallic forms in the room in wonder. Jinora handed off the Jang Hui kelp to an excited Varrick after Jinora explained what it could do, Jinora's aunt Kya purifying some seawater to wet it again.
After Jinora had devoured a delicious shark whale steak, she couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't dropped vegetarianism earlier. It wasn't as if the shark whale was innocent, after all - it wanted to sink the Zhu Li and probably eat everyone on board!
As other, decidedly non-military matters were talked about, Jinora started crying again - but these were happy tears, in the end.
Jinora couldn't help but idly wonder, as she listened to everyone explain their work once all had said their piece about events at the braintrust meeting, if Korra was as comfortable with her body as Jinora was now with hers.