Earth...fire...water...air...
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the master's, there is only one." -Shunryu Suzuki (paraphrased)
AVATAR
The Celestial Sailors
BOOK THREE: DEATH
23: The Path of the Master
Usagi was stunned for a moment. Seeing Hotaru appear out of nowhere was jarring enough, but... Had she heard correctly? Did Hotaru know about Iblis, and where he was? She had mentioned something about "slaying the light" when they first met. Had she been referring to Iblis? Had she known about him all along?
"You mean you...know about him?" Hotaru nodded, confirming everything with a gesture.
"I know more than you, it would seem. My question remains, Avatar." Usagi frowned, shrinking back, her hands clutching at each other, still irresolute.
"I...I don't know. Maybe." Hotaru raised an eyebrow, ire flickering in her eyes.
"You're not certain?" The words came gushing out of their own accord:
"I just don't know what's right or wrong anymore! I mean...aren't I supposed to be an Avatar of light? Raava's a spirit of light, isn't she? And Iblis said that he was working to banish the darkness, so why would I fight someone like that? How could I?!"
"Because he's upsetting the balance," Hotaru answered coldly. She leveled her glaive at Usagi like a judge brandishing their gavel. "You, as the Avatar, are meant to preserve the balance, regardless of who or what is upsetting it. You would not hesitate if he were favoring darkness over light."
"But...but that's..."
"How is it any different? Balance is balance." The Death-Bender softened imperceptibly. "And not all darkness is evil, just as not all of light is good."
Usagi became reverently silent. She recalled someone else telling her that, not so long ago: someone wise, and good, stern but kind, and patient. Someone she trusted, and was deeply indebted to.
Even so, she remained indecisive. Hotaru sighed.
"Very well. Perhaps I should show you something that may help. Will you come with me?" This, at least, was agreeable, but Usagi looked over at Shingo, who had been observing pensively. Hotaru's eyes flickered in his direction but betrayed no emotion. "We'll be quick," Hotaru assured her. "No harm will come to him." Her eyes flickered again, and her features softened, a little. Usagi took her hand and the two were enveloped in an oily cloud, leaving Shingo behind.
"Uh...um, hi, Hotaru," he croaked belatedly. "H-h-how have you been? I...I missed you."
…...
At first Usagi wondered where she was, or even if she was anywhere at all. She found herself completely surrounded by darkness—not a black, empty space, but Dark itself, all shades and sizes of it. There were charcoal wisps of smoke that gave off an august aroma, veils of deepest purple that flickered like lightning in the distance, a ceiling of pale black above that seemed to give way like cotton, and below a stony obsidian that was cold, but not uncomfortable. There were even black lights, odd as that sounded, little hovering wisps that glowed of their own accord, one or two pausing before her as if to examine the strange creature. Usagi felt like she was floating, but she could control herself just as easily here as she could in the world of light, and though the sensation was frightening at first, she adjusted quickly and even found it pleasant.
Still, she had to know: "Where are we?"
"It would be difficult to explain," Hotaru said, and despite the darkness surrounding them, she was clearly visible, perhaps more so than Usagi herself. She seemed less human in this world but no less beautiful. "This is...an in-between place, the void layered between the living and the spirit, the tunnels of unknown eternity, the farthest shores beyond all thought and knowledge. It is neither a place of death nor light, of the material or immaterial, where there is no time and, to the best of my knowledge, very little space. It's how I get around so quickly."
"I don't really get it," Usagi said, as she floated upside-down past her hostess. Hotaru's mouth curled in amusement.
"I didn't think you would. You're only the third Avatar that's been in this realm. Nami briefly visited on her quest to find her brother's soul, and Sulemain traversed it to confront a djinn. I brought you here for a different reason." Hotaru gestured at the emptiness, and the black veil parted, revealing a glittering cloak of emeralds and sapphires stretching to the horizon in every direction. It took Usagi a moment to realize she was looking at the ocean; swathes of clouds passed beneath her, while a few gulls flitted about like shooting stars. As she peered closer, she thought she saw the reflection of the sun, so bright that it blinded her. Hotaru gestured again, putting a film of ink over the vision, making it easier to bear. Usagi looked again, and realized that this was not the sun, but an island—and she needed no explanation for why it burned so brightly.
"Is that where Iblis is?" she asked. Hotaru nodded.
"It's on an island called Sumeru, located in the center of the world. You won't find it on any maps. Even Wan Shi Tong has never heard of it."
"But how is it that nobody's ever found it?"
"Just as the Lion-Turtles will seldom be discovered if they do not wish it, so too has Iblis concealed his hiding-place. Sumeru is the most sacred place in the world, the first island raised in the ocean by the Primordials, and the last refuge when the world comes to an end. So now you know where he is." Usagi studied the island and its surroundings. There was nothing but ocean in every direction, save for this singular beacon.
"Where is it?"
"Ah, so are you committed to finding it, and confronting Iblis in person?"
The Avatar said nothing.
"We must kill him in order to restore the balance. Is that what's upsetting you?"
"Partly," she nodded, swallowing. "I guess I'm just uncomfortable with the thought of fighting the light side. I've been conditioned all my life to think of the light as good, and the darkness as evil..."
"Do you think I'm evil?" Hotaru stared at her with icy patience, pale skin and violet eyes surging with dark energy. But Usagi had seen her weeping and smiling, and knew that behind the Death-Bender there was a girl there, a human, a member of her own kind.
"No," she smiled, "of course not."
"Even though I kill people?"
"Hey, I didn't say I had to agree with you!" Hotaru's stony exterior finally cracked into a smile.
"Fair enough. And thank you. I think...I can understand your conflict, just a little. But this must be done, Usagi. You've been witness to this world's decline for weeks now. It's unbalancing before your very eyes. If you and I don't kill Iblis—"
"But isn't there another way?!" she demanded, flailing so drastically that she almost floated out of control. Hotaru frowned.
"Are you wiser than the Guardian Kings? Or more experienced than the Avatars who came before you? They attempted 'other ways', but Iblis would not hear of it." Usagi had no response. A comforting silence fell over the dark realm, but gradually it gave way to a low groan. Someone was in pain, deep emotional agony, and was groaning because there was nothing else they could do. A moan of sorrow harmonized with it, dredged from the depths of despair and hopelessness. Cries of torment and anguish accentuated the discordance: wails, shouts, lamentations, shrieks, weeping, all manner of suffering. It grew louder and louder until Usagi's screams were drowned in it; she yelled with all her might to no avail. Hotaru watched her struggle against the cries of the world for a few moments, until she was sure that Usagi could take no more. She cut it off with a sharp gesture, and there was silence once more. Usagi curled up, trembling and weeping, stricken by her ordeal.
"Behold, the wailing of the world," Hotaru announced. "It is the cry of those who suffer: my personal torment, my burden, my curse and my calling. I may silence it momentarily, but it will always return to remind me of my duties. Only through action may I quell it completely. I wished for you to hear it as well, so that you may better understand my quest. Tell me: do you wish to ease their suffering?"
It took Usagi a long time to recover. Eventually she managed to nod her head.
"They wail because the world is unbalanced. Light will soon overcome us all, and there will be nothing any of us can do. Will you act, while there is still time? Or will you remain indecisive, and let come what may?" Usagi didn't answer. Hotaru took a deep, patient breath. Death did not judge, so neither would she. "In any case, there's nothing more to be accomplished here. I'll take you back now." The darkness unfurled like an enormous shroud, and Usagi winced painfully as brightness saturated her vision. She hadn't even noticed how unbearable things had gotten, or how much she missed the relief that shadows offer. Maybe Hotaru was onto something; maybe this excessive abundance was something she needed to act against. A part of her still wasn't convinced, though.
Gingerly, Shingo approached Hotaru. He smiled timidly as their eyes met.
"Um...hey, Hotaru. Uh...how have you been?"
She answered him by coldly turning her back to him. He hung his head, dejected.
But even now, she could relent. "It is...good to see you again, Shingo. I...am glad you are well."
"Me too!" he exclaimed jubilantly. "I mean, I'm glad you're well. You look great! I didn't know you could do...whatever it is you just did! That was cool!"
In spite of everything, she couldn't help but giggle.
"Thank you."
"So what did you two talk about?" She finally turned around to face him, more girl than Death-Bender.
"The fate of this world, and how we can free it. The Avatar is...somewhat hesitant on the matter."
"Yeah, Usagi's pretty stupid," he grumbled, putting his hands on his head in that bratty, childish fashion his sister hated. "Any other Avatar would've been halfway to fixing it by now."
"Don't judge her too harshly," Hotaru replied. "I'm asking her to go against everything she's been taught and believes. Few are those who would brazenly accept that, and I would not think highly of those who did."
"Yeah, well," he grumbled, trailing off ambiguously. Hotaru glanced over at Usagi, who was still trying to sort out her feelings, then to Shingo. "I must take my leave for the moment, but when you have made your decision, Avatar, call upon me and I will come. Farewell." She opened another portal and slipped part ways into the void before looking at Shingo. She smiled sweetly at him. "I'm looking forward to it. Be safe until then."
"You, too!" He waved and she was gone, leaving the siblings alone. Shingo approached Usagi and sighed in disappointment. "You know, I still think you're being lazy." Usagi said nothing; she was lost to the world. Shingo sneered and wandered off again. The moment was interrupted as a thunderous peal sounded, followed by an abominable inhuman groaning—then screams, countless screams. Usagi went on full alert, scanning her surroundings for the disturbance. She saw people fleeing, driven out of their minds with fear, and then saw the cause of their fear. Something grotesque, misshapen, dredged from the darkest recesses of primordial terror, emerged, howling and crying out. Usagi's eyes bulged and she gawked; Shingo stumbled as he tried to get away. She took notice of his peril and quickly lifted him up.
"Get out of here! Hurry!" The monstrosity noticed them and came barreling after, four mouths and eight eyes opened as nasty claws and tendrils raked the earth. Usagi forcefully blew her brother away with a gust of air before igniting flames, standing firm against the living nightmare. She waited until the sheen of its misshapen skull was just within striking distance, then launched her fire and dug a deep trench which engulfed the creature. It moaned as it clawed out, wriggling appendages flailing.
"Avatar," it gurgled, a putrid concoction of tortured human and animal voices, "help me!"
A moment later Usagi realized that even a Nightmare spirit is not the worst thing to encounter. As it stared pleadingly at her, helpless in all its wretched horror, shafts of burning light pierced it, scorching and flaying until only sounds of its dying screams were left. The Lightbringers stood in silent triumph over their kill, disregarding the terrified girl in their midst. One of them looked over and noticed Shingo, who had only gotten a few steps away before fear overcame him. He lay helpless on the grass as the Sentinel flew after him.
Pure instinct took over as all other matters were cast aside. Usagi called the earth and flattened the Sentinel. The others now came after her, burning bright searing scorching, a pain unheard of in mortal times. She offered her own fiery retort, and water, and wind, snuffing their light as Shingo watched on. She was struck, she was burned, she bled, she was cast down in the dirt. Their eyes met, desperation was shared, and she retaliated, because this was her brother and nobody, not even a Lightbringer, had the right to harm him. She endured their wrath until they no longer endured hers, and when it was over, she collapsed, shaking. Shingo was frozen, helpless, stricken dumb. He didn't know what to do, or to say; he crawled over to her, to the Avatar, to his sister, not even daring to touch her.
"Usagi..." Still trembling, she looked over at him, one eye shut from bruises and blood.
"Hey. You okay, kid?" He nodded shakily, and offered his shoulder as she tried to stand. An anxious, tense silence was shared between them.
"Sorry about earlier. You're really giving this all you've got, aren't you?"
"Yeah," she whispered hoarsely. "Trying to."
There was silence again.
"Should we tell this to mom and dad?"
"Ha," Usagi chuckled, "are you kidding? They'd be worried sick. We'd never hear the end of it."
"Good point." He finally managed to smile, and wounded though she was, Usagi smiled back.
"Hey...what was it you said earlier?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"After I asked if you were okay. What was it you said?"
Shingo looked confused. "That I...was okay."
"No. After that."
"That you were giving it everything you had."
"Before that."
"That I was...sorry?"
"Could you say that part again, please? A little louder this time. I don't think I...oof, heard you." His confusion slowly wore off, and he began to see where this was going. His brow knit again.
"I said that I was sorry, all right?!" Usagi laughed, and he decided that maybe she didn't need help to stand up. She still grinned, though, rather triumphantly.
"I never thought I...I'd hear you apologize to me." Shingo just rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, why are you like that?"
"Because I'm as immature as you are." They stared at each other for a moment, before finally grinning and laughing. He went back to helping her. They made their way to a bench and sat down, Usagi wincing in pain despite the care her brother gave. She let out an exhausted sigh and looked over at him slyly. "So, ya wanna tell me what's going on between you and Hotaru?"
Shingo instantly blushed. "N-no." Usagi grinned.
"Are you suuuuure?"
"It's none of your business, bun-head!" She cackled despite her pain.
"Sounds to me like you might have a thing for her—and it's definitely mutual!"
"Oh, lay off."
"Although I have no idea what a sweet girl like Hotaru would ever see in a brat like you."
"Probably the same thing a cool guy like Mamoru sees in a clumsy crybaby like you," he replied snarkily. The siblings leered at each other before snickering again. "Okay, fine," Shingo relented, "I'm in love with her. There, you happy?" Usagi nodded.
"Big time. Hey, don't be so bashful, she's a good catch. Do mom and dad know?"
"No, just you." Usagi smiled; she'd treasure this secret for as long as she lived. Or until she let the proverbial ox-cat out of the bag. Whichever came first.
"Well," she said quietly, "that settles it, then. I'd be a pretty crummy Avatar if I let this world die before you got to go on a date with her."
"I've already been on a date with her," he muttered. Usagi raised an eyebrow.
"Have you kissed her?"
"Yeah." Now both eyebrows jerked up.
"Wow, kid, you move fast. Well...then I'd better fight so that you can have many more dates and kisses in the future!" Shingo smiled but his grin turned wary.
"That's it? That's what influenced your decision? After everything you've seen and heard?"
"No," she replied honestly. "I think, deep down, I've always known what I needed to do. I was just...lazy and indecisive, like you said. But I think Hotaru had a good point, too. Anybody who just rushed into something like that, without being in the proper mindset, wouldn't have been worthy of the task. I guess I just needed to understand what I was really in for—you know, give it the respect it deserves."
Shingo nodded reverently. "That's...actually pretty mature of you. I know I wouldn't have done that."
"You would have, if Hotaru was involved. People like us need to consider our actions carefully when a loved one is on the line. My actions were just going to be a lot bigger."
"Yeah," he gushed. "Saving the world from the Lord of all Lion-Turtles, going up against Light itself... It's pretty heavy stuff now that I think about it. Heh, better you than me!" He chuckled and gave her a jab in the ribs, which she returned. Now fully committed, she vaulted to her feet, though it pained her.
"Are you going to call Hotaru now?"
"Nah, not yet," she smiled. "I want to spend more time with mom and dad first. You know."
He nodded somberly, realizing that now his sister had made her decision, this might be the last time she saw her family. They all reunited eventually; Usagi and Shingo had a tough time explaining themselves. They eventually settled on "unexpected Avatar duties", and promised to be more careful in the future.
With her father's assistance, Usagi wrote letters to all her friends, asking them to meet up with her on Air Temple Island. She was ready to fulfill her destiny.
…...
Usagi bowed as Queen Makoto disembarked, but eschewed formality and embraced her as a friend. The taller woman was trembling a little, out of fear or happiness or both. She assured Usagi that Motoki was well, that they could put off their honeymoon a little bit longer, that her husband agreed this was more important... Usagi just hugged her again. She didn't mind making sacrifices but hated asking her friends to do the same—especially when it came to herself.
"We're used to it by now," Ami said, as she held hands with Minako. They had arrived earlier, so they had made themselves comfortable—very comfortable indeed. Ami grinned at the sprightly Air Nomad and added, "Some of us just sacrifice more than others."
"Some of us don't even see it as a sacrifice," Rei added. She had arrived first, borne on the wings of urgency and love. She smiled at Makoto and hugged her; Minako and Ami threw their arms around her as well. Mamoru merely settled for a respectful bow.
"Whoa, not so fast there, buddy!" Makoto exclaimed. "We go way too far back to just bow to each other like strangers! Put er' there!" She hugged him, and after some awkward laughter, he embraced her in return. Usagi simply smiled, having long ago abandoned her envy.
"So that's everyone, then," Rei surmised. Usagi looked around, counting Mamoru and four other girls. She wished that their numbers were greater, but understood that this was probably the best she could hope for.
"Yeah...I suppose."
"You mean you didn't reach out to Michiru and Setsuna?" Ami asked. Usagi just frowned. Minako scoffed dismissively.
"Pfft, if Haruka doesn't want to help us, then so what? I hate to say it, but I really misjudged her!"
"Oh? I'm sorry you feel that way." The six of them jerked around, seeing Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna in the distance, profiled against the sun. Their spirits lifted but deflated just as quickly when they saw the trio's grim expressions. Setsuna stood off to the side, offering only a nod, while Haruka and Michiru confronted Usagi. Evidently their opinion of her had not improved.
"Uh, how did you..."
"I led them here," Setsuna announced. "And I think by now you should know that I have my ways."
"Right, sorry," Usagi whispered, "I wasn't sure if you'd come. I can't say I blame you for how you feel, but..."
"But nothing," Haruka interrupted. "A week ago, you were all fired up to end this madness. The next day, you backed down, and things got worse. Now you say you've changed your mind again? And I thought the wind was capricious."
"That's not fair, Haruka!" Minako retorted. "It's easy to judge other people when you're not in their stockings."
"Shoes, Minako," Rei muttered, gritting her teeth in embarrassment. "When you're not in other people's shoes."
"Bah, they know what I mean! Maybe you should try and think about how it feels to be the Avatar!"
"Minako," Setsuna called. Her ruby eyes penetrated the air-bender, immediately silencing her. Usagi, perhaps wisely, deflated in self-awareness.
"Haruka's right, though, and she has every right to be upset. I definitely got lost there for a moment, but that's no excuse to be wishy-washy, especially at a time like this. But now I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make things right." Haruka just sneered and rolled her eyes.
"Right, and I'm supposed to believe that."
"Haruka." Usagi stepped towards the older woman, her eyes hardened in resolution. It was one of the few times where she truly looked like an Avatar. "I mean it."
"Even if it means you have to kill him?" There was only a moment of hesitation. Her fists clenched.
"If that's what it takes." Haruka softened imperceptibly. Maybe... But no. She had to be absolutely certain.
"Prove it." She looked to Michiru, who immediately comprehended her partner's thoughts. Usagi didn't flinch.
"How do I do that?"
"By fighting us," Michiru said. "Once you start this, you won't be able to stop or turn back for anything: not your friends, your family, or even your own life. If you can't even beat us, then there's no way we'll accept you."
"Don't you think that's a bit unfair?" Usagi said, smirking a little. "After all, I am the Avatar."
"So give yourself a handicap if you think that'll...even the playing field," Haruka retorted. Usagi nodded.
"All right, I will. I won't go into the Avatar State and I won't do any fire or earth-bending. I'll only use wind and water, the same as you." Haruka chortled, and moved into an unusual offensive stance, one even Minako didn't recognize.
"Don't feel like you have to hold back on our accounts. We certainly won't." Tension mounted as a stiff wind picked up. Usagi's long pigtails whirled in the breeze. Setsuna's seemed to twitch back and forth like an erratic metronome.
"The six of us will stay out of this fight!" she announced, raising her arm as she addressed Mamoru and the other girls. "This is between Haruka, Michiru, and Usagi! The winner will be the one who surrenders first. I repeat: no interference allowed!" Everyone backed off, nervous for their friend. They knew Usagi was a force to be reckoned with, but limiting herself just to prove a point (that they felt was absurd) seemed reckless. There was honor but there was prudence, too, and now...well, it was too late: Haruka bashed the Avatar hard with a gust that sent her spiraling backwards. Michiru raised an ice wall to catch her and shoved her forward, where a crushing cushion of air pressure squashed her. Usagi flipped to her feet and countered, taking the breeze and lashing with it, but Haruka darted out of the way, smirking.
"Childish," she called, whipping shockwaves one after the other. Usagi jumped over one but got caught by another; Michiru wrapped a heavy cloak of water around her and slammed her into the ground, then saturated her with another blow, and another. Haruka picked her up and spun her around; Usagi teetered clumsily as she regained her footing, barely deflecting several water-bullets. She hid underneath an ancient stone archway as Haruka assaulted her, but was shoved back by a watery blow, and crushed once again by the air. The two women put their assault on pause and casually walked towards the beaten Avatar, ready to end the fight.
"Is that the best you've got?" Michiru taunted. She called forth a tsunami, while Haruka summoned a tornado. Usagi squinted, one eye nearly bruised shut. She was still recovering from the battle against the Lightbringers, and could barely even stand, much less put up a fight.
"I guess you were all talk," Haruka added. "If this is what the Avatar can offer, then maybe we're better off without you." Usagi clenched her teeth, her limbs quivering. She didn't know if she could endure another attack.
Usagi... Usagi!
The voice of Vainamoinen seemed to call out to her. She silenced her mind and listened.
Remember, there is no distinction between your body and the world. Call forth your wind and water. Don't think of it as theirs! It's yours, Usagi, yours to command!
Usagi stood up, drew a deep meditative breath, and with perfect serenity she saw the wind and the water for what they were. Her limbs waved gracefully, dismissing the tsunami as it was thrust against her, dispelling the tornado. She danced across the grass, gathering the breeze into her, releasing it not as an aggressive force but a living entity, dropping Haruka to the ground. Her feet glided with sublime dexterity and called the world's water, curling it and twisting it in loops and ribbons and undulations, putting Michiru on her back. Amazed, they stood up, wind and water furiously lashing out, but they were calmed as Usagi whirled, leaping, cavorting, weaving parabolic patterns, returning them with unyielding dignity. The two surrounded her, wind and water attacking from both sides; she merely spun around, around and around, faster and faster, uniting the world's breath and blood into a juxtaposition of perfect harmony, guiding it to one and then another.
She lifted herself off the ground. Haruka tried one more time but the wind passed inertly through Usagi. A rising gush of water didn't so much as dampen her clothes. Again and again they assaulted her, but her authority over the elements was unmatched, and they issued no harm. Instead Usagi reached for the sky, harvesting millions of molecules, coagulating them into a raincloud, pouring and billowing until her adversaries could withstand it no longer. Even when they were defeated, she continued her dance, but one of love not victory. The water sailed in the sky, the wind played with the grass, her hair untied and billowed freely, her face reflected in a hundred frozen crystals. Eventually the adulation waned, the wind was released, the water returned, her feet touched the ground, and her hair wound itself together again. She took a deep breath.
Haruka and Michiru were petrified with awe; they nearly wept from the majestic spectacle. They didn't even realize they were still on the ground until Usagi walked over and offered them her hands, and her smile. They stiffly rose to their feet, reconsidered, took her hands, and knelt.
"That was absolutely magnificent," Haruka whispered. "I've never seen anything like it before. That...level of mastery was..."
"Oh, stop it," Usagi tittered. Michiru bowed her head.
"I'm sorry for our behavior. You have proven yourself. If by our actions we may be of some help to you, Great Avatar, then I will pledge myself to your cause."
"And I swear I will fight by your side until your enemies are no more," Haruka added. "I'm ready to lay down my life for you, Avatar."
"Guys, seriously, stop, you're embarrassing me!" Usagi winced and made them both stand up. "Look, I'm just glad we're all on the same page here. I hope I didn't rough you up too much." The two women looked at each other. Even though they were much taller than Usagi, they felt they were in the presence of a giant.
"Only our pride," Michiru chuckled. Haruka rubbed her temple.
"Hey, speak for yourself. I've got another bruise to tell Wildflower about."
"Oh, sorry," Usagi cringed. She pulled out a crumpled handkerchief, bent a little water on it, and offered it to Haruka. Haruka chuckled and accepted the gift, though she also kept her bruise.
"Don't worry about it. You're not hurt too badly, I hope?"
"Nah, I've had worse," Usagi winced, even though she felt too weak to stand. The three ladies grinned, and relieved sighs were passed all around. Usagi's friends naturally had to comment on her performance; Setsuna merely hung back, beaming beatifically. Michiru and Ami shared a laugh together, purely for joy's sake, while Haruka bowed to Minako.
"I think I owe you an apology as well, Sunshine. Hopefully I can regain your lofty opinion of me." Minako just sneered, turning her nose up as she crossed her arms.
"Hmph! We'll see about that!" She turned her back on Haruka, sighed deeply, then faced her again, wearing a bashful smile. "Aww...I can't be upset at another Nomad!" She grinned and opened her palm, extending her index finger. Haruka proudly returned the gesture.
"It looks like we're finally ready to confront Iblis and end this," Mamoru said.
"Not quite," said Usagi. She cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted. A few seconds later, the sky opened, and out stepped the Death-Bender, black tendrils curling around her limbs, a glaive clutched in her left hand. Usagi smiled at her...
And Hotaru smiled back.
The End of "The Path of the Master"
Next time: "The Last Night of the World"
Author's note:
If you like, look up the soundtrack to Journey (the video game), go to the song "Apotheosis", and skip to the 1:10 mark. That's the music I had in mind for Usagi's performance.