XXI/ Dealing with angry spirit

The walk to the village didn't take long for Elsa and her friends as they moved through the bamboo woods. They emerged into a clearing, greeted by the sight of a wooden village protected by a palisade. The architectural style mirrored the drawings from one of Elsa's childhood books, bringing a touch of familiarity amidst the devastation.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows as they passed the gates. Aang, Katara, and Sokka exchanged worried glances, their young faces etched with curiosity and concern. The place, though charming in its traditional design, bore the scars of recent hardship. Several buildings were damaged, and a sense of despair hung heavy in the air.

Kay-Fon led them through the heart of the village, his weathered face etched with concern and intrigue. They finally arrived at the central building, a larger structure than the others. As they entered, Elsa couldn't help but notice the number of villagers gathered inside, their faces etched with fear and anxiety.

The air crackled with nervous energy as Kay-Fon gestured towards Aang. "This young person is the Avatar!" he declared, his voice hoarse.

A man in his forties, Elder Jiaoran, the village leader, turned around. His dark eyes widened in surprise. His glance shortly lingered on Elsa, intrigued and puzzled by her appearance. But he looked back at Aang afterwards.

"So, the rumours of your return are true!" he said to Aang in a relieved voice as he approached the group. "It is the greatest honour of a lifetime to be in your presence."

Aang, ever polite despite the situation, dipped his head in a small bow. Elsa, Katara and Sokka imitated his move in a gesture of respect. Elsa was glad to see that her companions were starting to understand the importance of how to interact with certain people.

"Nice to meet you too! So," Aang began hesitantly, "is there something I can help you with?"

Elder Jiaoran's smile faltered. "I'm not sure ..." he admitted with an uncertain tone.

Before he could elaborate, Kay-Fon stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Our village is in crisis, Avatar! You are our only hope!" He then turned towards Aang, his gaze pleading. "For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit."

Elsa's posture stiffened. The mention of a spirit piqued her curiosity, a flicker of apprehension mixing with it. She knew it was part of this world and while her journey to the Enchanted Forest and Ahtohallan allowed her to encounter the spirits of the elements, she suspected the spirits of this world weren't likely like those she encountered. She noticed that Aang seemed lost in thought, a frown creasing his youthful brow.

Sensing the young Avatar's confusion, Sokka piped up. "Why is it attacking you?" he questioned, his voice laced with a hint of intrigue.

Elder Jiaoran walked towards the door, his back hunched as he leaned against it and gazed out at the charred forest. "We do not know," he admitted, his voice heavy with despair. "But each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near."

Elsa was concerned as she bit her lips, hearing those words. A spirit attacking the village for an unknown reason and kidnapping was worrisome and intriguing. It reminded a bit of her father's tale on how the elemental spirits struck at both the Northuldra and the Arendellian guards the fateful day the conflict arose between the two people in the Enchanted Forest. Considering the discovery she had made in Ahtohallan on what really happened, she wondered if there wasn't a similar reason behind those attacks.

Katara's eyes widened in alarm. "What happens then?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"As the solstice approaches," Kay-Fon explained, his voice grave, "the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely."

Elsa felt a jolt of surprise. This world, with its bending and spirits, was far more complex than she had initially imagined. Her mind was racing with the implications of their words. The spiritual dimension of this world was something she had only begun to grasp, but she understood the gravity of the situation they faced.

"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction," Elder Jiaoran continued, his voice laced with despair. "Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen."

Aang, ever the hero at heart, finally spoke up, his voice determined despite his young age. "So, what do you want me to do, exactly?"

Kay-Fon leaned closer to the young Avatar, his voice filled with hope. "Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits."

Elsa watched Aang as Kay-Fon spoke, her heart filled with a mixture of protectiveness and concern. She knew that as much he was the Avatar and had impressive skills, Aang was still a child, burdened with a responsibility far too vast for his shoulders.

Aang, overwhelmed by the weight of their expectations, glanced towards the darkening forest, his expression unreadable. "Right ..." he mumbled, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice. "That's me."

Noticing his dejection, Katara took charge. "Hey great bridge guy," she said with a playful nudge, leading Aang towards a window that offered a view of the village bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. Elsa and Sokka followed closely behind.

"Aang, you seem a little unsure about all of this," Katara said gently, her concern evident in her voice.

Elsa, unable to contain her own worries, spoke up. "He has every right to be," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We're asking him to solve a problem we barely understand, in a world he's still learning about." She looked at the airbender, her blue eyes filled with empathy.

Aang sighed, his youthful face etched with worry. "Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the Spirit World," he admitted, a hint of frustration tinging his voice. "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!"

Elsa's heart went out to him, knowing the weight of the knowledge he lacked. Stepping forward, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her expression gentle yet determined. "Aang, we'll figure this out together," she reassured him, her voice carrying a note of conviction. "You're not alone in this."

Aang's gaze met hers, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks, Elsa," he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Katara nodded in agreement, her expression warm and supportive. "So ... can you help these people?" she asked, her voice soft yet hopeful.

Aang straightened up, a newfound determination sparking in his eyes. "I have to try, don't I?" he replied, his voice gaining strength. "Maybe whatever I have to do will just ... come to me."

As if on cue, Momo fluttered down from a nearby rafter, landing gently on his shoulder. The sight brought a faint smile to Aang's face, a silent reminder of the bonds they shared.

Elsa, however, couldn't shake off the feeling that his determination wouldn't be enough. They needed to understand the reason behind the spirit's attacks.

"Aang," Elsa began, her voice filled with quiet authority, "I trust in you. But perhaps we can approach this from a different angle. While I know no Spirit World in mine, I have recently encountered spirits. Perhaps, I can shed some light that may help you find a way to stop Hei Bei to attack this village."

Aang's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Katara and Sokka exchanged glances, a hint of relief washing over their features.

"Absolutely," Elsa confirmed, a determined glint in her eyes. "We'll figure this out together. After all, that's what friends do, right?"

Aang offered a grateful smile. "Thanks, Elsa," he said sincerely, a sense of relief washing over him.

Sokka chimed in with a grin, his tone teasing yet supportive. "Great. We're all going to get eaten by a spirit monster," he quipped, his words laced with humor.

Elsa shot Sokka a playful glare, though there was warmth in her eyes. "Let's focus on finding a solution first," she retorted, a smile tugging at her lips.

Katara chimed in, her brow furrowed in concentration. "So, what can you tell us about these spirits, Elsa?" she asked, her blue eyes reflecting the flickering flames of the approaching sunset.

Elsa took a deep breath, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders. As the eldest in the group, she felt a strong protective urge towards these young people, thrust into a world of war and danger. "Well," she began, her voice thoughtful, "When I visited the Enchanted Forrest, I encountered the elemental spirits."

Aang's eyes widened with intrigue, his curiosity piqued. "Elemental spirits?"

Elsa nodded, a sense of solemnity settling over her. "In my world, the elements—earth, water, wind, and fire—are embodied by spirits, powerful beings, guardians of the natural world."

Aang and Katara exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions filled with awe and wonder. The concept of the elements being embodied in spirits was entirely new to them, and it sparked a sense of excitement and curiosity.

Aang, always eager to learn about the world and its wonders, spoke up first. "That's incredible! So, these elemental spirits, are they like the spirits we have in the Spirit World?" he asked, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Elsa looked at him with uncertainty but offered a small smile. "I can't be sure. I don't know your world enough to see if there can be any similarities. But who knows?"

Aang nodded, slightly disappointed but intrigued. Katara listened intently, absorbing Elsa's words with fascination. "So, you met those elemental spirits? Why did you go to this place?"

Elsa's gaze drifted into the distance, her mind retracing the steps of her journey. She had already mentioned the journey in previous discussions, but she knew she needed to discuss in more detail what happened there. She felt a pang in the chest as she thought of the revelations, she made at Ahtohallan. "Something was occurring to Arendelle and it was tied to an incident that my father witnessed as a young boy in the Enchanted Forest."

Aang looked at her with curiosity. "What happened there?" he asked.

Elsa took a deep breath, uncertain to reveal the information, but also aware that it might help Aang to understand how to tackle the spirit issue. "The Enchanted Forest is the home of the Northuldra, people that lived in harmony with the elemental spirits. Think as a mix of water tribe and air nomads from what you told me about your people," she started to explain.

Aang's eyes widened with fascination at Elsa's description of the Northuldra. The idea of a people living in harmony with elemental spirits resonated deeply with him, echoing the Air Nomad's connection to the natural world. "Wow," he murmured, a sense of wonder evident in his voice. "That sounds amazing. I wish I could have seen it."

Katara's expression softened with empathy as she listened, her thoughts drifting to her own people and their connection to the water. "It's like they had a bond with the spirits," she mused, her tone reflective.

Sokka raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Living in harmony with spirits sounds great and all, but look what is happening here," he said while showing with his arm and hand the village outside the meeting hall.

Katara punched Sokka in the shoulder, "Sokka!" she hissed in a reproachful voice.

Elsa however nodded, acknowledging Sokka's valid concern. "He's right. My father had told my sister and me that the spirits were angered and cut off the Enchanted Forest from the world with a magical mist after a conflict arose between the Northuldra and our people during an encounter where his father and he were," she explained, her tone distant and grave.

The three children looked at her with stunned and concerned eyes. "Did you find out what really happened?" Katara asked in a soft voice.

Elsa acquiesced and took a breath and she felt the glances of her companions on her. As much as she was hesitant to reveal such information, she knew that they needed to understand why the spirits were angry to have an inkling of why Hei Bei was attacking the people there. "When I was at Ahtohallan, I found out what really happened," she continued with a somber and torn tone. "My grandfather... he wanted to submit the Northuldra and set up a trap for them. During the fateful day he met them, he murdered the leader of the Northuldra and tried to overcome them afterward. That was what provoked the anger of the elemental spirits as they lashed out against both my people and the Northuldra."

A heavy silence settled over the group as they absorbed Elsa's words. The weight of the past and its consequences hung in the air, casting a shadow over their thoughts. Katara's brows furrowed with sympathy. "That's terrible," she murmured, her heart heavy with the weight of the revelation. "It must have been devastating for both your people and the Northuldra."

Elsa tilted her head in sad agreement. "It had been. But my whole realm was unaware of my grandfather's crimes. Even my father didn't know and he became king of Arendelle on that fateful day."

Sokka nonchalantly commented. "Well, that's perhaps for the best. "So, your grandfather's actions angered spirits, I can't imagine what he would have made of your father if he had been still around."

Katara sent a glare at Sokka while Elsa winced at the Water tribe boy's words. As insensitive as they were, she knew he was in a way right, even if the events in the Enchanted Forest likely explained why he was uncertain about her magic. But without this fateful and terrible day, there was also likely no chance her mother would have married him, considering what would have been expected of him. Meaning that neither Anna and she would have born.

Aang, ever the compassionate soul, reached out to Elsa, placing a hand on her arm in a gesture of support. "I'm so sorry for what your grandfather did," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "But you're not responsible for his actions."

Elsa mustered a weak smile, grateful for his understanding. "Thank you, Aang," she replied, her voice laced with a mix of gratitude and sadness. She had come to terms with that dark past of her family with the ongoing journey, but a part of her was worried and concerned about Anna, uncertain if she received her input on what happened.

Aang's expression mirrored her concern, his youthful features reflecting the weight of her words. "And you think something similar could be happening here? With Hei Bai and the forest?"

Elsa nodded gravely. "It's possible. As far as I know, spirits don't act without reason."

Aang's brow furrowed in thought, her mind processing the parallels between Elsa's tale and their current situation. "So, if we can understand why Hei Bai is angry, maybe I can find a way to calm him down?" He then said with a hopeful smile.

Elsa smiled at the young waterbender, her gaze thoughtful. "Exactly. If we can uncover the root of the problem, we might be able to find a way to appease the spirit and bring peace to the village."

The young airbender's determination flared as he absorbed her words, a newfound sense of purpose igniting within him. "Then that's what we'll do," he declared, his voice resolute.

The young airbender then moved back to the village leader and Kay-Fon, Elsa, Katara, and Sokka trailing behind him. As they approached, Aang spoke with a sense of urgency. "We're going to help with Hei Bai and to bring back the villagers."

The village leader's eyes widened in surprise, his expression shifting from skepticism to hope. "You truly believe you can calm Hei Bai?

Aang nodded confidently. "We'll certainly try."

Kay-Fon smiled at the young boy. "Thank you, Avatar," he said grateful and hopeful.

Elsa decided to intervene to help Aang to consider how to tackle the issue. "What kind of spirit is Hei Bai?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

The village leader paused, considering his response carefully. "I'm not sure, but he might be the guardian spirit of this forest."

Elsa glanced at Aang, Katara, and Sokka, her mind connecting the dots. The destruction of the forest seemed to be the catalyst for Hei Bai's anger, much like the conflict in the Enchanted Forest had sparked the spirits' fury there.

Katara's eyes widened as she realized the implications. "Did the attacks start before or after the forest was burned down?"

The village leader pondered a moment to Katara's question before answering. "It was after the fire that Hei Bai's anger manifested."

Aang's expression grew serious as he absorbed this information. "Then it's like what happened in the Enchanted Forest," he mused aloud. "Hei Bai's anger is a reaction to the destruction of his home."

Sokka, catching on to the significance of their discovery, was however sceptical and unertain. "But how can we calm a spirit down? That's not as if we have a way to restore the forest."

Aang looked at Sokka with a hopeful smile. "Not us, but the forest will."

Sokka was confused at the airbender's words as Katara, though the waterbender seemed to ponder on their meaning. Elsa titled in approval to her friends. They were moving fast in understanding what might have happened. Aang then asked Elder Jioran, "Do you know if there is any place dedicated to Hei Bai?"

Elsa looked both at Aang and then at the village leader pondering about this question. She wondered if it was something Aang knew as an Avatar or as an airbender. She would need to ask him the question. Elder Jioran stroked his chin in reflection before answering. "I do not know. It has been years since we do not look for the spirits. The war made us very wary of facing the Fire Nation or to be in the crossfire."

"You should look at the heart of the forest. The sacred place would likely be there," Kay-Fon advised Aang.

Aang's eyes widened in relief and gratefulness. "Thank you!"

Looking back at Katara, Sokka and Elsa, he said, "It's where I'll start."

Elsa asked with surprise and concern. "You?"

Aang answered with faith and determination. "Yes. I'll find the shrine to meet Hei Bai."

Sokka frowned, crossing his arms. "Aang, are you sure that's a good idea? Facing an angry spirit alone sounds like a recipe for disaster."

Elsa nodded with Sokka, being concerned with the young airbender's safety. But she was also thinking there was more and that dealing with spirits wasn't the same as dealing with people

Kay-Fon intervened, his voice calm but firm. "I trust the Avatar's judgment. He has a connection with the spirits that we can't comprehend."

Sokka opened his mouth to argue further, but Katara shot him a warning glance and nudged him in the shoulder. He wasn't however ready to give and looked at Elsa. "Maybe you can accompany Aang. You have experience dealing with spirits, after all."

The village leader and Kay-Fon exchanged uncertain glances while Elsa looked at Sokka with surprised but also grateful eyes. She understood why the people of the village might be uncertain due to the fact they didn't know her and that she was unique, but also with their faith in the Avatar achieving to deal with this spirit. And while she wasn't certain her experience would be enough, being there for Aang might help him to have the confidence to handle the issue.

Kay-Fon looked at Elsa with intrigued eyes, "Is your friend saying the truth?"

Elsa looked at the old man with a firm but kind glance. "I did. I know how tricky spirits can be. And if Aang accepts my presence, you have my word I won't interfere with his mission."

Everyone looked at Aang. The young airbender's expression softened as he looked at Elsa, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You don't have to come, Elsa," he said gently. "But having you there can be reassuring."

Kay-Fon and Elder Jiaoran exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and contemplation. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on their minds, and the presence of an unfamiliar yet evidently powerful ally added another layer to their deliberations.

Elder Jiaoran was the first to speak. He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Elsa's with a blend of curiosity and scrutiny. "We know not who you are, but it's obvious you are a friend of the Avatar. And if he trusts you, then perhaps your presence can aid in this dire time," he said, his voice a blend of cautious optimism and lingering wariness.

Kay-Fon nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated concern for his village. He then turned to Aang, his expression softening with trust. "Avatar Aang, we place our hopes in you. May the spirits guide and protect you both."

Aang bowed slightly, acknowledging their trust. "Thank you. We'll do everything we can to bring peace to your village."

The young airbender then smiled gratefully at Elsa, his sense of relief evident. "Thank you, Elsa. Having you with me means a lot."

Elsa smiled at the young airbender, noticing his shoulders slightly slumped into relief. She could understand how daunting the task was for him. While she wasn't certain how she could help him, she appreciated the trust Aang had in her. She felt they were on the right path and had faith in how Aang could appease an angry spirit and find the lost villagers. As concerned as she was for the young Avatar, she knew he needed to learn in one way or another his responsibilities to become the person that could play the same kind of role she was supposed to play as the Fifth Element, except for an entire world.