XXIV/ Spirited back
As he awoke with a groan, Aang discovered he was at the feet of the giant bear statue of the shrine. Looking around, he suddenly remembered the events of the previous night
"Elsa!" he shouted in frightened realization.
A heavy weight fell down on his shoulders as he looked down. The realization he was on his own was terrifying for the young airbender and he couldn't help but feel stunned and terrified. Confusion and loss were plaguing him.
"Why did I fail? I know what affected Hei Bai. Why I couldn't reach him out?" he wondered as he was trying to find why he didn't succeed to assuage the angry spirit.
Feeling defeated and down, the young boy moved back to the village to inform his friends and Elder Jioran that he had failed and that worse, Elsa was now in the spirit world. The young Avatar felt crushed and powerless. Since she had joined their group, Elsa had been very helpful and supportive, especially with him. She was soother and regal and yet understanding of his struggles. She was like a mirror of Gyatso, someone he could trust and rely on.
But she was now gone and he didn't know how to solve to bring her back. He didn't understand why he failed to reach out to Hei Bai. He knew that he was likely hurt by the fire that destroyed part of the forest and knew how to reach him, but it was as if Hei Bai was deaf to him or unwilling to listen.
As he arrived at the entrance, Aang realized that it was blocked by Elsa's ice wall. The young Avatar felt glad she did that as it prevented Hei Bai from making further destructions. He wondered if the ice held because Elsa was still alive or not. That question could wait as he could hear some voices on the other side of the wall and he believed Sokka and Katara were among the people talking. With the intent to see them and to inform them of the situation, Aang jumped in an attempt to reach the top and join the village. To his surprise and dismay, he couldn't achieve more than a small jump. He attempted a second and then a third time, but the result was the same.
"Why I can't bend?" he asked with dismay.
As the light was reflecting on the ice, Aang noticed something off. He couldn't see his reflection on the ice. He looked at himself and realized he was in a bluish-transparent appearance.
"I'm in the Spirit World!" he exclaimed with surprise and disarray.
Another realization came across his mind, "That's why I couldn't airbend."
The young airbender was in total disarray. Not only Elsa was somewhere in the spirit world, but he was also there without any understanding of how to leave it. He didn't know what to do. Looking at the sky, he told himself, "What am I supposed to do? Avatar Roku, how can I talk to you?"
The young airbender turned his head in disappointment. More than ever he needed to speak to his previous life to understand what it meant to be the Avatar and to find how to help Elsa to return to her world. He suddenly heard something.
"Elsa?" he asked as he turned around.
He then noticed a dragon coming toward him. "That's definitely not Elsa," he commented.
On instinct, he tried to fly away, but couldn't. He remembered he couldn't airbend. Feeling afraid, he saw the dragon landing just before him. Straightening himself, Aang asked, "You don't know where Elsa is, do you?"
The dragon extended one of his tendrils and touched his forehead. Aang suddenly had a vision of Roku flying on this dragon. "You're Avatar Roku's animal guide! Like Appa is to me! I need to save my friend and I don't know how! Is there some way for me to talk to Roku?"
The dragon curled around him and he got on him. "Take me to Roku!"
The dragon got up and flew away, bringing the young Avatar towards an unknown destination.
Time seemed to blur as Elsa traversed the landscape. She scanned her surroundings with a practiced eye, observing with cautious and marvel this strange environment. For some reason, she didn't feel the burden of exhaustion or of her physical needs. It was as if they were dormant. She wasn't how to feel about it or what could be the result when she left this place.
As she walked through, the vibrant flowers morphed into strange, luminescent plants that pulsed with an ethereal light. With each step, she felt a deeper connection to this fantastical realm, a sense that it resonated with her very being as the Fifth Spirit.
She suddenly heard a faint voice in the distance, as if someone were calling out for help. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried in the direction of the sound, her senses on high alert. Curiosity ignited within her. Focusing, she listened intently. There it was again, a faint voice, seemingly lost and searching.
Crouching low, Elsa crept closer, her movements silent and fluid. She peeked through the vibrant foliage, searching for the source of the voice. Was it another lost soul trapped in the spirit world? Was it one of the lost villagers Hei Bai had taken?
"Hello?" she called out cautiously, her voice barely a whisper. The voice didn't respond, but the rustling grew louder, as if the source was coming closer.
Her heart hammered against her ribs, a familiar war drum against a rising tide of determination. Aang and the others needed her, and she wouldn't let them down. With renewed purpose, Elsa pushed through the voice, her steps light on the spongy earth, her senses attuned to every whisper of the wind, every rustle of leaves. She wasn't sure what or who she would find, but she had nothing to lose there and fear and uncertainty had no place there.
As he was gliding back to the village, Aang was pondering what he had seen when traveling with Roku's dragon. He knew how to reach out to his previous life and that a comet was at stake, but he was also wary due to the location of the island and how much time he had to contact Roku. He also wondered about the vision of Elsa in an icy place, wondering if it was tied to why she was here. The silver lining was that he had returned from the spirit world and would know how to handle Hei Bai. Elsa's advice and his accidental journey to the spirit world gave him all he needed to reach out to the spirit.
As he reached the village, he saw the ice wall was still there. He wondered why the villagers and his friends didn't break it, but that could await. Flying over the wall he landed on the main alley of the village. The young airbender saw with relief Katara and Sokka rushing to him while some villagers were near the meeting building.
"You're back!" Katara exclaimed in relief as she embraced him.
Aang saw Sokka approaching him and looking relieved, even though he was looking around as if trying to find someone.
"Where's Elsa?" He asked baffled and concerned.
Katara looked behind Aang and then at her friend, her assuaged glance now marred by concern.
"I'm not sure," the young airbender replied, uncertainty in his voice.
Sokka looked at him stunned and confused. "What do you mean you're not sure?"
"Hei Bai took her when we tried to talk him down," Aang replied.
The two water siblings looked concerned and worried.
"Kay-Fon and Elder Jioran were thinking that was what happened," Katara said.
Sokka's face paled, his bravado crumbling. "Took her?" he repeated, voice confused and grave. "Where?"
"I think into the spirit world," Aang answered in a slight uncertainty, albeit tempered by a newfound determination.
The two siblings looked further anxious by the revelation, even though Sokka was more conflicted and confused.
"How are we going to find her back?" asked Katara in a concerned and anxious voice.
The young airbender looked at her reassuringly, "Don't worry. I will bring the villagers and her back."
Sokka looked at him a bit conflicted, "Yeah, that worked well the previous night."
Aang's expression was determined as he glanced at his friends. "But now I know how to speak to Hei Bai."
As she neared the source of the voice, Elsa's senses sharpened, each sound and movement amplified in the eerie stillness of the forest. She felt a strange tension in the air as if the very atmosphere held its breath in anticipation.
Then, she saw standing before her another barrier of intricately woven bamboo stalks, taller than her and impossibly strong, blocking her path. It was a clear obstacle, meant to keep something out, or perhaps something in. Frustration gnawed at her. How was she supposed to find her way back or locate the villagers if she couldn't even move freely through this forest?
Taking a deep breath, Elsa steeled herself. This wasn't the time to be discouraged. Raising her hands, she focused, searching for the familiar tingle that usually heralded her powers. But there was nothing. Panic threatened to rise, but she pushed it down. There had to be another way. This was the spirit world. Perhaps her powers worked differently here or not at all.
As doubt flickered in her mind, a faint shimmer appeared at her fingertips, growing brighter by the second. With a surge of determination, she unleashed the magic within. A flurry of ice and snow erupted from her hands, a dazzling display of power that shattered the oppressive silence. The frigid blast slammed into the bamboo barrier, freezing the stalks solid before shattering them into a thousand glittering shards. With a satisfied nod, Elsa stepped forward, her confidence renewed.
But before she could find out the source of the voice, a strange sensation washed over her, a pull that seemed to tug at her very essence. A series of bamboo branches suddenly grew around her, accompanied by a flashing light that momentarily blinded her.
As the light extinguished, Elsa's eyes adjusted to the surroundings, and and emerged from the branches. She then noticed the familiar sight of the entrance to the village. Relief flooded her heart as she realized they had returned to the real world. She knew Aang had managed to reach out to Hei Bai to stop him from attacking the village and its people. Looking around she saw a gigantic panda moving back to the forest, letting her think it might be Hei Bai. On a strange occurrence, the huge being stopped on his tracks and looked back. Elsa felt it was looking at her as if acknowledging her, especially as he titled his head as if he was saluting. That made her wonder why. She didn't have time to ponder as she suddenly heard familiar voices calling her name exclaiming in relief and joy.
"Elsa!"
Turning around, she saw Aang, Katara, and Sokka rushing towards them, relief evident on their faces. Without hesitation, the young waterbender enveloped Elsa in a tight embrace, followed by Aang. Sokka approached next, his expression a mix of relief and gratitude.
As Elsa glanced around, she saw three villagers being reunited with their loved ones, tears of joy streaming down their faces. She guessed they must be the villagers Hei Bai took with him in his previous attacks and a sense of warmth washed over her, knowing that they had made it back safely.
With a grateful smile, Elsa embraced her newfound friends, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for their bond and the strength they had found in each other.
"Elsa! Are you alright?" Aang's voice was filled with concern as he pulled back from the embrace, his eyes searching hers for any sign of distress.
Elsa offered him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Aang," she replied softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tired, but relieved to be back."
Her friends smiled in relief at her answer. Seeing that reaction made Elsa wonder how much her absence affected them.
"How long was I gone?" she asked.
"You were trapped in the Spirit World for 24 hours!" Katara exclaimed, her voice reflecting both shock and relief, as she released her friend from the hug.
Sokka chimed in, his tone tinged with a hint of unease. "Yeah, we were pretty freaked out when we saw that ice wall appear last night and when Aang returned without you," he admitted in a voice both relieved and freaked out.
Elsa's brows furrowed slightly at the revelation, confused and concerned. She looked apologetically at her friends, aware she made them worried. Her gaze shifted towards the entrance of the village, where her ice wall still stood, albeit broken at the entrance, likely from Hei Bai's second attack. Sensing it wasn't needed anymore, she dismissed the ice, forming a large snowflake with the ice she had created before dispersing it into the air.
Gasps and murmurs erupted from behind her, drawing Elsa's attention back to the villagers and the village leader. The latter stepped forward, gratitude etched into his features.
"Thank you, Avatar," he began, his voice filled with sincerity. "If only there were a way to repay you for what you've done."
Aang bowed in respect while Sokka didn't hesitate to offer a suggestion in a pratical tone. "You could give us some supplies, and some money."
Elsa couldn't help but chuckle softly at Sokka's straightforwardness, even though she agreed with his sentiment. Katara shot her brother a reproachful look, "Sokka!"
He looked at his sister with a confused glance, "What? We need stuff."
Elder Jioran responded with a gracious smile. "It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey," he assured them, his gaze turning towards Elsa. "I understand now why the Avatar trusts you," he added, nodding towards Elsa's ice powers. "Thank you for your help and for preserving our village."
Elsa's heart swelled with pride at the acknowledgment, feeling her friends' eyes on her with a mixture of admiration and respect. She knew they made a formidable team, each bringing their own strengths to the table.
With a grateful smile, she returned the village leader's gaze and bowed respectfully in return. "Thank you, Elder Jiaoran. We'll make sure to be ready for whatever comes next," she assured him, her voice filled with determination.
The man titled his head in agreement before moving away to ensure his duties. As the villagers began to disperse, Elsa turned back to her friends, a sense of camaraderie and solidarity filling her heart. She looked at Aang with proud and happy eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Aang. You managed to find how to calm Hei Bai down and bring back peace."
Aang's face lit up with a bright smile, his eyes reflecting the genuine happiness at Elsa's praise. "Thanks, Elsa," he replied, gratitude evident in his tone. "I couldn't have done it without your advice and experience. Your intervention prevented further damage before I could figure out how to communicate with Hei Bai."
Sokka chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, we couldn't have done it without you, Elsa."
Katara, her voice filled with gratitude, stepped forward to join the conversation. "Thank you, Elsa, for your help in finding the solution."
Elsa's cheeks flushed at the praise. She acquiesced to Katara with a smile before turning to Aang as she was intrigued. "How did you achieve to reach out Hei Bai?"
Aang, his cheeks flushed with pride, scratched the back of his head bashfully. "Being in the spirit world allowed me to see how to speak to him. There's something else."
Sokka, always curious, leaned in with interest. "What is it, Aang?"
Aang's expression turned serious as he revealed his plan. "I need to talk to Roku, and I think I found a way to contact his spirit."
Katara's eyes widened with excitement. "That's great news, Aang!"
"Creepy, but great," Sokka quipped, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.
Elsa nodded in agreement, her mind already processing the implications of the young airbender's revelation. "Yes, that would be incredibly helpful for you."
Aang nodded eagerly, his excitement palpable. "There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island, and if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak with him," he explained, his voice filled with determination.
Katara's eyes widened in realization. "But the solstice is tomorrow!" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of surprise and urgency.
Elsa's brows furrowed slightly in concern. "That's not much time to prepare," she murmured.
"Yeah, and there's one more problem. The island is in the Fire Nation," Aang added, his expression troubled.
Katara and Sokka grew visibly fearful at the revelation, exchanging concerned glances as they processed the danger of venturing into enemy territory.
Elsa's heart sank as she considered the implications of their predicament. She knew how dangerous it could be for Aang to go into the Fire Nation territory with the current situation and the fact he was their target due to his situation as the Avatar.
But if it was the only way for Aang to contact the previous Avatar, then she would help him to reach him out. Anything he could find that would allow him to become the Avatar the world needed would be welcome, even if she had to do everything to help and protect him. She knew that Katara and Sokka were also resilient and determined and would accompany Aang to do the right thing. And she knew that she couldn't let them face this danger alone.
It reminded her a bit of what she decided to do when she awoke the spirits of the Enchanted Forest. She knew she had to find the forest and Ahtohallan, even if she didn't know how dangerous it would be or not. But this time, she was doing what Anna did in accompanying her. While feeling a slight pang at the thought of her sister, Elsa straightened herself.
"We'll manage," she said firmly, kneeling down beside Aang and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll find a way to get you to that temple safely."
Aang looked up at Elsa, gratitude and determination shining in his eyes. "But I can't ask you to come with me," he protested, his voice filled with concern for their safety.
Elsa met his gaze with a gentle smile. "You're not asking," she said softly. "We're offering. We're in this together, Aang."
Katara stepped forward, her eyes reflecting the same determination as Elsa's. "The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation," she said firmly, her voice tinged with worry. "Neither can I."
Elsa noticed Aang was blushing a bit as if Katara's words moved him. She had observed how he seemed to have the young water tribe girl's attention.
Sokka nodded in agreement, his usual bravado replaced by a solemn expression. "Yeah, we've got your back, Aang," he said, his tone serious yet supportive.
The young Avatar felt a surge of gratitude and relief wash over him, knowing that he had friends who were willing to stand by him no matter what. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
Elsa smiled, her heart swelling with pride for her young friends. "We'll make sure you don't have to find out," she said, her voice steady and reassuring. "Now let's start planning. We've got a solstice to prepare for."