The Black & White Spirit
-Zuko's Point of View-
"We've interrogated most of the nearby villages and some of them have said that they witnessed a flying buffalo heading north. I believe it's the Avatar," Lieutenant reported.
"We'll keep heading north then. Let's ask the nearby villages we passed by on the way," I answered. "Ready the rhinos! We'll continue this search on land," I commanded.
"You're heading out Prince Zuko? It's already peak afternoon," uncle said as he walked outside of the quarters. "I'm not going alone. We're all going," I sternly answered and then I walked towards the rhino's compartment.
We better do this quickly if we want to find the Avatar before sundown.
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-Maya's Point of View-
Hours have passed since we last had a pit stop for lunchtime and by now it's probably close to dusk.
I am resting on the rear end of the saddle and Sokka is sitting opposite to me. Katara is in the middle laying on her stomach and sightseeing the clouds. Aang was on top of Appa's head with Momo. All of us are taking this time as an opportunity to relax— you know before any mishaps happen again.
Gosh... Thinking back on it, it's been days since we left the south pole and we're not yet halfway to the North but there's already been a lot of things going on. I'm surprised we've made it this far.
"Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down and you'd land on a big soft cotton heap," Katara suddenly said while admiring the fluffy clouds. I also looked at them and she was right. With the clouds turning bright pink because of the nearing sunset, they look like a bunch of fluffy cotton candies floating in the air.
"Maybe you should give it a try!" Sokka teased Katara. "You're hilarious," Katara sarcastically replied. These siblings seriously, even when resting, always have time to argue.
"I'll try it!" Aang suddenly shouted. He jolted up and jumped into the air with his glider in hand. The three of us peeked from the saddle's edge to look at Aang. He tackled one of the clouds and swiftly passed by it. Until we couldn't see him anymore.
When we were wondering where he went or what had happened to him, we suddenly heard from behind us a whooshing noise of the wind. We looked back and we saw Aang riding his glider and then he landed on top of the saddle. He was completely soaked with water.
"Turns out clouds are made of water," Aang said and then he placed his glider down and air bent himself dry. Momo was affected by Aang's air bending and it made his fur frizzy.
We were all looking at Aang and Momo until Katara suddenly noticed something from afar. "Hey, What is that?" she asked and then she walked towards the saddle's front end.
All of us followed behind her and then we saw, from a distance not so far away— a gigantic black spot in the middle of the forest. "It's like a scar," Sokka said. I looked at it with my eyebrows crossed, and I can't help but feel a raging anger inside of me. Who would ever do this?! Why would anyone burn down such an innocent forest?!
"Let's land down there and have a look," I said with an angry tone. A few minutes later, when we reached the center of the burnt area of the forest, we landed down there and had a look at the surroundings.
"Listen... It's so quiet... There's no life anywhere," Sokka said as he looked at the burnt tree trunks. I knelt down and scooped the ashes into my hands and slowly drizzled them into the air. "I don't understand. Why would anyone do this? Who would even do this?" I asked while looking angrily at the ashed ground.
Suddenly I heard Katara call out to Aang. "Aang? Are you okay?" Katara asked. I looked at Aang and I saw that he was standing still in front of a burnt log. I slowly stood up and walked towards Katara.
"What's wrong?" I asked her. "I don't know. Ever since we first saw this burnt forest, Aang suddenly became quiet and he hasn't said a word," Katara answered. I looked at Aang once more filled with concern. Maybe he's feeling the way I do. I mean, who wouldn't be sad at such a sight like this? Whoever did this really has no shame or care for the environment.
"FIRE NATION!" Sokka suddenly shouted. I looked at him and then he kept shouting words as he stood up and looked at us. "I JUST SAW RHINO MARKS AND FIRE NATION SOLDIER FOOTPRINTS! THEY'RE THE ONES BEHIND THIS! UGH! THOSE EVIL SAVAGES MAKE ME SICK! THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR—" Sokka was cut off when Katara shushed him.
"What? I'm not allowed to be angry?" Sokka angrily asked in a whisper. Katara pointed at Aang who was looking depressed and I kept on staring at Sokka with fear. Sokka noticed my expression toward him. He suddenly calmed down and he said, "No... Wait... Maya, I didn't mean I hate all of Fire Nation... I just hate the evil ones— you know what I mean?"
"I know..." I timidly replied and then I switched my gaze from him to Aang.
Aang suddenly fell down to his knees and then he slid his palm on the ash ground. "How could I let this happen?" Aang asked sadly. "Aang you didn't let this happen. None of this is your fault. It has nothing to do with you," I said to him in hopes that I'd be able to at least give him some comfort.
"Yes, it does! It's the Avatar's job to protect nature— but I don't know how to do my job." Aang said as he slumped his head on top of his palms. "That's why we're going to the north pole! To find you a teacher!" Katara said.
"Yeah. A waterbending teacher, but there's no one that could teach me how to be the Avatar." Aang replied, looking at Katara and then quickly looking away afterward. "Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me," Aang continued. "The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago how are you supposed to talk to him?" Sokka suddenly asked.
"I don't know..." Aang answered. Just then Momo came crawling in on Aang and laid down on top of his lap. Aang gently patted the lemur's head while still looking sad.
"Aang..." Katara said as she walks closer to where Aang is but I stopped her and grabbed onto her shoulder. I looked at her with a serious face and slowly shook. "Let's leave him be. He needs time to think. We'll think of a way to cheer him up later," I said to Katara.
Katara switched glances from me to Aang, and back at me again— and then she gave me a nod. I smiled at her and said, "C'mon. Why don't we go around and have a look at the burnt forest? Let's see if there's anything in here that's salvageable or you know— anything that can cheer Aang up,"
With that, Katara and I stepped away far from the boys for the moment and had a look around the burnt forest.
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-Zuko's Point of View-
"Prince Zuko, reports from a small village said that they saw a floating bison land on the burnt area of the forest. Judging by the reports, they said that they saw it just a while ago. I suspect that the Avatar is currently in there," Lieutenant reported.
"Then we're going to that burnt forest," I replied. "There's a river that passes through that area of the forest. I suggest that we head there by ship instead of riding rhinos. The river's current will make us get there faster," Lieutenant proposed.
"Very well..." I answered. "All of us head back to the ship! We're leaving as soon as everyone's on board!" I yelled at the crew.
Hmm... Something's not right. I feel like I'm missing something. "Prince Zuko, General Iroh is nowhere to be seen," one of the crew suddenly said. "What?! Where was he last seen?!" I angrily asked.
"He was with us just a few minutes ago. While we were heading back to the agreed huddle point, we passed by those bushes of bamboo and as soon as we got out, he wasn't with us anymore," the crew answered.
I let out a huge grunt while staring at the tall clusters of bamboo that were in front of me. I quickly got off of the rhino and looked at lieutenant. "Lieutenant! Take this rhino back to the ship and get everyone on board. I will look for my uncle," I commanded. "Yes, Prince Zuko," Lieutenant answered.
After that, I slowly walked through the tall grasses of bamboo while calling out to my uncle. "Uncle! Where are you?! It's time to leave! Uncle Iroh!" I shouted while pushing the grass out of my way. Once I was out of the tall bamboo grass, I suddenly heard my uncle's voice call out to me.
"Over here Prince Zuko," I heard him say in a calm and relaxed manner. "Uncle?" I asked as I walked closer to where the voice was coming from. There, I saw my uncle sitting inside a flowing pool of hot springs.
What is he doing? There's no time for leisure things like this! We need to keep on moving to look for the Avatar!
"Uncle what are you doing?! We need to move on! We're closing in on the Avatar's trail, and I don't want to lose him!" I shouted. Uncle looked back at me with an extremely calm face and then he said, "You look tired Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?"
I furrowed my brows while looking at him and then I answered back while shouting, "My troubles cannot be soaked away! IT'S TIME TO GO!" Uncle closed his eyes and once more indulged himself in the hotness of the spring water.
"You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right... I heated it myself," Uncle said and then he released steam from his nose and into the water. Mist emerged from the spring and fogged the surroundings but I quickly fanned it away with my hand.
"Enough! We need to leave now! Get out of the water!" I continued shouting at him. "Very well," Uncle said as he shamelessly stood up from the hot spring without any undergarments on. I hurriedly looked away and covered the view with my hands.
"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes— but be back in the ship in half an hour, or I'm leaving without you!" I shouted and then I quickly stepped out of the place without looking back at Uncle.
Geez... Uncle can really be such a drag sometimes... but he's the only one I've got. I guess I have no choice but to wait for him... Ugh! I hope the Avatar is still in the burnt forest.
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-Maya's Point of View-
Katara and I had a walk around the forest just a few meters away from the guys. While walking, I can't help but think deeply about what the fire nation did to the forest. What motive could they possibly have to make them burn down an innocent and non-harmful place? What did the forest ever do to them?
"You're starting to look like Aang..." I suddenly heard Katara say. I gave her a quick glance and then I looked away afterwards. "I'm just sad— I guess?" I replied to her.
"Sad about the forest?" she asked. "That, and also sad about what the fire nation had become..." I answered and then I stopped walking. "Maya? What's wrong?" Katara asked, looking worried.
"Could it really be that the fire nation's true nature is evilness? Is it really too late for them to change?" I asked. "It's actually hard to answer those questions..." Katara replied.
"But if there's one thing I can assure you with is that not everyone in the fire nation is bad people— because there's you, Aunt Anika, and Aunt Anika's friends! I believe that there are more people like you in the fire nation. It's just that they are being left no choice to follow under their government's rule or else it'll cost them their lives." Katara continued.
"I hope you're right..." I said to Katara as I looked away from her. She placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me that same motherly smile that always comforts me. "Come on, why don't we just head back to the boys?" she said and then I nod to her in reply.
While we were walking back to the place where we left the guys, Katara suddenly shouted, "OUCH!" and she fell to the ground. "Katara! Are you alright?" I asked as I knelt down to her. "What was that?!" she asked, irritated.
I then went to the spot she stepped on and from there we saw a small pile of acorns shallowly buried to the ground. "Acorns? What are those things doing in there?" Katara asked while slowly standing up. "I don't know, but maybe...." I replied but then I stopped mid-way and had a look around the forest.
"That's it! I know how to cheer Aang up!" I continued. I quickly grabbed three pieces of acorns in my hands and then ran back to where Sokka and Aang were.
"Come on Katara! Let's go!" I yelled at her excitingly. "Wait a minute! Wait for me!" she shouted back.
When we got back to where they guys were, we saw them sitting on the ground, a few meters away from each other. Seriously? What's up with guys and their awkward distance?
I walked towards Aang and then I asked, "Hey Aang! Are you ready to be cheered up?" He didn't even give me a look and just answered, "No..." in a very discouraged tone.
I mischievously smiled at him and then I threw one of the acorns right at his head. He shouted, "Ow!" once the acorn hit him. Ha! Head-shot!
"Hey! How is that cheering me up?" he asked in an irritated manner. I suddenly heard Sokka laughing from where he was sitting. "Haha! Cheered me up!" he said. I decided to hit him with an acorn as well. Just— you know, for fair treatment. "Ow! Yeah... I probably deserve that." he said after getting hit by the acorn.
Katara and I laughed at Sokka and when we were done, I slowly walked closer to Aang and then I showed him the acorn in my hand. "These acorns are everywhere Aang!" I said. He looked at me with a confused look as if questioning the relevance of the acorn with what he was feeling.
I smiled at him and continued, "That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday— and all the animals and birds that used to live here will come back." And then I took his hand and placed the acorn on top of it.
"So cheer up Aang. This burnt area will become a glorious forest again someday." I finished explaining and gave him a smile. He looked at me and finally smiled as well. "Thanks, Maya..." he said and then he clenched the acorn in his hand.
We suddenly heard someone approaching and when we looked at who it was, we saw an old man walking towards us with a wooden cane in hand.
Sokka quickly stood up and shouted at the old man. "Hey! Who are you?" he shouted. The old man didn't give Sokka any attention and he continued walking closer to Aang. "When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings..." the old man said as he stopped in front of Aang.
"Are you the Avatar child?" he asked afterward. Aang looked at Katara as if asking permission from a mother to talk with a stranger. Katara nodded to Aang as confirmation so the Aang looked back at the old stranger and nodded as well.
"My village desperately needs your help! You have to come with me." The old man said filled with worry. "Why? What's wrong with your village?" I asked. "Is it the fire nation?" Sokka asked as well. "Maybe we can help too!" Katara gleefully said.
"I believe not, only the Avatar can help solve our problem... Come with me, we need to get to the village quickly before sundown," the old man said and then he went on his way. All four of us gave each other glances before following behind the old man.
We followed the old man into a small village, and inside of it were ruins of houses that were severely damaged. The damages are too big that most of the houses are unlivable. There are no people around to be seen either. "These are some serious damages," I said as I stopped in front of one of the houses.
"The sun is almost down, we need to get to safety before it appears again. Follow me to the town hall," the old man said as he continued walking deep into the village.
"What will appear again?" Sokka asked but the old man was too far away to hear. He looked at me and I just shrugged at him. I don't know what he's talking about why are you looking at me?
We followed the old man once more until he made a stop in front of the only structure in the village with no damage. I think it's the town hall. "The other village people are inside, I can't wait to introduce you to them," the old man said and then he went inside the place. Sokka, Katara, and Aang went inside. I hang back for a few seconds to tell Appa to stay at the town hall's side for the meantime. Appa then walked to the right side of the town hall and lay down there. Momo flew to my shoulder and then I went inside with him.
Inside the town hall, I saw that all of the village folk were there. I think they've been staying in there for a while now. Geez, there are even children, elderly, and sick people in here. Whoever is terrorizing this place and destroying their homes, those people need to stop.
"This young person is the Avatar," the old man said, introducing Aang to all of the village people inside. "So the rumors of your return are true. It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence," a middle-aged villager suddenly said while walking towards Aang and afterward bowing down in front of him. Aang bowed down as well and he greeted, "Nice to meet you too."
Aang had a look around the whole building before asking, "So... Is there something I can help you with?" The middle-aged man looked away from Aang and answered, "I'm not sure..." he said. Just then the old man walked towards him and place a hand on his shoulder. "Our village is in crisis! He's our only hope!" the old man pleaded.
The middle-aged man nodded his head but still, he remained silent. The old guy looked at us and started explaining what was the village's problem. "For the last few days— at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit," the old man said.
Oh... Okay so we weren't coming up against humans... that explains the ruins. But strange, I've never heard of spirits attacking humans— well not unless they've done something to anger the spirit, but they don't seem to be like the ones to harm something.
"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka seriously asked. "We do not know!" the younger man said and then he walked towards the town hall's entrance and leaned on its door frame. "But each of the last three nights, it has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near," he continued.
"What happens then?" Katara asked. "As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer, until the line between them is blurred completely," the old man explained.
Oh boy, that doesn't sound good.
"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen!" the middle-aged villager added. "So... what do you want me to do exactly?" Aang asked again.
The old man walked up to him and said, "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!" the old man said.
Wait, wait, wait... Hold on just a minute there. Do you mean to tell me that you want Aang to face this dangerous monster that can pulverize a single house in one night? I don't know, I mean I want to trust Aang but, he told me he's never even encountered a spirit before. How is he going to solve this?
"Riiiiiight... That's me?" Aang answered, unsure. I hurriedly went to Aang's side and said, "Hey, great bridge guy! Can I talk to you over here for a second?" I said and then I walked near one of the town hall's windows. Aang followed behind me and so did Katara and Sokka.
"Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this," I said. "Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world," he answered. Katara and Sokka looked at me and I looked at the two of them as well. We were all looking confused. "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!" Aang shouted at us.
"So... can you help these people?" Katara suddenly asked. "I have to try don't I?" Aang answered. "Maybe whatever I have to do will just, come to me..." he continued and then he gave the three of us an assuring smile. Momo flew on top of his shoulder and then he patted him.
"Alright, I'll believe in you Aang," Katara said. "Yeah... We're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster." Sokka calmly said. I gave him a whack on the head that made him kneel on the floor. I looked at Aang and then I said, "I know you can do it Aang, but please, be safe..." and then I gave him the sweetest smile I can.
This Hei Bai spirit must have something he wants to tell the village folks, like what Aang told me back then when he said that maybe the spirit in my dreams is trying to tell me something as well. Whatever it is, we better figure it out soon before the winter solstice comes.