Post by Teяa253 on Oct 11, 2008 1:28:05 GMT 1
chapter 13; Order of the Avatar Slayer.
turns out Zakura does have feelings... lol
CHAPTER 13: NIGHT IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
That evening, everyone (even Cheng and Taki) was asleep as was normal. Even Zakura wasn’t up pulling her usually nightly prank on someone. In fact, Zakura of all people was certainly not up. She was in a completely different dimension—the spirit world.
“Bloody mercy,” she exclaimed, “where am I, how did I get here, and why am I here?”
“It should be obvious, avatar Zakura,” said a voice, but Zakura could not locate its source. She looked around this way and that.
“How did you know who I was,” she barked, “show yourself!”
“Zakura,” said the voice, “you can’t honestly believe that I don’t know who you are. Look at where you are; who do you think is talking to you”
“It would help if I knew where I was, perhaps,” said Zakura indifferently,
“Alright,” said the voice, “I’ll give you a hint: you’re in the spirit world”
“So,” said Zakura, “either you’re some dead stalker, or some avatar.”
“Try the latter one, perhaps,” said the voice again, “and now you know how I know you are the avatar. You and I am the same person.”
“What are you—show yourself,” Zakura barked again
“Zakura,” said the voice, and she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, “you always were an unorthodox type. You’ve certainly gave the avatar a rather interesting name.”
“Bah,” Zakura shrugged and she turned around. In front of her was an old water tribe man whom she seemed to recognize, yet had never seen; he has long, flowing hair, wore clothing like water tribe warriors would outside of their homeland
“Avatar Lahka,” she exclaimed,
“Now you’re catching on,” avatar Lahka chuckled,
“So why did you bring me here,” Zakura asked,
“Every avatar will visit the spirit world many times in their life, depending on its length.” Lahka replied, “You are no exception, Zakura.”
“So this is just like some sort of monthly checkup then,” Zakura asked, “I’ll probably fail any ‘spirit check’ I reckon”
“Zakura,” said Lahka, “like you always say: ‘no one is perfect; not even the avatar.’ that is a true statement. Everyone is different. It’s not like you were the first person to have “faults”. Although I will say that your choice of dress and appearance is a little—it makes you stand out.”
“So, bite me over it, alright,” Zakura shrugged, “if I honestly cared I wouldn’t do the things I do.”
“Relax, Zakura, it’s not like the world is all out to get—never mind.”
“Now do you see my situation, Lahka,” said Zakura, “the world really IS out to get me. It’s not called The Order of the Avatar Slayer because it sounds cool. My own parents are top members of the said organization.”
“Ah, The Order,” said Lahka, “alas, it was just after my day. In my old age, they would have hunted me down, but they figured I was doomed to die in a few years anyways, and they were right. So instead they infested the Earth Kingdom—actually all four corners of the world—to try and find the earth kingdom baby.
Their leader, Xin Shing, actually encountered me right before I died. He told me that his group knew how to force an avatar into the avatar state, and that he planned to do it to me. Incidentally, we were not far from the Western Air Temple. I took a dive off of the canyon and away from Xin Shing, despite the fact that he could have followed me.
He knew that I was going to go to the Western Air Temple, and I knew it too. I went in through a secret entrance (a little earthbending was necessary), and by the time Xin Shing got there I had passed away. I had worked myself too hard, but my mission was complete. Thankfully he did not harm any of those poor air sisters, as that would have incurred my anger through you. He didn’t believe them when they said I was dead.”
“Get out of my way,” Xin Shing snapped, pushing them aside and examining Lahka’s body; he felt desperately for any signs of life, as if Lahka was his best friend. He screamed in rage when he saw that Lahka was dead, and he then had no further purpose at the Western Air Temple, for although he had frightened the Air Sisters there, they stubbornly refused to give him Lahka’s body.
“And that is where you came in, Zakura,” said Lahka, finishing his tale, “and now you are the next avatar.”
“I obviously knew that by now,” Zakura chuckled,
“I should hope so,” Lahka replied, also chuckling, “you literally have the finest teachers the world can provide at this time.”
“Eh, about that,” said Zakura, “one of them—the firebender, said that she hated me and would have rather taught you.”
“How old is she,” Lahka asked, “surely she can’t be that old,
“Eh,” Zakura shrugged, “29, I think. And then the earthbender’s 30, the airbender is 31, and the waterbender 32; they were a close group.”
“So they were little children in my later years,” said Lahka, “how does she know me then?”
“I don’t know,” said Zakura, “but she said some things that got me mad. She acted like I CHOSE to be the avatar and screw it all up.”
“What are you, wait: screw it all up? When did you do that?”
“Please tell me you’ve noticed my indifference towards being the avatar,” said Zakura, as if this was obvious (which it was).
“I have noticed,” Said Lahka, “but I can sympathize with you, Zakura. You may not really recognize it or maybe even care about it, but you’ve had a hard life. You are forced to remain hidden—unable to use your talents without being hunted down. You never had a proper family even. There are not many people, let alone in the avatar cycle, like that.”
“I had a family,” Zakura shrugged, “and they gave me anything I want and let me do what I pleased, as long as there was no bending involved.”
“And that was what you liked doing best, wasn’t it?”
“It was. And I was so good at it that I was banned from Earth Rumble.”
“You sure it wasn’t because you cheated, eh, Zakura?”
“Err... okay fine, I’d cheat sometimes. But either way, I had so much fun. However, when I was 16, I just straight-up left home. I used earthbending to make my escape, and have not returned since then. I soon ran into The Four Benders, who were called The Avatar Guard at the time. They had a friend of theirs—a strange pointy-eared girl with yellow eyes named Tera, who was able to tell what sort of bender a person was, regardless of how they tried to hide it. She told me I was the avatar.
From then on, those four benders never left me alone. They became close friends with me, despite my seeming indifference. They were determined to teach me, and I was eager to learn. I guess I owe them much more than I give them based on how I treat them. In fact, I’ve kind of been a rather lousy scumbag to them, especially the firebender. She probably got the worst of it, as she was my first teacher. The earthbender was there to enhance my skills, and he did so while I was learning the other elements. Still, that firebender; I... I really treated her like crud. Even now I know that I still don’t give her the respect she deserves.”
“So now do you see why you were brought here,” Lahka asked,
“So I could confess my thoughts to one of my past lives,” Zakura asked,
“If you would like me to call for Avatar Wen I would be more than happy to,” Lahka laughed,
“Err, no thanks,” said Zakura flatly; “maybe if the fire avatar before him was a girl then maybe I’d say yes, but otherwise, I’m fine.”
“The last female avatar before you was Avatar Komae of the water tribes,” said Lahka, “so the water avatar before me; what’s wrong with the men though; afraid they’ll be taller than you?”
“Hush,” said Zakura, punching Lahka’s arm. It was funny how that worked in the spirit world. Nonetheless, Lahka was right. Zakura was a shorter woman, but was built incredibly tough.
“I think what I’d be afraid of;” said Zakura “is making them look bad.”
She pulled the sleeve of her jacket up and flexed. Her arm was about as large as a youth’s leg. She chuckled.
“Either way,” said Lahka, “one of these days I’m going to be bringing you here with the intent of learning from your past lives. I’m surprised that one with such an arrogant nature could be such an eager learner.”
“hey,” said Zakura, “what’s that supposed to mean?”
Lahka merely smiled. A few moments later, Zakura found herself back in her room, lying face up staring at the ceiling. She got up and decided to stroll around the place, like she sometimes did at night. There was always someone else wandering around to talk to.
She had slept in her clothes, with the exception of her ankle guards, her hat and her jacket, and she didn’t bother taking the time to put those on. Besides, it wasn’t like she was going out in public—and she was the avatar. She could do what she pleased. The things that Avatar Lahka had told her were running through her mind. He didn’t really seem too upset about who she was. He supported her on her stance that even the avatar is only human, and that he or she was not perfect. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had actually learned quite a bit from her Night in the Spirit World.
~Azula~
turns out Zakura does have feelings... lol
CHAPTER 13: NIGHT IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
That evening, everyone (even Cheng and Taki) was asleep as was normal. Even Zakura wasn’t up pulling her usually nightly prank on someone. In fact, Zakura of all people was certainly not up. She was in a completely different dimension—the spirit world.
“Bloody mercy,” she exclaimed, “where am I, how did I get here, and why am I here?”
“It should be obvious, avatar Zakura,” said a voice, but Zakura could not locate its source. She looked around this way and that.
“How did you know who I was,” she barked, “show yourself!”
“Zakura,” said the voice, “you can’t honestly believe that I don’t know who you are. Look at where you are; who do you think is talking to you”
“It would help if I knew where I was, perhaps,” said Zakura indifferently,
“Alright,” said the voice, “I’ll give you a hint: you’re in the spirit world”
“So,” said Zakura, “either you’re some dead stalker, or some avatar.”
“Try the latter one, perhaps,” said the voice again, “and now you know how I know you are the avatar. You and I am the same person.”
“What are you—show yourself,” Zakura barked again
“Zakura,” said the voice, and she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, “you always were an unorthodox type. You’ve certainly gave the avatar a rather interesting name.”
“Bah,” Zakura shrugged and she turned around. In front of her was an old water tribe man whom she seemed to recognize, yet had never seen; he has long, flowing hair, wore clothing like water tribe warriors would outside of their homeland
“Avatar Lahka,” she exclaimed,
“Now you’re catching on,” avatar Lahka chuckled,
“So why did you bring me here,” Zakura asked,
“Every avatar will visit the spirit world many times in their life, depending on its length.” Lahka replied, “You are no exception, Zakura.”
“So this is just like some sort of monthly checkup then,” Zakura asked, “I’ll probably fail any ‘spirit check’ I reckon”
“Zakura,” said Lahka, “like you always say: ‘no one is perfect; not even the avatar.’ that is a true statement. Everyone is different. It’s not like you were the first person to have “faults”. Although I will say that your choice of dress and appearance is a little—it makes you stand out.”
“So, bite me over it, alright,” Zakura shrugged, “if I honestly cared I wouldn’t do the things I do.”
“Relax, Zakura, it’s not like the world is all out to get—never mind.”
“Now do you see my situation, Lahka,” said Zakura, “the world really IS out to get me. It’s not called The Order of the Avatar Slayer because it sounds cool. My own parents are top members of the said organization.”
“Ah, The Order,” said Lahka, “alas, it was just after my day. In my old age, they would have hunted me down, but they figured I was doomed to die in a few years anyways, and they were right. So instead they infested the Earth Kingdom—actually all four corners of the world—to try and find the earth kingdom baby.
Their leader, Xin Shing, actually encountered me right before I died. He told me that his group knew how to force an avatar into the avatar state, and that he planned to do it to me. Incidentally, we were not far from the Western Air Temple. I took a dive off of the canyon and away from Xin Shing, despite the fact that he could have followed me.
He knew that I was going to go to the Western Air Temple, and I knew it too. I went in through a secret entrance (a little earthbending was necessary), and by the time Xin Shing got there I had passed away. I had worked myself too hard, but my mission was complete. Thankfully he did not harm any of those poor air sisters, as that would have incurred my anger through you. He didn’t believe them when they said I was dead.”
“Get out of my way,” Xin Shing snapped, pushing them aside and examining Lahka’s body; he felt desperately for any signs of life, as if Lahka was his best friend. He screamed in rage when he saw that Lahka was dead, and he then had no further purpose at the Western Air Temple, for although he had frightened the Air Sisters there, they stubbornly refused to give him Lahka’s body.
“And that is where you came in, Zakura,” said Lahka, finishing his tale, “and now you are the next avatar.”
“I obviously knew that by now,” Zakura chuckled,
“I should hope so,” Lahka replied, also chuckling, “you literally have the finest teachers the world can provide at this time.”
“Eh, about that,” said Zakura, “one of them—the firebender, said that she hated me and would have rather taught you.”
“How old is she,” Lahka asked, “surely she can’t be that old,
“Eh,” Zakura shrugged, “29, I think. And then the earthbender’s 30, the airbender is 31, and the waterbender 32; they were a close group.”
“So they were little children in my later years,” said Lahka, “how does she know me then?”
“I don’t know,” said Zakura, “but she said some things that got me mad. She acted like I CHOSE to be the avatar and screw it all up.”
“What are you, wait: screw it all up? When did you do that?”
“Please tell me you’ve noticed my indifference towards being the avatar,” said Zakura, as if this was obvious (which it was).
“I have noticed,” Said Lahka, “but I can sympathize with you, Zakura. You may not really recognize it or maybe even care about it, but you’ve had a hard life. You are forced to remain hidden—unable to use your talents without being hunted down. You never had a proper family even. There are not many people, let alone in the avatar cycle, like that.”
“I had a family,” Zakura shrugged, “and they gave me anything I want and let me do what I pleased, as long as there was no bending involved.”
“And that was what you liked doing best, wasn’t it?”
“It was. And I was so good at it that I was banned from Earth Rumble.”
“You sure it wasn’t because you cheated, eh, Zakura?”
“Err... okay fine, I’d cheat sometimes. But either way, I had so much fun. However, when I was 16, I just straight-up left home. I used earthbending to make my escape, and have not returned since then. I soon ran into The Four Benders, who were called The Avatar Guard at the time. They had a friend of theirs—a strange pointy-eared girl with yellow eyes named Tera, who was able to tell what sort of bender a person was, regardless of how they tried to hide it. She told me I was the avatar.
From then on, those four benders never left me alone. They became close friends with me, despite my seeming indifference. They were determined to teach me, and I was eager to learn. I guess I owe them much more than I give them based on how I treat them. In fact, I’ve kind of been a rather lousy scumbag to them, especially the firebender. She probably got the worst of it, as she was my first teacher. The earthbender was there to enhance my skills, and he did so while I was learning the other elements. Still, that firebender; I... I really treated her like crud. Even now I know that I still don’t give her the respect she deserves.”
“So now do you see why you were brought here,” Lahka asked,
“So I could confess my thoughts to one of my past lives,” Zakura asked,
“If you would like me to call for Avatar Wen I would be more than happy to,” Lahka laughed,
“Err, no thanks,” said Zakura flatly; “maybe if the fire avatar before him was a girl then maybe I’d say yes, but otherwise, I’m fine.”
“The last female avatar before you was Avatar Komae of the water tribes,” said Lahka, “so the water avatar before me; what’s wrong with the men though; afraid they’ll be taller than you?”
“Hush,” said Zakura, punching Lahka’s arm. It was funny how that worked in the spirit world. Nonetheless, Lahka was right. Zakura was a shorter woman, but was built incredibly tough.
“I think what I’d be afraid of;” said Zakura “is making them look bad.”
She pulled the sleeve of her jacket up and flexed. Her arm was about as large as a youth’s leg. She chuckled.
“Either way,” said Lahka, “one of these days I’m going to be bringing you here with the intent of learning from your past lives. I’m surprised that one with such an arrogant nature could be such an eager learner.”
“hey,” said Zakura, “what’s that supposed to mean?”
Lahka merely smiled. A few moments later, Zakura found herself back in her room, lying face up staring at the ceiling. She got up and decided to stroll around the place, like she sometimes did at night. There was always someone else wandering around to talk to.
She had slept in her clothes, with the exception of her ankle guards, her hat and her jacket, and she didn’t bother taking the time to put those on. Besides, it wasn’t like she was going out in public—and she was the avatar. She could do what she pleased. The things that Avatar Lahka had told her were running through her mind. He didn’t really seem too upset about who she was. He supported her on her stance that even the avatar is only human, and that he or she was not perfect. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had actually learned quite a bit from her Night in the Spirit World.
~Azula~
