Khuzo, mercanary

Unknown location

--

Khuzo was twirled around in the massive, seemingly disembodied tentacle that held him high in the air, above a bottomless chasm. He had no idea what was going on, and this as no ocean.

"Warrior...why have you come to this defiled place?"

"That's none of your business, you giant murdering b%^tard."

"Your answer upsets me. I shall speak, and you shall listen."

"I don't take orders from sushi, so shove off."

"Your hostility is from a past event...I sense great anger in your voice. What has the spirit world done to you, young warrior?"

"More than you could ever know."

"I know more than you think. Now, young warrior, why did I have to pull you from the physical world?"

"Well, I'd guess it was because you attacked our boat, my friends, and pulled me hundreds of feet underneath the surface of the ocean."

"I performed none of these actions. My body, however, may have done them underneath He-Who-Defiles-The-Sacred-Place. He has gained control of the temple and it's magical energies, and through it, gained control of all it's gaurdians. Or, at least their bodies. Our spirits are in pain, young warrior. We wish for freedom, to bring The Sacred Place back to it's former glory."

"What? The End did what? Is that why he's been alive so long? Is that why he's so powerful?"

"The End? I am not familiar with this name, but I can tell that it is your way of identifying He-Who-Defiles-The-Sacred-Place. I will call him this, for your benefit. Your "The End", is the one who, several hundred years ago, found the long sunken and forgotten remains of the Sacred Temple. For years, decades, and centuries, we watched over the world, wishing to do nothing but learn. We watched over all, saw the way the Four Nations lived together in peace and prosperity. We saw many different pasts and futures, many different threads of the universe that all led to differernt times and futures. We saw the current Avatar die with the Air Nomads, and we saw him defeat an evil warlord. We saw many possible times and spaces through the power of the Sacred Temple. We wished to learn all, and we wished to see all."

"And how did that work out for you?"

"For centuries, we remained hidden, content with our forgotten history. However, a man, and several others, found us, through ruins and places long taken by time and the actions of man. He pieced together the few clues to our existence, and then found us. We tried our best, sent our greatest defenses, but the man was too powerful. He smote our greatest protector, Sahari, the Dragon of Legend, atop the remnants of the island above the temple. Then, using his followers, he raised the temple itself to ground level, and took the power within. It made his firebending more powerful, taught him the finest arts of war and combat, and granted him great longevity. He was not content however, and saw our greatest secret, and greatest power."

"Which is?"

"We have the power to see the threads that make up fate. We have the power to manipulate them. But it is a dark, ancient art, and no one has ever manipulated these magical threads. The End, however, wished to do so, and has sought long and hard to learn how. He wishes for immortality, and power, and would destroy anything that stood in his way. He has searched for 200 years, but has never found the secret. But we fear he may be closing in."

"What must be done?"

"One was told in legend, one who didn't share the power of the bending arts, who thought outside the traditional lines of the world around him, who would defeat The End and forever close the doors that could lead to the threads. He would turn down the true ultimate power for something The End could never give it up for. He would turn it down, and accept something The End never could."

"And that is?"

"Death. The one foretold in this legend must lay down his blood to seal the doors. I have seen this event, one of many, and I have seen the chosen one perish at the doors, to seal them forever. I believe that who I saw, warrior, was you. Your blood must be spilt to seal off this power from everyone."

"Why me? And how am I supposed to find these threads? And what are the threads? And how did The End learn of your secrets and these threads, and, more importantly, how am I supposed to survive what just happened?"

"I can not hold you here for much longer, but your questions will receive answers, young warrior. My body, and the essence of The End are forcing me to return you to the world. But I will help you. Your wounds and fatigue are gone. Your body rejuvenated. My body will take you to the underground catacombs of our temple, warrior. There, you will find shelter, but you must defeat my body, and free me from my torment. Then, I can perhaps assist you further."

"Wait, I'm going back? How do I kill your body? How am I supposed to survive?!"

"You will find a way, as always, young warrior...you will find a way..." it bellowed, and Khuzo felt himself getting hurled back into the world. He felt himself being pulled from that strange world of spirits and magical power he had seen once before. He heard the scream of the kraken's body and water suddenly surrounded him. He looked up through the murky water and saw the tentacles holding him. Then he saw the body. The past it, he saw a massive underwater structure sticking out the side of the underwater portion of the island. He looked on in disbelief.

Scarecrow, mercanary

Reika's group, the island

--

Scarecrow kneeled down infront of a tree and sank down into the shrubs surrounding it. He looked over at Devan and shook his head.

Devan nodded back. He, Reika, and Sorrow were all hiding behind a set of trees themselves.

"What's wrong?" Reika asked.

"We are being watched, Reika. Stay calm, we must not show fear," Devan said.

Behind them, in complete and total silence, a figure slowly scooted down a suspended wire. It turned it's head and looked at Reika. Opening it's mouth, a long, frog like tongue jetted out and came close to her neck. Saliva dripped off the end, and the tongue got closer. It was about to reach her neck when Scarecrow came from nowhere, grabbed it by the tongue, and threw it out into the opening ahead of them. The action caused Reika to nearly jump out of her skin. She screamed, and watched the figure fly through the air, land on all fours, and the turn in their direction. It shot out it's tongue again and looked at them.

"YOU SAW ME! HOW?!" it screamed in a high pitched voice.

Scarecrow said nothing, but tossed a grenade at it. It jumped away and the grenade detonated when it hit the ground. The thing jumped back up into the tree and Devan moved from the treeline.

"Sorrow, Reika, MOVE NOW!" he screamed, and they jumped away. Scarecrow pointed out several nearly invisible wires hanging close by, with only the reflecting light showing their position.

"I am...The Fear!" it screamed, and it lunged down from the treeline, grabbed Reika, and jumped back up into the treeline once again. Reika screamed, and Devan yelled out to her.

"REIKA!" he yelled, but no one answered.

Several noises could be heard, a struggle, but then Reika, suspended by several thick, visible ropes, cascaded down through the treeline and was suspended in midair. Devan jumped for her, but Scarecrow held him back. Then he pointed out several other wires infront of her. She couldn't speak, and was hanging upside down.

"The Fear...has been sent to deal with the intruders..." a seemingly disembodied voice spoke.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" Devan screamed, and he pulled out his swords. He stood back to back with Scarecrow, and Sorrow tried her best to stay close.

"The Fear...is EVERYWHERE!" it yelled, laughing maniacally, and then it landed, directly infront of Reika. Devan saw it and prepared to strike, but The Fear held up a knife to Reika's throat. She made a muffled screaming noise and tried to escape, but The Fear stomped down on the ground and a pillar of earth shot up, grabbed her, ripped off her bindings, but then immediately encased her in earth. Her arms and legs had been covered in a thin sheet of earth to make them immobile, and only her head was completely free. He jumped on top of the pillar and looked at her.

"This one...will make a GREAT addition to my COLLECTION!" it yelled, and he stomped the ground again, and several other human statues shot up from the ground, only their heads were covered, and it was clear that only a dead body could be inside.

"I will make you into a beautiful statue...You are so beautiful...such a pretty girl...and such a great statue you will make..."

She screamed, but he turned and looked at her.

"Now, now, my pretty, no noise...no noisssssse...I don't like noise..."

"Then you're gonna love me," Scarecrow spoke out from underneath the helmet in a dark, gravelly voice. He had managed to sneak behind the preoccupied Fear. The Fear turned and jumped, but Scarecrow caught him and stuck a grenade in his mouth. He then threw him across the opening, into a tree. It crashed into the ground from the force of the throw, and then the grenade detonated, and the entire surrounding area turned into flames.

Scarecrow then grabbed his crossbow, fired a round, and the entire area exploded with a huge amount of force. Fire flew everywhere from the burning foilage and Scarecrow lowered the crossbow.

Reika looked at him in disbelief. He looked up at her direction, but she still couldn't see his eyes or face through the mask.

"You can talk?" she asked.

He only nodded.

"I think you got him," Sorrow said, but then she was grabbed by an almost invisible force, hardly visible from the speed at which it moved. It grabbed her and went up into the trees again, and more struggling was heard. She dropped down like Reika had done.

"TWO new statues!" The Fear yelled out, but this time Devan threw his sword at him and The Fear shouted and dodged to the right. Big mistake. Scarecrow grabbed him and punched him in the stomache repeatedly, and then twirled him around several times and then threw him into a tree again. This one didn't need a grenade to explode, because the force of the throw had caused it and a few other surrounding trees to come tumbling down. The Fear scrambled around on the ground, and Devan ran over and picked him up. He raised his regained sword high in the air, but The Fear sent out his strange tongue and wrapped around Devan's head.

"Agh! You slimy b%^tard!" he yelled, but the The Fear freed himself and jumped back up into the treeline again, this time taking Devan with him. Struggling was heard once again, and then Devan was thrown to the ground, and encased in a very large pillar of earth.

"This one is too strong for the restraints of the others. I'll have to WORK at you!" The Fear yelled, and then Scarecrow tapped him on the shoulder. The Fear turned around, and Scarecrow grabbed him by the face, picked him up, and threw him over him, grabbed him by the waistline, and then performed a suplex, slamming The Fear's head deep into the ground. Scarecrow flipped back up, and watched The Fear's body sink to the ground. For a moment, it seemed over.

"Did...did you kill him?" Reika asked. Suddenly The Fear jumped up, twirled through the air, and landed on Sorrow. He shot a pillar of earth around her, and reformed it to her body, just like Reika.

"LOOK at THIS!" he screamed, and he laughed maniacally. "THREE new STATUES!" he screamed, and bent over and laughed.

Then he disappeared into the treeline once again.

"What WILL you do? What WILL you do?" it asked over and over again, directing it's questions to Scarecrow. Scarecrow merely remained quiet, and then sat down in the direct center of the opening. He waited in the dirt, and didn't move. Suddenly The Fear jumped down, grabbed him, and headed back up into the treeline.

"No!" Reika screamed, but the struggle sounds were heard once again. For the longest time, nothing happened, but then Scarecrow's helmet fell on the ground.

"Oh no!" Sorrow yelled.

Then The Fear dropped down, panting heavily. He shuffled around on the ground, and then stood up. He walked around in a half daze, like a stumbling drunken man, and then he collapsed. He breathed one last time, and then stopped moving altogether.

Reika waited for something to happen, but nothing did. She soon became hopeless. She struggled against the rock casing surrounding her, but nothing happened.

"Scarecrow..." she said meekly, and then all hope seemed lost.

Scarecrow landed down from the treeline, landing on his feet in a crouching position. His face was not visible to Reika or Devan, but Sorrow looked at him. He reached for his helmet and put it back on, and didn't make a noise. He looked at her and she silently nodded, as if agreeing to some kind of arrangement. Next, he came over, and ripped her straight out of the bindngs holding her. He made her follow him around and get the others. Next he got Reika, and then they undid Devan.

As Scarecrow brushed himself off, he pointed quietly towards the towering stone structure in the distance, and then began moving in that direction. Devan grabbed his massive greatsword and followed after him. Reika just stood there, along with Sorrow, until the other two looked back and motioned them to come along. As they walked, Reika asked Sorrow a very nagging question.

"What did he look like?" She asked with awe in her voice.

Sorrow didn't answer.

I'm submitting this on behalf of Double09nhalf. This is what he's been waiting to show you guys. XD

Siam needed a break. She rubbed her forehead in stress to releive the warmth it was giving off, wiping the sweat off her brow. There was a perfect glass of water on another table that was waiting for her to quench. She walked over and picked up the water and gulped it down, taking a sigh of relief afterward.

Siam had gone through so many books, yet it looked like she had barely scratched the surface. She liked reading, but these books weren't particularly super special awesome books in her opinion. On top of that she was getting a headache, her eyes were getting heavy, with light purple rings, and she was sure she lost one of her nails in one of the books she had just read. She peeked over at River's pile and saw that her friend wasn't doing much better. Her friend was scratching her head and dozing off, tilting her head backwards evertime she turned a page. Siam got up and started to make her way over to her, only then to sit back down as the blood rushed to her head.

'yep time for a break,' thought Siam. She plopped on the soft couch next to a tea table on the side of the library, next to a separate shelving for books about the history of the air nomad ministers.

As she made her way around the super special awesome pile of books she found only a handful on the ground, "What have you been doing? Slee…"

Siam stopped herself short for she was indeed correct in her assumption. River had fallen asleep at the wheel with her in one of the books ruining it with her drool. Siam shook her head and started to shake River awake. All this activity was making Siam more awake from her drowsiness now.

River awoke a little dazed and confused, "Eh? What's up?"

"You fell asleep after reading a couple books," replied Siam, "I know you only volunteered but… I don't know."

River looked up still a little drowsy, "What are you talking about? These are the books I've already read. The floor was getting a little crowded so I put them back on the table."

Siam started turned red in embarrassment, "Oh, um… sorry about that. I had no idea. Well you take a well deserved break while I try to catch up."

River just nodded her head in agreement as she went back to sleep while Siam dragged her self back to her own pile and kept flipping through the pages of a blue and gold book, with orange lettering. After a couple of minutes she gave up again, and hopelessly lifted her now empty glass of water. Siam decided that she didn't care if she found the book or not.

She started to get aggravated and whipped her blue book back onto the pile. But instead of it just landing, the book tipped the entire pile over spilling the remainder of her books with the ones she had already checked. Siam slapped herself on the forehead for being so stupid, aggravating her headache more so in more way than one. She started to pick up the fallen books and return then to the table when she suddenly discovered something she missed. Her eyes widened, which caused her to rub them.

"River come here!"

River picked up her head slowly and walked toward the sound of Siam's beckoning. Rubbing her eye's she sat down in the chair next to Siam.

"Wha-what is it?"

"I found it, replied," Siam.

River jolted wide awake and tried to grab the book away, "Let me read! Let me read."

Pulling the book away Siam proceeded to read the description under the picture.

~~~~~~

Properties-The Aura Crystal is a stone that contains chi energy that is most closely resembles the element of wind.. Researchers believe that these stones are created when a certain element in its purest form is encased in a crystal-like structure. The potency of the strength given to the user is determined by how dense the element was encased inside. The only problem with the crystal is that it only works at its full potential when a person is asleep or unconscious. Because of these conditions the crystal is rendered useless.

History- After the great war between the earth kingdom and the main land the nations regained peace and balance. At each harvest time the lords and representatives from each tribe and nation joined together to celebrate this peace time and prosperity. During this celebration it was customary for each tribe and nation to present each other with gifts. The firenation's gift to the air nomads was four Aura Crystals. The crystals were received out of respect and were distributed to each of the four temples.

~~~~~~

Siam looked up confused

"Only works when you asleep or unconscious or asleep?" She fell back onto the floor and sprawled.

"Wow that's pretty cool I'm going to try that later," said River, "Well Siam it was fun…, well maybe that wasn't the right word, but anyway I have to go. I have errands to attend to and then I'm off to visit the northern temple. I'll see ya…"

Siam was about to ask why but River had already left the premises leaving the leaning tower of books for someone else to figure out.

The monk behind the desk opened one eye again, "Please return all the books to the counter when you are through with them."

~~~~~

After Siam had returned all the parchments of loose-leaf she stumbled out of the library. She made her way down a corridor only to realize she didn't know where she was. She looked down at her key to find the number but she couldn't focus at all.

As Siam tried to look again a passerbyer monk walked up to her, "Are you alright Madam?"

Siam looked at him with her blood shot eyes then stumbled as she handed the monk her key.

"Do you know where this room is?"

The monk stared at the key number then looked down the hall then pointed at Siam, "Its actually right behind you.. Are you Ok Madam?"

Siam started turning red as the monk returned the key. She felt so embarrassed that she didn't even reply but hastily unlocked the door and closed it. Not even caring about her clothes, Siam plopped down in bed and instantly went to sleep.

The deed is done Double09nhalf. Now, Do your worst!!! Muhahahahahahahahahaha. I feel inspired to type my next story, even though I'm pretty much done with my season of "Rain."

If I typed anymore though now, it would be mostly filler, lyke, how Saze and everybody learns all these new cool things.

If we start a new season, I can skip all that, and introduce the new things that happened as use them as few for foreshadowing.

All I'm thinking of typing is a date scene with Loren and Kela. Should I do it? XD

I need to know.... WTF is the season going to end? I'm anxious to get the next one started for the new people, as well as a fresh start to the next installments people want to make on their characters. (IE, another get go around, like you how you guys started this season.)

Khuzo, mercanary

Underneath the temple

--

The kraken threw Khuzo up out of the water, and he was grabbed by another tentacle as he gasped for air. The kraken emerged from the water, roaring as erupted from the water. It had already begun to heal, and it's skin had grown back.

Khuzo had been taken through a pipline through the underwater portion of the temple, and then up into an undergound catacomb. He looked around and saw that he was in a large, circular room with two exits, one to the left, and one to the right. The pool of water was in the direct center of the room. The kraken tossled him about and screeched at him, and he managed to pull himself out. His strength was back to it's fullest after the visit to the kraken's spirit. Khuzo wrestled an arm free and grabbed a sword from his back. He held it high above his head.

"COME ON!" he yelled, and the kraken brought him up and towards it's mouth.

Meanwhile, the rest of Khuzo's group had managed to move towards the front of the temple. As they cleared the woods, they saw that the temple was made purely of stone, and that vines and plantlife had long since wrapped themselves around the stone surface. A massive, crawling staircase that was covered in vines and plantlife was the only way up they massive, gray temple. At the top was a large tower that climbed a good distance into the sky, and a large structure at the top.

"We have to hurry," Devan said. Then Scarecrow pointed up towards the staircase again.

On it, Fire Nation soldiers descended down, with a very large, completely armored man at the front. He was wearing shining platemail armor, had two humongous swords on his back, and a large, horned helmet that covered his face. His body was covered by a partially shredded tabbard that had the Fire Nation emblem on it. As he marched down, well armored soldiers came behind him, each carrying a heavy, trident like spear. They wore the armor of the royal guards, and cleaner tabbards than the one the man at the front wore.

Devan pulled out his sword, and Scarecrow reached for his crossbow. Reika drug up water from a bag she had on her hip, and Sorrow uncovered her hands from her robes. On them were gauntlets made of ice, similar to the ones that the Dai Li wore, only made from ice instead of earth. Her forearms also had frozen ice, and water slowly trickled up her exposed neck and froze around it.

"What is all that?" Reika asked.

"I cover my body with water I keep constantly frozen through waterbending. I wear it like armor, only I can mold it's shape. If someone gets too close, I can pierce them with icespikes or use my hands offensively and defensively."

"That is...incredible..." Reika said, astonished. And to think that she had been carrying a simple bag of water with her all this time.

"Yes, it is a very helpful way of carrying water, or ice."

"Enough talk," Devan said.

"Yes, I think that is quite enough talk," the armored man said.

"Who are you?"

"I am not a member of The Twelve. I am Judge Yui, and I lead this Sanction of the Fire Nation Elite Guard. We are here to protect The Twelve from attack on this unfortunate day."

"You have once chance to stand aside, Judge," Devan said, but the Judge didn't move.

"Devan the mercanary...and Scarecrow Jack, the infamous bounty hunter...and Sorrow, one of our own...and some random teenaged girl I care nothing of."

"She's the reason this all started," Devan said firmly.

"Yes, I suppose she is...but the concerns of my current superior have changed. You see, rather startling advancements in his research about this temple has changed our original plans, and he is no longer in the mood to send members after rich teenagers. He has ordered that you be killed on sight, instead of captured. We would love to keep playing this little game of cat and mouse, but I have just been awarded a spot in my new superiors upcoming plans...and I have no intention of wasting time chasing a fifteen year old girl around. I will however, allow you and Scarecrow Jack to leave in exchange for the girl and the boy as well. You can take Sorrow."

"Not a chance," Devan said. Scarecrow raised his crossbow higher. The soldiers slammed down on their spears and then pushed them out forward.

"Very well then, prepare to see the power of the Elite Guard," Judge Yui said, and he pulled out two massive, heavy, curved greatswords. The soldiers behind him got into a battle stance where there spears aligned over one another as they stood in rows.

"Go, I will deal with these people," Sorrow suddenly said.

"What?" Reika asked.

"Sorry, girly, but we can't trust ya," Devan added.

"I'm afraid you have no choice. You have no time to waste, and Ridge is undeniably not far behind us, so I'd-"

And then Ridge jumped from the woodline, with his bow behind him in his hand, and an explosion followed him through. Masquerade jumped through and aimed his bow, but Sorrow turned and shot one of the icegloves from her hands and it struck him, and he went flying into a nearby tree. There, she shot a brace from her forearm as well, and the ice slammed into the tree and then reshaped to pin him down.

"Go. Now," Sorrow spoke in a calm manner unlike her usual self.

"Foolish girl! I don't need the whole Guard to take you!" he yelled, and he ran at her. She dodged his attack and watched Scarecrow jump over the Elite Guard, land on one's head, and then jump clean over them. Devan picked up Reika and then moved to the side after getting over and around the soldiers. Ridge jumped clear OVER the soldiers in one swift move, turned, and looked at Masquerade.

"MAYBE NEXT TIME, CHUMP! AHAHAHAHA!" he yelled, and then he laughed merrily all the way up the staircase. Masquerade shouted in anger and broke out of the icy restraints. He lunged at Sorrow in anger, but she dodged him, and he fell in the direction of Judge Yui's swords. He just managed to avoid hitting him.

"ARGH! WATCH IT, YOU DUMB BOY!" he yelled, and Masquerade got up, looked at Sorrow, and pulled out his bow. He jumped onto and then off the back of Judge Yui, and then launched into the air, holding his bow up. He shot a normal arrow, but Sorrow deflected it with incredible speed. He landed closer and continued fighting, dodging and weaving out of the way of Judge Yui's swords.

Judge Yui looked back and yelled:

"FOLLOW THE OTHERS! NOW!"

They ran after Ridge's new group, and Ridge fired a few shots which were deflected by the quick movements of the trident spears.

As they raced up the massive staircase, Khuzo battled the massive kraken underneath their very feet.

Khuzo, mercanary

The Twelve's island

Khuzo's group

--

Khuzo ran towards the pool of water where the kraken lay, and jumped, avoiding two tentacles. He held both swords in a backhand form. He sunk the swords deep into the creature's face, and then grabbed a grenade and shoved it in the kraken's eye. Khuzo jumped, and pulled the right sword free, but the left slipped off his hand after waves of gunk washed over it. The creature roared, and then it exploded. The left sword flew out off the cloud of fire and twirled around in the air, clanging against the walls and ground until it came to a rest at Khuzos feet. He sheathed his right sword and picked up the remnant. It had been turned into nothing more than a clanged up, sharp piece of metal. The blade was contorted and bent around.

"Son of a...YOU STUPID FISH!" he yelled, and he threw the sword into the water. He sighed, and dropped the chains for it onto the ground. A light began to shine from where the kraken's body laid.

"Warrior...well done..." the light spoke. "You have freed me from my bodily prison. Now, you will receive a few parting gifts. The first..." the voice spoke, and then the body of the kraken glowed bright white, and Khuzo saw it disappear. The light all converged on one smaller point where the kraken had once lay. He walked over and saw a very unique-and clearly deadly-weapon lying on the ground.

It was about the size of a typical, circular shield that one wore on their forearm. Larger than a buckler, but not the size of a large shield. It was made of three long, pearly white, curved blades that extended outward from a white and black circular handle. Khuzo touched the tip of the weapon. Blood trickled down his gloved finger. It had gone straight through without any form of pressure.

It was a shuriken, only much larger than an average shuriken, and made of completely different material.

"It is a weapon forged from the toughest components of my body. The blades are my teeth, reforged into a better designed shape. The handle is made from my teeth as well. It can cut through any defense, and it can always find the hand of it's owner after being thrown, thanks to it's design. It will return to you after you throw it. Try it out on the stone statues on the walls of the room," the voice spoke.

Khuzo picked it up by the handle, and threw it. It flew towards the first statue with extreme speed. Even though the statue was made of pure earth, the shuriken cut straight through it. It went on, cutting through a second one and then a third one, slicing the heads or arms of chests off from the rest of the statue. The dismembered parts came tumbling down to the ground. The shuriken flew back to Khuzo, and he caught it with his right hand again.

"Holy...crap..."

"I knew that you would like it. It is extremely durable yet lightweight. It can go through anything, even a blast of lightning couldn't destroy it. If it ever does break, take it back here, to this pool, and throw it in. You'll get a new one each time, but it shouldn't ever break."

"How...how did you do this?"

"It is a special gift for the one who defeats me. Every temple guardian bestows a weapon unto it's champion. I think that my weapon suits you. It cuts through defenses at a ranged distance, and you can throw it accurately while moving."

"It's great...I mean...I've never seen a weapon of such craftsmanship..."

"Be careful, for The End carries one as well."

"What?"

"Sahari the Dragon was forced to grant it's weapon to The End after he bested it here. Sahari is a large, two-handed Jian sword made from Sahari's scales. It is just as formiddable as my own weapon."

"I'll put this to good use for sure then, thanks,"

"It is but one of many gifts. Now, for your next gift I give you a vision."

"What?"

And then the spirit light came closer, and Khuzo dropped the shuriken and put his hands to his head. He felt searing, blinding pain coming from his head.

"AGH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!"

"Showing you the way...warrior...showing you the way..."

Khuzo suddenly saw the Northern Water Tribe. He saw it get closer and closer, and then the view veered off course, towards the frozen tundra around it, where surely nothing could survive. It went farther and farther, and Khuzo saw a rock sticking out of the ground. It began to glow, and the snow around it began to contort in shape.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Khuzo demanded from the spirit.

"Watch, warrior, watch!" it yelled, and Khuzo tried to focus.

The snow melted and he saw a door. A large, stone door. He saw a keyslot in the door. It opened, and a massive, gaping mouth was just behind it, waiting to consume him. Then he flew back into his own body, and the pain stopped.

He slammed onto the ground and breathed heavily. Then he vomited all over the floor.

"What...what was that?"

"The Water Temple, one of four. I have shown you all that I was given."

"Just WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" Khuzo demanded angrily. He was tired of secrecy or not knowing what was going on.

"The End has found a way of finding the Door, the only way to the threads. We originally thought that we were the only ones who knew of the Door or the Threads, but something must be helping The End. He has begun his search for the temples, and once he finds the keys within all four, he can access the door."

"So I have to find these keys BEFORE he does?"

"Correct. Each of the spirits, including myself, was given a small part of the knowledge of where the temples are. I only know of the Water Temple's location, and was ordered to show it to the one I believed fit the legend. You fit that legend young warrior. So I showed you the way."

"Did Sahari show The End anything after his defeat?"

"He showed The End nothing. He was to show the one of legend, not a powerhungry fool. However The End has gotten this far is beyond my comprehension, but whoever is helping him must be stopped as well. The last thing I am to give you is the key to enter the Water Temple. I do not know if this is the only key or if there are more, but this should at least get you inside."

With that, a key appeared in Khuzo's hand. It was large, glowing blue, and made of stone.

"You know and have all that I can give, warrior, I am sorry for not being able to assist you further. But you will know where to go from the Northern Water Tribe once you get there. It is deep within your mind, so do not fear."

"I suppose I should thank you..."

"Perhaps, but it is not necessary. Find a way out of this maze, and regroup with your team. Flee, for The End comes."

"What?!"

"Yes, the eclipse has stalled him, but he will arrive shortly to deal with you and your team. And soon the firebenders will regain their power. You must flee, and attempt to close the doors to fate permanently. Such a thing can only be done by you, warrior..."

And then the light disappeared, the kraken spirit's time up. Khuzo picked up his new weapon and moved towards the nearest exit. Something was telling him to go right.

Meanwhile, Ridge, Scarecrow, Devan, and Reika all arrived at the top of staircase. Above them was the towering structure they had seen before at ground level. They burst inside and Ridge aimed his bow at Death. There also stood Wrath, both of them cloaked and ready to fight.

"Well if it isn't the waterbender girl...and the drunk archer," Death spoke.

"Where's the swordsman?" Wrath asked.

"Your fish friend ate him, and we're here for payback," Ridge said cooly.

"Fish friend? We have no idea what you're talking about, but it's rather clear that your friend died because he came here. Don't force his stubborn death on us."

"Shut up! Khuzo came here because it was the right thing to do!" Reika yelled. Her voice echoed off the large chamber walls they were now standing under.

"Hah. So the little girl has grown quite fond of her savior. Well, your shining knight, if he can be called such a thing, isn't here to help save the day, little girl," Death said calmly.

"Yeah, well, we're here to do the killing for him," Ridge added.

Devan and Scarecrow prepared their weapons, and then the two suddenly jumped back out of the chamber and outside, where shouts were heard. They had engaged the upcoming Fire Nation Elite Guard.

As everyone prepared for the showdown, Khuzo marched his way down the ancient, dark catacombs.

Hung Ta

Time was relative. Every day was the same. Nothing was done to break up the monotony. I would be comfortable with this if it didn't require so much effort. Even then I was plagued by these thoughts. They destroyed me. I knew I was doing good, but it wasn't good for me. Something about it was mentally killing me.
I couldn't have afforded to live relatively far in the desert. In fact, I can't say I lived there at all. After my journeys, I would simply sleep and leave again the next day.
My journeys usually consisted of me going straight to the town nearest the desert. The town was a few miles away from the desert, and, coupled with the desert itself, it made for a long trip. Usually I would go the town, help who I could, and buy more food for my ostrich-horse, then go back and help who I found on the way.
I think the main problem was that I looked at the people as objects. Things to help me feel better. I looked at everybody not as people, but as things to ease any guilt I had. And knowing I felt this way was the biggest guilt. All I felt I was doing was intervening in people's lives, whether they needed it or not.
I woke up. It was dawn.
I could tell the first days of autumn were upon us. The town of Shu Tirska was probably awake at that time. I personally couldn't wait to see them. The town was the closest I had to continuity or stability. The people were my anchor.
Although I certainly was exaggerating Shu Tirska's civilians' effects on my life. My, dare I say, life had nothing except them. They were my family. I guess in a way they made up for my old family. The family the Fire Nation killed.
I shook the thoughts out of my head and made sure my ostrich-horse was rested up well enough and took off.
My journey there had relatively few setbacks. I knew from the get go that my ostrich-horse would be tired, but I didn't care. Something about me made me feel optimistic.
Regardless, I met nobody along the way. Nobody was in need and that was good. Of course it did mean I would have to move soon if I were right, and that felt bad. But, all in all it was a good trip. Until I actually got to Shu Tirska.
I reached the gate of the town and saw nobody was out of their house. Little was wrong with this except that it was a bit of an odd occurence. I strolled further on through the town and was met with an odd sight. At the fork in the road where the shop was were two ostrich-horses, tied to a post. They were branded with an Earth Kingdom symbol. Holding my breath, I opened the door.
Two Dai Li agents were at the counter. I immediately attempted to leave, in fear of being caught, but I didn't. Something was wrong. Why was the Dai Li there?
"You think the avatar will let you do this? He and the Fire Lord will come and destroy your organization?" I heard the merchant say. What did this mean? Was the Fire Lord... good now?
"Hardly. We're still in control of Ba Sing Se. And there are still plenty of soldiers in the Fire Nation that are loyal to the real Fire Lord."
"Ha!" The merchant retorted. "I heard your leader threw you away!"
The agent that was talking tensed his shoulders. "No. She didn't trust us. But she's hardly relevant. If we can enforce the way of life that those soldiers love so much, it isn't hard to predict them flocking to us."
"The avatar will destroy you," The merchant replied bluntly.
"No, he can't. He couldn't even kill the Fire Lord. We won't let him have the chance to attempt destroying us."
"Now," mumbled the agent who hadn't talked yet darkly. "Let's discuss other matters."
With these words came a sickness in my stomach. This was the man who had imprisoned me in Lake Laogai after my treachery. I had been set to be brainwashed. If I hadn't escaped, I certainly would have been. Right now I would be one of them. Because of this man.
They hadn't noticed me yet. They were focused on the merchant.
I slowly left the shop, after hearing "We will take it by force."

... For those that are still wondering what's going on Dafoose is helping me with my posts.

///////////////

Siam- airbender

///////////////

The moment Siam's head touched the pillow, she quickly lost consciousness,
and fell into a deep sleep. Her eyes squinted softly and relaxed when her
body came to rest.

Later in the hazy afternoon, about dusk, She awoke to find herself lying
face up in a completely white room that had a table in its center.
I must be dreaming, Siam thought as she walked around the table.
As she approached the table, Siam noticed that there were five bowls placed
neatly on it. After examining the bowls, she found that each one contained
some sort of liquid of an opaque color. As she reached out to touch the
liquid, the bowl grew bigger and bigger, until the rim came up to her
height.

Most Curious, She said.

As she used her arms to heave herself up Siam also noticed that she was
almost weightless. After reaching the rim Siam immediately jumped into the
liquid that filled the bowl. But instead of feeling wet, Siam felt a gentle
breeze envelope her. She felt the warmth of her parents similar to when she
hugged them. It was then that Siam felt something pushing her towards of
the bowl beckoning her to leave. As she climbed out Siam felting a little
nostalgic but nothing would cure her curiosity as she made her way to the
second bowl.

Even though the first bowl made her homesick Siam now started to feel
giddy. She ran and jumped head first into the second bowl. As her head
breached the liquids surface, a billion noises echoed softly in her ears.
The echoes of the voices were very faint, almost beyond recognition. Siam
tried hard to identify the voices in her head, with a nauseating feeling of
guessing and confusion. It seemed as though the voices weren't even
addressing Siam directly. Standing still, Siam concentrated on a single
memory of noise. As all others were blocked this one memory came into clear
focus. It was of her 5th birthday

~~~~~~~

Siam looked down at the wrapped package with her beady eyes totally
oblivious at to its contents. The package was longer then she was tall but
was very skinny, very skinny indeed. She looked up with eager eyes and
received the cue she was looking for. With greedy claws she ripped up the
fine parchment and threw open the case inside to reveal... nothing. The box
was empty. But that didn't bother her because she had played this game
before. Siam immediately got up and walked toward her father trying to
reach around his back side.
Siam, "Daddy... present."
The mother turned and laughed, "It looks like you can't fool her anymore."
Looking down in shame the father brought his hands from around his back and
presented Siam with a stick.

"OOoh, a stick?" proclaimed Siam.

At this both parents looked dumbfounded.

"Dear, what you hold in not a stick," said the mother, "It is a legacy and
tradition that's been passed down through hundreds of generations."

To this the father added, "Your mother and I have been thinking and we have
come to the conclusion that you are ready to receive your first airbender's
staff...."

~~~~~~

As the memory faded in swirls away, Siam went to tears with all the
resurfacing emotions inside her. The pain in her heart was almost too much
to bear she...

"He he he he," someone giggled. She looked around for the voice, but found
none.

Siam strode over to the edge of the bowl and looked over, "Is anyone
there?"

When no one replied Siam got out and walked over the next bowl
still curious as to where the sound had come from or who it had come from.
But before she stepped into the third bowl, she looked behind herself and
saw that the other bowls had returned to normal size. An unusual and
unexplainable feeling of regret fell on Siam, but she courageously walked
into the next bowl.

She wondered what the point of all of this was. Why was she reliving all
these memories? Something or someone was driving her almost dragging her.
And even though she didn't want to go into the bowl a part of wanted to
know what it all meant. And a cautious haze of forgetfulness was clouding
her ability to understand what it all meant.

Coming to her decision Siam climbed onto the rim and pushed off splashing
into the opaque substance. Suddenly a thousand moving pictures appeared and
swirled around her. Each one was soundless but they were all memories Siam
treasured. There was one of her family flying into a beautiful sunset.

There was another one of her father trying but failing to make breakfast
while mother was sick in bed. A ripple from her tears caused the pool of
memories to become lost and shiney, reflecting the ambient yellow light.
But the last memory she viewed appeared after the ripple, and it was the
last dinner she would ever partake with her parents. But as she inspected
it more closely she noticed a shadow in the background that looked
familiar. A chill of incredulous goosebumps...

Suddenly someone put their hands over Siam's eyes. She knew they were hands
because she could see light between the tiny fingers. As she turned around
she saw a little girl sitting on the rim with her feet in the water.

This must be the girl who's been leading me, thought Siam.

Siam started to walk toward the girl but tripped and fell face forward into
the liquid. As she look to see what it was Siam found that it was a vine, a
big thorny vine. Suddenly the girl ran up and pushed Siam away. The girl
seemed to plead with Siam to let the vine be. Even though she knew she
should heed the little girl Siam walked toward the vine anyway. As she did
so Siam noticed that she was no longer on a table with five bowls but just
one.

"Please, please you mustn't. The monsters will come in the dark. Don't make
it dark."

Siam looked down to see the little girl tugging at her leg and crying with
small red eyes. Siam didn't know what to do... leave the plant alone or
investigate and destroy if need be. How and why, Siam did not know.
For now I will leave it alone..., decided Siam.

But as soon as she thought this the plant grew to gigantic proportions. The
vine grew and grew raping itself around the bowl. Siam heard a giant crack
as the bowl shattered and the liquid spilled everywhere. Some of It flowed
over the edge of the table and was lost to the abyss. Siam fell to her
knees and started to cry again.

Siam thought, again?

She looked at herself and realized the little girl she saw was her. But
what is this place. For Siam everything started to make sense and no sense
and the same time. But as the world started to spin out of control a bright
light with a silhouette appeared in the sky. As the silhouette took form
Siam recognized Mizuhiro's face staring at her. He looked like he was
saying something.

"What," Siam said in confusion.

"I said, you need to wake up now. The monks have spotted the fire nation
army a few miles away from here," replied Mizuhiro.

Mizuhiro started to head out the door but suddenly turned around, "Oh yea. Also a person named Maki or Machina or something... Anyway, someone needs to see you."

Still a little drowsy Siam sat up and rubbed her eyes, "Oh."

///////////////////

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