Chapter 144: Gratitude
The moment Michi completed hearing about Nik's injuries in great detail from others alongside the adventures and the war, the former of which Rena never really relayed to Michi during their previous visit, she instantly crackled on Nik.
As lascivious as she may have acted, her raging motherly instincts kicked in as she demanded to know everything. At this point, even Nik realized it was simple to just keep the truth regarding him as an outsider and level with everyone together.
From Mokshi's first contact through the Fog of Lost Souls to the short contact with the Flower of Fertility after it was done 'tasting' freedom. Aside from the 'why' Mokshi would attach itself to him, Nik practically explained everything so that the girls may sigh a breath of relief.
They didn't.
Well, Mai didn't particularly care. Others did. Michi more so than most which presented quite the contrast but Nik couldn't help but want to move on from the discussion. As dramatic as they could potentially be, everyone understood that there wasn't anything they could do and given that Nik wasn't... suicidal, they felt that he had something planned. Something that was still kept hidden... but again, it was simply the truth about him being an outsider.
Honestly, with him even divulging he could bend any element with practice, and potentially any energybending, too, under the right circumstances, the only thing that stopped Nik from explaining the last bits of his origin was a... fickle fear of them wanting to leave him.
As much as he'd done them in. As much as they'd shared laughter and even sadness at some point...
Nik was simply a little unnerved and tense. After all, the moment he explained that final bit, the next discussion would definitely be about his departure. After all, he was merely a guest smooching off of this world and he would return eventually. Although he could potentially take others with him... would they want to?
Yue, he was all but certain she would be willing to leave with him...
But what about others?
Suki had a village to return to.
Katara and Sokka had their own village to be responsible for.
Michi and Mai... well, it was complicated.
And even if they did agree, would they want to leave everything behind just like that?
Would Katara agree to leave Sokka?
No.
Then, what would entice Sokka to leave with them?
His village, most probably.
That's why Nik was slightly emboldened by Yue's idea to civilize his personal space. Although not too big, it could fit a large city like Omashu and his personal space was quite verdant, too. This could technically be the solution to his fears.
Still, this was a discussion far too into the future.
Instead, Nik was more than willing to discuss the traveling schedule with them. Now that Michi understood that she could travel with Nik while staying in his personal space, she wanted to leave Omashu. With Nik.
But their 'party' had become a bit too crowded.
That's why Nik proposed the idea of one or two girls entering the personal world and doing their things while traveling alone.
Technically, only Nik needed to stay out as they travel and they would make the distance regardless.
The moment Katara mentioned they could all be inside chilling, she earned a spank as Nik made it clear. He wasn't about to chaperone them around. He needed a bit of companionship, too... so they could take turns. The idea earned agreement.
Especially now that the girls were still on their training spree. While others could train inside, those that are outside could move and make their way to their intended destination.
This left the problem of proper residence and... 'facilities.'
Feeling that he was on a roll, Nik proposed he could burn their wastes.
Unlike previously, it was rejected unanimously. Even Mai rolled her eyes at the 'pristine' idea.
No, they could make do with the temporary solution as digging trenches or laying down a proper piping system that could be disposed of later on.
Given that the project had gotten a bit out of their hands, they decided to opt for temporary measures while searching for a way to start laying concrete foundations for the personal space.
With that out of the way... the battleship within Nik's personal space instantly turned into a giant temporary residence for the girls. How could it not?
Even Michi gaped at the size of it for the first time.
With that settled, Katara reached out for Bumi to collect some information, and Suki was accompanied by Nik to check up on the children.
Once their objectives were completed for the trip, Bumi finally responded to Katara's request and gave their group a direction to travel in.
With that, the group left on their Ostrich Horses and lots of rations and other sanitary supplies they could get their hands on.
---
Accompanied by Yue and Michi since the remaining three had been eager cunts to train than to spend time with him, admittedly making him a bit annoyed, Nik made way through the heavy foliage as Michi, now rather dressed in a pair of pants that curved around her... well, curves, and a short tunic that even served to reveal her flat abdomen, something remarkable for her age that she had been wanting to flaunt for the longest period, questioned Nik eagerly. Her demeanor was now more like the young and curious daughter Mai could have been.
"I remember reading a parchment where Gaoling, with the assistance of Beifongs, had gone through complete colonization. Do you really believe a secret prison could be present in that location?"
Nik hummed thoughtfully, "It wouldn't be the first time we found a prison near or within a prosperous location. Could you tell us more about the Beifongs? They came to control the town after its complete makeover, right?"
"My knowledge is as limited as Bumi..." Michi shook her head.
"Limited? The crazy bastard likes giving us hard problems to crack for him," Nik scoffed, "He probably knows more than just— oh, there's a prison near Gaoling, go check it out. Heck, he knows more about the spirit world than me."
"I don't know. I found old Sir Bumi very pleasant," Yue shrugged as Michi and Nik stared at her weirdly.
"Hmm?" She returned the look curiously as Nik chuckled, "He likes you because you probably healed the aches of his joints... those that remain, anyway."
"That's not very nice to say," Yue rolled her eyes, "And he also taught me some better exercises than Master Pakku and Suki combined."
"Of course, he did. He'd teach you and Sun, but if Aang and I ask him to teach us... we get to find someone who listens to earth..."
Alright, Yue was beginning to see why Nik didn't really like the 'Kind Old Sir' Bumi that she considered the King of Omashu to be.
But Nik wasn't done yet.
"Previously, he sent us to Makapu Village, far in the north where we even had to cross a few rivers. A destination well over two weeks of walking but now he sends us south and around half the area to travel!"
His words made Yue and Michi thin their lips wryly. It was true. From Omashu to Gaoling, they first had to travel eastward and then make way around a large swamp to make a pass through the clear cut between mountain range that led to the town of Gaoling. Or in this case, The Colony of Gaoling.
Still, Nik turned out to be quite pleasant after a bout of venting over Bumi's quirkiness and they made it quickly over to the swamp before. Anyway, Michi took many things with a refreshed view so it definitely helped... but she wanted to sleep on her bed regardless. And honestly, now that the cat was out of the bag, Nik didn't find himself eager to sleep on the ground when there was a warm room waiting for him... that would turn even hotter given how many women waited for him.
And it was exhilarating!
---
"How dare you?" Aang's intense, dual-voiced scream was only matched by the ferociously whipping winds as his pure white eyes of rage and dignity alongside his tattoos glowed, announcing his anger... as well as mortal helplessness. It is only helplessness that could breed such rage... such fearsome frustration and Aang felt all of it.
Nobody could control him. They didn't dare to. They didn't have the ability to.
As the prisoners, including Wu and Meng, were barely secured as Sun stretched both of his hands up and created a massive dome around them so that they don't just fly off. But not only the prisoners. The protection was extended to the unconscious group of fire-bending soldiers, within which were Hara and Sun's old comrades.
Aang's anger was however directed at someone else entirely. He flew further and further high in the air as the ball of ferocious wind kept him afloat. He gazed at what once was the beautiful Northern Air Temple now devolved into an oozing smoke factory hellhole with these...
These...
His glare latched on the 'leader' of the village— a greying-haired man with a bushy beard and a huge bald spot in the middle of his head. Next to the man was a crippled youth on a wheelchair that could even fashion as a glider and it pained Aang more.
Yet, he didn't lash out. It was probably because getting into this state constantly had given him some form of control but Aang knew better. He had experienced many things and realized... he wasn't angry.
Just hurt.
Whipping winds began to gradually dissipate as Aang fell to his knees in front of the crowd with a listless expression. Others from his group felt worse seeing him in such a state.
"Aang..." Tom-Tom mumbled, not knowing what to do. The edges of his clothes had some burns and he looked a bit roughed up. As promised, he didn't run away from a fight this time. But what could he do to make Aang feel better at this time?
Rena was beside him, healing a few of his injuries that were the results of his lack of experience.
Sun looked away, unable to bear seeing the boy in such pain.
"So... just make things new," Sokka suddenly spoke up, hiding his sadness over the situation. What else could he do? Aang was walking over eggshells when it came to his emotions. In reality, finding the prisoners from Makapu Village had been hard but not so enough due to their previous knowledge that they were already inbound. In the middle, Zhao had been defeated and the news reached the ship carrying the prisoners, bringing them to a more difficult location that turned out to be the Northern Air Temple.
However, the Temple was already occupied by a tinkerer's village. The man who was the subject of Aang's pent-up glare. The man had quite honestly revolutionized the mechanics behind the weapons of the fire nation. They had seen a few things before Aang lost his cool... what sent the boy over the edge wasn't the sight of the previous Avatar statue room turned into prison but...
The Tinkerer's request from Aang to help their village.
Right now, Sokka's words attracted attention. He knew very well that separated from the group of his age, he and Rena would have to step into many situations. They weren't particularly experienced but the two knew what was wrong when they saw it and right now... no one was wrong.
"Aang, they just wanted to live. The air temples... without the air nomads are nothing but empty halls of rocks and statues."
His concise words made the boy shiver. Sokka hadn't really been brutally honest about the situation but now there seemed the possibility that Aang would always get triggered by anything related to his heritage.
"These people made it their homes until the Fire Nation barged in... instead of feeling helpless, I say we do right by them. We have helped so many people already... and we have an earthbender with us to carve this mountain anew."
Walking up to the boy, Sokka leaned down to pat his head and whispered, "You can't feel desperate... just because you weren't there Aang. If you let it go, truly, you will see that... it's alright..."
Aang's tiny frame shivered. Soft sobbing began to echo as tears welled and dripped down his eyes as he ended up hugging Sokka.
At this moment, Sokka turned to face one particular unconscious man that wore green robes and remarked with a cold snort, "Sun... don't let that guy escape. We'll take him to the Water Tribe once we're sure that the kids here aren't completely mentally influenced."
Truly, the more troublesome aspect of this 'War' wasn't the battles but fear of hidden cells amongst them that could betray them the next moment.
---
Wu woke up and soon found herself in the Avatar's and his team's company alongside her young caretaker, Meng.
"It is nice to see you, Sun," Wu chuckled as Sun lowered his head.
They were still within the Northern Air Temple. Although they had recovered the prisoners, Sun wanted to send away his previous superior— Hara, peacefully and that's what Sokka and others agreed to do. It's not like Hara had a choice when he was ordered to capture the villagers of Makapu.
Well, he did. But refusing the direct order of the once alive Admiral would have granted him a life of traitorous scum, or worse.
And that brought Sun to his puzzled inquiry, "Granny Wu, did you know... that you all would get captured if I helped Aang and others escape back then?"
He held Meng's hand and caused the sweet girl to act like a blushing, stuttering doll as she looked down shyly. Meng's capture had made Sun scared out of his wits, and thus more ferocious. Everyone dealt with fear in their own ways. Some stare back into the abyss and come into terms with it, some lash out, some look away, and some individuals are crushed by its weight.
Sun lashed out. More furiously than ever and it paid out in the end.
Chuckling, Wu replied weakly. She didn't wear her usual headdress and had her greying hair tied into a neat ponytail. She looked like an ordinary grandmother at this moment.
"I didn't. It's... been told to me that Avatar Aang is aware of the true nature of one of his companions," she looked at Aang meaningfully, "His existence is never counted into my predictions. He cannot be predicted, now more so than ever.
What changes occur because of him are... hard to glean through. Besides, I cannot tell anyone's fortune any longer than the next scam artist."
"Huh? What?" Meng's head snapped in her master's direction but she chose to look at Aang and smiled calmly, "I met the wise Lord of the Fire Nation... he hinted to me that relying on spirits instead of one's spirituality is a dangerous act. Aang, at this moment, you are in the same condition.
However, the time in prison made me realize... I was a fool for wanting Nik removed to help you. The spirit's blessings have left me but I feel so free... hehe, isn't it ironic?
Somehow, in some way, he freed me of my previous shackles... maybe that is why is being considered a threat simply far too great..."
"Hold up, Granny Wu, what are you talking about? Aang, did you know all that?" Sun frowned. Only the team, Wu, and Meng were present but not everyone was aware of the situation.
Aang, cried out and feeling refreshed, tilted his head slightly and then eventually nodded, "I will pass on your gratitude to him, Aunt Wu."
"I'm ever so grateful," Wu smiled softly as she looked around, "Besides... life feels so vibrant now that I don't have to look through it every second of the day."
***
A/N: I never wanted Wu to be a villain. As I have shown, spirits have too great of an influence on those who look beyond without enough spirituality of their own. Pakku was lost, and so was Wu. And even Mai got a bad deal for herself... hehe, not so much of a bad deal now tho.
The spirits, too, don't want Nik dead as much as they want to keep Mokshi around for the benefits it brings.
***
Shout out to Cklance~!
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