Chapter 259: One Last Regret (1)
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Go away!" Ty Lee feebly shouts while wrapped in her blanket in her room. She did not want to look at anyone right now.
"I made sure Azula doesn't come and be all... her. Kya will take care of her. So, can I come in?"
Ty Lee glimpses at Nik's voice but doesn't answer and curls further into herself.
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Ty Lee?"
"What?!" the usually energetic contortionist snaps and grunts. "I don't want you to pity me! After being pathetic last night, despite speaking big and acting so bad today, too—I'm sure you just want to laugh at me!"
"I think that's called projecting," Nik chuckles from the other side and mutters, "I wanted to see if you'd be interested in getting cheered up a little. Originally, I planned to go somewhere with Sokka, but others are interested in exploring more."
"Just leave me be..." Ty Lee mutters and adds under her breath, "I don't deserve to be near anyone."
Nik refrains from commenting on the last bit and sighs. "Fine, I won't force you. But you'll be alright on your own, right? I mean, even your sisters are going—"
*Thud*
*Bang*
Loud thumps and hurried knocks echo from Ty Lee's side before her door slams open.
"Oh, look at that," Nik grins, "You're up!"
"What do you mean—you're going out with my sisters?!" Ty Lee still hadn't changed out of her white outfit and looked positively disheveled.
"That's not what I said," Nik rolls his eyes and then huffs with a frown of his own, "Look, do you want to come or not? When Zuko felt down, a trip with me—" 'And a life-death situation.' "—helped him relax. He even got a dragon's egg. We're going to a similar location. Aang might be there, too."
Ty Lee thins her lips and looks away. She clenches her fists nervously.
"I... I don't know. I'm sorry. It's just a lot harder than I expected. I don't want to ruin everyone else's mood..."
"But if you don't tag along, you risk ruining my mood. What about that?" Nik smirks as she scoffs under her breath.
"As if you care."
"Fine, stay here." Nik sighs and turns around. He didn't come here to force her but to extend an invitation. If she does not want to join, then it's on her. Before leaving, however, Nik stops and remarks quietly, "Your performance was beautiful. I don't know if you want to hear this, but I disagree with your idea of setting yourself above your sisters. And your performance seems to agree."
"Of course, you take their side now you've met them!" Ty Lee flares up.
"Really?" Nik looks at her critically.
"REALLY!"
"Fine," Nik scoffs, "I wanted to invite you and tell you what others know, but you don't. But guess what? I'm going to an island that houses ancient civilization. I wasn't planning to aggravate you because you are clearly more important to me, but I am going to make moves on your sisters."
Her eyes widen as he continues.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Nik calmly goads as he crosses his arms. "You're set on letting your frustration get the better of you. I should just help you then. Right?"
She flinches and chews her lips in frustration.
"I didn't mean that! Alright! You do not know how hard it is for me to accept all this!"
"You think I can tell you, sisters, apart because I'm some kind of lucky freak?" Nik scoffs, "I understand how difficult situations can get. I just don't know the specifics—like you don't know mine. You have no idea what I had to suppress and smile as I played along with you seven."
An almost tangible sense of irritation sets itself on Nik as one particular memory resurfaces in his mind. It is one of the rare instances where the leading star isn't Esta but one of his past regulars.
"What did you mean by that?" Ty Lee finds her anger simmering as she observes Nik's stony expression.
"Whatever. I just wanted to congratulate you on the performance and ask you out, so I could make up for my foolish thinking. Stay here to stew in your mess, ?or tag along—your choice. We'll be leaving for the port in 30 minutes."
Ty Lee's lips part as if she wants to say something, but Nik does not look back again.
As he turns away into the corner, Ty Lee stands in front of her room alone.
'Why did I say all that to him?' She bites her bottom lip. Her eyes tear up again.
'What the hell happened to me back there?' Nik frowns, too, and scans the mansion for any stray spirit. He found none.
Nik had been joking about the triplets of misery with Zuko earlier today, but now he suddenly blew his top off?
It is strange.
Very strange.
'Great, we're also off to another island. Fucking great!'
— — —
Azula couldn't have asked for a better day!
Since early morning, she has only gotten pleasant surprises—Ty Lee's sisters starting their circus; a lavish palace; a mouth-watering wardrobe; an exchange of mothers that grills Katara and Sokka; news of her mother's wild portrait; and now Nik's somewhat detached reception to the Ty Sisters, including Ty Lee.
Best day ever.
They are even going on a quick trip!
Truly, leave it to a mother to know what her child wants!
"Thank you, Mother~!" Azula hugs Kya. Their group is scattered over the deck of the ship. Her voice is just loud enough to earn a glare from Katara and Sokka again.
It was Kya's idea to tag along with Nik.
Nik wanted to collect the last bit of information he could and then make peace with others before leaving. Completing the mission by Ozai's demise loosely signified that he had no other concrete aim to accomplish in this world.
But Zuko still refused to join them. He returned to the personal space to see to his Dragon Egg.
'If I get a Dragon, too, then this day will be royally purrfect!' Azula winks at Katara before letting go of Kya.
"Tch, she is so annoying! You had to sleep with her, didn't you?" Sokka blames Nik as the latter leans on the railing and quietly looks at the sea.
"Hey, are you feeling alright?" Sokka questions again, "You've got a sour face since you invited Ty Lee. Couldn't handle the rejection?"
Nik glances at him before shaking his head. "That's not it. I'm just feeling weird."
"Great! Because this entire situation is uncomfortable and weird. Can't wait for this day to end and cap it off with our visit to the tavern!"
Bhanti Island, their destination, is not that far from the mainland. The trip back and forth would only take about 2 hours, and Nik won't spend too much time copying any information he finds to study later.
His gaze pierces into the crashing waves. His mind keeps rewinding his spat with Ty Lee.
That was low of him.
Just because one side acts out because of hurting does not mean he needs to reciprocate. He would know.
"Hey! Why the long face and gloomy aura?" A Ty face pats his back and sits on the edge of the rocking railings with a wide grin.
"How did you sisters even read aura, Woo?" Nik glances at her and questions with a smile.
"Maybe they read body language and just lie to us," Sokka grunts in a bored manner.
"Screw you, bitch! I ain't a liar!" Ty Woo snarls.
Not offended, Sokka shrugs, "Just making an assumption. By the way, your performance was amazing!"
"You wish you three weren't drunk, huh?" Woo smirks and dangles her legs.
Nik glances back at the group of sisters who kept looking in their direction before sighing and smiling, "I don't easily get drunk. I used to, but I'm getting better. So I caught all of it."
"You could tell us apart even while we were flying around?" Ty Woo brushes her swaying locks back with a hand and grins.
"Painfully so." Nik glimpses internally. These words practically flew out of his mouth.
The annoyance in his voice is not lost on Sokka or Woo.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Sokka questions again with a frown.
"Dandy," Nik replies and steps back, "Call me when we reach the island."
Nik pulsates his chi out of his body again as he walks into the ship's cabin. More spiritually inclined individuals, like Yue, sense the gesture.
Still, Nik located no spirit nearby.
"Aw, did something happen?" Azula struts over with a smirk. "Do you want your sister's help? Maybe I can be a better replacement than Katara."
Sokka works his jaw while Azula turns to look at Woo. Flames of satiric desires burn in her royal gold pupils as Azula points her nose high. "Maybe yours, too, Ty Woo. Wouldn't having a sister with a different face be desirable?"
The Princess is as unhinged as ever.
Ursa merely glances at her daughter, then she looks at Jin with a grin, "Thank the spirits I'm Kya for the day, huh!"
"Oh, yeah, mother. That is a relief." The corner of Katara's lips twitches, and she deadpans.
"I know, daughter!" Ursa replies cheerily, "So, have you made plans?"
"Plans?" Katara inclines her head.
"Don't you want to marry Nik? Have you planned where you want to get married? Even you, Jin."
Ursa's question catches the duo off guard, and they look at each other.
"I didn't think about it," Jin scratches her cheek and looks at Katara, "You?"
"Not really. We never made it clear explicitly. I'm sure I want to leave with him, but what comes next is still..." She looks sideways and sees Kya walking over to them.
Katara stops talking her mind as the current source of her troubled heart approaches them with a smile and speaks in an accent that she is getting fluent in, "Ah, you must forgive Azula for her comments. She is very excited."
"We know how Azula is, Aunty Ursa," Jin grins back at Kya and then teasingly looks in Katara's direction. She is no less of a menace. Maybe it is something she learned from the village alongside Azula. "Katara here was talking about her thoughts on marrying Nik."
Katara glares at the girl who likes to keep a pretense of the simple village sweetheart and groans, "It is nothing important!"
"Oh, my. Do I sense a lover's spat?" Kya smiles and looks at Ursa. "Daughters can be so complicated, right?"
Ursa glances at Azula in the distance before sighing and holding Katara's hand. "Don't I know it?"
Katara rolls her eyes.
Meanwhile, Jin is having the time of her life.
"Anyway," Katara shoots back at Kya in annoyance, "Before I think of my marriage, shouldn't you think about yours? Wouldn't it get awkward if you and Azula marry the same man?"
Kya and Ursa flinch.
This feels like a trick question.
"Er, Ursa, a word?" Ursa looks at Kya as Katara interjects and holds Ursa's hand. "No, Mom. I want to hear 'Ursa's' answer. I want to understand if Ursa thought it was a good idea."
Ursa looks sideways.
"Katara, let's not," Jin smiles awkwardly. The karma came too quickly to bite her on the ass.
"No," Katara retorts firmly, "Jokes are well and good, but I also want to hear from her. What is so enjoyable about torturing your daughter with jokes like these?"
"Excuse me," Ursa breaks free from Katara and walks away with a complicated expression as Kya looks at the young waterbender quietly.
"Are you happy?" Kya questions softly.
"Are you?" Katara frowns.
"Hey, it's alright. You were alright with Aunt Ursa and Kya having their fun until a while ago," Jin interjects to mediate, but she can only start with someone her age and not the elderly.
Sokka notices their commotion and ignores Azula before walking over to them.
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing," Jin smiles.
"Stop lying!" Katara scoffs and looks at Kya, "I disagree with what Azula said! I'm happy you are with us, but I find the notion of you being with anyone aside from dad..."
Her expression says it all.
"And I'm leaving." Sokka makes a quick turn.
A brilliant move.
He got enlightened in his drunken emotions during the performance from the Ty Sisters that things are only weird if he lets them get weird.
For instance, take the Ty Sisters as an example.
They have brilliant coordination, but they allow things to get weird because of emotions when their body acts in the opposite manner. Besides, Nik or not, Sokka knows he will be the man to evaluate his mother's lover before anyone else. It's his duty now. And even if it's Nik, so what? He's not sleeping with Nik, so he has no problems. And he risked his life to save all of them. That's a good man right there.
Jin gazes at Sokka's back with hung jaws.
That was quick.
"Katara, I was trying to—"
"Well, it was weird, all right?" Katara interjects snappily.
"That does not mean you should verbally attack others." Kya glares firmly.
"Who?" Katara frowns.
"Ursa," Kya replies. "Where did all that come from before? Has Ursa ever treated you unkindly?"
Katara's lips part open. She looks around but could not find Ursa.
"I just need to... leave." Katara rushes away with a doubtful expression, leaving Jin and Kya in desolate silence as the mother regretted trying to have fun.
"Don't worry... you should have seen her with Iroh," Jin squeezes a smile and comforts Kya, "And she doesn't mean half the things she says. Sometimes she says she doesn't like it, but give her a few seconds, and whoa!"
Kya glares at Jin.
Smirking, Jin links her arms with Kya. "Come on, Aunt Ursa! You know what I mean, right?"
"I suppose."
The duo then glances at the source of another heated argument between the Ty Sisters and Azula.
'Just what is going on today?' Jin blinks owlishly.
"Don't listen to her!" Suki sighs and tries to interrupt the argument.
Ever since she saw the sisters performing, she felt the urge to enlist them under Kyoshi's name. And if Azula keeps swaggering about, her plan will crash and burn!
"Stay out of it, bitch!" Ty Woo shoots Suki a glance. Yue frowns even harder while standing beside an equally confused Sokka.
Ty Lin retorts against Azula. "And we don't want you as our sister, Princess."
"Why not? You don't want each other either. Or do you dream of living alone for the rest of your lives?"
"I do." A voice suddenly replies.
It's Ty Lee.
"What did you say?" Lum looks shocked as Ty Lee fumes.
"Why not? In fact, I'll pick Azula as my sister over any of you!"
'Well, that was a joke.' Azula leans back slightly.
"Lee," Lin begins with a frown.
"Give it a rest! Now you want me as a sister? Huh? NOW? Where were all of you when Baba died or before that? But oh, no. Suddenly you want me back after taking my routine. After taking my hobby! You left me with nothing, did you?!"
"It's not like that!" Ty Lat interjects.
"I don't care, all right?!" Ty Lee shouts.
"I don't care what's the truth and what's not the truth! All I care about is I was left alone! I had six sisters! Every one of you six is older than me, but none of you could bother to ask how I was doing!"
Her loud voice attracts the attention of others as the glum Ursa and Katara get closer to the group. Even Nik hears the commotion and steps out of his chamber.
"And now here you are! Trying to be with the person I like! Trying to take someone who truly knows me at a glance! Some sisters you lot are!"
Katara frowns and glances at Kya once again.
"Just give us a chance to explain—" Lin begins again.
"I won't!" Ty Lee hisses.
"I won't give the six of you any other chance! Ever! I'm done. Live your life happily doing the thing I love the most."
Her breath shudders, and she heaves deeply.
"I regret being a part of you six."
Her sisters grow silent. Each one is truly hurt. Their expression says everything and even if Ty Lee is angry, all her heat flies away as she looks at the heartbroken faces of her sister, and regret sets in her for a different reason.
"I shouldn't have—"
Ty Lee suddenly collapses on her knees before she can complete her sentence.
A faint wind blows.
The wind carries a soft whisper.
The Bhanti Island can already be viewed from a distance.
Nik, Ursa, Kya, Katara, and the Ty Sisters collapse similarly.
Sokka, Yue, Azula, Suki, and Jin look at each other in shock.
"This isn't my fault."
Azula covers her base as quickly as possible. She was just out having fun. Not... this.
"It's a spirit!" Yue rolls her eyes and looks at the island.
"And my weapons are inside Nik. Sounds even weirder saying it out loud." Sokka clicks his tongue.
— — —
"I told you it's either this or the Ember Island. It was merely a matter of their preference. Sigh. not that you can hear me, Avatar Aang."
A cloaked figure on the tallest peak of the island looks at the boy sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Aang's tattoos glow brightly while Hina and Niwan lay collapsed near him.
Not only Hina and Niwan but all the stormbenders on the island are unconscious.
"Ra and Raat were right. Bonding with emotional creatures has its ups and downs. Raava and Mokshi... are daring, alright."
Alternative Title: The DLC Boss; Azula and Jin Are Menaces; Spirited Away; A Desolate Island; Words Sharper Than Blades; No Trip is Without A Spirit; The Travel Spirit's Curse; Regretful Actions; Cost of Knowledge; Hidden Hate; Bhanti Island's Mystery; Oh, Great. Sokka's Stuff is Inside Nik Again; Zuko is Unironically Classic Tea Certified Wise
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel