Chapter 25

Alright you guys more split povs, also please note that there is more use of gore in this chapter especially blood. If that’s too much for anyone please let me know and I can summarize below. Also this is over 3k words enjoy 🙂

Kyoshi played with Rangi’s hair pin that they had left on the floor thinking. Before they had told her about Rangi she was sure she could have melted the cuffs and just dealt with the two and left.

But now she had no choice but to stay. Resting her head back against the wall she stared at the ceiling. The room was cold and dark, but she felt that it didn’t even bother her anymore. She wondered if Rangi was in a similar space, how far apart they were. If she yelled would she be able to hear her. They had probably sedated her with the gasses, there was no way Rangi wouldn’t put up a fight, and they knew that too.

Do I even have enough strength to do what they want me to do? She asked herself. The more she thought about how to open a portal the more she just confused herself.

Kyoshi knew she didn’t have a choice anymore, they better have a plan cause otherwise she’ll be useless as anyone else.

Suddenly she started to laugh softly to herself. I hope they aren’t thinking that I know how to do any of this. She thought to herself.

Kyoshi honestly wasn’t sure when she was sleeping and when she was sleeping. She felt like she was on too high alert to sleep, but her body was beginning to drag.

She guessed that morning had finally come when Naruklok came through the door, with two men this time. “Ready?” He grumbled.

“As I’ll ever be” Kyoshi responded sarcastically. That is when she caught sight of the two men most likely debating which one had to do to her cuffs.

“Just one of you two morons go, she won’t bite,” Naruklok demanded.

“She definitely does” On mean said as he pushed the other forwards, and went to unlock the cuffs. “Not today” She said under her breath, rolling her freed wrists.

“I just want to make things perfectly clear if you even try to escape-” Naruklok tried to say, probably to rattle her but Kyoshi had cut him off.

“I already know, just point where we’re going” She put in duly. Not wanting to have to imagine the possibilities.

Naruklok seemed fine with that answer and started walking down the hallway.

She was brought out to a larger room, probably still underground. “Well this is stupid” She mumbled to herself. Sadly it didn’t seem like it was quiet enough.

“Have something to add?” A man called. “No.” She replied quickly.

“Liar, she called us stupid” A woman called, well Kyoshi was glad to see that some of them still hated her guts just as much as before.

“Well…”

Did they really need an explanation? Kyoshi thought to herself.

“Doesn’t it seem a bit problematic to open a portal underground?” She asked, getting some skeptical looks from around the room.

“I’m just trying to be practical here. I have no problem with all of you dying down here with me if the creation of the portal causes the roof to fall but I feel like that would be very  counterproductive for you” She said looking around the room.

Kyoshi figured that she should have gone without telling them about the problem with their first location. But one of them would be bound to survive, and probably try and kill her before she could escape the rubble.

“Just watch your mouth” One of the men called.

“Fine. Like I said before I could care less if we all die down here in the rubble. But I hope it’s you first.”

“Just shut up!”

Kyoshi simply raised one of her eyebrows, “Okay, fine. Then when are we doing this” She said coldly.

“We’re moving, we’ll start shortly.” Naruklok announced.

I should get a thank you for saving all their pathetic lives. Kyoshi thought to herself as they began to head out of the underground tunnel they were in.

The sun almost burned Kyoshi’s eyes as she emerged, fresh air filling her lungs. She felt like a small part of her grew more awake. Not that it was going to help much.

“We’ll do it here” Naruklok claimed as the group came to a halt.

Kyoshi looked around, she wasn’t quite sure where they were, there were hills nearby, and a dense forest in front of them.

“So how am I supposed to do this, opening portals isn’t really in the job description” Kyoshi asked looking around.

“I’d suggest looking for a weak point, and make a hole from there” Naruklok suggested.

Kyohis turned around. What kind of fucking instructions are those. I’m pretty sure I have by far the worst spiritual connections, and he chose me. I doubt I’ll be able to do anything. She thought as she started to try and meditate. Maybe then she could sense the weakness between realms, that’s assuming that’s what he ment.

“Would she hurry up?” She heard a voice call in the background disrupting her train of thought.

“Unless you can make a damn portal yourself, I’d suggest you shut up.” Kyohsi called, pulling her one fan out pointing it accusingly at the man.

She watched him make a pouting face almost to the boss, somewhat like a child. Naruklok only shot what she assumed was a glare under the mask. He knows just how much he needs me, I’d bet he would kill a man if they tried to stop me now.

After a moment she resettled back into her seated position, and began to focus. Trying to sese out any spiritual energy. Or rather where it wasn’t.

Kuruk is gonna kill me for this, so is Yangchen. I’m so screwed.

Then she felt it, a weak spot. She wasn’t really sure how, but it was there. Kyoshi got up to get closer to the spot, trying to sense the presence of the place. Then she recognized a familiar sense.

“This was an old tear between the realms from father glowworm, wasn’t it?” She asked as she stepped closer. Naruklok only nodded.

To say she didn’t know what she was doing was an understatement, Kyoshi only felt for the weakest point and began to exert as much energy as she could gather.

I can’t do this, I don’t even know what I’m doing. Her thoughts echoed in her head. For a second she considered giving up, maybe killing her for not opening the portal wouldn’t be the worst thing.

But then she remembered…

Rangi

I would do anything for her no matter the cost. She thought as she continued to strain over the power she was putting into pulling the realms apart.

And if they go back on their word and hurt her, even if I’m dead. I will come back and haunt the ever living shit out of each and everyone of them.

“Just spirit bend you idiot” Kyoshi heard Naruklok call. Well shit, she had probably only done it like once maybe twice before. But what the hell.

Kyoshi felt the tear getting bigger, and bigger. But then it felt like she was stuck, she couldn’t make the portal any bigger.

She knew this was probably the spirits rebelling, and why wouldn’t they? She was causing more collateral damage to both realms each second. 

Her limbs continued to grow heavier, she just couldn’t do anymore. But what would they do to Rangi if I fail?

Kyoshi refused to let go, as she fell to her knees. She couldn’t stop, she couldn’t let go. But she was tired, so tired. It felt like she had been trying for hours, when it had probably only been minutes.

Rangi I’m so sorry, I just can’t anymore.

She felt her body start to flicker into the avatar state as the last resort, but it seemed to be hesitating. My past lives will definitely kill me if I don’t die here.

But then there was a faint release of sorts, and she felt the portal grow until it released her. Falling gracefully on her face.

She pushed herself up, to stare at the monstrosity she created. Maybe I can undo this? Come back later and seal it, then everything will be back the way it was. I just need to get Rangi. She felt a smile form on her lips at the thought of her.

“I bet you think you can seal it once we leave,” Naruklok said, walking up by her side.

As soon as I get Rangi I doubt you’d be any opponent.

“Well you won’t be able to shut it on your own. Even if you tried.” He began to explain.

“And why not?” Kyoshi found herself asking, even though it probably wasn’t the best idea.

“Well hand made portals are different, you see their lives depend on their creators. That’s why Glow worm’s portals sealed after he passed”

Kyoshi looked over to the portal if they really did reflect upon their creators then her’s should be barely standing.

She looks up, almost hopefully. “So if I suffer, so does the portal?”

Naruklok looked unimpressed. “Yes, that would be the case.”

She feels a small smile creep across her face, at this state the portal was probably weak enough to destroy, Rangi could probably finish it off in no time. But then again if she had power over it she might be able to collapse it on her own.

“But I already took that into account. I know your selfless actions are something to take note of. So when you were struggling most I offered my spirit bending to aid you.”

Kyoshi felt her face fall again. “We both share the burden of this portal, even if you’re gone it will still stand. We would both need to be nearly dead or gone for it to even have a chance at falling.”

This fucking bastard. For a moment she forgot nearly everything and made a move to hit Naruklok when something gashed her side.

“Don’t forget about what we have.”

She looked down to her side that was now cut open and bleeding, it made her feel cold even under the rays of the sun. Kyoshi held her side tighter.

“Fine, I kept up my part of the deal. Where is the firebender, is she back in those iron boxes underground?” She called getting to her feet once more.

“What firebender?” She heard a faint voice ask another bystander. Suddenly Naruklok sent an ice steak pierced through his middle causing him to fall over with no signs of movement.

And just like that Kyoshi saw red, rushing up to Naruklok grabbing him by the front of his tunic, her fan at his throat. “You better start explaining, if you’d  like to live”

“Hold on a second-“

“WHERE THE FUCK IS RANGI YOU BASARD-“

But something had hit her hard in the side of the head. As she laid there she watched the portal flicker, so it really was connected to her.

“We never had her you idiot” Wren called as crouched down to almost meet Kyoshi’s eye level.

“Fucking cowards” Were the only words to escape before someone else knocked her unconscious.

“What are going to do with her now?” A man called hurrying to begin to pick her up, before summoning the others for more help.

“Nothing, just let her rot in the cell. We need a head start.”

…

“If you don’t hurry up we’re leaving you all behind” Kirma called to Lao and Wong as she grabbed her pack. Rangi was glad to see that Kirma was still in high spirits.

They were gathered just outside of the city bonds, making sure they had anything they might need. They didn’t know  exactly how far Kyoshi had gone.

“Fine, fine we’re coming” Wong called, running up to the shirshu. “Do you have the tunic we were gonna use?” He asked.

Rangi nodded, taking out the fabric from a pouch. The shirshu sniffed it for a second, and then seemed to become focused, its nose twitching.

Wong smiled, “He must have found her”

For the first time in days Rangi felt her heart lift for a second. “Let’s go”

…

Later Kyoshi wakes up to the same room she had spent the past days in, still bound by the same chains as before. “Fucking cowards” She mumblesd moving herself upright.

Only to wince in pain as she felt the gash on her side reopen. Quickly she tried to hold pressure over it while she tried to think of a way out.

They must have figured I’d kill him right there on the spot. She thought to herself as she wiped some dried blood from her nose. She probably would’ve killed them all on the spot, now she kind of plans too later, if they get in her way that is. 

I just have to get out, and Rangi’s safe. She let out a breath. Rangi’s safe, so there’s nothing keeping me here.

She looked at her hands, thinking that she could try the same thing before, she could just heat up the metal enough to break the cuffs then the rest would be a breeze.  But they were burned from the first attempt. She had been so focused on everything else. She had practically forgotten.

Let’s just give it a try. She thought as she began to heat the metal once more. As the metal started to heat she cried out in pain as she was forced to stop, the burns worsening.

Pathetic.

Shen then slammed her hands down, which caused a stab of pain  from her side. “Why didn’t they just strike me with lightning while they were at it?” She asked herself.

Her shoulders slumped. Firebending the chains was out, so using firebending on the rest of the room was also out because of the apparent oil coating on the walls, and she wasn’t willing to take that gamble.

There wasn’t any earth, and with airbending she highly doubted that she would be able to produce a gust strong enough to do anything. Plus it wasn’t any use against the metal.

She then heard the sound of blood dripping into a puddle alongside her. Waterbending

She looked to the floor at the pool of blood. It could work, it’s just liquid. That’s what she would have to think of it as.

Just think of it as water, it’s just water. She struggled to keep it in any shape. “It’s just like water” She repeated aloud, closing her eyes.

Slowly some of the blood from the puddle started to lift, only to fall again a second later.

She tried to focus harder, pretend like it’s just water.

Just breathe it’s just water, you’ve done this a hundred times before. It’s just like water.

Finally she was able to call some to call some to shape as she lifted it to the locks letting it seep through. It’s just like water.

Breathing out slowly she froze the blood in its place, before slamming them down once more letting them shatter.

“About fucking time” She mumbled to herself as she pushed herself up onto her feet.

Gripping her side, and her only fan with the other fan she left the room, and started making her way out of the tunnel system.

As she left she expected that the base to be filled with people, but it was vacant. They must have all already left. Perfect. She found herself smiling a bit as she pushed the earth door open, leaving blood in her wake. Slowly she stumbled back to the open. She had thought she heard some voices so she opted to go the other way, toward the trees by the hills. Anywhere was better than where they were. She walked forwards her body dragging more easily she stumbled into the woods.

…

“I FUCKING SWEAR WONG IF YOU GOT US LOST SOMEHOW I’M ACUALLY GONING TO KILL YOU” Rangi yelling pulling the front of Wong’s shirt towards her.

“I didn’t do anything, the shirshu just started spinning around, that’s not on me.” He said defensively.

“Let’s just take a moment and give the shirshu some time to get back on track.” Lao suggested. “Fine” Rangi dropped Wong’s shirt and went to sit down as the shirshu continued to spin.

Either Kyoshi got herself stuck underground, or this shirshu Wong got is broken. Rangi thought to herself, sighing.

“Hey look” Kirma called as the shirshu started taking off without them. It began again on some invisible path of sorts as Rangi ran behind it.

Before she could think of anything else she found herself running into the beast as it stopped to sniff a puddle of what Rangi assumed was blood.

“Hey, do these things get distracted by things like blood?” Rangi asked, as the rest of the group caught up with her.

“Not sure, but you could give it the tunic again, just to make sure it’s tracking her, and not anything new it smelled.” Wong suggested.

With a nod, Rangi went back to the pack to fish out the tunic when something shiny caught her eye, like the same gold as the fans.
“Kyoshi….”

Rangi took off in a sprint as she headed through the bushes to see a figure hunched over. ” KYOSHI”

And just like that she watched as Kyoshi’s eyes came to life, as she looked up. “Rangi”

Kyoshi stumbled forwards using the trees for support as Rangi ran forwards. No words escaped Kyoshi’s lips as she collapsed into the firenders arms.

“About time we found you” Rangi mumbled, as she held Kyoshi as close as she could. Her chin resting on her head as they sunk into the grass.

It was then that Kyoshi broke into a sob, “I’m so sorry, I so sorry Rangi” She continued to sob into Rangi’s chest.

She tried to pull chin upwards to look into Kyoshi’s eyes, as if to prove she was really there. “It’s okay I’m not mad” Rangi said trying to comfort her as she wiped the tears streaming down her face. Nearly all of Kyoshi’s makeup had rubbed off. All that was left was some of the white base in the hairline, and small smudges of the red and back around her eyes. ” I’m so sorry,” Kyoshi repeated.

The firebender only tried to pull her closer, when she adjusted her hands it was then that she saw the blood. “Kyoshi you’re bleeding!” She said frantically, now trying to add pressure. But the Avatar hardly seemed to notice. 

“I’m so sorry”

They’re with each other again, that makes me so happy, I missed writing them together. But honestly this chapter kinda hurt too, oh well. I hope you guys liked it, I’ll be sure to try and update soon. Hopefully before Christmas! Also thank you for over 5k reads, thats so amazing ❤️