As I stared at the bipedal goat with human similarities, I raised an eyebrow in confusion, curiosity, and caution; after all, not just any spirit could somehow create a portal between the human and spirit world. 'Actually, are spirits even capable of doing this?' Although I didn't know, the fact that this spirit had just done so was enough to answer my question. "Avatar, Aang, please hurry! It won't be long until Father Glowworm's Cult reaches us! Reality is at stake here, and we require your help!" Furrowing my brows at the spirit's words, I was initially hesitant, but as I observed the sheer desperation plastered on his face, I internally sighed before deciding to help him.
"Okay, I shall help you; however, I would like detailed information on what is happening in the spirit world." Glancing at the goat spirit, who rapidly nodded before stepping aside, revealing a beautiful patch of forest through the passageway; I stomped my foot onto the ground, using earth bending to create text that informed Bumi where I was going as I had no idea how long I'd be absent for. Once I finished, I grabbed my bo-staff and stepped through the passageway, entering the otherworld for the first time; I could've gone several times in the past, but so no real reason other than to satisfy my curiosity, though I had other things I'd rather do, so it never happened.
However, I couldn't satisfy my curiosity since the moment I stepped into the other world; I lost not only my connection to my numerous past lives but also my bending, except for my inherent one. Instantly, I narrowed my eyes and slammed my bo-staff onto the ground, releasing a mighty gust of wind, causing trees to be uprooted and thrown into the sky while I thrust my palm toward the spirit, enveloping him within a spherical vortex as I lifted him into the air above the forest's canopy. "What did you do!?" I glared at the spirit in slight anger, who stared back at me in fear and confusion. "W-What do you mean? I-I did nothing!"
Narrowing my eyes, I intensely stared at him for several seconds, yet not once did I spot a lie from him, prompting me to heave a sigh while gently dropping him to the ground. "T-Thank you, Avatar Aang; I-I do not know what happened; I-I thank you for believing in me." Shaking my head, I created a gust of wind that helped him onto his feet while holstering my bo-staff onto my back. "I wouldn't quite say I believe you; I'm more inclined to think you have unknowingly done something to me." The spirit didn't comment and merely nodded, only for the ground to subtly tremble, causing me to frown, though as time passed, the trembling only intensified. "T-They've found us already! Quickly, Avatar Aang, we must leave!"
Watching the spirit sprint into the distance while transforming from his half-human, half-goat appearance to a whole goat as he nimbly traversed through the forest with ease; as for me, I simply turned around and patiently waited for what had my friend so terrified. I do not mind helping, but I would like to know what I'll be helping with before I do something I may regret. 'Does this count as me performing my duties as the Avatar?' Shrugging my shoulders, I folded my arms and gazed through the forest, spotting several spirits charging through it.
While I could only see a few, thanks to how dense the forest was, I could feel thousands, if not tens of thousands, of spirits forcefully pushing the air out of their way as they headed straight for me. After a few moments, they suddenly smashed through the final layer of trees before continuing to charge across the uprooted trees surrounding me. Now that no trees were blocking my vision, I was able to make the spirits out, and other than looking like regular spirits, ones I've seen in the shows, they all had this dark green color across their body, sort of similar to veins, and they pulsed with energy… Energy, I wasn't fond of.
'Something is very wrong with them.' With a frown, I closely inspected the charging spirits before leaping into the air just before they neared me; while in the sky, I unholstered my bo-staff and flew through the air, gazing down at the massive stampede that destroyed everything in their way. Nodding my head, I increased my speed, riding a gust of wind away from the stampede and toward my companion, who was far ahead.
Once I neared him, I closed my glider, causing me to fall through the forest's canopy and land on a branch above him while I leaped between trees, trailing right behind him. "Are you leading us somewhere away from that stampede, or are you simply running for your life?" Looking down at my friend, who raised his head, glancing at me before shifting his focus back. "U-Um, you're the first one I've summoned, and until I gather all four of you, I-I can't return, s-so I'm running for my life... Please don't judge me." With furrowed brows, I looked at him, curious what he meant by I was the 'first' one, but I doubted I'd get much information until we got somewhere relatively safe.
Leaping onto the ground, I grasped one of his horns and raised my glider before creating a gust of wind strong enough to take us into the sky. "Hold tight; I'll create distance between us and the stampede." "Um, o-okay?" Nodding, I increased our speed, flying through the sky incredibly fast and leaving behind the stampede of spirits.
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Arriving atop a mountain, I gently landed and holstered my bo-staff while my friend transformed back into his half-goat and half-human appearance, regaining his professional demeanor in the process. "Now, before anything, mind sharing your name? I presume a spirit such as yourself possesses one." With a raised eyebrow, I sat on a protruding rock, causing him to clear his throat before placing a hand atop his chest. "I'm Fan-Shu. However, you may just call me Fan or Shu, whichever you prefer, Avatar Aang." "Just call me Aang. There is no need to add 'Avatar' when addressing me." Earning a nod from Fan, I was about to question him, though, before I could, he quickly stopped me.
"I'm sure you have a plethora of questions you'd like to ask; however, I'd like to state I'm not the best person to answer them; think of me like a messenger, Aang." Frowning, I stared at Fan before heaving a deep sigh as I could tell he wasn't lying; his breathing pattern had remained steady and in rhythm. "Also, while I intend to return to our home so you may satisfy your confusion and frustration, I still need three others." "Haa, go ahead, though I will be watching you." Rubbing my temples, I stared at Fan, who flashed a small smile before closing his eyes.
Fan, at first, stood still for several minutes, only to suddenly stab his finger into the very air, causing my eyes to narrow as I intently watched his every movement. With his finger stuck into the air, he began to chant in a language I'd never heard and slowly moved his finger, leaving behind a faint glow as he seemingly cut through the sky itself, leaving me baffled. Once he finished where he originally started, having created a large oval similar to the passageway I initially stepped through, he suddenly thrust both hands into the middle of the oval, creating a passageway to the human world.
Standing up, I approached Fan and gazed through the portal, only for my eyes to widen in shock, confusion, and amazement at what I saw. "Avatar Roku, we need your help!" Stated Fan earnestly as he gazed at Roku, who stared back at him, only for his gaze to lock onto me, which made sense given how I felt as if I were looking at a friend I'd known for years. "Excuse me, Roku, we apologize for suddenly dropping in unannounced; however, Fan and I need your help." Clasping my hands together, I lightly bowed to Roku, who continued to look hesitantly at us before eventually nodding.
"Umm, okay?" Given our sudden arrival, Roku was skeptical, but since he was the Avatar, it would be out of place for him to refuse the plea from a spirit. Once he stepped through the passageway, though, his eyes instantly narrowed, and he punched toward Fan, releasing a mighty flame; though it wasn't with the intent to kill or even harm, I waved my hand, quickly snuffing out Roku's flame before it reached him. "Calm yourself, Roku; the same happened to me when I stepped through the passageway; I also lost the ability to bend the elements except for my inherent one."
Rather than calming Roku down, he just looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean by that, Air Nomad? Only the Avatar can wield all four elements, which is me." Wryly smiling at Roku, I clasped my hands once more. "Yes, that is true, though the thing is, Roku, I am also the Avatar… Specifically, your successor." With a faint smile, I looked at Roku, who gazed at me as if I were stupid, causing my face to twitch.