Chapter Fourteen

The people had introduced themselves as Misu, and Rafa. They were both from the northern water tribe, siblings. They sat down and started a fire, Misu begun to cook some stew.

    "Sorry for attacking you, we're not used to seeing other people around forgetful valley," Misu said softly. "When we heard the commotion we thought an animal had come to disturb the pond. It must remain undisturbed."

    "That's what I said!" Aang exclaimed after swallowing a mouthful of food. "It's very spiritual."

    "That's right, there are three pools just like this one in forgetful valley. They all must remain undisturbed." Misu nodded.

    "Hey, this stew tastes a lot like another stew we had up north." Sokka commented, shoveling said stew into his mouth.

    "The seaweed stew?" Misu asked, earning a nod from Sokka. "Rafa and I make do with what we have."

    "So, how did you two end up in a fire Nation forest? It's a long ways from the Northern water tribe." Katara asked.

    "Well... When we were young, Rafa used to steal things from the higher ups just to prove that he could. Of course I would always tell him to bring everything back. One day I found him on the ice with his face horribly disfigured... Not even our best healers could do anything for him," Misu sighed. "So I did what I could. I studied every single piece of literature we had until I found something in an ancient fire Nation scroll, a spirit who would visit a forest in the Fire Nation from time to time," She glanced at Zuko. "A spirit that could give new faces, a spirit who could heal Rafa. I made it my life goal to take Rafa here to get a new face. But it would be hard with the war going on for two water tribe people to sneak into the fire Nation. So I had to teach myself how to use my waterbending to fight."

    "Because in the northern tribe women aren't allowed to learn how to use waterbending to fight...," Katara added. "Things are different now."

    "After many failed attempts, we finally made it. And now we wait in hopes to encounter the spirit." Misu finished.

    "Why hasn't Rafa eaten anything?" Sokka asked softly.

    "Ever since the incident, Rafa has been caught between life and death. He doesn't do much of anything anymore." Misu replied glumly.

    "So you've spent almost your whole life trying to heal your brother?" Aang piped up.

    "Of course," Misu nodded. "I'm his sister."

    "Of course." Katara echoed, smiling at Sokka.

    Zuko sunk into his slouch, avoiding any eye contact with his own sister. Why couldn't their relationship be like that?

    "Sorry to interrupt your son story," Azula started, rolling her eyes. "Azula don't be rude!" Zuko interjected. "But we're here looking for a woman named Ursa?"

    "I'm sorry, we haven't seen anyone. The forest was quiet before you all came along." Misu replied.

    "So this spirit," Aang piped up, gaining the attention of Misu. "What is it supposed to look like?"

    "It, is a she. And I'm not sure what she looks like, but you can tell when she's near because face like patterns form on everything." Misu explained.

    "Hey! We saw that earlier!" Sokka grinned.

    "Then, on a night like tonight, a giant wolf comes to drink from one of these pools and whichever pool it chooses from, the spirit comes out of."

    "Hey that's the wolf that puked moth wasps at us!" Sokka commented.

    "The spirit has passed through forgotten Valley many times since we've come here. But we never seem to be at the right pool. And if we were then the wolf would have been here by now," She sighed, turning back to her brother. "I'm sorry Rafa, we'll keep trying."

    "Hmm, there's gotta be something I can do..." Aang mumbled, walking over to the pool. "Maybe if I cross over I can get the wolf to come here."

    Azula scoffed, standing up and turning to walk through the woods.

    "Where are you going?" Zuko demanded, chasing after her.

    "Did we travel all this way to help a bunch of dirty vagrants? Or to find mother?" She spat back.

    "Aang is the avatar, helping people is what he does. We're his friends. So helping people is what we all do too." Zuko responded sternly.

    "Huh, no wonder you don't want to be fire lord Zuzu," Azula sneered. "Gallivanting around the world with your buddies and that water peasant-"

    "His name is Sokka." Zuko scowled.

    "Whatever," Azula paused and then her expression fell. "Hold on. Did she orchestrate all this?!" Azula turned towards the trees. "I'm getting close now aren't I mother? And you want to distract me?!"

    "Azula-?" Zuko uttered before she pushed past him and ran towards the pool.

    "It's not going to work!" She seethed, conjuring up some lightning and preparing to shoot it at Misu. "You hear me mother?! It's not going to work!"

    "Stop!" Zuko yelped, stopping in front of his sister to take the blow. "I said stop!"

    Zuko took in the lightning, redirecting it towards the sky. Sokka flinched at the light but looked up at the firebender.

    "Did you forget I know how to redirect lighting?" Zuko shouted at his sister.

    "Woah... That was hot." Sokka uttered, earning a look from his sister.

    "Misu and Rafa have nothing to do with our mother." Zuko paid no mind to Sokka's comment, still furious at his sister.

    "Don't you see?! That's exactly what she wants you to think! Don't be naive Zuzu!" Azula argued.

    "You're right. I have been naive," Zuko sighed before turning to Katara and Sokka. "Take her down."

    "Gladly!" Katara chirped, bending out her pouch water.

    "Bout time!" Sokka added, whipping out his boomerang.

    "No you mustn't cause a disturbance!" Misu cried. "The Avatar is trying to bring the spirit here!"

    "She's right." A voice said, startling Sokka.

    "Aang! You're back!" Katara smiled.

    "Phew, it's just you Aang. I was expecting more weird faces." Sokka sighed.

    "You mean like those?" Aang pointed at the pool where strange faces were emerging.

    Sokka flinched, moving over to hold Zuko's arm. The firebender chuckled lightly, patting the other boy's hand out of comfort.

    "Listen everyone! We're about to have a visitor so no more fighting!" Aang smiled.

    Just then a large, tree like figure emerged from the pool. It had several faces near the top though it had no eyes. Mask like faces floated around it as it rose up to tower over the group.

    "I am the mother of faces. Through me separateness came into the world. Through me, came identity," The spirit announced. "The one became the many," It swayed. "I walk through my forest once a season, but never do I stray from the path my wolf chooses for me. I do so now in deference to the Avatar, the great bridge between the spirits and the humans."

    "See what did I tell you?" Aang whispered to Sokka.

    "Yeah, yeah, great bridge guy, no one ever said you weren't." Sokka whispered back.

    "I am a generous spirit, soft hearted and kind." The spirit continued.

    "Maybe she'll know where my mother is?" Zuko turned to Aang.

    "Spirits know a lot of things, you should definitely ask." Aang nodded.

    "Each season I grant one favor to one human. You may make your request now."

    "One..?" Aang looked back at Misu then to Zuko.

    "One." The spirit echoed.

    "Um... Perhaps you could give us two? Surely a big and gigantic yet lovely and beautiful spirit like you could handle two favours.. right?" Aang asked sheepishly. "Your uhh... Face- iness?"

    "Do not test my generosity young Avatar," The spirit replied. "One."

    "They've waited so long," Zuko looked back to Misu and Rafa. "If there's only one it should be theirs."

    "Thank you, thank you!" Misu smiled, walking up to stand before the spirit. "M-mother of faces, on b-behalf of my brother, may I ask-?"

"You're such a disappointment Zuzu, even when you're strong, you're weak," Azula scoffed, pushing past Zuko and then pushing past Misu. "Spirit! We seek a fire Nation princess named Ursa, tell me where to find her!"

    "No!" Misu cried.

    "Ursa," The spirit conjured up the two firebender's mother's face. "I remember her... I couldn't understand why a being of such beauty could want another face...," The image of Ursa shaped into Noriko. "To test her sincerity, I offered her a face as plain as I could muster. She accepted."

    "Azula! Our mother is-" Zuko turned around to find that his sister had disappeared. "She's gone back to Noren's house!"

    Zuko started back towards the woods.

    "Wait!" Misu called. "There's a shortcut here!" She pointed to another path.

    "Thank you," Zuko nodded to her. "And I'm sorry."

    "You were kind to us," She shook her head. "Go."

    With that Zuko sprinted along the path. Sokka ran up behind him.

    "Hold on Zuko!" He called, catching up. "I know sisters can be a pain to deal with, and mine's not even crazy. You're gonna need backup."

    Zuko gave him an appreciated smile. "Thanks."