trans_9 | One more reason to keep on going

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One more reason to keep on going

Irma was gone. Matt was gone. Just about everyone from their universe seemed to have been podded, and Kaya decided, in the wake of this, that she should still make sure the classrooms were kept clean. The place she was staying, Will's room with all of the gymnastics, had been clean after Kaya ad attempted a fairly rigorous workout. She had made sure that Matt's wares were stocked, the common room swept and cleaned, so that when the other came around, they would have a nice place to sit and talk.

First there was Cornelia's room, with all of its earth nation goodness and flowers, making sure that the architecture was carefully polished and everything watered so nothing was neglected. She couldn't help passing by this room and thinking of Toph.

Then she moved onto Hay Lin's room, which never failed to remind her of Aang with all of its wind implements, very much something an airbender would have loved: she would have to make sure to tell both Aang and Nima about it if they had the chance to visit. It always seemed so big and grand and open to her, as she thought the element air should anyhow.

Tarnee's room, while once making her wary with its affiliation for fire, was gotten over once you stepped inside: it was kept in balance with all of the books and the globes that were a representation of energy everywhere. She always loved coming here to expand her mind a bit, and it was a perfect reflection of an intellectual girl Kaya never had the pleasure of meeting.

And then, of course, there was Irma's room. She knew there was an obvious bias here, stepping into the room that reflected her best, with all of its watery element and the ability to swim in and out of the water that surrounded the room. She was cleaning here a little, and then could not help herself: she discarded her clothing, wrapped only in her underclothes and jumped in, allowing the underwater environment to envelop her. Perhaps her favorite thing about this place was how she could still breathe underwater.

She was so entranced, she did not notice anyone coming in.

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"Even if its something boyish, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be enjoyed," Kaya said. "I happen to think its awfully sweet you two have such a close relationship. Everyone cares for people in their own way, and that way is particular to you two."

She grinned. "It depends how we feel. We could take a run together, or a swim together, or sometimes Zhin will join me when I'm having some meditation time. She's actually the only one I can actually do that with."

He slowly bobbed his head in understanding. "I will admit that I am not much one for meditating. I prefer a good nap instead." This place was absolutely perfect for an afternoon nap, but they still had plenty of places to still explore.

Nokosi fell back into the tall grass with a 'thump'. His fingers curled slightly, brushing against the soft layer of flowers and other vegetation.

"You mentioned to me that this place reminds you heavily of your time in the Earth Kingdom. Could you tell me of your travels, there?"

Kaya laughed. "Well, it does me good! I like a good nap as much as anyone, but its also pretty important that I'm able to ground and center when I have to, just so I'm able to function at a moments notice."

Kaya was sitting with her legs in front on her. "Well, with the earth Nation it really depended on where you went. It's one of the most diverse of the Nations. The place I lived in the longest was Ba Sing Se though: at the time I had to live in the poorer quarters, being on my own and such. Wasn't easy either, as you ran into some pretty rough people from time to time: they learned soon enough they had a waterbender among them. But when you got to the richer parts, you could see an array of pretty gardens, flowers and bushes and trees: it looked like a paradise. With the Earth nation, you had to actually look for places like that, as it was still being ravaged by the Fire Nation, but you could find places like that if you were really looking."

She hadn't been, but she found them nonetheless.

"The Fire Nation...you mentioned them before. They were the kingdom who traveled around destroying all of the other nations and their surroundings, yes? It is disheartening to think of how much one would destroy just for power."

He blew a strand of hair from his face, along with a wayward flower petal. "I can hardly say I am surprised though. Fire bending...in its nature fire is only used for two things. Destruction and cleansing. By the way that you speak, I very highly doubt they had any good intentions in mind."

"If that's how I made it sound, then I've done wrong," Kaya said. "To many of the other nations, yes, they blame the Fire Nation, but it was the military and the Firelord who truly wanted power over all of the other nations. I've met good people from the Fire Nation, Zuko and Mai being among them. Zuko's sister was one of those that wanted power, and in the end, the loss of that broke her. It was part of the disease that rotted away the good of the Fire Nation, I'm sad to say."

She shook her head. "Fire Bending can be used for good too. An experienced bender can use it to fend off enemies, or to prevent damage from claiming the lives of others. I can tell you, if there is anyone who knows the lesson of how fire can hurt and heal, it is Zuko."

"True, but I speak of the Fire Nation as a whole. It stands that on an individual level that you can't blame the people for what it is their military does. Even those in the military. They are just doing their job, are they not? Still, their nation does it for power but I have found that such complexities are just the nature of war."

It was a lesson he was thoroughly aware of, given one of his closest friends was made up of two races that his people loathed above all others, save Trolls.

"Even if it's used to fend off enemies or prevent others from taking lives, one of its natures is still that of destruction. Such things cannot be changed just by rewording it. However..." His eyes rolled up to the partially blocked sky and his chest rose and fell in a sigh.

His original home. Nordrassil. If Azeroth wasn't a speck of nothingness, the World Tree would still be burning under Ragnaros' watch, wouldn't it?

"It still is a very necessary element, I think. Its nature is to destroy, yet it also makes rebirth possible. The charred remains it leaves in its wake lays the path for new life...when used with such intentions in mind, which rarely seems to be the case, I've seen."

He paused, considering his next words. "The Dragon Aspect of Life--her name is Alexstrasza. The fire she breaths urges new plant life to grow in its wake. It is...both a vexing and truly wonderful sight. Might I inquire if you have physical representatives of the forces you manipulate on your world?"

"I try not to blame the whole of people in the Fire Nation. It's tempting, but I saw what happened after the war too: Zuko did his best to repair the damage done by his nation. It wasn't an easy thing, and considering what those who used their bending as a weapon did, some people stay traumatized. The nature of war can be a very ugly state of affairs."

That was true, to a point. "Anyone can use their bending for destruction: how you use your abilities are up to the bender. If they want to use them for evil things, they will come, and only those who use bending for better purposes can stop them."

She nodded here. "Fire is an element, as is water and air and earth, Just because one can cause destruction a little more easily than another doesn't change that. And you're right: it can bring about change, as well as sustenance from cooking."

She thought a moment "The Fire Nation's aspect were dragons, although there are very few of them left, as they hunted them later for sport. For the Earth bender it was the badger moles, and they were still very much around. For air, it was the sky bison, but like the dragons were quite extinct, save for one. Waterbender's are the only ones that isn't an animal: we learned our bending from the moon."

He remained quiet, eyes shut as he listened to her speak. The fluid sounds as she explained and the moments of hesitation as she gathered her thoughts before furthering her opinion. It was both nice and soothing; one of the reasons he enjoyed hearing stories told so often.

A wry smile cracked his serene expression though he did not rise from the grass. "Dragons and badgers? Bison and the moon..." He couldn't help but laugh. "I see. That is interesting that most take on the forms of creatures while yours is something that can never be touched. In Azeroth they are simply forms made up of their elements, bound to a shape that serves as a body."

Kaya didn't know why, but she flushed a little just then, and then laughed lightly. "That almost makes me sound more interesting than I am. Waterbending was learned by the way the moon governed the tides, watching the ebb and flow. Each of the characteristics of the bender matches with the creature's wisdom, and with us, we simply had to understand the source of strength and recreate it within ourselves."

But is description, she thought she lost it. "So there is no one physical being you learn the certain magics from?"

"Hardly. I think you are very interesting."

He took a long moment to gather his thoughts on all that he'd learned in the last few years. "No," he finally said. "There are...many different types of magic from different sources. The fireball that a mage shoots is not the same source as the lava burst that a shaman uses. Shaman hold power over the elements themselves- all four."

"And still," he said raising a hand and lowering a finger for each thing he counted off. "It is different from the powers of nature a druid wields which is different from the sort of mysticism that a Hunter holds, though I would hardly call the skills we employ 'magical'. But even still there are more powers in Azeroth. Night Elf priests get their abilities from a different source than Human priests, for instance."

That was a compliment if any, and Kaya looked pleased and quietly embarrassed. "Well, I think the same of you, but you know that already."

And as he started to talk about the magic and how they differed, she couldn't help but think of her world, where bending had never been thought of magic, where that was left more to the realm of the spirit world. Animals from there could speak, and many were wise, some malicious, but still there was much to learn. Even hearing about Shaman's reminded her of Aang, although she knew that the differences in magic and ability were usually what made one source of strength a little different.

"Sometimes," Kaya said, "I've noticed that the magic of one world can be combined with that of another world, if you dedicate yourself, lose yourself in what you're learning. The powers on this ship, for instance, are so numerous. What source did the human priests get their strength from?"

"I would not be surprised if the sources of the magic are similar, though since I do not hold such powers I would not know if Azerothian magic can be mixed with another source. If one would attempt to learn Azerothian magic, I would say they need to be careful. Arcane magic is corrupting...it is why Night Elves learned the hard way that using it at one's will is not simply a game of control."

He sat up then and turned to look at her, hair full of grass, twigs and flower parts. He took a moment to pluck a few out then quickly gave up. "Human Priests get their powers from some..." How would it be explained, exactly? "Some...power called 'the Light'."

"Corrupting?" That sounded serious: in fact, she was unsure why anyone would want to learn abut that kind of magic if it could do something like that. "But how it was able to get to you is all up to the person who uses it, right? You can't always be fated to be corrupted by magic, right?"

Changed of course, always changed, but surely not corrupted?

She laughed lightly when she saw him trying to pick up the flowers and twigs. "I think they're supposed to stay in here, Nokosi! So...Light. That sounds good, although I wonder myself the source of Light."

"No...I do not think it works like that. According to the Night Elves all arcane magic is both corrupting and addicting and it breeds arrogance and conceit because it is so powerful. It also attracts the Burning Legion...which would be why Azeroth was assaulted thrice by them."

Nokosi stretched his lanky limbs once he was satisfied with how few pieces of foliage were still stuck to him. "Ronnae has told you of half her heritage, correct? The addiction of Blood Elves to arcane magic? They say that the more powerful you become as an arcane spellcaster, the faster your body and soul are corrupted. That it is hard to resist casting a spell again because of the feeling you receive when you do. Euphoric, I was told."

"In the end I believe it is such as this: you can deal with the effects of arcane magic to avoid full corruption and loss of self and sanity, but there is no way you will avoid some of the effects of corruption. That is simply its nature."

"As for the Light...the Draenei brought a very large, luminous creature with them when they landed on Azeroth. The were called 'Naaru' and they are creatures 'born of light'. A lot of those who I have spoken with in Stormwind believe that to be the source and the Draenei know for sure that that is where they get their light-based powers from. I assume that...but since Night Elves do not use 'the Light' for their healing abilities, I have not questioned it much further."

Well that was disconcerting. "I've never heard of a kind of magic that was corrupting, but maybe that's because with magic its similar to how when you have power and the potential to do bad, you do that. I won't pretend to know all of the intricacies about it, and obviously I don't, but its the closest comparison I can make."

At the mention of Ronnae though, and her half heritage being addicted to that kind of magic, a thrill of fear DID run through her. What if that happened to her friend? Would she ever recover from something like that?

"Has Ronnae ever had any dealing with magic like that?"

And she did listen intently to the story of the Naaru, the creatures of Light. "So its not something Night Elves chose to explore because it did not concern them?"

"Not exactly in that way, no. She does have a few issues concerning...I suppose it would be necromantic magic? And a bit of the Old God's touch. That weapon she wields...'Shadowmourne' she calls it. It was crafted to 'fight fire with fire', basically. As a part of its creation a vast number of the souls of creatures raised and trapped by the Lich King were fed to that weapon."

He dropped his head slightly as if he were displeased with the words he was going to speak. "Personally...I am not sure why they decided to give her the weapon. She is a tough fighter, yes but she is very emotionally unstable as it was. The weapon only exacerbated that by a tremendous amount. She's easily taunted and manipulated by the souls inside the weapon. It should have been given to someone with a stronger will to repel such things."

With a small sigh, he drew his knees up to his chest and circled his arms around them. Reluctant acceptance was really all he could do for that situation.

"They did not need to explore it. Call it a difference of faith. For thousands of years we have revered Elune, the moon goddess. She has watched over her 'children' and bestowed many a gift and blessing upon them. While the Human priests use the Light, Night Elves have been receiving their healing gifts from Elune for thousands of years--though before it was only women who received those abilities. Apparently more men are able to serve Elune as a priest nowadays," he explained.

'Nowadays' being 'before Azeroth was destroyed' of course.

That was not something that she had not known about, and Nokosi could see that Kaya was a bit worried about Ronnae now. She thought about what to say to this, hearing all that had happened, that she owned an object that actually had souls in it: why had her friend never told her?

"I guess it served in her best interest to keep it a secret," she said, although saying it aloud had a bit of a hollow sound to it. "I can't...I don't imagine I understand why she would choose to have a weapon that would play on her worst fears. I suppose she's trying to master them, that makes sense, and she likely hasn't used it in awhile."

She closed her eyes. She would have to help Ronnae with such things, if need be. Not that she didn't feel slightly miffed for not being told though.

"I can understand that. The benders, and even those on their own islands, had differences of faith just as Night Elves and humans do. It's a way to distinguish each other, I guess."

"It was the only way," he quickly said. "At least, that's what they claimed. That those few who wielded a Shadowmourne truly had the power to defeat the Lich King. There might have been a better way but who knows. I only speak from second hand account as I admittedly did very little against the final push with the Lich King."

He'd been plenty busy doing other, less important things, really. Well, only in the grand scheme of things, anyways. Icecrown had always made every part of him fill with a twisting uneasiness that wasn't soothed by any manner of words, company or comforting.

"It is just how things came to be. Elune is said to be the 'mother' of Night Elves...she had little reason to consort with the other races, especially considering the distance between them. It has not been that long since the other races have come in contact with elves."

"If that's the case, than I'm not one to presume what Ronnae should or should not have done. I just worry about her, that's all. I don't like it when she has to deal with more than people ought to deal with in the first place, and to find out she had this looming over her? It's pretty hard to hear."

That was a shame. All of these misunderstandings usually led to a special kind of intolerance, something that Kaya tried to avoid, especially after that hateful woman had come aboard.

"I don't see the reason to stay away from any races. Differences, prejudices: they just divide us and cause hostile feelings if they have no basis in actuality."

"Indeed. I have tried to separate her and the weapon but others who wield it are given mental nightmares of their worst fears. While I suffer less than most it is still quite a traumatic experience, but that is how the Old Gods work. Perhaps it is simply a part of her now? I do not know," he said, shaking his head slightly.

Whatever dour look he had was wiped away by the current expression Kaya wore. It made the corners of his lip rise in a smile and he didn't bother to stifle the light chuckle.

"You misunderstand me a bit, Kaya. We stayed away from the other races because Humans, Dwarves and Gnomes did not know of us. It was not until..." his brows furrowed in thought as his mind raced to recover the bits and pieces of information he'd been told.

"The Third war, I believe, that the continent of Kalimdor was re-discovered by those races. This was nearly a decade ago. It has not been that long, you see. Though the differences, prejudices and hatred are ridiculously strong when it concerns the Horde versus the Alliance...the Night Elves and the High Elves, to some extent have been around for thousands and thousands of years."

He raised his head slightly before resting it on his knees. "It brings up an interesting question, though."

"I would hope not," Kaya said, shivering a little. "I always wondered about Ronnae when it came to her fears: she had a particular episode during a simulation where she was eaten, and it was a situation I tried to help with. Wen it comes to Ronnae, despite the whole fending for oneself argument, I'd like to do what I can to help her."

And she had heard some of this before, Hordes verses Alliance, more of these wars that seemed to be fueled by either prejudice or those seeking power: it made Kaya wonder what exactly they'd be dealing with when it came to the Ohm.

"What question is that?"

"She can be stubborn sometimes. Not as stubborn as I am but there are moments of irrationality, though that can be said for everyone. I am sure you know this as well."

"The question," he said, running a weathered hand through his long, violet hair in a vain attempt to remove the foliage there. "Is how much of your culture, your people should one be willing to give up in pursuits of eliminating the differences that cause prejudice and set us apart? After all, some of those difference define a people and make them who they are."

He paused to get his thoughts in order, then spoke. "An example. Should the Night Elves, who have been who have lived on Azeroth for nearly fourteen thousand years, sacrifice their status with their goddess and attempt to instead learn the teachings of the Light just to diminish the distance of 'difference' and further 'understanding' for a race they have only known for a decade?"

"Should the Trolls downplay their tribalistic nature and worship of animal-gods and begin living not in thatched roofed-homes, but buildings with actual doors and beds with pillows and mattresses. Wear 'nicer' robes and do away with their face-paints and other rituals to seem more 'normal' to the Blood Elves who are the opposite and heavily dislike their 'barbaric' nature?"

He idly began braiding long strands of hair as he spoke. "Those are the 'differences' that set us apart. Mostly cultural in nature, but they are some of the small things that make it hard for one race to get along with another. Tell me Kaya."

"How much of one's culture, one's people should one be willing to give up in pursuit of a semblance of 'equality' and 'understanding' that is only given because one is now 'more like what others' are used to?"

His voice held nothing but pure curiosity in it as he awaited for her answer. He, of course, would not be biased either way because it was simply a hypothetical question.

"Of course," Kaya said. "I'm just as known for being stubborn myself. I've calmed down somewhat since being here, but I am known to have a lapse in temper at times, just like my teacher."

And those examples were good questions. The hypothetical was one of the reasons that Kaya enjoyed having Nokosi around: he always knew how to ask the right questions to make her rethink her position, to allow her to realize were she might have to ponder a different way of things.

"But why should abandoning one's way with their heritage be the only way you can have some harmony and understanding? It's not been necessary for me to stop being a waterbender and stoop my tribe's way just to learn about others things. Well, a little. I mean yes, I DID have to leave my tribe and go out and see the world since they had been in seclusion for a long time during the war, but they started to realize that themselves! Sometimes its just about opening your mind a little bit, and never forgetting who you are and where you're from."

Nokosi dropped his legs and crossed them over one another. Placing his hands in the empty spot, he leaned forward slightly as he listened to her reply. Once she finished, he tilted his head to the side slightly, the smile still lingering on his lips.

"I had a feeling you would say that," he finally said. "That method involves the hope that one will be the better 'man' or 'woman', so to speak. I cannot disagree with that, as I am that way. I will not change to suit someone else's needs, but therein lies the...ah...what is it they call it?"

"Ah!" He exclaimed, eyes lighting up in realization. "double-edged sword, I believe? Yes, one can be true to their ways as they are but then you are left with the prospect of the other party needing to accept you the way you are. Which is the problem I addressed. Most people don't accept one's people the 'way they are', which in turn breeds the prejudice and division you spoke of earlier."

He raised one hand in example as he spoke. "What is one to do, then? Simply wait it out for the other party to open their eyes and finally accept them?" Nokosi lifted his other hand as if showing her the weight of each 'solution'. "Or do they speed the process up by bending themselves in order to place more common ground?"

It was another one of those moments where Nokosi was attempting to say something profound she could see it in his posture, in the way he thought carefully about what he was going to say. She couldn't help but be sort of enraptured in what he was saying, and usually had a counterargument, or at least, a way to reinforce her point of view.

"I don't think anyone ought to change to suit someone else's needs either. I think you should still be yourself, but be open to think about someone else's way of living. For instance, Ronnae and certain family member's are more intimate in a way I could never imagine myself to be with my family. Yet since being on this ship, I've come to know that other universes and other words are governed by their own rules and will allow some things others will not."

And she shook her head "And see, that's the thing I find hard to get. Why is it so hard to believe that one has a different way of thinking than another person? Yes, I understand that those differences can be extreme, even taboo in some cases, but they don't have them specifically to annoy or bother someone else! They exist to remind us that life, wherever it is, whatever form it takes, is precious and honored in many different ways. If I have to get used to someone else's way of being because its different from mine, is it so hard to do? Do I have to demand they change because they offend me? And if I am stronger somehow, is it necessary I bend them to my will, simply so I can feel superior?"

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