Chapter 263: Freedom to Feel and Indulge
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Chapter 263: Freedom to Feel and IndulgeChapter 263: Freedom to Feel and Indulge
"What do you mean he isn't coming back? I answered correctly!" Azula snarls.
Sokka and Azula tackled every riddle for hours to bring their friends and family from their comatose state. Ty Lee soon discovered them on the hill before leading others alongside the unconscious Nik. But Regret pulled the rug off them at the last juncture.
"Yes, you did. Well done." Regret's face is still not visible, but his chortle annoys Sokka and Azula. However, the rest of the group who woke from Regret's manipulative world holds complicated emotions toward the Primordial Spirit. Katara holds her grudges but continues to sneak glances at her mother to talk instead. Her priority isn't to give into her petty feuds but to talk with her mother.
After rescuing Nik, of course.
"But what if the other party refuses to leave?" Regret questions.
"Impossible!" Suki narrows her eyes.
Forced to be the most level-headed in this situation, Sokka raises his voice, "Did Nik explicitly tell you he does not want to leave?"
"No, he did not say anything. As he is now, Nik is squatting in the realm he shouldn't be in and using his freedom... to take mine hostage. A bitter turn of events, if I may add."
"What is he doing?" Ursa questions quickly.
"It is his secret."
"We will solve another riddle for an answer."
Regret stares at the group before stating in a cold tone.
"No. Nik's regrets are his to share. What I will say, however, is that Nik is in a deeply indifferent condition." Turning his face to gaze at the setting sun as dusk sets in, Regret proposes, "If I were you, I'd pray that a distant sibling of mine, Indifference, doesn't approach us. He will grant you no riddles and afford you no breather."
---
Freedom is a paradox. So, Mokshi's existence is contradictory to its origin. It chose to seek other worlds by restricting itself to a fleshy body of a traveler. Nothing can be more contradictory than this.
For instance, Mokshi is allowing Nik to satiate his hatred. Nik may be unable to do anything about Regret, but Mokshi has many options in this spiritual state. Instead of freeing Nik from his hatred, Mokshi wrestles away Regret's control in this particular plane of reality and allows Nik to slaughter the triplets in several manners!
In reality, Nik chose to feel his fingers dig into their soft flesh and draw their last breaths using fiery brands, toe-cutters, flays, and many more methods used on him by them!
And... Mokshi simply respected those choices.
Now, Mokshi is free to bring Nik out, but why would it?
All of it boils down to how Nik has nurtured their relationship. Their initial relationship was that of mutual benefits. If Nik survives and leaves, Mokshi will enjoy the sights of other worlds, and Nik will be passively benefited from its very existence. That's why Mokshi used to urge Nik to leave this world as soon as possible once they survived their encounter with Koh.
But Mokshi does not pester Nik now.
Nik will depart when he wishes to. He did not have a choice in bonding with the spirit, but eventually, the Primordial Spirit of Freedom came to acknowledge others' freedom of choice. And similar to Nik's effort in trying to communicate with the spirit better, Mokshi decides to indulge Nik's hatred.
For once, Mokshi makes an effort aside for some well-timed warnings. And there is a reason why they don't communicate all that much.
Apart from the minimal boost in its host's chi and spirit, Mokshi realizes how weak Nik is to communicate with itself and wield its strength. And that's saying something when Mokshi alone is one of the weaker Primordials due to its contradictory nature, unlike Ra and Raat.
But while Mokshi believed its efforts to be secretive and not rest on its host's consciousness, it quakes in surprise within Nik once he looks at the bloody pile of flesh in front of his bed with a soft, desolate look.
"Thanks for letting me vent, pal."
---
It's the same situation with Zhao all over again.
Nik enjoyed the first few moments of killing the triplets. After having his ass handed down by this world's Esta, he only kept his efforts on the triplets.
As much as he hated Esta, truthfully... he was kind of over her for many weeks now. It did not reduce his dislike for the woman, but Nik simply understood that as helpless as he was, he had no freedom. And when he did have the freedom, he chose to rebel! That's a fucking win in his books.
But the triplets?
Oh, they were his suppressed memories brought back like a tide when Regret set them loose!
Esta was his trainer. His body never received any damage from that woman, but these three?
Nik went as far as branding every inch of their bodies with red-hot brands until no spot was left untouched. It was gruesome. He melted their lips shut before doing the same to their other orifices, including stuff down below. He only melted their eyes in the last moment before they suffocated to death.
And this was merely one example.
He has been treated too poorly in the past. Most of the stuff is something he would never like to think about—but Nik wasn't kind to his enemies.
A lesson taught to him by Zhao.
His choice of weapon demonstrates his nature too well—a sturdy stick.
A tool that doesn't kill accidentally, but one of the most gruesome ways to end a life nonetheless.
Seeing their spread corpses in front of him, their once beautiful skin stripped off their bodies, Nik exhales heavily and sets his knife on the nearest bench.
Blood drips from his dainty hands.
His body was still thin and effeminate before he began working out in the World of Spirits.
Nik finally acknowledges the... friend assisting him all this time.
It wasn't hard to feel Mokshi's presence. He used the same method of connection of the heart-mind-spirit taught by Dhi to communicate with Mokshi, so he could sense its movement from the very first moment.
"Thanks for letting me vent, pal."
He feels the spirit's surprise rather expressively, causing him to wipe his hands with a towel and chuckle.
"Don't act so surprised now. You're acting like a child caught doing a crime."
He then picks another towel to wipe his face and brush his hair back slickly.
"Can you... hear me well?"
"Surprisingly, I can. For the first time, your voice doesn't feel broken or cut."
Mokshi grows silent before mustering.
"I'm glad. And your mind? Do you feel... yourself?"
"It's the same situation as Zhoa all over again. No matter if you serve it hot or cold, revenge is not satiating at all. But if you're asking about the acts I performed here, I believe in the simple rule of thumb—Once a killer, always a killer. Not like I will ever need to hide anything from you."
"Your trust will not be broken."
"I'm surprised you didn't wear my ear off about leaving this world the moment we started conversing."
Nik wraps the corpses in the bedsheet as he hears Mokshi's reply.
"I would like you to take your time. If it ends up with me being stranded again, I will accept it as a consequence of my choice."
Nik stills and questions.
"Your choice? When did my choice end up being yours?"
"When I decided to trust you a bit more... just a few moments ago, once you let go of your hatred and regrets. I should warn you this spiritual growth will reflect positively in your... status, was it?"
Nik smiles slightly and calmly asserts his approval without saying anything.
"What are you doing?" Mokshi inquires, already knowing the answer. "If you wish to leave, dying at Esta's hand is not the only way out."
He had enough foresight not to hang out with Nik on another island, and it paid out better than he could have ever imagined!
---
"I'm sorry. As much as I may have said I understood what you're going through, I simply had no idea." Katara opens with an apology while averting her gaze from her mother. "And the idea of... sharing Nik with you freaked me out for all the wrong reasons. I felt that I would be no better than Azula. No, I felt... I would become like Azula."
"Katara..." Kya sighs softly.
"I shouldn't even be here in Sokka's stead just because I'm a girl. No. Both of us didn't have to be here."
Rena interjects with a deadpan as she works her jaw.
"May I leave?"
Kya smiles wryly at her supposed daughter-in-law and nods.
"Hmm, I hope you two sort it out. Really. If it isn't clear already, you are my mother in a sense. So, I would have liked to help you find a reliable mate eventually. If possible, from the Nothern Tribe."
"Leave."
Katara retorts flatly as Rena flashes a light-hearted grin and leaves the room, possibly to deliver Sokka a beating since he sent her into this precarious situation in the first place.
"Katara, the only reason I was toying with the idea was just to tease you. That's all."
"You're lying... I could feel it in that world, too. That's the reason I got so worked up. That's why I feel worked up now."
Kya lowers her gaze and stares at her table.
"Ursa and I spoke. I... truly am lost myself. I suppose I was drawn to the only option. No, that's a lie. This world is filled with others. He wasn't my only option..."
Her voice gets weaker, and she admits.
"He was my choice since he saved me."
Katara purses her lips as an uncomfortable feeling rouses from her heart.
It was nothing like jealousy or anything else but genuine discomfort. A part of her mused about how things could turn out, and the other part felt insecure about how they will see each other later. It's a surprise how Mai, Toph, and Azula managed such a relationship while still behaving like daughters outside closed doors.
"Mom... do you remember how you acted like Ursa?"
"I do. I suppose I'm used to living long lives in other spiritual realms."
Katara licks her teeth behind her shut lips with a ponderous look.
"What if... Azula and Ursa visited Nik one of these days?" The waterbender suggests. "Azula and Ursa are comfortable, right?"
Kya stares at her daughter in disbelief. But... she cannot lie.
Azula and Ursa are indeed more comfortable... roles.
---
"Oh! I almost forgot how Jin simply gave up on the first try and got caught!"
"Hey, I was spooked!" Jin retorts opposite to Azula as she stuffs her face and feeds her stress away.
"Spooked? You've started to spar with us! Nothing should faze you!" Azula shoots back.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Ursa ate their food calmly.
Azula sensibly steered clear of 'Zuzu' since he didn't even get caught in this mess while Ursa had nothing to speak. She had a clear mind, and she was happy to not unload the emotional mess about the fact that Azula was the one who ended her life multiple times in a different realm. Then again, if Azula even dares pull such a stunt in this world, Ursa will be ready with some form of ammunition in her hand. Maybe a slipper, or a rolling pin.
"By the way, Zuzu, what kind of picture did you see about Mother. Describe it for us!"
Zuko coughs and chokes on his food as he would rather never remember such a picture, meanwhile, Ursa quietly smacks the back of her Princess' head with a fond smile of her own and continues to eat peacefully.
---
As fate would have it, the 'talk' between the Ty-Siblings was even shorter as Ty Lee quickly led her sisters around to meet with everyone. Aside from June's rather heavy-handed compliments, they were breezed by many topics cheerfully as they got a chance to question others about Nik's truth.
"Oh, that? Yeah, I'm leaving." June replies carefreely. "Nothing left to tie me here anyway."
"Of course, we are leaving." Poppy smiles and welcomes the group while Toph walks out of her bath stark naked.
"Are we leaving already? That's quick. Didn't Nik say he'd ask other's tribe to follow along?"
Poppy rolls her eyes and groans.
"Your towel, Toph."
"Where is it?"
"You know where!"
"Heh, my eyes say something else." She shrugs and finds her clothes instead, making Poppy stomp her way loudly with a clear intention of what's to come. Only then, Toph rushes back into the bathroom.
"I apologize. Toph really likes you and wanted to meet your sisters." Poppy looks at the group of girls before questioning.
"Ty Lee?"
"Here~!" Ty Lee giggles and works her way out from the crowd.
"Hey, don't go yet! Better yet, just leave that Ty Woo here! I hear good things about her from Azula and Nik!" Toph's hurried voice echoes from the bath as Ty Woo smirks.
"That's me, bitches. Ah, respectfully, of course." She nods at Poppy while others shrug and leave.
Now that they had cleared the air between them, they weren't all that 'broken' by Nik's revelation. Instead, they discussed making a choice after looking around and seeing if they have any future here. After all, Ty Lee wants to stay with Nik for a period, which makes her sisters want to stay closer, too.
And the fact that Nik can identify them separately only worked in both parties' favor.
After the new group began to slightly settle in, they expected Nik to return.
It was a dangerous day for everyone, so they wished to meet with Nik and maybe... 'chat.' But he never did return. Instead, he messaged that he would be training for the entire night.
Something the girls had to reluctantly appreciate.
June, Toph, and their new addition, Ty Woo, didn't.
***
Alternate Title: Nik Got the Power of Friendship; Foreshadowing Bleach?; Regret's No Longer Present... Ironic; Ignit's New Admirer; Aang's Bald Head Has Another Bald Head; Mother and Daughter's Negotiations; Clear Communication; Sokka Sent Rena as a Proxy—His Genius Continues to Astound the World; Ty Woo Fitting Like a Glove. Coincidence? I Think Not!; Taking Their Time to Make a Decision; June, Toph, and Ty Woo—Entrepreneur of the Menace Faction in the Harem
***
Join discord for Harem and Nik Pics.
Support the Fanfic through comments, likes, reviews and such (if the published site allows it—your boy's multi-site-nal!) and of course, the big P!
Read 30 advance chapters on—
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Chapter 263: Freedom to Feel and IndulgeChapter 263: Freedom to Feel and Indulge
"What do you mean he isn't coming back? I answered correctly!" Azula snarls.
Sokka and Azula tackled every riddle for hours to bring their friends and family from their comatose state. Ty Lee soon discovered them on the hill before leading others alongside the unconscious Nik. But Regret pulled the rug off them at the last juncture.
"Yes, you did. Well done." Regret's face is still not visible, but his chortle annoys Sokka and Azula. However, the rest of the group who woke from Regret's manipulative world holds complicated emotions toward the Primordial Spirit. Katara holds her grudges but continues to sneak glances at her mother to talk instead. Her priority isn't to give into her petty feuds but to talk with her mother.
After rescuing Nik, of course.
"But what if the other party refuses to leave?" Regret questions.
"Impossible!" Suki narrows her eyes.
Forced to be the most level-headed in this situation, Sokka raises his voice, "Did Nik explicitly tell you he does not want to leave?"
"No, he did not say anything. As he is now, Nik is squatting in the realm he shouldn't be in and using his freedom... to take mine hostage. A bitter turn of events, if I may add."
"What is he doing?" Ursa questions quickly.
"It is his secret."
"We will solve another riddle for an answer."
Regret stares at the group before stating in a cold tone.
"No. Nik's regrets are his to share. What I will say, however, is that Nik is in a deeply indifferent condition." Turning his face to gaze at the setting sun as dusk sets in, Regret proposes, "If I were you, I'd pray that a distant sibling of mine, Indifference, doesn't approach us. He will grant you no riddles and afford you no breather."
---
Freedom is a paradox. So, Mokshi's existence is contradictory to its origin. It chose to seek other worlds by restricting itself to a fleshy body of a traveler. Nothing can be more contradictory than this.
For instance, Mokshi is allowing Nik to satiate his hatred. Nik may be unable to do anything about Regret, but Mokshi has many options in this spiritual state. Instead of freeing Nik from his hatred, Mokshi wrestles away Regret's control in this particular plane of reality and allows Nik to slaughter the triplets in several manners!
In reality, Nik chose to feel his fingers dig into their soft flesh and draw their last breaths using fiery brands, toe-cutters, flays, and many more methods used on him by them!
And... Mokshi simply respected those choices.
Now, Mokshi is free to bring Nik out, but why would it?
All of it boils down to how Nik has nurtured their relationship. Their initial relationship was that of mutual benefits. If Nik survives and leaves, Mokshi will enjoy the sights of other worlds, and Nik will be passively benefited from its very existence. That's why Mokshi used to urge Nik to leave this world as soon as possible once they survived their encounter with Koh.
But Mokshi does not pester Nik now.
Nik will depart when he wishes to. He did not have a choice in bonding with the spirit, but eventually, the Primordial Spirit of Freedom came to acknowledge others' freedom of choice. And similar to Nik's effort in trying to communicate with the spirit better, Mokshi decides to indulge Nik's hatred.
For once, Mokshi makes an effort aside for some well-timed warnings. And there is a reason why they don't communicate all that much.
Apart from the minimal boost in its host's chi and spirit, Mokshi realizes how weak Nik is to communicate with itself and wield its strength. And that's saying something when Mokshi alone is one of the weaker Primordials due to its contradictory nature, unlike Ra and Raat.
But while Mokshi believed its efforts to be secretive and not rest on its host's consciousness, it quakes in surprise within Nik once he looks at the bloody pile of flesh in front of his bed with a soft, desolate look.
"Thanks for letting me vent, pal."
---
It's the same situation with Zhao all over again.
Nik enjoyed the first few moments of killing the triplets. After having his ass handed down by this world's Esta, he only kept his efforts on the triplets.
As much as he hated Esta, truthfully... he was kind of over her for many weeks now. It did not reduce his dislike for the woman, but Nik simply understood that as helpless as he was, he had no freedom. And when he did have the freedom, he chose to rebel! That's a fucking win in his books.
But the triplets?
Oh, they were his suppressed memories brought back like a tide when Regret set them loose!
Esta was his trainer. His body never received any damage from that woman, but these three?
Nik went as far as branding every inch of their bodies with red-hot brands until no spot was left untouched. It was gruesome. He melted their lips shut before doing the same to their other orifices, including stuff down below. He only melted their eyes in the last moment before they suffocated to death.
And this was merely one example.
He has been treated too poorly in the past. Most of the stuff is something he would never like to think about—but Nik wasn't kind to his enemies.
A lesson taught to him by Zhao.
His choice of weapon demonstrates his nature too well—a sturdy stick.
A tool that doesn't kill accidentally, but one of the most gruesome ways to end a life nonetheless.
Seeing their spread corpses in front of him, their once beautiful skin stripped off their bodies, Nik exhales heavily and sets his knife on the nearest bench.
Blood drips from his dainty hands.
His body was still thin and effeminate before he began working out in the World of Spirits.
Nik finally acknowledges the... friend assisting him all this time.
It wasn't hard to feel Mokshi's presence. He used the same method of connection of the heart-mind-spirit taught by Dhi to communicate with Mokshi, so he could sense its movement from the very first moment.
"Thanks for letting me vent, pal."
He feels the spirit's surprise rather expressively, causing him to wipe his hands with a towel and chuckle.
"Don't act so surprised now. You're acting like a child caught doing a crime."
He then picks another towel to wipe his face and brush his hair back slickly.
"Can you... hear me well?"
"Surprisingly, I can. For the first time, your voice doesn't feel broken or cut."
Mokshi grows silent before mustering.
"I'm glad. And your mind? Do you feel... yourself?"
"It's the same situation as Zhoa all over again. No matter if you serve it hot or cold, revenge is not satiating at all. But if you're asking about the acts I performed here, I believe in the simple rule of thumb—Once a killer, always a killer. Not like I will ever need to hide anything from you."
"Your trust will not be broken."
"I'm surprised you didn't wear my ear off about leaving this world the moment we started conversing."
Nik wraps the corpses in the bedsheet as he hears Mokshi's reply.
"I would like you to take your time. If it ends up with me being stranded again, I will accept it as a consequence of my choice."
Nik stills and questions.
"Your choice? When did my choice end up being yours?"
"When I decided to trust you a bit more... just a few moments ago, once you let go of your hatred and regrets. I should warn you this spiritual growth will reflect positively in your... status, was it?"
Nik smiles slightly and calmly asserts his approval without saying anything.
"What are you doing?" Mokshi inquires, already knowing the answer. "If you wish to leave, dying at Esta's hand is not the only way out."
He had enough foresight not to hang out with Nik on another island, and it paid out better than he could have ever imagined!
---
"I'm sorry. As much as I may have said I understood what you're going through, I simply had no idea." Katara opens with an apology while averting her gaze from her mother. "And the idea of... sharing Nik with you freaked me out for all the wrong reasons. I felt that I would be no better than Azula. No, I felt... I would become like Azula."
"Katara..." Kya sighs softly.
"I shouldn't even be here in Sokka's stead just because I'm a girl. No. Both of us didn't have to be here."
Rena interjects with a deadpan as she works her jaw.
"May I leave?"
Kya smiles wryly at her supposed daughter-in-law and nods.
"Hmm, I hope you two sort it out. Really. If it isn't clear already, you are my mother in a sense. So, I would have liked to help you find a reliable mate eventually. If possible, from the Nothern Tribe."
"Leave."
Katara retorts flatly as Rena flashes a light-hearted grin and leaves the room, possibly to deliver Sokka a beating since he sent her into this precarious situation in the first place.
"Katara, the only reason I was toying with the idea was just to tease you. That's all."
"You're lying... I could feel it in that world, too. That's the reason I got so worked up. That's why I feel worked up now."
Kya lowers her gaze and stares at her table.
"Ursa and I spoke. I... truly am lost myself. I suppose I was drawn to the only option. No, that's a lie. This world is filled with others. He wasn't my only option..."
Her voice gets weaker, and she admits.
"He was my choice since he saved me."
Katara purses her lips as an uncomfortable feeling rouses from her heart.
It was nothing like jealousy or anything else but genuine discomfort. A part of her mused about how things could turn out, and the other part felt insecure about how they will see each other later. It's a surprise how Mai, Toph, and Azula managed such a relationship while still behaving like daughters outside closed doors.
"Mom... do you remember how you acted like Ursa?"
"I do. I suppose I'm used to living long lives in other spiritual realms."
Katara licks her teeth behind her shut lips with a ponderous look.
"What if... Azula and Ursa visited Nik one of these days?" The waterbender suggests. "Azula and Ursa are comfortable, right?"
Kya stares at her daughter in disbelief. But... she cannot lie.
Azula and Ursa are indeed more comfortable... roles.
---
"Oh! I almost forgot how Jin simply gave up on the first try and got caught!"
"Hey, I was spooked!" Jin retorts opposite to Azula as she stuffs her face and feeds her stress away.
"Spooked? You've started to spar with us! Nothing should faze you!" Azula shoots back.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Ursa ate their food calmly.
Azula sensibly steered clear of 'Zuzu' since he didn't even get caught in this mess while Ursa had nothing to speak. She had a clear mind, and she was happy to not unload the emotional mess about the fact that Azula was the one who ended her life multiple times in a different realm. Then again, if Azula even dares pull such a stunt in this world, Ursa will be ready with some form of ammunition in her hand. Maybe a slipper, or a rolling pin.
"By the way, Zuzu, what kind of picture did you see about Mother. Describe it for us!"
Zuko coughs and chokes on his food as he would rather never remember such a picture, meanwhile, Ursa quietly smacks the back of her Princess' head with a fond smile of her own and continues to eat peacefully.
---
As fate would have it, the 'talk' between the Ty-Siblings was even shorter as Ty Lee quickly led her sisters around to meet with everyone. Aside from June's rather heavy-handed compliments, they were breezed by many topics cheerfully as they got a chance to question others about Nik's truth.
"Oh, that? Yeah, I'm leaving." June replies carefreely. "Nothing left to tie me here anyway."
"Of course, we are leaving." Poppy smiles and welcomes the group while Toph walks out of her bath stark naked.
"Are we leaving already? That's quick. Didn't Nik say he'd ask other's tribe to follow along?"
Poppy rolls her eyes and groans.
"Your towel, Toph."
"Where is it?"
"You know where!"
"Heh, my eyes say something else." She shrugs and finds her clothes instead, making Poppy stomp her way loudly with a clear intention of what's to come. Only then, Toph rushes back into the bathroom.
"I apologize. Toph really likes you and wanted to meet your sisters." Poppy looks at the group of girls before questioning.
"Ty Lee?"
"Here~!" Ty Lee giggles and works her way out from the crowd.
"Hey, don't go yet! Better yet, just leave that Ty Woo here! I hear good things about her from Azula and Nik!" Toph's hurried voice echoes from the bath as Ty Woo smirks.
"That's me, bitches. Ah, respectfully, of course." She nods at Poppy while others shrug and leave.
Now that they had cleared the air between them, they weren't all that 'broken' by Nik's revelation. Instead, they discussed making a choice after looking around and seeing if they have any future here. After all, Ty Lee wants to stay with Nik for a period, which makes her sisters want to stay closer, too.
And the fact that Nik can identify them separately only worked in both parties' favor.
After the new group began to slightly settle in, they expected Nik to return.
It was a dangerous day for everyone, so they wished to meet with Nik and maybe... 'chat.' But he never did return. Instead, he messaged that he would be training for the entire night.
Something the girls had to reluctantly appreciate.
June, Toph, and their new addition, Ty Woo, didn't.
***
Alternate Title: Nik Got the Power of Friendship; Foreshadowing Bleach?; Regret's No Longer Present... Ironic; Ignit's New Admirer; Aang's Bald Head Has Another Bald Head; Mother and Daughter's Negotiations; Clear Communication; Sokka Sent Rena as a Proxy—His Genius Continues to Astound the World; Ty Woo Fitting Like a Glove. Coincidence? I Think Not!; Taking Their Time to Make a Decision; June, Toph, and Ty Woo—Entrepreneur of the Menace Faction in the Harem
***
Join discord for Harem and Nik Pics.
Support the Fanfic through comments, likes, reviews and such (if the published site allows it—your boy's multi-site-nal!) and of course, the big P!
Read 30 advance chapters on—
Patre /fanharem
Join the discord for character pics (most of them are too heavy to be updated here)
https : //discord.gg/egdFUe5
Chapter 263: Freedom to Feel and IndulgeChapter 263: Freedom to Feel and Indulge "What do you mean he isn't coming back? I answered correctly!" Azula snarls. Sokka and Azula tackled every riddle for hours to bring their friends and family from their comatose state. Ty Lee soon discovered them on the hill before leading others alongside the unconscious Nik. But Regret pulled the rug off them at the last juncture. "Yes, you did. Well done." Regret's face is still not visible, but his chortle annoys Sokka and Azula. However, the rest of the group who woke from Regret's manipulative world holds complicated emotions toward the Primordial Spirit. Katara holds her grudges but continues to sneak glances at her mother to talk instead. Her priority isn't to give into her petty feuds but to talk with her mother. After rescuing Nik, of course. "But what if the other party refuses to leave?" Regret questions. "Impossible!" Suki narrows her eyes. Forced to be the most level-headed in this situation, Sokka raises his voice, "Did Nik explicitly tell you he does not want to leave?" "No, he did not say anything. As he is now, Nik is squatting in the realm he shouldn't be in and using his freedom... to take mine hostage. A bitter turn of events, if I may add." "What is he doing?" Ursa questions quickly. "It is his secret." "We will solve another riddle for an answer." Regret stares at the group before stating in a cold tone. "No. Nik's regrets are his to share. What I will say, however, is that Nik is in a deeply indifferent condition." Turning his face to gaze at the setting sun as dusk sets in, Regret proposes, "If I were you, I'd pray that a distant sibling of mine, Indifference, doesn't approach us. He will grant you no riddles and afford you no breather." --- Freedom is a paradox. So, Mokshi's existence is contradictory to its origin. It chose to seek other worlds by restricting itself to a fleshy body of a traveler. Nothing can be more contradictory than this. For instance, Mokshi is allowing Nik to satiate his hatred. Nik may be unable to do anything about Regret, but Mokshi has many options in this spiritual state. Instead of freeing Nik from his hatred, Mokshi wrestles away Regret's control in this particular plane of reality and allows Nik to slaughter the triplets in several manners! In reality, Nik chose to feel his fingers dig into their soft flesh and draw their last breaths using fiery brands, toe-cutters, flays, and many more methods used on him by them! And... Mokshi simply respected those choices. Now, Mokshi is free to bring Nik out, but why would it? All of it boils down to how Nik has nurtured their relationship. Their initial relationship was that of mutual benefits. If Nik survives and leaves, Mokshi will enjoy the sights of other worlds, and Nik will be passively benefited from its very existence. That's why Mokshi used to urge Nik to leave this world as soon as possible once they survived their encounter with Koh. But Mokshi does not pester Nik now. Nik will depart when he wishes to. He did not have a choice in bonding with the spirit, but eventually, the Primordial Spirit of Freedom came to acknowledge others' freedom of choice. And similar to Nik's effort in trying to communicate with the spirit better, Mokshi decides to indulge Nik's hatred. For once, Mokshi makes an effort aside for some well-timed warnings. And there is a reason why they don't communicate all that much. Apart from the minimal boost in its host's chi and spirit, Mokshi realizes how weak Nik is to communicate with itself and wield its strength. And that's saying something when Mokshi alone is one of the weaker Primordials due to its contradictory nature, unlike Ra and Raat. But while Mokshi believed its efforts to be secretive and not rest on its host's consciousness, it quakes in surprise within Nik once he looks at the bloody pile of flesh in front of his bed with a soft, desolate look. "Thanks for letting me vent, pal." --- It's the same situation with Zhao all over again. Nik enjoyed the first few moments of killing the triplets. After having his ass handed down by this world's Esta, he only kept his efforts on the triplets. As much as he hated Esta, truthfully... he was kind of over her for many weeks now. It did not reduce his dislike for the woman, but Nik simply understood that as helpless as he was, he had no freedom. And when he did have the freedom, he chose to rebel! That's a fucking win in his books. But the triplets? Oh, they were his suppressed memories brought back like a tide when Regret set them loose! Esta was his trainer. His body never received any damage from that woman, but these three? Nik went as far as branding every inch of their bodies with red-hot brands until no spot was left untouched. It was gruesome. He melted their lips shut before doing the same to their other orifices, including stuff down below. He only melted their eyes in the last moment before they suffocated to death. And this was merely one example. He has been treated too poorly in the past. Most of the stuff is something he would never like to think aboutbut Nik wasn't kind to his enemies. A lesson taught to him by Zhao. His choice of weapon demonstrates his nature too wella sturdy stick. A tool that doesn't kill accidentally, but one of the most gruesome ways to end a life nonetheless. Seeing their spread corpses in front of him, their once beautiful skin stripped off their bodies, Nik exhales heavily and sets his knife on the nearest bench. Blood drips from his dainty hands. His body was still thin and effeminate before he began working out in the World of Spirits. Nik finally acknowledges the... friend assisting him all this time. It wasn't hard to feel Mokshi's presence. He used the same method of connection of the heart-mind-spirit taught by Dhi to communicate with Mokshi, so he could sense its movement from the very first moment. "Thanks for letting me vent, pal." He feels the spirit's surprise rather expressively, causing him to wipe his hands with a towel and chuckle. "Don't act so surprised now. You're acting like a child caught doing a crime." He then picks another towel to wipe his face and brush his hair back slickly. "Can you... hear me well?" "Surprisingly, I can. For the first time, your voice doesn't feel broken or cut." Mokshi grows silent before mustering. "I'm glad. And your mind? Do you feel... yourself?" "It's the same situation as Zhoa all over again. No matter if you serve it hot or cold, revenge is not satiating at all. But if you're asking about the acts I performed here, I believe in the simple rule of thumbOnce a killer, always a killer. Not like I will ever need to hide anything from you." "Your trust will not be broken." "I'm surprised you didn't wear my ear off about leaving this world the moment we started conversing." Nik wraps the corpses in the bedsheet as he hears Mokshi's reply. "I would like you to take your time. If it ends up with me being stranded again, I will accept it as a consequence of my choice." Nik stills and questions. "Your choice? When did my choice end up being yours?" "When I decided to trust you a bit more... just a few moments ago, once you let go of your hatred and regrets. I should warn you this spiritual growth will reflect positively in your... status, was it?" Nik smiles slightly and calmly asserts his approval without saying anything. "What are you doing?" Mokshi inquires, already knowing the answer. "If you wish to leave, dying at Esta's hand is not the only way out." He had enough foresight not to hang out with Nik on another island, and it paid out better than he could have ever imagined! --- "I'm sorry. As much as I may have said I understood what you're going through, I simply had no idea." Katara opens with an apology while averting her gaze from her mother. "And the idea of... sharing Nik with you freaked me out for all the wrong reasons. I felt that I would be no better than Azula. No, I felt... I would become like Azula." "Katara..." Kya sighs softly. "I shouldn't even be here in Sokka's stead just because I'm a girl. No. Both of us didn't have to be here." Rena interjects with a deadpan as she works her jaw. "May I leave?" Kya smiles wryly at her supposed daughter-in-law and nods. "Hmm, I hope you two sort it out. Really. If it isn't clear already, you are my mother in a sense. So, I would have liked to help you find a reliable mate eventually. If possible, from the Nothern Tribe." "Leave." Katara retorts flatly as Rena flashes a light-hearted grin and leaves the room, possibly to deliver Sokka a beating since he sent her into this precarious situation in the first place. "Katara, the only reason I was toying with the idea was just to tease you. That's all." "You're lying... I could feel it in that world, too. That's the reason I got so worked up. That's why I feel worked up now." Kya lowers her gaze and stares at her table. "Ursa and I spoke. I... truly am lost myself. I suppose I was drawn to the only option. No, that's a lie. This world is filled with others. He wasn't my only option..." Her voice gets weaker, and she admits. "He was my choice since he saved me." Katara purses her lips as an uncomfortable feeling rouses from her heart. It was nothing like jealousy or anything else but genuine discomfort. A part of her mused about how things could turn out, and the other part felt insecure about how they will see each other later. It's a surprise how Mai, Toph, and Azula managed such a relationship while still behaving like daughters outside closed doors. "Mom... do you remember how you acted like Ursa?" "I do. I suppose I'm used to living long lives in other spiritual realms." Katara licks her teeth behind her shut lips with a ponderous look. "What if... Azula and Ursa visited Nik one of these days?" The waterbender suggests. "Azula and Ursa are comfortable, right?" Kya stares at her daughter in disbelief. But... she cannot lie. Azula and Ursa are indeed more comfortable... roles. --- "Oh! I almost forgot how Jin simply gave up on the first try and got caught!" "Hey, I was spooked!" Jin retorts opposite to Azula as she stuffs her face and feeds her stress away. "Spooked? You've started to spar with us! Nothing should faze you!" Azula shoots back. Meanwhile, Zuko and Ursa ate their food calmly. Azula sensibly steered clear of 'Zuzu' since he didn't even get caught in this mess while Ursa had nothing to speak. She had a clear mind, and she was happy to not unload the emotional mess about the fact that Azula was the one who ended her life multiple times in a different realm. Then again, if Azula even dares pull such a stunt in this world, Ursa will be ready with some form of ammunition in her hand. Maybe a slipper, or a rolling pin. "By the way, Zuzu, what kind of picture did you see about Mother. Describe it for us!" Zuko coughs and chokes on his food as he would rather never remember such a picture, meanwhile, Ursa quietly smacks the back of her Princess' head with a fond smile of her own and continues to eat peacefully. --- As fate would have it, the 'talk' between the Ty-Siblings was even shorter as Ty Lee quickly led her sisters around to meet with everyone. Aside from June's rather heavy-handed compliments, they were breezed by many topics cheerfully as they got a chance to question others about Nik's truth. "Oh, that? Yeah, I'm leaving." June replies carefreely. "Nothing left to tie me here anyway." "Of course, we are leaving." Poppy smiles and welcomes the group while Toph walks out of her bath stark naked. "Are we leaving already? That's quick. Didn't Nik say he'd ask other's tribe to follow along?" Poppy rolls her eyes and groans. "Your towel, Toph." "Where is it?" "You know where!" "Heh, my eyes say something else." She shrugs and finds her clothes instead, making Poppy stomp her way loudly with a clear intention of what's to come. Only then, Toph rushes back into the bathroom. "I apologize. Toph really likes you and wanted to meet your sisters." Poppy looks at the group of girls before questioning. "Ty Lee?" "Here~!" Ty Lee giggles and works her way out from the crowd. "Hey, don't go yet! Better yet, just leave that Ty Woo here! I hear good things about her from Azula and Nik!" Toph's hurried voice echoes from the bath as Ty Woo smirks. "That's me, bitches. Ah, respectfully, of course." She nods at Poppy while others shrug and leave. Now that they had cleared the air between them, they weren't all that 'broken' by Nik's revelation. Instead, they discussed making a choice after looking around and seeing if they have any future here. After all, Ty Lee wants to stay with Nik for a period, which makes her sisters want to stay closer, too. And the fact that Nik can identify them separately only worked in both parties' favor. After the new group began to slightly settle in, they expected Nik to return. It was a dangerous day for everyone, so they wished to meet with Nik and maybe... 'chat.' But he never did return. Instead, he messaged that he would be training for the entire night. Something the girls had to reluctantly appreciate. June, Toph, and their new addition, Ty Woo, didn't. *** Alternate Title: Nik Got the Power of Friendship; Foreshadowing Bleach?; Regret's No Longer Present... Ironic; Ignit's New Admirer; Aang's Bald Head Has Another Bald Head; Mother and Daughter's Negotiations; Clear Communication; Sokka Sent Rena as a ProxyHis Genius Continues to Astound the World; Ty Woo Fitting Like a Glove. Coincidence? I Think Not!; Taking Their Time to Make a Decision; June, Toph, and Ty WooEntrepreneur of the Menace Faction in the Harem *** Join discord for Harem and Nik Pics. Support the Fanfic through comments, likes, reviews and such if the published site allows ityour boy's multi-site-nal! and of course, the big P! Read 30 advance chapters on Patre /fanharem Join the discord for character pics most of them are too heavy to be updated here https : //discord.gg/egdFUe5
