'Thoughts'

"Dialogue"

"Attack/shouting"

'Voices/ Imagin dialogue'

*Sound effects*

Chapter 05: Taste of things to come

Book one

An Ice cold chill crawled down my spine as my senses flared tenfold. Every fragment of my being screamed in fear to be on alert. The voices called out to me but I shut them out due to the fact that I was focused on my surroundings.

Why? Why was I so unease? Why did that voice fill me with dread?

Before I could dwell on that thought any further, the sounds of footsteps echoed through the area. "Ara, ara… you've grown up quite a bit."

I quickly turned to my left and saw someone approaching. A figure wearing a black hooded vest but underneath his body was wrapped in bandages rather than an undershirt. He had on a pair of red cargo pants and a pair of black boots with metal tips. Lastly, he wore a pair of fingerless gloves that also had metal on them.

However, the one thing that caught my attention was the mask. The mask itself looked like a Japanese white oni mask but behind the mask were a pair of blue eyes that was locked onto me… like a predator ready to pounce their pray.

"W-who are you?" I asked as I slowly reached into my right pocket.

"Who am I is not really important," the figure answered calmly. "Although, I due detest when someone does not address me properly so allow me to introduce myself… I am Even."

"Evan?"

"Correct. Also, I was the one who sent you the location of your Tardis."

My eyes widen in disbelief. I was about to say something but was quickly cut off by Evans.

"However, as much as I enjoy this conversation I am quite in a hurry therefore I will speed up your progress of your awakening if you are to survive against the coming threat."

Before I could process what he said, Evan suddenly appeared in front of me and punched a hole through my chest. My body twitched violently as a sickening crunch echoed through the silence. I could feel Evan grab something inside my chest but did not know what it was.

Suddenly, my vision began to blur as my eyes became heavy. I could feel my strength fading as everything began to grow cold.

As I began to slowly close my eyes, the last thing I heard was Evan saying, "Try to remember… and all will be clear."

And hello darkness my old friend.

Seriously, I'm now totally convinced that this will be a literal thing for me from this point on. Still, now I know who "E" is but who or what the hell is he? Was he the one who brought me here or is he just like me and was brought here as well? I mean what the hell is going on and is there more to me being here

~sigh~ why does weird shit only happen to me…

…

…

…

What the- Why do I suddenly feel like something is standing over me? Also, how come I feel something warm brushing against my face?

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that there was—

*Sluuurrrp!*

"GAH!"

I quickly jumped into a sitting position as I took deep breaths. I turned around to see who or what it was that licked me.

"N-Naga?"

The polar bear dog in question barked before giving me another lick across the face… Hold on. Why is Naga…!

My eyes widen before I checked my chest, only to find it completely normal. I sighed in relief as I took notice of my current surroundings.

'Huh, looks like I'm outside of the Pro-bending arena,' I thought to myself as I got to my feet while letting out a heavy sigh before looking back at Naga and petting her head. "Life with the Avatar can be strange huh?"

[Unknown Location]

(3rd P.O.V)

Deep within the empty darkness, a figure sitting in a mediating posture waited. The figure wore a red and black robe with an eye symbol upon their chest. Dark aura spilled from its being like dancing flames as its eyes flared beneath its mask.

"It appears that Evan has showed himself," the figure spoke as three others appeared within the darkness, each wearing a brown.

"That he has," said the second. "However, was it wise to allow him to encounter the boy?"

"No matter what reason it is already too late," snorted the third. "Thanks to his damn meddling, Manuel's growth will no doubt draw unwanted attention and thus be target by others."

The first figure turned its head and stared at the other figures. "That must not be allowed to happen," said the first as it looked upon the fourth. "I want you watch over the child until her has enough power to protect himself and eliminate any and all outside interferences. His body must first be allowed to adapt to that power before we can proceed with the next step."

The fourth bowed. "It shall be done," said the fourth as the three figures vanished.

Once again alone, the first snarled. "I do not know what you are after Evan but I will not allow you to interfere. The boy shall fulfill his role and I will see to it that it is done!"

[Air Temple Island]

(Manuel's P.O.V)

"I think I finally understand Korra's frustration with these damn spinning gates," I panted as I took a break from trying to get through the gates.

I hardly gotten any sleep at all last night ever since what had happen back at the Pro-bending arena… or at least I think it happened. Seriously, I think that all these strange events that had happened have now started to take its toll on me. From coming into this world, the red box, the voices in my head, the Red Lotus sudden appearance and my recent encounter with this "Evan" person who revealed himself as "E". No matter how much I thought about it, nothing seems to add up and thus makes me wonder if the "voice" that brought me here had an ulterior motive. If so then could there be others that were brought here by the "voice" as well?

However, those thoughts were not my only concern. Korra and I have yet to speak with one another ever since we returned back to the air temple. She and her teammates resolved their little (let's not forget pointless) issue like they did in the fifth episode but she (along with Mako for some damn reason) is still pretty upset with me. Hell, she literally left me back at the Pro-ending arena and was only able to barely make it to the boat if it weren't for Asami giving me a ride to it!

Rather than getting to into a pointless argument, I decided to flat out avoid Korra as much as possible until she calm the hell down. In the mean time, I took the opportunity to see those spinning gates that Korra and the airbenders had to go through in their training. I don't know why but I always wanted to try something that before. Kind of like how everyone wanted to try doing a kamehameha.

Don't lie; we all tried it at least once in our life!

Anyways, during my search for those gates I somehow, and I kid you not, got lost in trying to find them. Hell, I literally needed to ask Ikki! Ikki of all people on the damn island to help me find the spinning gates and the island itself wasn't even that huge! Sheesh, I becoming Zoro from One Piece and not in a bad ass sort of way either!

Okay, getting off topic now.

Anyways, once we found them, Ikki was curious as to why I wanted to find the gates in the first place. My answer was that I was fascinated with airbending movements and to at least try the spinning gates in order to quote on quote "experience the art of airbending". It wasn't a total lie but it was enough to satisfy Ikki's curiosity.

However…

"Manuel's gonna airbend! Manuel's gonna airbend!" Ikki exclaimed excitedly.

My left eye twitched from her little excited outburst, which sadly ended up catching the attention of her two siblings. When the two asked what was going on, I told them the same thing that I told Ikki.

Upon hearing that, Meelo tried to get under my skin by acting like a drill instructor that you would see in a military boot-camp. Or kind of like he did in book 3 when Tenzin tasked him to train the new airbenders alongside Ikki so the two would stay on the Island. Thankfully Jinora managed to calm the two down by reminding them that I was in fact was not a bender. However, she still was interested on seeing how a nonbender like me does against the spinning gates.

Despite feeling a bit sore, I was still able to move normally just so long that I do not over do it. Sadly, I don't think that'll matter since I'm gonna get hurt badly because I was the dumbass who wanted to try the gates!

Anyways, I got myself into position and prepared myself for the worst beating that I'll ever get in my entire life. As I prepared, Jinora released a burst of air to cause the gates to spin rapidly.

Once I finished preparing (as well as praying) I decisively ran into the gates and immediately collided against the very first damn fucking panel that throws me to the side, slamming me right into the next one. I could hear the kids (as well as the voices) hissing in pain as I began colliding with every fucking panel that I came across, no doubt reminding them on how Korra did when she first did this. After five minutes of pain, I was catapulted from panel to panel before eventually being tossed out on my back like a ragdoll in front of the kids.

'It appears that you broken a rib or perhaps all of them,' I heard Eme stated, likely wondering why the hell I ever wanted to try something like this.

I got back up to my feet and ran back in, narrowly avoiding the first gate but ended up colliding into the second thus repeating the beating like I received in my first attempt.

As I continued my attempts, the three kids gave me support. And by support, I mean them saying the same thing that they said to Korra when she did this. From Jinora's "Don't try to force your way through!" to Ikki's "Dance! Dance like the wind!" to Meelo's "Be the leaf!" (complete with him making strange weaving motions by waving his arms with an undulating motions… seeing it in person makes it look weird now that I think about it.)

Still, despite their support, I kept getting my ass handed to me by the gates. After, like the seventh or ninth attempt, I decided to stop since my body was hurting all over. Well at least I didn't get knocked out or with a broken nose from the whole ordeal.

I laid on the cold hard ground as I tried to catch my breath and bearings, the kids tried to cheer me by telling me that I at least tried to make it through. However, we all knew pretty damn well that I failed… I failed so fucking hard. Hell, I highly doubt that I'll even be able to pass those damn gates even if I were an actual airbender when the harmonic convergence…

…

…

…

'I wonder,' I thought to myself as I got into a sitting position. 'When harmonic convergence does happen would there be a chance that I might end up being an actual airbender?"

I was brought out of my musing when I felt something grabbing the back of my clothes. Upon turning around, I saw a baby ring-tailed lemur clinging onto me.

'Oh c'mon! Not again! And will you kids stop laughing!'

[Republic City, Dragon Flats Borough]

(3rd P.O.V)

Darkness engulfed the city as the moon glowed within the night sky. Many residents of the Dragon Flats rested safely in the comforts of their homes. Despite the actions of the Equalist, the streets were calm.

However, upon this night, something was amiss. Something that seemed out of place and yet it went unnoticed by the residents of the Dragon Flats.

"Hehehehe, found you!" Cackled a deep wicked voice as it looked upon an old newspaper regarding the events of the duel at Avatar Aang Memorial Island. "You haven't been awaken just yet, eh my little Voidian?"

Tossing the paper aside, the figure looked up at the moon. Its glowing image revealed a pair of jagged claws of the figure's hands. A blood thirsting cackled echoed from the figure before a crack appeared in a nearby wall. However, rather than seeing inside of the building itself, it revealed the Airbending training area.

"Let's see what you can do, little Voidian."

[Air Temple Island]

(Manuel's P.O.V)

'Shouldn't you be resting?' asked Madeen.

'Wish I could but my damn paranoia isn't letting me,' I answered while watching anime on my laptop.

'Afraid that something strange might happen again?'

'Yeah.'

'Oh c'mon Manuel!' exclaimed Kingsley. 'What's the worst that can happen?'

As if the universe heard him, everything went dead silent. The color slowly began to turning grey as if the world was turning into a black-and-white media of the past. Strangely, I remained in color.

'You were saying?'

Kingsley laughed awkwardly in embarrassment. Seriously, everyone knows not to say those damn exact words! It's literally asking for trouble when someone say them because something much worse always fucking happen right you say those damn accursed words in that order!

None the less, I quickly got to my feet but before I go to the door, a strange dark purple glow engulfed me. Before I even noticed, I found myself no longer in my room but instead in the middle of the airbending training grounds, mainly the open area that had the yin and yang symbol.

'What the hell?!' I exclaimed in my thoughts as I noticed that I wasn't alone. Korra and Jinora were also with me; both had a shocked and confused expression.

Upon noticing me, Korra asked, "Manuel, what's going on?! Why is everything all grey and creepy silent?!"

I made my way to Korra and Jinora but just as I was about to reach them I was stopped by an invisible barrier that knocked me on my ass.

"Manuel!" Shouted Korra and Jinora as they made their way towards me but were stopped by the same invisible barrier.

Korra got to her feet and went into a bending stance raising her arms, punching out in an attempt to break the barrier with her bending. However, nothing happen.

"W-what? I can't bend?" Korra tries again but like before nothing happen. "I can't bend?!"

Jinora tried to use her airbending but like Korra nothing happen. "I can't airbend," Said Jinora as she began to slowly panic.

Before I could say anything, a psychotic cackle caught our attention. We turned and faced the where the sound was coming from but what we saw ended up making us feel a cold chill crawl up our spine.

On the other side of the training grounds was a seven foot tall figure that has a fairly humanoid appearance. His skin is a light grey, almost blue-ish color, and he has black, long hair and sharp, pointed teeth. His limbs are abnormally long as his hands sported long jagged claws. He also has large, round, yellow eyes with red irises. His style of clothing looked almost like the one that Edward Scissorhands wore.

"It never gets old seeing that kind of reactions to newcomers," the figured cackled. "It's even better when the try to struggle."

I jumped to my feet and went into a combat stance. "Who the hell are you?" I demanded as I prepared myself.

The figure simply smiled without a care. "Normally I never give my victims my name but in this case I'll make an exception," said the figure. "My name is Ceeds the Slasher and I'm here to collect your corpse Voidian."

Before I could ask what he meant, the figure now known as Ceeds wasted no time and runs at me as I tried to punch my incoming attacker. Ceeds however avoids the punch by jumping over it, twisting several times in the air, and landing behind me. I quickly turned around and initiated a hand-to-hand combat with Ceeds who aimed for my head with his claws, but I manage avert the course with my left hand. I retaliated with a quick kick, which my opponent ducks under.

Korra and Jinora watched as Ceeds locks arms with mine as I throw another punch with my right hand, but the Ceeds leans back to dodge it, knocking my hand to the side. Seeing an opening I used a sideways moment to spin around in a full moon kick, though my opponent evades the kick by moving to his right. I tried to aim a high kick at Ceeds' head, who reciprocates the move and curls his leg around mine and pulls it down, creating an unguarded opening to my right side. Quickly, he delivered about four slashes to my side and arm before quickly backing away laughing.

Korra and Jinora gasped as blood began to trickle down from wounds as I staggered with a hiss, as my right side has begun to bleed.

"Awww what's wrong my little Voidian?" Ceeds taunted. "Can't handle a little love tap?"

I gritted my teeth as I felt the stinging sensations from the wound. Thankfully the cuts weren't deep as it looked but I have to be careful or otherwise he'll gut me like a fish real easily.

However, before I could come up with a plan of attack, Ceeds madly charged at me with his left hand. I manage to nearly avoid the slash by flipping over a low-aimed slash arc. I aimed two punches at my attacker, but it was to no avail as he easily dodges them like it was child's play.

'Shit, this good,' I thought to myself as I watched Ceeds simply backflips effortlessly, and land perfectly on the ground in a sitting position. He gives me a sinister, yet somewhat trollish, smirk as he waited to see what I'll do next.

'OH THIS ASSHOLE IS STARTING TO PISS ME OFF!' Diablos snarled in annoyance.

'He's quite quick for someone of his size,' Eme simply stated.

I had to agree with Eme since Ceeds was not only quick but was also agile for someone his size. Not once was I able to land a single hit on him and yet he was able to hit me so easily. Still, there has to be a way for me to somehow turn this around or else I'll end up six feet under.

"What's the matter, afraid of getting cut?" Ceeds sneered, likely trying to goad me into attacking and be in ranged for his claws to slash me. "Well if you're not gonna come to me then I'll just come to you instead."

Wait, what?!

Before I could even react Ceeds appeared right in front of me and violently slashed me across the chest. I briefly clutch it, but I quickly focused again on my attacker, who comes at me again. I threw a powerful punch at Ceeds, who easily ducks under it, twirls behind my back, and quickly deliver several slashes to my unguarded left side.

"This is bad," Jinora said as she and Korra could do nothing but watched helplessly. "If this keeps going, Manuel will end up bleeding out."

"Not if I can help it!" Korra said as she continued punched at the invisible barrier that kept her outside from the fight. Out of frustration, Korra tried to use her bending once more but still nothing happened. 'Grrr C'MON! WHY CAN'T I BEND?!'

Back in the fight I ended up receiving more slashes to my left side before my attacker jumps up and kicks with two feet to my chest with enough force to cause me to spit a bit of blood from my mouth. As I roughly fall backward on the ground with a heavy thud and a groan; seeing this Ceeds responds by performing a drop kick. However, I managed to dodge by rolling away and subsequently springing back up to attack again but Ceeds grabs my face before brutally raising me high above his head and slamming me into the ground, causing damage to the ground and debris to be flung around.

"MANUEL!" Korra and Jinora screamed as Ceeds once again brutally raises me high above his head and slamming me into the ground repeatedly while laughing like a mad man.

After a long minute, Ceeds slams me into the ground one final time with a enough force to make a human size crater. Korra and Jinora gasped in horror as I laid on the ground bloodied and not moving.

"Well, this was a disappointment," Ceeds scoffed as stood over me. "I was expecting a better fight from a Voidian but it looks like you're not at all that is cracked up to be."

Slowly, my vision faded as the last thing I saw was Ceeds slowly raised his arm to deliver the killing blow.

So this is how it ends. I wasn't strong enough to face someone like Ceeds, let alone Amon, the Equalist and the Red Lotus. Sorry everyone but I guess I was too weak to do anything.

Open…

Huh?

Open…

Open? Open what?

Open the door… Let them out…

Let who out? Who's saying that?

Without warning, I found myself in a black empty void. The very same one that I was in before arriving in this world. However, this time there was something in the void.

Surrounding me were doors, each with a different number and symbol on it but all were chained up and covered in black thorns. Though I was confused, I felt like I've seen these doors before.

Alma Torturada... Abre la puerta y déjame salir…*

That voice! I know that voice!

I slowly approached one of the doors bearing the number eleven and a heart that looked like the ones that the heartless have from Kingdom hearts. As I got near it, the chains and thorns that were covering the door crumbled into dust while the door opened revealing nothing but darkness that seem to spew black mist.

Everything was silent as I waited for what would be coming out from behind that door.

…Which was not a long wait.

Show time…

(3rd P.O.V)

Ceeds slowly raised his arm to deliver the killing blow but before he could dark crimson flames began to shoot out from the crater, forcing Ceeds to jump back.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Ceeds shouted as the dark crimson flames danced wildly out from the crater.

The dark crimson flames soon began to take shape. Korra and Jinora watched in awe as the flames slowly took on a humanoid appearance.

The flames soon began to fade but as they did, it revealed a familiar person. One that the three thought would die in this fight.

"No! There's just no way!"

Standing not far from him was the person he had beaten. The same person that couldn't land a hit on him. The very same person he had violently slammed into the ground and turned him into a bloodied mess.

The person standing before him was Manuel.

Korra and Jinora were relieved that their friend was alright but they notice something different about him. His hair was longer and looked as if it was dancing like fire would. His eyes were now red and his teeth were now shark-like.

With his upper body now bare, Korra and Jinora saw something that looked like spinal cord sticking out from Manuel's back. His right arm and shoulder blade looked like they fused with a bone like gauntlet with an eye blinking from his right shoulder. Not only that, there was a strange looking heart symbol on his chest as well as a strange object that looked embedded in the center.

"M-Manuel," Jinora stuttered as Manuel turned his attention towards her and Korra.

He gazed at them for a bit before smiling sadistically, which sent shivers down Korra and Jinora's spine. "Sup you two?" Manuel simply said as he cracks his neck. "Listen I know that you have a shit ton of questions but right now I'm busy with the clawed dumbass over there."

"Ummmm okay," Korra simply said as both she and Jinora noticed Manuel's voice sounded a bit differently than before.

"Oh look at you acting all high and mighty all of a sudden," Ceeds snarked. "If I recall, I was the one—"

Ceeds was cut of midsentence as Manuel suddenly appeared in front of him and delivered a violent punch to his gut that caused Ceeds to be sent skidding across the area and hitting the invisible barrier.

Korra and Jinora could only stared wide eyed at the displayed. Manuel was able to land a hit when earlier he struggled to do so. Not only that but he moved so fast that it could have been easily mistaken as teleporting.

"Don't you think of getting all cocky on me!" Manuel snarled. "So don't you compare my fighting skills to that damn brat!"

'What?' Korra and Jinora both thought as the wondered what I meant about that. However, Ceeds was different and was quick to realize what he meant by that.

"I see," Ceeds spoke as he slowly got to his feet. "I heard rumors that several Imagin disappeared during the Voidian Royale but now I know the truth."

Ceeds smiled like a twisted madman as he stared at his target. "Those Imagin are sealed with that Vodian and to see one appear before me is truly an honor! With that truth alone, I'll find even more enjoy in—"

"Oh for love of…. Will you just shut the hell up and fight me!" Manuel roared in annoyance as he charged at Ceeds.

Ceeds snapped out of his thoughts as he threw a powerful slash at his target, who ducks under it, twirls behind his back, and quickly deliver a powerful right hook to the back of his head causing to Ceeds to stagger. Seeing this, Manuel leaps into the air with a spin and brings right fist down on Ceeds face, making fly back slightly. After landing on the floor and dropping to his hands and feet, Manuel spins his right arm out unleashed a burst of crimson flame at Ceeds, but Ceeds leaps into the air and attempted slash at Manuel. However, Manuel avoids the attack by backflipping a few feet away from him.

'You know much as I enjoy to finally be let out,' Manuel thought to himself as looked at Ceeds with an annoyed expression. 'I'm gonna have to end this since the kid's body won't be able to handle this much longer.'

Manuel took a deep breath as he went to a stance as pulled his right arm back. Slowly, the air around him began to heat up as steam seeping from his right arm as the eye on his shoulder began to glow.

Taking noticed of this, Ceeds charged at Manuel by raising both his arms in an attempt to behead his target. However, as he began to come closer a slit began to appear on Manuel's forehead before opening up to reveal a third eye, which had a demonic appearance.

Ceeds' eyes widen with horror as he made a realization but by the time he did, it was too late. He was already in range of Manuel's attack.

"Hell's…." Manuel started as he surges forward while his arm was generating crimson hot flames, delivering a fearsome punch into Ceeds' chest. "…Right!"

As the flaming fist connected, Ceeds roared in pain as he was sent flying back in to the invisible barrier with enough force that it shattered it as if it were made of glass.

With the barrier now gone, Korra and Jinora quickly rushed towards Manuel began to glow in a white light. Once the light faded, Manuel was back to wearing his normal clothing, which were now repaired and his wounds being healed.

Manuel wobbled a bit and he struggled to keep his balanced but luckily Korra and Jinora manage to reach him in time and help him keep his balanced.

"W-wha… What happened?" Manuel asked as he struggled to stay conscious.

Before Korra and Jinora could answer, the sound of psychotic laughter caught their attentions. They look up and saw Ceeds struggling to get to his feet but they saw the wound where Manuel's attack hit was slowly spreading cracks that spread throughout Ceeds' body.

"I don't know what's funnier," Ceeds laughed as more cracks appeared on his body. "The fact that someone like you managed to beat me or that you think that I'm the only one who is gonna be coming after you!

Without warning, Ceeds was suddenly enveloped in red crimson fire as the everything began to regain its color and the damage from the fight being undone as if nothing had ever happen. However as Ceeds burned he shouted, "ENJOY THIS VICTORY WHILE IT LASTS VOIDIAN! FOR NOW YOU'RE FREE GAME! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Ceeds continued to laughed as his body was turned to ash, leaving behind only his claws.

Manuel, Korra, and Jinora could only stare at where Ceeds last stood. A sense of fear and dread washed over them as they now learned that there will be others like Ceeds that'll appear.

As fatigued finally settled in, Manuel thought of one thing before blacking out. 'I'm not the only one who was brought here.'

However, unknown to the three, a brown robed figured watched from the shadows.

"It has begun," the figure whispered as they faded within the shadows.

"Alma Torturada... Abre la puerta y déjame salir ..." is Spanish for "Tortured Soul ... Open the door and let me out..."

AN: Hey everyone, sorry that I took so long. I had to revise this chapter so many times until I was finally happy with how it came out. Also, just wanted to give you a heads up about another story that I'll be writing as well as this one.