Important Author's Notes: The "Blue Spirit" and the "Painted Lady" in Avatar are less actual characters than they are alter-egos assumed by Zuko and Katara respectively for very different reasons. In the Avatar fandom, when a fanfic is referred to as "Blue Paint" or "Painted Spirit," it is assumed that the story will center on Zuko and Katara, where one or the other (or both) assumes their identities to further what most likely devolves into a romantic, alternate-reality plot.

This is not one of those fanfics.

Rather, this story tells the legend behind the alter-egos, the "real" Blue Spirit and Painted Lady from the Avatarverse's mythic past. I've taken the liberty of creating a universe predating the series by at least a thousand generations, where the World of Spirits and the World of Man have yet to split, Gods and Spirits rule, and the Avatar has yet to appear on the scene to mediate between them. It is a world torn by war, where Koh the Face-stealer manipulates the prides and ambitions of Gods from the shadows. Key to his plots are his children, the Demons, who are slave soldiers to the Gods. Of these, the Blue Spirit, Yǎn-sui, emerges as the most powerful.

Yǎn-sui is the Hero of the "legend," and the Painted Lady when she does arrive on the scene, is crucial to his development as such.

This particular legend is rooted in the Fire Nation, although several interludes will refer to the mythology of other nations, specifically the Water Tribe and the Air Nomads. Chapters marked "Narrative" will be phrased in a somewhat anachronistic style to establish the story as myth. Other chapters, written in modern, novel form, should be seen as "the story behind the story," what actually happened all those years ago when Demons were real and Gods and Spirits ruled a world that had yet to pass into the hands of Man.

Please enjoy the tale.

Tales of the Spirit Age: Fall of the Blue Spirit

Part I: Of Gods, War, and the Demon General

"In ages past, the Gods and Spirits and Demons of the World Beyond once lived among Men. In that time, our world was a dark and dangerous place, for the Great War raged between Agni, the glorious King of Heavens Fire, and his eternal enemy, Tui, the fell Lord of the Seas. Between these two and their kingdoms, there could be no peace. No God nor Spirit nor Demon could live and not choose allegiance to one or the other.

"It came to pass that a great and terrible demon swore himself to the service of glorious Agni – Yǎn-sui, the Blue Spirit. His skin was the shade of darkest flame, his eyes the empty burning yellow of a spider-serpent's. His flowing mane was the blue-black of the starless midnight sky; his horns and brow and crest seemed of ivory, but were hard as forged steel. He rose quickly through the ranks of glorious Agni's armies, having never been defeated in battle. Gods, spirits and demons alike fell beneath his twin dao, the Tiào-fěi, whose dark origins were only rumor and speculation – yet they were unbreakable, able to cleave the very Earth.

"Yǎn-sui was truly a warrior beyond measure, incorruptible as brightest flame, feared by enemies and allies alike, and loyal beyond compare to his lord and master.

"Fell Tui, meanwhile, grew to learn of Yǎn-sui and his merciless Tiào-fěi, and fear took root in his dark heart. He sought to eliminate the demon warrior who had claimed so many of his generals and soldiers. But try as he might, he could find not one from his ranks who was strong enough to defeat Yǎn-sui in combat, and so he despaired.

"Cunning Pī lì, Prince of the Western Fire Mount and a son of glorious Agni, envied and hated Yǎn-sui, regarding him as a rival for his father's attention. He had once gone so far as to challenge Yǎn-sui to a duel, only to be soundly defeated in view of the entire Heavenly court. Humiliated and dishonored, he dreamed of revenge, seeking the perfect opportunity to eliminate Yǎn-sui. In the meantime, he presented a façade of being Yǎn-sui's admirer and comrade.

"It came to pass that Pī lì, hearing rumor of Tui's mutual desire, approached the fell Lord in his own halls beneath the waves with an offer.

"'I can deliver you Yǎn-sui, to dispose of as you please,' he declared boldly, his voice echoing in the dripping cavern, "All I want are his Tiào-fěi.'

"'I have no interest in a paltry pair of demon swords,' fell Tui lied, already scheming on how to cheat them out from under his conspirator, for one did not simply allow god-killing blades to slip out of one's grasp.

"Together, they plotted Yǎn-sui's downfall – cunning Pī lì offered the plan, and Tui offered the necessary magic to carry it through. The trap set, Pī lì waited for the opportune moment to spring it…"