I disclaim this story in the name of jennomite.
AN: This will be the first in a collection of stories revolving around the old masters. I love the members of the Order of the White Lotus and have always been curious about how they came to join the secret society. The stories will be chronologically ordered and I will do my best to keep the timeline clear and to stick to cannon but that doesn't mean I won't twist things to fit my plots.
Please enjoy and as always your comments are appreciated and welcomed.
Ch. 1 – The Mad Prince.
The nice weather seemed almost inappropriate for being the ten year anniversary of the Air Nomad Genocide. At least that's what ran through Bumi's mind as he sat alone one late afternoon on the highest peak of the palace roof top. Far below him the citizens of Omashu went about their daily lives with little more then quite prayers for the Airbenders and loved ones killed in the decade long war that still had no end in sight. Not that he blamed them since the king hadn't even issued a public statement in regards to the day's importance. Pulling his eyes away from the moving dots below Bumi shifted his gaze to the Kolau Mountains that surrounded his home. A gentle breeze from the west ruffled his wild hair and brought with it memories of his childhood and the Airbender he had once called friend.
While a decade had passed since Aang's disappearance Bumi never forgotten the twelve year old he considered his first real friend. As the youngest son of the king Prince Bumi's playmates had been limited to the children of nobles and government officials who more often then not were far too reserved and boring for Bumi's taste. To avoid their overly polite conversation and stuffy attitudes Bumi would escape into the city and spent much of his time exploring Omashu. Through a combination of his curiosity and natural talent for Earthbending the prince managed to cause a fair amount of damage to the city. His parents had hoped that his friendship with the Air Nomad monk in training would calm him but much to their dismay he had just grew more creative after meeting Aang.
He still wasn't allowed in the post office.
His teenage years were spectacularly peculiar when compared with his childhood. Some of his exploits were still gossiped about and used to scare young parents into keeping a close eye on their children. It didn't help that his continual growth spurts affected his Earthbending and as his oldest brother Kashu liked to say he was 'a skinny punk who tripped over his legs more often then he walked on them'. The constant change in height and limb length had caused more than one bolder to go rolling through the streets with Bumi chasing after it while yelling for people to "Run! Run for your lives!". When he finally stopped out growing his clothes Bumi's Earthbending improved to near mastery and even more importantly he was a good three inches taller then both his brothers. He was still considered rather odd but public opinion had don't little to keep him from walking through the market on his hands or from dressing in outrageous clothes when the mood hit him.
A slight vibration in the tiles under his feet let Bumi know he wasn't alone on the roof anymore. And if the half spoken curses were any indication it was his second oldest Shuno climbing towards him. Apparently his secret spot wasn't so secret.
"I've been searching all over for you."
Bumi shrugged his shoulders but didn't offer an apology or even move over to make room for his brother to sit next to him.
"Maybe you weren't looking in the right places."
Shuno rolled his eyes and sent the younger man an annoyed look. Really he should be use to this after twenty two years.
"There's going to be a counsel meeting and dad wants you to attend it."
Bumi didn't even try to muffle his groan. His father had been trying to get him involved with Omashu politics for years and he didn't feel like breaking his perfect avoidance record any time soon. Despite the war Omashu was a stable and peaceful city and the only excitement they ever got was when he did something they saw as crazy. He still didn't understand why it was such a big deal when he carved twenty foot poetry into the great wall, in his opinion it made the plain stone more interesting.
"What's the point? All they do is argue over the price of cabbages and vote on changes to the delivery system's schedule. I don't think they need me to do that."
His brother didn't find his sarcasm amusing.
"Bumi it's time you get serious about being a prince of Omashu. It's our duty as sons of the King to serve in the best interest of the people and sometimes that means sitting through tedious counsel meetings."
Bumi ignored his hostile tone and disapproving gaze, Shuno took his position as a Prince way to seriously. At least Kashu had an excuse, he was the oldest and next in line for the throne, Bumi figured Shuno was just high strung.
"I don't see how fighting over the number of chairs in the dinning room helps our people."
Instead of waiting for a response Bumi stood and angled his foot so gravity would take him down. He could hear Shuno calling after him but didn't stop until he reached the window he had climbed out of earlier. Once inside the palace he headed for his room, bending one or two walls out of the way as he went.
He was more frustrated than angry. For years he had been asking to leave the palace to help with the war but each and every request had been met with rejection and long speeches on how his place was in Omashu working for the good of the people. While many could argue he wasn't exactly grounded in reality he wasn't blind to it either. He was the third and youngest son of a king who was a powerful Earthbender and in perfect health. His two older brothers were respected and loved by the people while he was viewed as the eccentric prince who was a few peach-apples short of a fruit pie. He had a better chance of opening a day spa in the Fire nation then doing any real good in Omashu.
With an exaggerated sigh he flopped onto his bed and his eyes immediately went to the world map he had tacked to his ceiling. As a young boy he would fall asleep dreaming about places he wanted to someday visit but as he grew older the map had a much more serious use. Red pins marked where the Fire Nation had turned Earth Kingdom land into colonies and military outposts while black pins marked battlefields. Sitting up on his elbows Bumi kept his focus on the map as he mentally traced a path through the Kolau Mountains then north towards the first group of red pins. An idea a decade in the making began to surface.
Of course to even think about leaving the safety of Omashu and purposely heading for Fire Nation controlled ports and villages was stupid, dangerous and crazy; but people had always said Bumi was two skips away from insanity.
A crooked grin spread over the Earthbender's lips.
Packing a set of plain clothes, the world map from above his bed and enough supplies to get him over the mountains Bumi wrote a quick note before quietly slipping out of the palace. It was easy to leave undetected if you knew the secret passages and even easier if you could Earthbend new ones. Ducking behind a small tea shop in the lower part of the city Bumi created a hole in the ground and before anyone could notice he disappeared into the darkness below.
He hadn't been in the underground tunnels for years and as he wadded through the sludge water he remembered why. The smell was one thing but the slimy walls made the Earthbender cringe every time he had to throw his hand against the wet stone to keep his balance in the rushing water. When he finally came to the end of the pipe he made quick work of the rock separating him from fresh air and after a few deep breaths he began the climb down to the valley.
To be honest he had no real plan, while he knew he wanted to do something to help end the war the details were foggy and unknown. Nevertheless Bumi believed if he kept his mind open to the possibilities he would think of something sooner or later.
He was already well over the first ridge when his disappearance was discovered later that night, the entire palace shook when the King read his son's note.
Gone to restore balance, be back sometime between now and the war's end.
- Bumi
P.S. Please feed my venous-daisy for me, she likes spider-flies in the morning and ant ticks at night.