Appa landed on a rocky sort of terrain. It was strange seeing such dry land compared to the Water Tribe I was so used to. Sliding off of Appa, I landed on the ground with a smile. The earth felt warm, even through my boots. A few birds flew in the air and I stared at them with wonder. The animals in the Earth Kingdom were very different from those in the Water Tribe. "Wow," I said softly. "This is definitely different than the South Pole."

Katara had slid down beside me and nodded. "I know what you mean. Everything seems more... alive and colorful."

My hand brushed against a boulder beside me, and I smiled at the rough feel. All I'd ever known was cold icebergs. Sokka slid off of Appa a moment after we had, and he landed beside me with a heavy sigh. "Yeah... And to think if we'd never met Aang we probably would've never stepped foot off the South Pole."

"Glad I could help!" Aang patted Appa to let him know he'd done a good job flying. "Come on! Omashu's right over this hill!"

Aang had told us we were making a stop on our way to the North Pole. He wanted to show us where he and his friend Bumi from a hundred years ago hung out. The Earth Kingdom City of Omashu sounded from it's description like a very big place. I had a feeling it would be much bigger than our small village at the South Pole.

We made our way up hill, and as we did my mind wandered a bit. I'd been fighting for the last few days about whether I truly was Amber, or I wasn't her. A part of me wanted to know what happened in my past, while the other part of me didn't. I was terrified to learn the truth. I was so young... Did it really matter?

It mattered to Zuko and Iroh... Deep down I knew it mattered to me too.

"We're here!" Aang suddenly exclaimed. Our climb had become much more steep as we finally reached the top of the hill. Appa groaned, while Sokka, Katara, and I sighed in relief. Momo chattered excitedly on my shoulder- I'd met the furry flying lemur yesterday when he scared me to death after he jumped on my head. They'd picked him up at the Southern Air Temple, which was Aang's old home over a hundred years ago. Katara told me that all of the Air Benders really were dead, and the news tore me up on the inside. I'd always had some sort of hope the Air Benders were some how alive, but I guess I was wrong.

Poor Aang... He was the worlds Avatar and the last air bender. I could only assume the pain and loneliness he felt being the only one for both.

"Thank goodness," I said. Looking at the scene before me, my eyes widened at the amazing site. There was a huge city which we overlooked from where we stood. It was sitting on a large rock formation, and had different levels to the city. Earth kingdom symbols were painted along the giant wall that surrounded the city, and the only way to the city was a narrow path below us. The path looked almost like a rocky bridge.

Aang grinned and spread his arms out while he exclaimed, "I give you The Earth Kingdom city of Omashu!"

Sokka and Katara stared at it with amazement, while I shrunk back slightly. A thought had struck me that made me uneasy. During my journey with Iroh, I knew just how much the Earth Kingdom despised the Fire Nation. My Fire Nation qualities were too obvious, and I knew I wouldn't be able to hide my nationality. My gold eyes to symbolize my fire bending abilities was a dead give away. The Earth Kingdom were intensely at war with the Fire Nation. I was sure they'd hate my guts if they found out I was the enemy.

"I use to always come here to visit my friend Bumi all the time," Aang continued.

Katara stepped forward saying, "Wow... We don't have cities like this in the South Pole."

I frowned a bit by what she said. "We don't exactly have the men to build them. They're all at war." Katara looked over at me with surprise, and then she nodded understanding what I meant. She knew I wasn't happy the men of the village had abandoned us, because she wasn't either. We quickly dropped the subject.

Aang noticed and looked at us with question. I smiled weakly at him letting him know we were okay.

Sokka suddenly grabbed my shoulder shaking me and Momo with excitement. Momo's paws tightened on my shoulder to keep from falling, and the little guy chattered annoyed flying from my shoulder over to Aang. "They have buildings here that don't melt," Sokka exclaimed in astonishment. "I can't believe it!"

"The Water Tribes are the only people that have melting homes," I commented. "Guess we could start making our houses out of driftwood."

Sokka seemed to contemplate this. "There wouldn't be enough wood to make a house."

I sighed. "I wasn't being serious."

Katara giggled at Sokka and I's dumb conversation. Aang grinned back at us with impatience, saying, "Well, let's go slowpokes! The real fun is inside the city!"

Aang prepared to open his glider and fly ahead, but Katara quickly stopped him. "Wait Aang! It could be dangerous if people find out you're the Avatar."

"You need a disguise," Sokka said in thought. "Something that's not too obvious though."

I sighed. "I'll need one too."

The group looked at me with question. Sokka understood where I was coming from though. "Yeah... Kaya does need a disguise too. She looks too much like the Fire Nation. They may think she's the enemy."

Aang seemed uncertain. "So what are we supposed to do? Grow a mustache?"

Sokka thought this over, and I saw after a moment he nodded. "Yep... That just might work."

Eventually Sokka came up with a plan, and we quickly harvested some of Appa's fur to make a wig and mustache for Aang. Once Aang looked like an old man and his tattoos were hidden by Appa's fur, Katara quickly helped me. She handed me the green dress Sokka had gotten from the Kyoshi warriors. I went behind a boulder and quickly changed. When I came out of my changing area, Katara quickly helped me with my hair pulling it a bit over my face to hide my eyes slightly. If a guard or citizen glanced my way, all I had to do was look at the ground and my hair would hide my features. Just as an extra precaution, she handed me a warrior fan to hide my face completely if I needed to.

When we were done Sokka exclaimed, "Alright! You two look great!"

The four of us made our way down the hill and walked for a good five minutes. Eventually we reached a small body of water where we left Appa so he could rest up and have a drink. Momo crawled into Aang's wig to hid inside so he could come with us into the city. We were pretty sure pets wouldn't be allowed. We then headed toward the rocky bridge that would lead us toward the gate at the very end.

The dress I wore was light being a warrior dress, so it was easy to walk in much to my relief. The road was long, and my feet were growing soar from the rough terrain. There was a drop on both sides of us, and I refused to look over the edge to see how far the drop was. Eventually we got off the snaking bridge and reached the very large stone gate of Omashu.

"You guys are going to love Omashu," Aang promised. "The people here are the friendliest in the world."

After saying this we saw a man with a cart of cabbages being snapped at by one of the guards. "Rotten cabbages! What kind of slum do you think this is?" The guard smashed the cabbage he was holding, and then used Earth Bending to shove the cart across the flat dirt and off the edge. It fell for a while, until we heard a dim crash from below. It was the first time I'd ever seen Earth Bending, and the strength behind that force of rock made me uneasy.

The older man was distressed when he saw his merchandise had been destroyed. "No! My cabbages!" He looked over the side of the edge where his cabbages were destroyed down below.

We all looked at Aang with uncertainty. Aang laughed weakly, saying to us, "Just keep smiling..."

When we got to the gate, Aang immediately played the role of an old man using his staff as a cane. Feeling slightly anxious by the Earth Bender at the gate, I fanned my face to try and hide my Fire Nation qualities. I didn't want to be shoved over the edge like the cabbages.

The guard immediately eyed the four of us with question, probably wondering what a couple of kids and an old man were doing traveling alone. When we got closer he used his Earth Bending and lifted a boulder so it was above Aang's head. The rest of us watched in terror.

The guard firmly ordered, "State your business!" He still held the floating boulder above Aang's body.

Aang immediately got into character and started jabbing at the man's chest with his finger. In a deeper voice he snapped, "My business is my business, young man, none of yours! I've got half a mind to bend you over my knee and paddle your backside."

The man dropped the boulder behind Aang in shock, while I shook my head in disbelief. He sounded nothing like an old man.

The guard turned nervous, saying, "Settle down old timer. Just tell me who you are." My eyes widened. He believed him?

"Names Bonzu Pipinpadaloxicopolis the third," Aang answered. I shook my head. That name was ridiculous. Sokka sighed beside me, feeling the exact same way. We were done for.

Katara stepped forward playing along. I stood there not sure what to do. "Hi. June Pipinpadaloxicopolis. Nice to meet you." The man eyed my sister's Water Tribe clothing with a raised eyebrow. His eyes then shot over to me. I quickly dropped my gaze hoping he didn't notice the gold tint in my eyes.

"What about you?" he asked, eyeing my Kyoshi Warrior clothing with bewilderment. He was probably amazed that each of us were wearing completely different clothing.

"I'm Fiona," I answered, not meeting his eyes. "I'm Mr. Bonzu's maid. I see to his medicine and keep him and his grandchildren out of trouble." I hoped it was convincing. If this man believed everything so far, he was sure to believe me.

And I was right.

The guard nodded believing me, and then said, "You two seem like responsible young ladies. See that Mr. Bonzu stays out of trouble. Enjoy Omashu!"

"We will," Katara exclaimed.

The guard then stepped aside, and we began to walk by with relief. Just as we thought we were safe though, the Guard said, "Wait a minute." He then grabbed Sokka's shoulder and turned him around. "You're a strong young boy. Show some respect for the elderly and carry your grandfather's bag."

Aang grinned at this, saying, "Good idea." Then he shoved his shoulder bag into Sokka's arms. Sokka seemed irritated but kept his mouth shut so he wouldn't say something stupid.

The guard stepped back satisfied for his good deed for the day, and then he and the other guards opened the stone gates for us. There were three separate gates, and they each slid open one by one causing the ground to shake. Finally we could enter the city and we thanked the guard stepping through. The gates closed behind us as we entered, and I was amazed once we were through at what I saw. The buildings were all made out of stone and were big. Long curved stone chutes shot from every corner of the city and there was even a few above us. The long chutes had heavy looking stone boxes traveling in them, so I assumed the chutes were to transport heavy items. People of all ages walked around the city going along with their business. A few looked over at the four of us with curiosity but kept walking.

"So this is a city," I thought out loud. "It's a lot bigger than I pictured."

Katara was bouncing up and down with excitement, while Sokka stared around us in wonder.

Aang began to tell us about the Omashu delivery system, and how earth bending and gravity pretty much made the whole thing work. Sokka shrugged and said, "Great. So they get their mail on time."

Aang grinned. "They do get their mail on time, but my friend Bumi found a better use for these chutes."

I was too curious for my own good. "What would that be?"

"Glad you should ask, Kaya. I'm about to show you!"

Soon we were walking up a bunch of steps through the city. The city had so many levels, and I'd never seen so many steps in my whole life. Somehow we found ourselves on one of the upper levels that overlooked part of the city. Aang led us past some buildings toward a mail chute. No one was around the long chute, but there was an empty stone box for transporting goods from the upper level to the bottom. Aang immediately grabbed Katara's hand and pulled her toward the chute with excitement.

"Come on! This will be so much fun!"

Sokka and I watched with confusion. Then when we saw Aang get in the box, my eyes widened. "Wait a second! Is this really safe?"

Sokka had walked over by now, and he looked at the chute with uncertainty. Katara had already gotten in, and she looked scared herself.

"Come on Kaya!" Aang begged, smiling widely at me.

Shaking my head, I said, "No way! There is no way I'm getting in that thing! I've had enough thrill these last few weeks. I don't want anymore."

"Kaya! Please! I promise it will be fun!"

I crossed my arms. "I'll meet you guys at the bottom."

"I got this. One second," Sokka had turned from the chute and was walking toward me.

I knew what was coming. "No Sokka! Don't you dare!" Turning, I tried to run, but Sokka had already grabbed me and was throwing me over his shoulder. Sokka was strong for his age, and I weighed less than I was supposed to probably. He had the advantage while I was stuck on his shoulder.

"Sokka! Put me down!" I cried, beating at my brothers back as he carried me back over to the chute. Dropping me in the box, I immediately tried to get out but Sokka got in and held me down.

"Come one Kaya. Aang says it will be fun! You did say a while ago we all need to have a little fun in our lives," Sokka said. I could only guess how much he was enjoying my fear.

"I didn't mean killing ourselves! I meant like playing a harmless game!" Sokka laughed in my ear. I hissed back at him, "You're so dead after this!"

"You don't mean that," Sokka said.

Aang grinned back at the three of us, saying, "One ride. Then we're off to the North Pole. Airbender's honor."

Katara finally came to her senses and started to chicken out saying, "Maybe Kaya's right... This sounded like fun at first, but now I'm beginning to have second thoughts!" Just as Katara finished her sentence, Aang shot air behind us and we were soon shooting at unbearable speed down the stone chute. The whole time I screamed my head off and closed my eyes. Air rushed past me and my stomach twisted in knots every time we went around a curve.

Eventually a second chute intercepted with ours and a stone box with very pointy spears began to chase after us. Immediately I began to shout, "You are so dead Sokka! I'm going to kill you!"

As the spears began to hover above us, Aang shouted, "I'm on it! I'm on it!" Aang rocked our crate off the rail and we were flying through the air free style. I saw my life flash before my eyes. More screams pierced my lungs, and I clutched onto the side of the crate as we hit the top of a roof and slid down it. Then we smashed onto a flat platform where a bunch of men were dressed in armor and appeared to be training. They watched us with amazement, while the three of us screamed even more. Aang's laughter echoed around us as the box didn't stop.

Somehow, by some miracle, we managed to land onto another chute. Katara had finally had enough, saying, "Aang, do something! Use your air bending!"

Aang was excited by this idea. "Yeah! Good idea! That'll make us go faster!"

I gasped. "That's not what she meant!"

The box we were riding helplessly in sped up though, and we grew dangerously close to where an Earth Bender was shooting off some mail boxes down other chutes. Just as we reached the mail guy, our crate went over the chute and we were going free style again through the air.

This time we didn't land on another shoot. This time we smashed through a building, out a window, and then flew into a cabbage cart. We all ended up falling out of the crate onto the cabbages. I was thankful for landing on something softer than the ground, but I wasn't very happy with how we ended up there. By the time the action was over, my heart pounded rapidly, my body shook, and I tried to catch my breath.

A man shouted with horror from somewhere nearby, "MY CABBAGES!"

Sitting up, I rubbed my head and turned to Aang who seemed a bit disoriented. "Aang…" The kid had lost his wig and Momo was eating a cabbage beside him. Aang rubbed his bald head where it probably was a little sore. When he heard me say his name he looked with question.

"Yeah?"

"Never invite me on one of your field-trips again, okay?"

He smiled weakly. "Okay."

The cabbage man was frantic. "Guards! Arrest them! Arrest these kids!"

Suddenly we were surrounded by a bunch of Earth Nation guards. One grabbed me and pulled me up to my feet, while other guards grabbed my family. "You four are under arrest."

The four of us were led away from an astonished crowd. I sighed heavily. Imprisoned again for the second time in the last two weeks. My luck was awful. We headed up a bunch of stairs to the highest level. Eventually we came into view of an enormous building which I assumed was a palace. It was made out of very strong looking stone.

Before we went inside the guard who had been at the gate to let us in ordered, "You may have deceived me before, but play times over. Who are you kids really?"

Katara hung her head, while she answered, "My name's Katara, and this is my brother, sister, and really good friend. We're from the Southern Water Tribe."

"The Southern Water Tribe," the guard sounded shocked. He looked at Aang and I with disbelief. "Forget it. We'll figure that out after we see the king."

When we got inside the cool palace, we were shoved through a long hall into a very large throne room. There were crystals hanging from the ceiling giving off a green glow. We were forced in front of a really old man seated on green tinted throne. He looked at the four of us with wonder, and question. We were forced on our knees in front of the king who would decide our punishment.

The old man was curious. "What's this?"

"Your majesty," the guard who had been holding my arm left me and bowed before the king. He rose and gestured toward us. "These juveniles were arrested for vandalism, traveling under false pretenses, and malicious destruction of cabbages."

The cabbage man who had somehow followed us, cried, "Off with their heads! One for each head of cabbage!"

The same guard immediately shouted, "Silence! Only the king can pass down judgment!" He looked at the King with question. "What is your judgment sire?"

The king contemplated it, looking at each one of us curiously. When he laid his eyes on me he tried to stare into my own but I kept my face hidden behind my hair. If he saw the Fire Nation in me, I'd definitely be imprisoned.

"Throw them…" Closing my eyes, I waited for our punishment. "A feast!"

A... A feast?

My eyes widened and I looked up at the king with bewilderment. The four of us shot one another looks of amazement, while the guards released us all and helped us to our feet. One of the guards came over to us not looking too happy. "Follow me..." he stopped talking though, and it was then I noticed he'd spotted me. Our eyes met for a brief second.

"Fire Bender!"

Immediately the guards surrounded me, and I backed up with shock. Katara, Sokka, and Aang gasped and tried to come to my aid. Spears pointed toward me, and I inched away with fear.

The king didn't sound pleased. "What's this?"

The guard who spotted my nationality, said to the king, "She's a Fire Bender sir!"

"And were all Earth Benders," the king said. He'd stood from his throne not happy with how his men were treating me. "This girl is my guest. Lower your weapons."

The guards complied, and I stared at the man with question. He ignored me though saying, "Come along men. My stomach's calling for some chow."

The guards begrudgingly led us toward the dining room where a very long table sat. We were forced on one side of the table leaving the chair on the other side for the king.

As we sat waiting for the food, I felt the guards in the room eyeing me and it made me anxious. Why was the king being so nice to us? It was weird.

The king suddenly walked up behind us and I heard him say to Aang while holding a chicken leg to his face, "Hehehe… The people of this city have gotten fat from too many feasts, so I hope you like your chicken without skin."

Aang looked at the meat in front of him with disgust. "No thanks… I don't eat meat."

The king shrugged, and then walked over to my brother holding the leg out in front of him. "What about you? I bet you like meat," he said. He then forced the drumstick in Sokka's mouth and Sokka ate it with delight. He gave the king a thumbs up, who nodded in approval and headed around the table to his chair.

Katara leaned toward me and whispered, "Is it just me or is this guys crown a little crooked?"

Looking at her, I said, "Trust me… We're all thinking it. Even the guards."

The king took the seat in front of the three of us and we all shrunk from his penetrating eyes. It felt as if he were reading us all like open books. "So tell me young bald one… Where are you from?"

Aang looked around anxiously, unsure what to say. Finally, he answered, "I'm from… Kangaroo Island!"

The king smirked. "Oh. Kangaroo Island, eh? I hear that place is really hopping!"

Did this King just make a joke? Silence fell through the room, until a moment too late Sokka suddenly burst out laughing causing the four of us to look at him in surprise. He saw our stares of disbelief and shrugged. "What? It was pretty funny."

The king yawned as if he wasn't amused. "Well, all these good jokes are making me tired. Guess it's time to hit the hay."

Hit the hay? The feast had just started. This King was insane. I looked at the old man wondering if he had some loose wires in his head. While I was thinking this over, he suddenly flung a chicken leg at Aang who used air bending to stop the food in mid air.

Immediately the guards gasped, while Aang dropped the drumstick in surprise. Sokka, Katara, and I were horrified that Aang had given away his secret. What would the Earth Kingdom do knowing Aang was the avatar.

"There's an air bender in our presence and not just any air bender. The Avatar!" King Bumi yelled across the throne room. Aang immediately grew nervous shrinking a bit in his chair. I felt anxious to leave. We needed to escape before we were all thrown in cells. The king leaned forward asking Aang with hard eyes, "What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Pipinpadaloxicopolis?"

Aang stood slowly with a tight smile, saying, "Okay! You caught me. I'm the Avatar, doing my Avatar thing, keeping the world safe. Everything checks out," he checked under the table to calm the scene. "No fire benders here except for Kaya, so good work everybody." He suddenly put his arms around Sokka and Katara's shoulder, then all four of us stood to leave. "Love each other, respect all life and don't run with your spears. We'll see you next time!"

We turned to leave but were stopped at the doorway by two guards who crossed their spears not letting us go past.

"Let us through," I snapped at the guards who ignored me.

Katara turned back to the King with fury. "You can't keep us here! Let us leave!"

He looks down at the table and picks up a piece of lettuce. "Lettuce leaf?" He took a bite from the lettuce and I watched his absentminded actions with utter astonishment. This guy was insane! What kind of king was this guy?

Sokka suddenly leaned over and whispered to us, "We're in serious trouble. This guy is nuts."

Nodding in agreement, I went to say something else but the king cut me off. "Tomorrow the Avatar will face three deadly challenges," he began. "But for now the guards will show you to your chamber."

Chamber?

A guard suddenly stepped forward. "My liege… Do you mean the good chamber or the bad chamber?"

The king thought it over. "The newly refurbished chamber."

More confusion filled me. Why would a king refurbish his prison hold? This man didn't seem to be thinking straight. He was making his prisoners more comfortable, when he should've been doing the exact opposite.

The guard became even more confused. "Wait! Which one are we talking about?"

"The one that use to be the bad chamber, until the recent refurbishing that is. Of course we've been calling it the new chamber, but we really should number them." He then stopped his rant and ordered, "Take them to the refurbished chamber that was once bad!"

The guards sighed and took our arms to lead us away. However, the King called me back and I was forced to return to him. He was still seated in his chair, and by this point Sokka, Katara, and Aang were out of ear shot. I kept my gaze down ashamed of who I happened to be. A Fire Bender would only be seen as an enemy.

"What's your name little girl?"

His question took me off guard. I looked at him with question. He patiently waited for me to answer and so I did. When I told him my name he seemed to want to know more. I didn't tell him much else, but that the Water Tribe took me in when I was very young. He nodded in contemplation, and then told his men to take me away.

I'll be done with the next part soon. =)