Chapter 13

Wan Shi Tong stood motionless as Koh recited what had happened at the Northern Water Tribe. It wasn't a long story but it visibly upset the once monstrous spirit.

"Peculiar…how could one as powerful as you be subject to such curses?" the owl questioned.

"That is why I am here. Those…fish," he spat, "are only a couple of the small handful more ancient than myself. They stripped me of my immortality and I can feel this disgusting forms weakness of death inching closer. I have never felt the pressure of time so heavily….so, can you help me?"

"I do not lend my library for those who seek to gain advantages over others."

"I seek only knowledge. I wish to know what they know, I will gain no advantage, merely level the playing field and regain what I have lost."

Wan Shi Tong stared at him, cocked his head a couple of times.

"Very well. You will find what they know on the twelfth level and you will find a way of restoring yourself on the fifteenth. Once that information has been obtained, you will leave my library."

"Of course." Koh bowed (nearly gagging as he never bowed to anyone) and proceeded to a spiraling stairway, a malicious grin on his face.

Aang was shocked when he discovered Bumi would administer the Earthbending test.

"Why Bumi?"

"You must face someone above your skill level but not above the level of your mind young one."

"What does that prove?"

"Simple. It is a test of raw skills."

Aang smiled, this test would be easy he thought as Earthbenders around them forced the Earth to create a dome above them. The rules were simple, only Earthbending was allowed, no time limit. The first one to be knocked out would lose.

Bumi entered the arena and flashed Aang a smile, which was returned.

"Never thought we would be doing this eh Aang?"

"Nope."

"I did!" Bumi snorted. While Aang took a moment to be confused a loud gong sounded and Bumi disappeared behind a boulder.

"Uh…Bumi?"

His voice echoed, "That meant start Aang!"

Just then a fist sized rock grazed past Aang's face. The Avatar scurried behind a spire and punched several times into it, creating a cloud of dust. Relying on his keen senses, Aang located Bumi but as he tried to encase him in stone, the Prince avoided every attack.

"You are too loud Aang," Bumi said into his ear before disappearing again.

Aang knew a few of Bumi's tricks from all the mischief they had gotten into. After the ear trick he always liked to run behind the nearest object and take the first right after that. The look on Bumi's face was priceless as Aang popped in front of him.

"I thought this was supposed to be a test of raw abilities."

"Hmmm, I do suppose you are right."

Bumi acted quickly, encasing himself in rock, covering every inch of his body. It created an armor of sorts as he took swing after swing at Aang. At one point Aang gained quite the upper hand as he merged the Rock-Bumi's arms with a spire and the Prince took a moment to disengage. But in the end Bumi was able to sink Aang's feet into the ground and being a novice Earthbender, Aang lost his secure footing and his Earthbending was highly ineffective.

Bumi stood over Aang with a rather large boulder over his head, ready to deal the blow to Aang.

"Knock me out Bumi, you've won."

"No I haven't Aang."

"Wha-? How?"

"I know you have more in you. Concentrate."

Aang relaxed his mind, felt the Earth around him. And without really meaning to he broke free of Bumi's grip, grabbed the Prince's arms, bound them behind his back with Earth and sat him down on the ground. As usual the strange boy was snorting with laughter.

"There we go!"

Another voice echoed across the arena, "That's enough Avatar Aang. You have passed this test. We wanted to see what you would do in the face of defeat. At first you were willing to accept defeat but in the end you were able to break free of your confines and disable your foe."

Aang smiled proudly, "What's next then?"

"For now you are done in Omashu. Ba Sing Sei lies ahead, your experience there will be quite different. Good luck to you Avatar."

Aang bid farewell to Bumi and quickly found Gyatso near Appa. Apparently he anticipated Aang's success as all of the saddle bags were packed with fresh supplies. They wasted no time in heading toward the Earth Kingdom Capitol.

Koh had searched shelf after shelf until he found several scrolls about Ancient Spirits. Several of them he knew, several of them he didn't. An entire scroll was dedicated to him and shockingly included his defeat at the hands of Avatars Aang and Kuruk. The scroll had something quite interesting though near the end:

Koh lost the ability to function as a Spirit. This was done by severing his connection to the Spirit Realm and removing his Ancient Spirit. The Spirits of the Oasis locked away what is most precious to Koh. They have instructed the warriors of the Northern Tribe to constantly guard the Oasis as they are sure Koh will attempt to return to his previous self.

Koh set down the scroll

"They have my Spirit. If I get my Spirit back I can return to the Spirit Realm…but how do I get my Spirit back from them. I haven't been human in a few thousand years…I will have to re-teach myself the battle skills I once had if I am to infiltrate the Spirit Oasis. Now to figure out how to get back what was taken from me…."