Hey guys this is basically a series of stories, a bit like the episode "Tales of Ba Sing Se" but its not called that, actually it is something far beyond the name with supreme creativity...Tales of Omashu... heh mmm, but they'll be in chapters because I'm busy these hols so yes :) I'll just stop talking now, excuse errors please x
The tale of Aang and Katara:
'Ergh...Katara what are you doing?' Aang asked trying not to laugh at her gesture of moving a pai sho piece diagonally across the board.
'What do you mean? I thought I was going well.' Katara replied, dejected. Aang made a chortled sound, and tried not to laugh. Katara humphed impatiently.
'Don't worry you'll get the hang of it...just don't put the lotus tile there, or else you lose.' Aang remarked.
She frowned at him.
'I don't even know if you were patronising me, or just trying to reassure me. You can be a real jerk you know that Mr. Smug?'. She mocked wryly. He laughed.
'No I was encouraging you...' Aang said smiling.
'So are you been sarcastic now?' Katara said grinning at him.
'Course not.' Aang replied, still smiling. She shook her head.
'Right. So I'm sick of this stupid game.' Katara said with boredom.
'Is it the fact that I won?' Aang asked.
'No. I just think its pointless, I mean you're pretty much playing with yourself, I mean you've been placing my tiles everywhere, and when I move one, you laugh, and tell me to rethink my move. Might as well do something worthwhile?' Katara said.
'Alright then. I think I won...' Aang said standing up from the low board, and glancing to Katara.
'Yeah against yourself.' Katara mumbled, standing off the cushions beneath her.
'What do you wanna do?' Aang asked genuinely.
Katara shrugged.
'How about...well there's not much to do around here I've noticed lately.' Katara said. They walked out their villa, not knowing exactly what their plans were, or were they were headed.
'Oh now you're just being ignorant. Omashu is great, there is heaps of things to do. You just gotta open your mind to the possibilities.' Aang said rather monotone, and at the close mention of Bumi, Katara felt she should change the subject, and steer clear of that topic.
'You know what I don't get?' Katara asked.
Aang raised his eyebrow.
'You're one of the youngest people I know who can play Pai Sho so well. How did you learn?' Katara asked curiously.
'Geyatso. He wasn't just my mentor, he taught me every secret to Pia Sho, the monks always played it. Remember in the western air temple how I mentioned the giant Pai Sho table? Well actually all the air temples had them. Occasionally I would beat Geyatso.' Aang said, drifting off to one memory, where Geyatso had switched his tile with Aang's with a quick distraction of airbending. It seemed so long ago now, well it was technically, 106 years ago.
'Doesn't the water tribe play Pai Sho? I mean look at the rest of the world. The Fire Nation likes Pai Sho, and the Earth Kingdom too, but I've never heard of the water tribes playing it.' Aang mused on the subject. They walked outside their large villa, and began strolling down a path towards the inner part of the city.
'No, see the water tribes don't waste their time playing pointless games.' Katara said slightly mockingly tredding down the stairs.
'Right. Instead you eat sea prunes.' Aang replied.
'Yea- wait no, we do other important things' Katara defended. Aang nodded and smiled teasingly.
Before Katara could further testify, Aang grabbed a nearby flyer off a stone wall.
'Hey look, there's a festival today.' Aang said, scanning the flyer with interest.
'What for?' Katara asked. Aang's eyes scrolled over the parchment.
'In celebration of Omashu's foundation over hundreds of years ago, we, the citizens of Omashu hold a festival to commemorate the establishment.'
'Hm, I guess this city does have its ups then.' Katara admitted.
'So lets head in to town and go to this festival then?'.
Katara nodded, and they walked down the near street. People who passed by seemed to notice Aang's yellow and orange garments, and glider, and nodded at him or smiled at him. Even children running past would wave. It had never really occurred to Katara that when she thought about it, Aang was literally the only airbender left in the world. The last of a dying race. The only person in the whole wide world, who has the ability to bend air. Her hand tightened around his. He seemed to notice, and smiled tenderly at her.
'Hey Aang let's go over there for tea' Katara suggested, pointing to a nearby gold and green coloured shop. Aang glanced over to it.
'Huan's tea shop..' Aang read.
'Let's see if it's better than Iroh's tea' Katara said, knowing that nothing could compare to his renown tea.
'No tea I've ever had has been better than Iroh's..' Aang said. They walked over a small bridge and entered the cosy tea shop. It was decorated with a variety of prints, and lightly coloured green walls, and seemed busy with chattering people.
A woman walked over to them and greeted them. She directed them to a table by a wooden window, that out looked a small pond and a courtyard filled with lush plants.
'Wow the Avatar, and a member of the water tribe. It's a pleasure to have you here. What would you like?' The woman said happily.
'Thank you. Hm, I'll have the green tea please.' Aang requested politely.
The woman nodded and turned her attention to Katara.
'I'll have the Jasmine tea thanks'. Katara said. The woman hurried over to the counter, and busied herself with other customers.
Aang looked at Katara, and remembered her injured arm.
'How's your arm Katara?' Aang asked. She looked down at her arm; which now was as good as new thanks to her healing. The only fault of her arm was now the fine dark brown scar that ran down her arm. Katara didn't mind so much, it made her feel strong due to what she endured when she was captured.
'Fine, feels a lot better actually.' Katara said. She attempted to move her arm off the table, knowing Aang would say something. Before she could though, his hand grabbed her wrist of her scarred arm.
'Katara I'm really sorry for letting this happen. You won't ever be free of this scar-'
'Aang I really don't mind it. Please don't blame yourself.' Katara said placing her left hand on his cheek. They both began to lean forwards over the table until the waitress ruined the moment, the woman returned with two pots of tea, and two tea cups. Katara smiled sweetly at her, though she wasn't impressed by her interruption.
They both poured their tea as the woman huddled off. Katara took a sip, and immediately put down the cup, and scrunched her face.
Aang took a sip of his and Katara caught a glimpse of his tongue sticking out.
'Ergh. Not even hot...' Aang said quietly, but able to be heard by Katara.
'I don't see why people come here. I mean its so busy..' Katara said glancing around. Katara bended the liquid within her cup, and teapot and directed it out the window into the plants outside.
'Certainly not as good as Iroh's tea...' Aang said laughing to himself, Katara laughed giggled under her breath.