ATLAM Water and desire

by zgod

What if Aang was frozen in the iceberg when he was 15 years old instead of 12? How would that have changed the dynamic of the group? ATLA Mature. Reimagining of the show, delving deeper into every aspect of it. Canon pairings. More info below.

8. The King of Omashu

A/N: Hi, everyone! Long time no see! How have you been? I hope you are staying healthy and are safe.

I am really sorry about how long this took. I've had some problems lately in my personal life, bad timing I guess, a couple of things just showed up and it was hard for a while. But now everything is alright, and I've managed to write this for you, and I hope you like it.

Word count: 20 k worth of material.

Yeah, you read that right, 20 K LONG. This is a ride and a lot happens, so buckle up and enjoy.

But first! Let me tell you how grateful I am for Medik55 and his beta-reading, I can't really call it that, it's more like alpha-reading, the dude it's too good. Whether it be correcting grammar or spelling mistakes, suggesting different adjectives and words, or completely making me see a scene from a whole different perspective, Medik is there. Thank you, man! 3

Also, thank you to momoandzuzu18, who's been helping me a lot with some of these scenes. Go check out her fics, just a hint, they are AWESOME!

Thank you very much to TheQuietReader23 for early reading and for helping with the conception of a lot of these scenes. A lot of the ideas from this chapter come from his mind, so thanks, man!

Now I'll take a moment to talk about discord. I want to recommend first a new server, the NSFW Kataang discord server. If you are +18, like the canon pairings and enjoy smut. I invite you to join this discord server where we discuss fanfiction smut freely. You can discuss your favorite or developing fanfics, get some advice for the smut you might be writing or simply have some fun chatting with friends (even about mature stuff). Here is the code: K6C3BJZwkB

Second I want to recommend the Kataang discord server, if you are a Kataang fan, please join us in the discord, we'd love to have you. It's a group of really cool and chill people where you can engage and have a good laugh talking about almost anything. Here is the code: 2rkEtetzRR

And finally, some fics recommendations. I beg you to check the Kataang-Discord-Community on this site, it's a collection of all the fanfictions authored by members of our discord. Basically everything there it's pog.

Check out my other fic, Summer eyes, if you like Kataang smut and modern AUs.

I want to thank everyone who reviews because they make my day and give me just that tiny more motivation that it takes to actually sit down and write in my free time. Thanks for your reviews! I'll respond to them at the end of the chapter! Also, please, leave a review!

Trigger Warnings: Described nudity, cursing, a little bit of angst.

Without further due, enjoy the chapter!

I don't own ATLA or anything else mentioned here.

---

The King of Omashu

Her hair loopies flapped around on the sides of her head as she sat on the edge of the saddle, her back on the rim and her eyes watching past Aang's back as he managed Appa's reins. She felt torn on how to approach this, her motherly instinct told them to just wrap him in her arms and give him a chance to let it all out, knowing that he had someone there at all moments. But he had asked her and Sokka to give him some time.

He had told them both how it all had gone down, why he decided to go and search, what Zhao had told him and what had happened. But before any of them could console him he simply said, with an emotionless expression. "I need a moment alone, guys'' when it seemed to him that both of them were going to reject the idea he continued. "I really need to think about some things, to meditate...in silence" He pleaded at last, and Katara thought about saying. I can stay quiet while I hold you. But then another notion sunk into her mind.

Maybe he needs to face this part alone. I'll always be there for him, and he knows it. He knows it. If he needs me. If he needs us, he'll come.

And so both siblings had complied to his wishes, as did Momo, and he moved to Appa's head before sitting in the lotus position and meditating. That was half an hour ago, and every moment of that lapse of time she had focused on his face, for any signs of deep distress so she could jump and tell him that he wasn't alone. That's when she noticed it, tears streaming down his cheeks and flying past them as they dropped to his chin and to the air. She instantly gripped the saddle to stand up but at the same time felt a strong hand gripping her shoulder and stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to look at Sokka and raised an eyebrow in question, and then he softly explained. "Give him his time, if he needed you he would call for you. Right now, he needs to come to terms with everything that has happened alone." She was about to retort him, to say he didn't know what he was talking about, and that she couldn't let him deal with this alone but Sokka continued as if sensing her thoughts. "Trust me, Katara. Please. I went through this pace too...with Mom" Katara inhaled deeply at the mention of her mother and nodded before Sokka said. "He knows we are here for him, but now...he needs to come face to face with the truth, the whole truth, and it's his choice to do that how he wishes." He finished gently.

Katara nodded solemnly and smiled at him, before looking towards Aang and speaking. "I hope you are right"

"Of course I'm right. Now let's eat a snack or something" He whispered and dug in into some bags with Momo, Katara looked at him and her smile widened, but then turned again to Aang bit her lip while thinking, trying to communicate with him mentally. We are here with you, Aang. You can do it. And then turned to grab some lychee nuts and fill her appetite.

Aang heard them searching some of the bags in the saddle, but he wasn't hungry, he couldn't be with the intense sadness he was feeling. He didn't try to wipe his cheeks off tears, he simply let them fall all the way down as he thought about everything he knew now he had lost. Gyatso, Pasang, Jamtso, Tashi, Namu, all of the elders, all of his friends, Kuzon, Bumi,...Luena. His entire nation. Everyone he ever knew was gone, there was no doubt now of that and he shed tears not only for every one of them but for the pain all of it had brought. The countless lives affected by this war, the countless lives lost and the countless lives corrupted.

The myriad of experiences shared, now, single-handedly held by him, and him alone. His culture basically eradicated from the world, only him, Appa, and Momo it's living evidence. Coming out of the iceberg to the astonishingly contrasting state of the world compared to what he knew, it was almost unbelievable. But here he was, and he had to accept all of it, and deal with the pain of everything he had caused.

To know the innumerable lives that had been cut short, his family, that had been persecuted and hunted from every corner of the world, just because of him. It made him want things for himself that he didn't dare mention, not even in thoughts, for they were too dark to even understand. He felt at odds with life, he felt unworthy, but he also knew he could change all of this, he could bring balance to the world once again.

Every one of those moments shared with the people he loved - that he still loves - he would remember, cherish and learn from. And he would make sure that the prevailing members of the living world would get the chance to make those moments with their loved ones, he would accept everything that had truly taken place and still keep pushing.

The tears had started again, but they weren't from his own sorrow, these ones were dedicated to the moments that had been lost, to the possibilities of what could have been, but can be no more. And he cried, for a long time, he knew no amount of tears could change anything of what had happened, but he still did, he needed it to come out.

And when the last ones trailed down his cheeks to be swept by the wind, he felt better. He swallowed a few times and caressed his cheeks gently as if the little current streaming there symbolized the actual pain experienced by people he knew and people he didn't. He asked for forgiveness in his soft caresses and promised determination when he stopped them in their tracks. He ran his hand down his face to dry it, took a big breath, and sighed.

He sat there for a moment, his arms on his sides and his hands combing through Appa's fur, unfocused, he looked ahead of him and the world poured in through his eyes. Light and shadow living in harmony, he guessed he could do the same, he guessed it was the meaning of balance and he nodded to himself before appreciating what was in front of him.

Then he remembered what laid behind, his friends, his companions, his family. He smiled and his stomach grumbled, he turned around and made eye contact with Katara, who was looking right at him, she smiled lovingly, inviting him to join them, and he agreed silently with a sad smile.

As he came to sit in the saddle and share some food with them, Katara sighed in relief. He would come back to them, he would always come back to them.

---

It was like a faint cloud covered the tops of the forest below, Katara had never seen anything like it and she felt captivated as she hung from the right side of the saddle while looking down. The thin fabric of fog hugged the trees lightly, a directionless wave, and an endless creamy blanket. She turned to her left and she was equally mesmerized, the misty forest followed through the valley giving it an eerie and mysterious appearance. The ground clouds embraced the bottom of the mountains as a skirt hugged a hip, a combination of rocky brown, wise green, and peculiar white.

She turned her head up and noticed the real clouds, dispersed and colored with the oncoming setting of the sun. There was a reflected pink dying the fluffy whites coming from the west, where the sun was departing, as she looked past the valley she spotted a series of thicker clouds, filled with water with their more purple complexion. The combination of those clouds with the pink background messed with Katara's perception, making the violet ones seem like faraway islands floating on a pinkish sea. It was a glorious sight and she sighed in appreciation.

Eventually, her neck tired, and she turned around again to rest with her head looking down at the ground from the right side of the saddle, and unsurprisingly, she was entranced again. It seemed like everywhere she looked, there was beauty. Unfamiliar and unique views. This time, she basked on the division of the ecosystems below, where the misty woods remained, but far in the direction she was looking, there was a cliff. And beyond it, there was a very weakly saturated reddish-yellow color, endless little hills of it that seemed to go on forever. Sand.

The Si Wong Desert, Aang had called it when talking about directions. He had described it as a barren sort of area, dull and unchanging. She had doubted how something related to a beach could be so dismal, but now, looking at it with her own eyes she understood. There was just sand, and that was it. Still, the contrast with what lay behind her, with the conditions of the desert felt unbelievable, but it was there and it was beautiful.

As much as she loved her tribe and everyone that resided there...there was no comparison to be made. The South Pole had an exotic kind of beauty in how little changed in every direction, of how consistent it was in its looks. Everywhere you looked, it was either white or blue, but here, the diversity, the change, the possibilities.

All of these sights awoke an intense sense of wonder in her conscience. What more is there to see? She asked herself, and at that moment she was absolutely certain that this was the right choice, that coming here with Aang was what she wanted without a shadow of doubt. This aura of adventure felt right, she was born to fight, to wander around, and to explore.

And as if the universe was aware of her thoughts, it gifted her with something else. All three occupants of the saddle turned their heads to the sound of a couple of trumpets and the loud steps of big feet stomping on the ground, a stampede. Katara, Aang, and Sokka peeked from the side of the saddle down and saw them...a herd of butterpanths.

Their colorful enormous ears were trance-inducing in their elegance, a multitude of unique patterns. If ever there was magic powder, it was that iridescent glow of the butterpanth wings-like-ears. It cast a spell on Katara's eyes so that her soul was brought into the moment with fullness. She felt as if her thoughts were more tuned in somehow as if she were a radio that found a frequency that was both calmer and more intense all at once. That instant of seeing those petal ears brought a serenity that held her as if in some universal camera flash.

For some unknown reason, as she took the rest of the mammal's body into consideration, with their long and flexible trunks, their creamy white tusks, and those soul-seeing soft beautiful eyes, she knew them to be wise and enduring gentle beasts. Just like Appa. She thought with fondness as she sighed in awe.

As the exotic animals ran opposite them, they followed them with their eyes down to every member of the herd, and at that moment Aang spoke and explained. "Those are butterpanths, they can live up to a hundred years and are some of the most intelligent animals in the world, they are also incredibly beautiful creatures. Appa really likes them" He finished with a sad smile, reminiscing of days past.

And as if to agree with him Appa hummed. Katara turned to him with a smile and asked next, before going back to look at the retreating animals. "What are their ears like? To the touch I mean" She didn't know why that was the question she desired to ask, but it was what she felt most curious about.

He smiled at her as if he had the same thought when he had first seen them and said. "The softest of textures, it's like touching the petals of a flower." Katara hummed in satisfaction as the animals disappeared on the horizon, then Sokka made his presence known.

"Yeah, really pretty. I need to pee, can we stop over there for a second?" Sokka said as if he hadn't just broken a beautiful moment. He was grabbing his crotch not so subtly and giving Aang his pleading eyes. Katara groaned out loud and almost scolded him for being so obscene, but Aang laughed and said.

"Of course, Sokka" She smiled at him, he seemed to be doing alright, and she wanted to draw out as many smiles and laughs out of him as she could.

They softly descended on a nearby little clearing, just enough for Appa to land and the rest to maneuver, but Katara had seen something really interesting on her way down. They got down from Appa's saddle and Sokka immediately began running to a nearby tree and doing his thing. Aang shook his head while looking at him and went to another tree while Katara went in the opposite directions through the trees, towards what she had seen. She felt adventurous now with all that was there to see, and she wanted to explore.

The foliage was thick and unmoving, but she managed to go push through and continue, the sunlight that was so clear before now gave space to shadow. The sound of the forest invaded her senses as she walked past roots, branches, and mud. Her skirt got tangled into one and she had to crouch to get it out, she sighed and continued, she had to see this up close.

When she emerged from the other side she was temporarily blinded by the change of brightness. She squinted her eyes to look through and finally they adapted and she gasped. The sight's intensity softened and she was left awestruck. Holy shit!. Green limitlessness, from all sides but behind her. Sunny, with a little hill where she stood and richly wild. Covered in yellow sunflowers, a gorgeous view.

She had seen some of these similar-looking places from above but never actually from this close, she wanted to touch it, to walk on it and relax. Maybe even lay down and take a nap as the birds chirped on the nearby trees and the sun kissed her tan skin. A rustling of leaves called to her attention and she turned to see Aang and Sokka coming out of the foliage.

Sokka gasped and immediately stopped in his tracks, Katara smiled and told him. "Do you like everywhere green, Sokka? It's awesome!" She said while turning around, Aang smiled at her in return, he hadn't anticipated this, but now that he thought about it, it made sense.

Katara started walking towards the little slope down to the broad flat meadow when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and Sokka spoke next, skeptically. "Everywhere green might be dangerous, Katara! Proceed with caution" He finished seriously, making both Aang and Katara roll their eyes. She shook off his hand and Aang spoke next with a chuckle.

"It's a meadow, guys." He said while looking at them both, Katara was happily smiling towards the place and Sokka was eyeing it analytically.

"Let's go down, Aang," Katara said while grabbing his hand and walking down, he agreed enthusiastically and a simple walk turned into a little running.

"Wait, guys!" Sokka yelled worriedly but they both were far from reach.

Katara, who was running in front of him, tripped on a rock and started falling. Aang saw and gently pulled out a little cushion of air to soften her landing while he went down with her. They hit the grass and started rolling down the little hill laughing in utter glee. They kept rolling until they reached the plain area, and kept laughing as they stopped. Katara resting on her back and smiling at the blue sky and Aang lying on his belly looking at her from the side.

She had flowers entangled in her hair and it made her look divine, her plumpy lips in a cute smile while the sunlight reflected on her brown skin. The contrast with the yellow flowers, her blue attire, and the green from the pasture was striking, and he couldn't help but smile and think. She is really beautiful. At that moment she turned and caught his eye, but he quickly rolled to look up at the passing cloud while his cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

"That was really fun," She said softly from his side, he could tell from the direction of the sound that she was still looking at him from the side.

"Yeah, meadows are really fun" He chuckled a little nervously, Katara's eyebrow arched at the weirdness in his tone but simply shook it off.

Meanwhile, Sokka watched the whole scene from the safety of his little hill by the end of the forest and finally decided. "Okay, everywhere green is kind of beautiful, and seems really fun." He resolved on joining them and took a couple of steps in their direction, without really looking down at the ground. His feet suddenly got tangled on a patch of some kind of bindweed, with perfectly normal-looking green leaves. He crouched and loosened the mess from his feet so he could walk again, and when he did his hand started itching. He looked down at them and they were blazing red and swelled, even some blisters growing and he felt he couldn't catch his breath.

Katara was about to take Aang's big-looking hand in hers and ask him to go again, but then he heard a screeching scream. "KATARA! AANG!" They both turned to look at Sokka waving his arms around wildly, and from what they could see he looked kind of out of it, scratching his hands urgently, and then he yelled. "HELP!" in a croaky voice and they both took off.

When they reached him he was laying with his back on a trunk, his hands were gigantic and red and overall nasty, even his face was a little swollen and he couldn't breathe. Katara's eyes widened in fear, she was about to touch him but Aang took her hands and worriedly asked Sokka. "What did you touch?" Sokka turned and pointed weakly, Aang gulped and muttered "Monkey feathers, that's a jade poison ivy patch." He shook his head to see Katara worriedly looking at Sokka and he came to a decision. "Okay, Sokka. I'm going to carry you to Appa, I have some soap there that should really help. You need to stop scratch-"

"But it hurts, Aang!" He argued loudly.

"I know! Just bear with me, and try not to touch my skin" He said as he grabbed Sokka bridal style, took a big breath, and motioned Katara to follow him. He jumped and bounced from tree branch to tree branch until they made it to Appa. There he laid Sokka down and quickly took the soap from Appa's saddle, before disrobing what he could from Sokka and pouring water on his skin to which Sokka hissed, and then rubbing the soap gently on it.

Eventually, Katara managed to break through the foliage and get back, he crouched next to Aang and asked him what to do. "Give him some water. He's much better now, see, the swelling is starting to go" Sokka sighed appreciably as Aang massaged his skin, then he took a big gulp of water and was overall feeling much better.

Then he leaned up a little and said sternly. "I'm never going to everywhere green ever again" Katara and Aang looked at each other and burst out laughing, Sokka couldn't contain it anymore and joined them, but the spasm hurt and he held his stomach "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

---

They slept in Appa's saddle as he endured the night, Aang had deemed it important to be there as fast as possible, to lose the least time possible. The next day they managed the rest of the trip in silence, with a simple meal and some potty breaks for everyone in the group. Momo managed to find some more lychee nuts near the last forest on the way to Omashu.

When they were close enough to it, Aang had started pointing out places and landmarks, he had a look of remembrance on his face as he talked about the people from the Earth Kingdom, he even knew the names of some of the states, like Zhu, Jianyin and Ke Na.

Katara noticed how fond he seemed of the memories that were grazing over his mind's eye, and she very softly asked. "Have you ever been here, Aang? In Omashu?"

His face dropped and seemed sad instantly, she cringed and wanted to take the question back but he sighed and spoke with a sad smile. "Yeah, I've been here a bunch of times. One of my best friends was from here, Bumi" He said while looking towards the pyramidal city which still wasn't in sight.

Katara bit her lip in thought as she looked at him gazing over the saddle and then very quietly asked. "Do you...would like to tell me more about him?" She finished wearily.

He smiled at her then, that big goofy smile of his, and nodded. He cleared his throat a couple of times, and then Sokka joined their side to hear. Aang began softly, with a smile on his face and a cheery tone. "He was the craziest and most creative guy I have ever met...and he was a true friend. Do you want some stories of our adventures?" He finished with a big grin and pleading eyes.

Katara almost melted at his adorable expression and nodded enthusiastically while Sokka responded with a smile. "I'm interested. Tell us!"

He smiled even wider and motioned them to get closer, Momo got on his lap and he softy petted his head and rubbed his ear while the lemur purred, then he started with a captivating voice. "There was one time where we took my glider and both of us mounted it" He laughed for a second and then continued. "We wanted to practice flying with it and he asked me 'Where could we practice?' and I said 'We could fly really close to the ground so we don't hurt ourselves' and he responded 'Scratch that, we should fly over the desert, Aang! Think about it, if we fall, we'll fall in the sand and it's really soft.' At that moment I was nodding and agreeing with him. 'You truly are a genius, Bumi'" He chuckled a little more and then sighed in content.

"So we went to the wall with the glider in hand, positioned ourselves properly, and looked out to the vast Si Wong Desert, I was already having second thoughts by that point but Bumi tilted us forward and there was no going back." He said with a fond smile and a chuckle, which made both Katara and Sokka smile back and want to know the rest. "We were both screaming and laughing as soon as we were on air, but then I noticed we were falling, and fast and I panicked while Bumi snorted and started sneezing in my face. He was allergic to some kind of dust he told me later. So I was trying to steer the glider up while Bumi kept spitting on my face and snorting. It was so hard to hold back my laughter." He finished as he started laughing hysterically himself, as if reliving the moment, both siblings joined in the funny moment and motioned Aang to follow excitedly.

"We ended up crashing in the sand like" He stood up and pointed towards the desert, the siblings followed his finger and he continued "over there, a couple of miles inland. Thankfully the glider didn't break, but we got a good laugh out of it. And actually learning to take off from such a low elevation was the worst, but Bumi made it all better. He was the funniest" He said with a big smile towards Sokka.

"Wow, that sounds like so much fun, Aang," Katara said genuinely

"Yeah, tells us more. I'm starting to really like this Bumi guy" Sokka said.

Aang laughed and felt so much better at that moment, he was truly at peace while telling stories about someone who wasn't there anymore and had been so important to him in the past, he cleared his throat at the sudden thickness of emotion that came to him. He whipped his eye softly and continued with a smile. "Well, there was this time we rode hog monkeys" Katara and Sokka looked at each other and he continued. "They don't like people riding them but that's what makes them fun! So, me and Bumi…"

---

An hour and a couple of stories later they made it really close to Omashu, so close that they could now see the shape of the city. Katara and Sokka gasped in awe as Aang introduced it with wide open arms while holding himself up on Appa's head. "The Earth Kingdom city of Omashu"

Both siblings looked at the ever-growing pyramid structure of the city and Katara stated, impressed. "Wow. We don't have buildings like this in the South Pole"

Sokka was even more impressed and curious. "This is awesome! We couldn't make anything like this in the South Pole, stone doesn't melt"

"It's incredible, even more up close, you'll see," He said as they went over the last hill, now the way towards Omashu was completely clear, nothing in their way and Katara asked wearily.

"I'm sure it is, Aang but...how should we go about this?"

"What do you mean?" Aang asked curiously.

Sokka caught on to what Katara was saying with his sibling instinct and followed up. "I think she means about your identity. We don't want people to know the location of the Avatar." Katara nodded in agreement and he continued. "Nothing against Appa but he's pretty visible" Appa grunted in response and Sokka said next. "And your tatts are really cool, but...you know what I mean, they make you pretty noticeable"

Aang nodded to himself and thought for a moment, he stopped Appa in his tracks and said. "I understand...Appa can rest here in the forest but I'm not covering my arrows." He negotiated, he wanted to show people where he came from, and that his culture wasn't gone.

"But Aang, it's just for a moment, until we talk with the head of the city or the king? I don't know, but we need to lay low at least for a while." Sokka prodded seriously, Aang turned to Katara and she nodded and agreed.

"He's right, Aang. I'll be just for a moment" She said softly.

Aang sighed and nodded, before steering Appa towards the forest. When they landed they grabbed the absolutely necessary and got Appa's saddle out of Appa's back. "Here you go, boy. I'm sure there'll be plenty to eat around here. We'll come to you in a day or so. Ok?" Appa grunted, showing that he had understood and the whole group hugged him before he turned around and went to explore. He seemed determined on a route, maybe he knew the place from before.

They turned towards Omashu and Aang got some of the extra blue robes they got in Kyoshi and wrapped himself on them. He felt bad about having to cover something so sacred to himself, but they needed to be practical, and so he went with it. They walked a long way towards the entrance and when they got to the narrow bridge towards the city, Aang commented. "You guys are going to love Omashu." The three friends walked toward the gate and Aang looked over his shoulder at Sokka before continuing. "The people here are the friendliest in the world."

Aang's eyes widened in surprise as he heard the harsh voice of the sentry. The trio stopped walking as the gate guard angrily stated. "Rotten cabbages?!" There was a cabbage merchant with his cart in front of the closed gate of Omashu, the man continued. "What kind of slum do you think this is?!" The talking guard squished the cabbage he was holding and knocked another two cabbages out of the merchant's hands. He proceeded by earthbending a rock under the cart, catapulting it high in the air, making it tumble down the chasm with all the cabbages.

The cabbage merchant leaned over the rim of the path and dramatically waved his arms in despair before saying in anguish. "No! My cabbages!". Katara, Sokka, and Aang looked over the rim, their mouths open in shock, as a loud crash was heard.

Aang gulped and shook his head before a stern expression found itself on his face. They could have just told him to go back, there was no need to do that!. He exclaimed in his mind. I'm the Avatar and I need to start acting more like it. It doesn't matter what, where, or when. He turned to his friends and told them. "Just keep smiling and leave this to me" While Aang walked over to the guards, Katara and Sokka gave each other an uneasy look. Katara flashed her teeth in an awkward way and chuckled uncomfortably, while Sokka merely raised a doubtful eyebrow as Aang passed by the merchant and patted him on his shoulder, signaling him to wait.

The earthbender stepped to the front and raised a boulder out of the ground before Aang and levitated it above his head. The gate guard aggressively started with a glare. "State your business!" Aang, who was mostly covered in robes, stepped forward with a firm expression and his steely gray eyes bore into the green ones of the guard, making him gulp nervously for a second and then shout again. "Stay right there!"

He stopped in his tracks and sighed, a couple of feet in front of the earthbender, and he lifted his make-up hood and showed his arrow, and then made a little tornado in his left hand, before saying confidently. "I'm the Avatar" The guard in front of him and one of the two in the gate gasped in awe and dropped to their knees, the one that was holding the rock above Aang let it go and it started to fall down.

Katara screamed worriedly. "Aang!" And so he took notice and deviated the ball of earth to miss the bridge and fall down the cliff.

The guard who was kneeling looked at him in fright and tried to apologize loudly. "I'm so sorry Avatar A-"

"Shh, no problem. Please be quiet about this, we don't need anybody more than necessary to know where I am. Also, you don't need to ask for my forgiveness, but you do need to apologize to that cabbage merchant" Aang said determinately and looked behind him to the very distressed-looking exporter, then back to the guard who simply nodded, still mesmerized by his presence.

"Well?" The merchant asked impatiently.

"I'm sorry about your cabbages, you can get in the city and file a complaint with the King." The guard told him genuinely. The cabbage merchant simply nodded and went past him to the gates.

Then Aang spoke again, softer this time. "We need to talk with the King"

"Of course" The guard replied. "Follow me," he said as he started walking.

At that moment, Momo, who was climbing upside down on the underside of the bridge took flight and perched on Aang's shoulder, he petted his head with a smile as he walked and looked behind his shoulder to an impressed Katara and Sokka.

The guards opened the gate with some earthbending and let the trio walk, one of them eyed him with narrowed eyes and a scowl and as Aang made eye contact with him he raised an eyebrow in question but the guard simply shook his head with a displeased disposition. What's his problem? He thought but couldn't dwell too much on it because they were about to make it to the other side, to the city.

"Welcome to Omashu," The guard said politely and both Sokka and Katara stared in awe of the structures, there were four pyramidal structures, a short one, two middle ones, and a gigantic one in the back. There were buildings everywhere, and a series of rails and paths made for some sort of vehicles or something.

Aang noticed them looking and nudged both with his elbows before saying smugly. "That's Omashu's delivery system, it's awesome, right?" both of them nodded absentmindedly as they continued to stare at everything at once and Aang added. "Maybe later when there are fewer people around I'll show you something Bumi invented" They looked at him at the mention of his friend and nodded with smiles on their faces.

They kept going as the guard guided them, a lot of people stared at them weirdly. Aang's attire and the siblings probably called a lot of attention, especially male attention. There were many eyes following Katara's walk but she wasn't paying attention.

A good fifteen minutes of walking later where Aang pointed out different areas of the city, they made it to the Palace. The royal guards opened the gates and after a while of walking through many doors and halls, they reached the throne room, but as they looked around, no one was on it. There was a guy dressed in formal attire at his side and the guard approached him to ask quietly the location of the King.

When they stopped conversing, the previous guard was dismissed and looked at them with an apologetic expression before bowing and making his way out, Aang smiled and nodded politely to him as the new guide spoke. "The King is currently in the gardens, follow me"

A couple of turns later they made it to a beautiful-looking place, full of trees, flowers, and exotic plants. In the middle of it, next to a ginko tree was an old man sitting on a bench, there were a lot of birds surrounding him and he seemed to be talking. The guide motioned them to him and made his way out.

Aang approached the King and noticed his clothes, he was dressed in very simple garments, the green color of the Kingdom with them and the insignia of Omashu on his chest. When he looked at his face he furrowed his eyebrows, he looked eerily familiar for some reason.

A couple of steps more and he was within talking distance when he heard him talking to the birds, he had a scratchy voice."...that right birdie!" He snorted next and continued. "You did a great job shitting on that Minister's head" He burst out laughing then and patted the bird's head affectionately, said animal was placed on his forearm.

Aang raised an eyebrow at the conversation but decided to not question it as he made his presence known by clearing his throat. The man turned his head and looked at him questioningly, Aang gulped and decided to take off his hood and kneel before him. That drew a gasp out of the King, but not for the reason Aang thought. Then he introduced himself. "King of Omashu, it's a pleasure to meet you and be back in this wonderful city. I'm Avatar Aang" He finished as he waited.

The King's eyes widened in disbelief but he shook his head and his professional expression came back as he said warmly. "Rise, there is no need for formalities. It's nice to see the Avatar is back. Nice to meet you Avatar Aang" He said as he extended his hand.

Aang took a couple of steps towards him and the birds flapped their wings and went back to the trees, The King snorted and for some reason, Aang smiled, then he embraced his hand with his own and gave him a good shake before saying. "Nice to meet you too, King…" He finished questioningly.

"Yes?" The King asked confusedly.

"Umm...do you have a name?" Aang asked, feeling a little weird.

"Oh, you can call me just King for now," The King said confidently.

Aang arched his eyebrows but conceded his wishes, before thinking about a little joke and smirking. "Alright then, just King"

The old man snorted in response and laughed. "A funny Avatar, that's not been seen in a while." He laughed some more before instantly turning serious and asking. "So, what brings you here?"

He gulped in response and took a big breath before firmly saying. "We wer-"

"We?" The King asked and Aang signaled for Sokka and Katara to approach him.

"Yes, we. These are my friends and companions, Sokka and Katara of the Southern Water Tribe" Aang finished proudly giving a smile to them both, who smiled in return both to him and the King.

He examined them closely before nodding and bowing slightly. "Nice to meet you, Sokka and Katara." They both bowed in return and nodded before the King continued. "You were saying, Avatar Aang?" He finished teasingly which made Aang's eyes widen before he shook his head and continued.

"Yes, we were hoping to get some information about the state of the war." He finished confidently.

"As you should be...alright, we'll arrange a War Meeting. Follow me" The King said approvingly before standing up and straightening a bit, it was clear now that the man was very old, his physique, all the fine lines and wrinkles in his face, he also carried a little hump in his back. But in spite of all of this, he walked fairly fast as the trio followed him inside.

---

As they walked and admired the Palace from the inside, they noticed how friendly the King seemed with all of the servants that passed by, because he was so far ahead they didn't notice how he brought a finger to his lips everything a servant was about to salute him by his name.

Once they made it to the War Room's entrance, the King told them gently. "Wait here, the guard will be here shortly to let you in. I need to arrange some things" He said and left them there before entering the room and closing the door tightly.

"Is it just me or that guy is a little weird?" Sokka asked with a searching expression.

"Yes, he was," Katara said as she remembered how he had eyed her up and then looked at Aang with a smirk.

"He seems familiar somehow...maybe he's a descendant of Bumi," Aang said hopefully.

Right then a couple of guards walked from the hall and stood in front of the doors, he stayed silent from then on and the trio huddled closer together when Sokka whispered. "What if it's a trap?" Katara scoffed and was about to retort him but he interrupted her and said. "Wait, hear me out, what if that guy is-"

"The meeting is ready to begin," One of the guards said then, interrupting Sokka. The companions eyed each other and nodded before walking towards the entrance, it was big enough for the three of them to come in so they went side by side, but as they approached the guards held Katara and Sokka back. "Only the Avatar is allowed"

"What?!" Katara yelled instantly.

"Yes! What does that mean?!" Sokka continued angrily.

Aang was equally infuriated when he said sternly. "If they don't go in then I won't go in". The guards looked at each other and then one entered the room before going back out and nodding for them to get in. They did, with more weary expressions than before, and eyed the men in front of them with a little more suspicion. The door closed behind them and they basked in the War Room appearance and its concurrent integrants.

It was a massive place, there was a big rectangular table in the center with a map of the Earth Kingdom embedded in it and some small, stone battalion figurines placed around it. Ten people, men, and women were sitting around it, all looking at them, some in awe, some were pissed, and some impassive. On the walls, there were maps of Omashu city and some about other important cities of the Earth Kingdom. The King cleared his throat and motioned them to sit beside him.

The trio walked towards him and sat stiffly while all eyes followed them. Then the King spoke firmly. "Avatar Aang and Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe. These are some of Omashu's ministers and generals of our army." All of them bowed in respect and the King continued. "For your particular circumstance, General Wang Jian and General Gao are going to fill you in. Please" He motioned for both Generals to rise and explain.

General Gao looked at them with a warm expression, while General Wang Jian had the opposite, the first one started. "First, it's a pleasure to meet the Avatar. I'm sure that with your assistance we'll be able to end this war once and for all" Wang Jian scoffed in response and all eyes fell to him, but he shook his head and motioned for Gao to continue. "As I was saying, now that you are here, we have a chance. As you might know, the war has been a big weight carried mostly by the Earth Kingdom from beginning to present. With the extermination of the Air Nomads. May they rest in peace." He said solemnly and the whole room spent a minute in silence that Aang deeply appreciated, then he continued. "And the reluctance of the Water Tribes to help due to different causes." At that, Sokka and Katara scoffed quietly, they probably didn't know the condition of the Southern Water Tribe, but they were also sad because of the lack of mention of Hakoda's little fleet.

"This has resulted in the Fire Nation advancing on Earth Kingdom territory for about ninety years, without counting the early colonization years prior to the beginning of the war. Now, attention to the map, these rectangular pieces are the lines marking Fire Nation occupation" He said as he picked one up and then laid it on the stone surface before using earthbending to glide it to its proper place. "The majority of the Northern Earth Kingdom is in Fire Nation control. From here, at the Tai's River and upwards and also here, they occupy most of the Kima, Keting and Chudara states near Ba Sing Se." Aang gulped at the sight, basically, half the Earth Kingdom was in the hands of the Fire Nation, this was much worse than he expected, Sokka and Katara too were shocked at the image.

But Gao continued delivering the state of the war. "Lately they've been moving troops here, to the Teji Peninsula, our sources tells us they have reached the edges of the Foggy Swamp and -"

"Wait!" Sokka interrupted and then hastily continued, without paying attention to the looks of the rest of the small emergency council. "We've camped here a couple of days back, before crossing the bay" He pointed to the spot and Aang nodded.

"Yes, there was a fleet of Fire Nation Cruisers on the bay, they were quick to land and surround the small forces we had defending the land. Now, let me finish." Gao said sternly and Sokka sat down and nodded, still thinking things through. "They have also been mobilizing troops here, in Chuang, near the Serpent's Pass. There still is a small corridor that our troops are holding onto, but if it falls, we'll be cut off land routes to assist Ba Sing Se. We can't travel through the Si Wong Desert. But that's not the worst right now, we are pretty sure there is a big army gathering north of Ba Sing Se, ready to try to breach the wall again." Gao finished and sat down as Wang Jian started zealously.

"That's why we need to send men there. If Ba Sing Se falls. The Earth Kingdom falls" Wang Jian stated firmly while pointing to the map with a stern expression.

"How could you say that?" One of the ministers stated. "When Ba Sing Se hasn't responded to a single hawk in the last forty years. Or have you forgotten how many of our messengers haven't returned?" He finished definitely.

"I don't know what is happening in the capital, but I stand by what I said, we need information and we need it before it's too late. We have a window of about a month before the Fire Nation closes our land access to the Full Moon Harbor. We can't hold them for long if they fall."

Another minister rose and retorted. "And what about Omashu, we are being sandwiched from all sides. The Foggy Swamp, the Si Wong Desert, The Tai River, and the ocean. We can't afford to lose the little troops we have!" And at that, the ruckus started.

"Of course you would say something like that, you don't care about the Earth King-"

"What are we supposed to do, evacuate the whole c-"

"No, we can divide our forc-"

"That's what they want, divide and conquer, you gasbag!" Aang was rubbing his hands down his head up and down, this was much, much worse than he anticipated, but then.

"Enough!" The King yelled.

The room quietened and then Wang Jian apologized. "My apologizes, King B-" and at that the King coughed and shot him a glare, before Wang Jian recovered. "My King"

And then, out of nothing, Sokka spoke quietly. "Can I offer my opinion?" There were multiple curious and incredulous glances across the table, but the King nodded and Sokka stood and climbed on the table, most of the people's eyes widened in disbelief and then Sokka spoke. "So, I've noticed this place here, it's marked with the same indicators that Omashu does. What it's name, Gaoling?"

"Yes, Gaoling State and its capital, Gaoling. One of the most important Earth Kingdom Cities. What about it?" Gao asked curiously as he stood and crossed his arms in front of him.

"Well, if it's as important as you say, why don't ask for their help? You could tell them the situation in the peninsula and you could encircle the Fire nation troops there from both sides, so then you could maybe send scouts to check on Ba Sing Se" Sokka explained reasonably as he stood there elevated, the rest considered this before the Minister of Economy talked next.

"Well...we haven't had much contact with Gaoling since the Beifong's came into the picture" He argued.

"Why? Shouldn't all of the Earth Kingdom be united in this?" Aang asked next.

"Well, you see, Avatar, the Bei-" The minister started but was interrupted by the King.

"The boy has a good idea, let's contact Gaoling City. We'll just have to wait and see for now." The King said happily before his serious demeanor came once again and he asked. "What are your plans now, Avatar. Could we have your assistance in this?" He asked curiously, testing.

Katara spoke next warmly. "We were planning to travel to the North Pole so Aang can learn waterbending." She looked at him with a smile and Aang nodded in return.

"I see. You've only mastered Air, right?"

"Yes, I've only had the chance to master airbending, but now that we are here I could also learn some earthbending" He said hopefully but the King shook his head and said.

"Nope, that's not the right way. It's very important for the Avatar to learn the disciplines in order, you'll first need to learn the basics of waterbending…" At that, Aang's demeanor somewhat fell, he was excited to learn about the rest of the elements, but then the King continued. "But I can teach you a couple of important lessons'' He said with a wink and a snort.

"Yes! That would be great!" Aang said enthusiastically, and then the King signaled.

"Alright everyone, the meeting is over" he finished simply, but then Wang Jian intervened and asked.

"Aren't you going to ask what the Avatar has been these last...I don't know...hundred years? And are you seriously going to let them go on their own? A bunch of kids?" He asked doubtfully.

At that, it was Aang's turn, and he stood tall, about the same stature as the rest of the grown man of the council, and he spoke in a low tone. "I'm deeply sorry about the trouble my disappearance has caused, and I want you to know that I'm willing to do everything it takes to bring this war to an end." Some of the Generals and Ministers nodded and cheered, and then Aang continued. "And we might be a bunch of kids, but we came this far in a short amount of time, our youth allows us to be fast and travel constantly, and the fact that we are just three people will be to our advantage now that we have to traverse Fire Nation occupied territory."

The King nodded in approval and patted his back, he was impressed with the companions and their different capabilities, he was able to see them even in something as mundane as a meeting, and he was very sure that they could make it, so he said. "Well said, if you'll excuse us now, the meeting is over" Most of the people bowed and exited the room, only the trio, and the King remained when he followed next. "Would you join me for lunch?" with a big smile on his face, showing his unique metal teeth.

---

They all sat around a richly filled dining table, too big for just four people, with Aang, Katara, and Sokka at one corner and the remaining chair in the other. There were all sorts of different dishes and teapots. Momo was already feasting on a lot of the food, chittering contently. The king was standing behind their chairs when he spoke to Aang. "The people in my city have gotten fat from too many feasts," He leaned in over Aang, grabbing the chicken leg that was on his plate, and held it in front of him while trying to stifle a laugh. "so I hope you like your chicken with no skin."

Aang gulped and shook his head, before looking away and responding. "Thanks, but I don't eat meat."

"How about you? I bet you like meat." The King said quietly to Sokka as he hovered the chicken leg in front of his face, Sokka doubted what to do, but he was really hungry so he took a bite as the King laughed and let him have it. Sokka stuffed it in his mouth, eating it appreciatively, and then the sire walked over to his own seat.

Katara leaned to Aang's side and spoke quietly "Is it just me, or" She turned circles with her index finger beside her temple, implying the king was crazy. "is this guy's crown a little crooked?"

"So tell me, young kids, where are you all from?" The King asked as he stuffed his face with lettuce.

"We are from the South Pole and Aang-" Sokka started while signaling to his sister, but was interrupted by the King.

"Ohh, the South Pole, eh? Listen to this one." He started as he raised a finger and questioned. "What time is it when a Great Wooly Mammoth sits on your igloo?"

"Ermm...I don't know, what time?" Sokka asked, intrigued.

"Time to build another igloo!" The King finished with a cheeky expression.

A moment of silence passed, a servant coughed at the side. All three teenagers were looking straight at the king with blank faces before Sokka burst out laughing. Katara and Aang looked at him, still with a blank expression. Sokka stopped laughing, a little unsure, and said. "What? It was pretty funny." Aang shook his head and resumed eating awkwardly.

Then a servant approached the King and said. "Anything else, King Bumi?" The trio dropped their utensils in unison and looked at him in question, Bumi's eyes had widened and he remembered that he hadn't informed the server staff not to mention his name. He looked to the servant and shook his head, dismissing him and then back to Aang, who had a hopeful expression on his face.

Both stood and Aang walked towards him with trembling hands and an open mouth, blinking, he asked softly when he reached the old man. "Bumi, is...is it really you?" His voice broke at the end as he brushed the back of his hand on Bumi's wrinkled forehead.

Bumi smiled fondly at the boy and opened his arms for a hug, as he said warmly. "Hello, Aang. It's good to see you again" At that Aang's tears fell and he laughed and jumped into Bumi's arms and embraced him tightly. The King's eyes watered considerably and a couple of tears fell down his cheeks as he nestled his head on Aang's shoulder. They departed for a second and Bumi said, truthfully with a touch of jest. "You haven't changed a bit. Literally" Aang laughed some at that and just basked on the presence of the friend he thought long gone.

He analyzed him, his clothes made sense, he was always a humble Prince, his wild eye, his eccentricity, and weirdness. He voiced his conclusion next, happiness seeping through every word as Katara and Sokka watched with smiles on their faces. "It's you. It's really you, Bumi. I thought you were dead" Aang admitted and hugged him again as he smiled in bliss.

"It's me, Aang. I thought you were dead too. I'm so sorry about what happened, I'm sorry about Gy-" Bumi started softly while caressing his friend's shoulder, but Aang cut him off

"No! Please don't apologize for my mistakes, if I had just acted differently if I ..." Aang sighed and his eyes glazed over in distress as he kneeled in front of him and choked out. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Bumi..." He started his rambling and Bumi cut him off then.

"For missing a hundred and one of my birthdays? I'll forgive you if you come to the next one" Bumi said trying to lighten the mood with a wink, Aang chuckled and smiled for a second but then his sorry expression came back again and he continued.

"No, Boom. About the war, about what your people had to endure, about my mistakes and what could have been if I acted diff-"

"Have you heard the tale of the Earth Kingdom farmer?" Bumi asked calmly then as he motioned them to sit in another part of the room, where there were pillows in the ground and carpets. Aang blinked at the weird interruption, then gulped and shook his head as he followed, Katara and Sokka on foot, they sat and the old man continued. "Once upon a time, there was an Earth Kingdom farmer whose ostrich horse ran away."

"That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, 'We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.' The farmer said, 'Maybe.'"

"The next day the ostrich horse came back bringing seven wild ostrich horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, 'Oh, isn't that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight ostrich horses!' The farmer again said, 'Maybe.'" He waited for a second and the three teenagers nodded, entranced by where this was going.

"The following day his son tried to break one of the ostrich horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, 'Oh dear, that's too bad,' and the farmer responded, 'Maybe.'" Aang inhaled and tilted his head up, he already understood where this was going.

"The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the Earth Kingdom Army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, 'Isn't that great!' Again, he said, 'Maybe.'" He finished wisely and then silence ensued as everyone pondered on what King Bumi had just said, and then he followed up. "Do you kids understand?"

"That we don't know how things could have turned out, that maybe me disappearing was a good thing?" Aang questioned with a hint of disgust by the idea.

"Well, it's not really that, the extermination of the Air Nomads and all the suffering endured in the course of the war is not something I think fate had in mind. But what I am trying to say is that circumstances and even life itself are neutral and have no in-built meaning. Events and circumstances in our life don't come pre-packaged with any labels such as good or bad. Instead, we are the ones who attach a negative or positive meaning by the perspective with which we view them." He explained beautifully and then concluded.

"However, when we attach a negative label or meaning to a certain event, our own perceptions cause us pain and make us suffer. As the farmer's story illustrates, it is wise to refrain from attaching any negative meaning to the events that occur in our lives. You could have died with your people, Aang...there would be no hope left if that was to happen."

"Or I could have ended this war right there and then" Aang argued halfheartedly, not really convinced of Bumi's concept.

"Well, yes. But we don't know, don't label things until the end, see them from the neutral standpoint. You'll see the practical aspect of this in the training arena." Bumi encouraged with a goofy smile, Aang returned it slightly and nodded. "You two can go to your rooms." He said to Sokka and Katara, whose eyebrows rose in question and defense. "I need to talk with Aang for a second" Aang nodded and a guard guided them to the newly refurbished chamber that was once bad.

Once both siblings left for the room, Bumi turned to Aang and he spoke next. "I didn't know you were the Avatar, Aang. That's gotta be a plus for the ladies" He said while wiggling his eyebrows, Aang smiled for a second but then his face fell, Bumi took his hand and squeezed before saying. "I'm sorry for Luena, Aang. I'm sorry for Gyatso and all of the Air Nomads."

Aang nodded and squeezed back before asking softly. "Did you...did any of them?" He asked thickly.

"There were rumors that some had survived for a while, but I never saw an airbender again, and eventually the rumors became legends," Bumi said gently.

"So," Aang gulped and asked then. "Luena?"

Bumi shook his head and took a big breath. "I never heard from her again, Aang. I'm...I'm sorry, I know how much you loved her, she was a great woman" He said sympathetically and Aang nodded and closed his eyes for a second, before exhaling a breath and saying.

"Thank you" He already knew the answer, but he still hoped for something different. He gulped then, remembering his Fire Nation friend and he prodded. "Kuzon?"

The King nodded and then said softly. "Kuzon and I exchanged mail for years after you were gone, he enlisted in the Fire Nation Army to share information with us, after years of pleading he finally got the mission he most wanted. Be the captain of one of the ships searching for the lost Avatar. He was always a good friend, he wasn't deceived by the Fire Nation Nationalism." He finished with an impassive look and then Aang asked.

"So is he alive?" He asked hopefully.

Bumi shrugged slightly and continued. "He continued as our inside source for years after that, looking for you, the Avatar, on the sidelines. He sent me one letter containing orders, movements, and different findings once a month. A particular month, it stopped." Bumi was trembling then, and he breathed a couple of times before following. "Fifty years ago, he stopped. I...I don't know what happened to him, Aang. I fear that...that-"

"No, stop. He wasn't captured. He lived until his sixties, found a wife, lived in calm and died peacefully in his sleep." Aang finished sternly and then looked at Bumi with pleading eyes and continued, his voice trembling as he remembered his other best friend. "Let me believe that, please, Bumi"

The King nodded and they took a moment to remember their friend, how they met him, some of his famous phrases, his adventorous character, the moments shared and his shenaningans. Bumi burst out laughing then and asked. "Do you remember that time with the flaming fire flakes?" He snorted then and Aang smiled before continuing for him.

"When he ate too many of them and farted fire?!" Aang laughed hysterically then, and Bumi joined him. They looked at each other for a moment, both their eyes filled with unshed tears and shared a smile as Aang whispered fondly, as a single tear fell to the ground. "How could I forget?"

---

The sparring arena was enclosed in a gigantic circular dome of earth, there were a couple of doors from the sides that lead to the armories. Currently, the three friends stood in front of an old-looking Bumi who had changed attire for a silly-looking purple gown. There were also a couple of people on the sidelines by the doors waiting. The king spoke then with a serious expression "First, Aang," Bumi spread his arms, showing off his purple outfit; lighthearted. "what do you think of my new outfit? I want your honest opinion." Aang blankly stared at the king. Someone coughed during the ensuing silence at his side, probably Sokka. "I'm waiting."

Aang scratched his head and rubbed his neck, an expression that made Katara smile before he responded, insecure. "I ... guess it's fine."

"Excellent! Now let's get real. I have a lesson for you" Bumi said while looking at him, both siblings looked at each other and started retreating when Bumi saw them and yelled curiously. "Don't you two want to learn too?"

"Oh, we thought…" Katara started but then shook her head and smiled before responding happily. "Of course!"

"This teaching can apply to any kind of bending," Bumi started and looked at Sokka then and added. "Or martial art. And it's the principles of Chi and the Yings. Aang would you care to explain?" Bumi prodded with a smile, Aang nodded and spoke while looking at the siblings seriously.

"Chi is energy in the very broadest sense possible. Chi is universal and embraces all manifestations of energy, from the most material aspects of energy - such as the earth beneath your feet, or flesh and blood - to the most immaterial aspects - light, movement, heat, thought, and emotion." Aang finished sagely and Bumi continued for him with a nod of approval.

"Exactly. Chi is in a state of continuous flux, transforming endlessly from one aspect of chi into another. It is neither created nor is it ever destroyed; it simply changes in its manifestation. Here are where the jings come, Aang, can you?" Bumi said cryptically, Sokka was starting to groan from inside at these terms but Katara was paying utter attention and seemed entranced by the concepts.

"Jing is a trained, cultivated strength as opposed to brute force. It's a term that describes the myriad of options one has during battle on how to direct their energy, both internally and externally. The most important are positive jing - when attacking - and negative jing - when defending." Aang said with a firm and expectant tone, wondering where Bumi was going with this.

"Ahh, but there are other jings too, that are equally useful. Well, technically there are eighty-five" Bumi said bashfully and Sokka gasped and exclaimed.

"Eighty-five!? And you want us to learn all of them?" Sokka questioned incredulously and Bumi laughed in response before shaking his head and explaining.

"No, no. I want to teach you about neutral ying." Bumi said proudly.

"The jing of listening?" Aang asked curiously and Bumi nodded. "Ok, I'm curious" he finished bashfully, and then Bumi took a deep breath, straightened up, and removed his outer robe, proving himself to be a powerfully built old man and drawing gasp from all three friends.

Bumi laughed at their faces and said. "You thought I was a frail old man, Aang, but I'm the most powerful earthbender you'll ever see. Now pay attention" He finished firmly and continued.

"The neutral jing focuses on the 'audible' energy because it is through it, through the senses, that one can listen to the opponent's body. What you want is to build a good connection and communication between yourself and your opponent." Bumi explained intensely and then demanded. "Aang, strike me, but be prepared"

Aang took a deep breath as he centered himself and both siblings took a couple of steps back. Bumi stood about a dozen feet from his position so he decided to go with the trusty air blast, sending a direct pulse of compressed her shot from his outstretched palms as he flexed one knee in front and placed one foot behind him, like if he was holding something from falling with his hands. He focused his chi through his hand paths and a powerful air blast emerged.

It had been a century since he fought an airbender, and Bumi was a little rusty, but he paid close attention to Aang's movements and identified what he was about to do before he did it, the placement of his hands was too obvious, and he took a step back to wait for the blow. He positioned his hands on his side pointing to his hip and curved his elbows, when the blast was about five feet from his body he moved his hands up, not before noticing how Aang's posture changed and relaxed after he executed his blast, leaving his feet a tad too close to each other.

Earth arose from the ground and protected him from the blast, then he brought it down and waited again. Aang's eyebrows rose at the speed Bumi exerted, and tried again, from a different angle and this time more forcefully. A stronger blast and the same result. He didn't know where Bumi was going with this, but he simply did it again as Bumi waited and connected with his opponent.

But this time, Bumi was ready, as the air blast left Aang's hand and his posture relaxed, Bumi's defensive movement came much faster and gave him time to cast another move, planting his heel firmly on the ground and sending a concentrated ripple towards Aang left foot and at the same time punching the earth shield in front him, sending a wave-like looking projectile towards Aang's chest.

Aang's eyes detected both motions but he knew in his mind he couldn't possibly deflect both, so he chose for the least hurtful. He shot another earth blast to redirect the chunk of earth thrown at his side and took the shake from his feet that affected his center of mass. As he was falling he was able to summon an airball and cushion himself from the fall.

Next up, as Aang was dusting himself out, Bumi approached and motioned for his friends to join, and then asked, quizzically. "What did I do?"

"You just waited...for nothing," Sokka admitted curiously.

"Katara? Aang?" Bum asked next.

"I guess...you waited for the right moment?" Aang asked next, Bumi made a so-so motion with his hand and turned to Katara who was thinking deeply. Her eyes widened and she softly said.

"You learned from Aang's movements, and when you had sufficient information, you attacked" Katara finished sagely, surprised by her own analysis.

"Ding ding ding! Katara got it!" Bumi said with a snort, and then got serious again and explained. "Through the aid of practice to increase sensitivity, anyone can precisely detect the opponent's power, center of gravity, direction, pressure, speed, force, etc., as if actually hearing the vibrations from their chi" Bumi said in his teaching voice, then he continued.

"Eventually, when you learn enough, you'll be able to sense your opponent's movements and be able to cope with them properly. This wasn't a really dynamic example, but it was pretty visual if you paid attention, like Katara" He said and Katara smiled at the compliment, then he continued. "I waited for Aang's movements and realized a couple of minor mistakes, then I sense the exact amount of power he was puting on his attacks, and then I took the right moment to deliver a punishing blow"

"But you didn't get him!" Sokka argued then.

"But I could have, I just didn't want to hurt him. I was just a simple demonstration, and you can apply it to any of the fighting arts."

"Okay, I think I understand, but we'll need to spar some more" Aang pleaded then and Bumi nodded before he signaled to wait.

"I got something for you two," Bumi said while looking at the siblings and signaling for a man to walk towards them. He was old, younger than Bumi, probably in his forties, but he was well-built. He had a couple of scars on his face and a steely look in his eyes. "This is Xhi, Master of Weapons. I thought Sokka would like a lesson" Bumi stated.

Sokka's eyes widened in disbelief and he jumped in joy at the prospect, before nodding eagerly and looking towards said man, who arched an eyebrow and motioned to follow him to the armory, not before giving a scroll to Bumi. They went away and Bumi looked at Katara and handed her the scroll. She opened it and gasped, it was a waterbending scroll with some basic forms. Bumi explained then. "We got it from before the war started, I think it's from Southern Water Tribe descent. I adapted one of their techniques to use with earthbending" Bumi said proudly as he showed the form.

He took in a flexed horse stance, his left hand pointed behind his body and his right hand a fist on his side, he slowly rose the fist to his head height in front of him and a current of earth rose from the end like a curved wave. "It's a faster but less sturdy defense. It's enough when you don't have the time to properly defend yourself. Very handy!" He finished happily then as he moved the rock back to their places.

Katara nodded eagerly at the demonstration and looked around for a source of water, but she couldn't spot it, Bumi suggested then as he realized her predicament. "It's always best to try the forms without the pressure the elements exert on your chi, try it over there" He pointed to a faraway spot of the arena where she could try the motions in peace before she nodded eagerly and walked towards it.

Meanwhile, Sokka walked with Xhi towards the armory, when they got there Sokka gasped at the number of weapons that called to him, naturally, he was inclined to the swords, but before he could grab one, Xhi stopped him and explained. "The Earth Kingdom people are strong, proud, and enduring. Our way of fighting is similar. One of our most impressive and useful stances is defending." Sokka groaned at that and Xhi shot him a look before he took a weird-looking shield. It was rectangular, with two sides divided by a pointy part in the middle. Xhi explained. "This line in the middle allows us to divert the attack of firebenders as it sends the majority of the impulse to the sides, while still protecting us from the fire." Sokka nodded in understanding, it was a pretty smart design to fight firebenders.

"Most of our forces use shields like these, and when it comes time to attack, we use these." Xhi took a pole weapon consisting of a wooden shaft with a curved blade on the end. It had a thick, slightly curved, katana-like blade connected to a long wooden pole. "It's called a Naginata, it's a very cheap weapon to produce and it's very effective when paired with a shield." Sokka admired the weapon in awe, then nodded to grab it and Xhi gave it to him. He tested its weight, the way it moved and its advantages, then he looked at his new trainer and shot him a smile, before saying confidently.

"Let's train"

---

Sweat streamed down his forehead as he jogged towards where Katara was practicing her forms. He had trained and sparred with Bumi for a good couple of hours, he had learned some of the neutral jing concepts and put them into practice. They had fought a serious spar against each other, that Aang had barely managed to win, but he was proud because Bumi was possibly the best earthbender in the world, and he was able to defeat him while using a dffierent jing.

After Bumi had said he was tired and wanted to take a nap, Aang turned to Sokka, who had asked for a couple of air blasts to test his shield capabilities. He was swept up from the ground a couple of times, but with Xhi's direction and a couple of shifts in the pressure of the shield in the ground, Sokka managed to hold on and Aang was dismissed.

Now he was approaching Katara, eager to see what she was doing, and giddy to learn some waterbending himself. He reached her and smiled, she was absolutely enraptured in her practice, completely unaware of her surroundings and he decided to watch her for a moment. He could tell she had got some of the moves to a tee, but some others she was struggling with.

He called to her then, snatching her attention from her focused trance. "Hey, Katara!" he said cheerily as she was shifting her feet, startling her and making her trip. He quickly got to work and jumped to hold her from behind, with his arms around her waist. Once she was stable he let her go and rubbed his neck awkwardly before saying apologetically. "I'm sorry" He laughed then and added. "All this past hours training for the right moment and I've chosen the wrong one"

She was looking at him with a blush and widened eyes at what had transpired, but when she heard that one she smiled and added. "How ironic" and laughed some more before asking. "Are you done with Bumi?"

"Yes! I came to check on you and maybe you know...we could learn together or something" He said while rubbing his neck again, remembering the other night and what she had taught him.

She smiled softly at him and responded softly. "I'd love that, could we maybe go to that garden where we first saw Bumi?... I saw a fountain on the side there" She explained when his gaze turned questioning.

"Of course!" He replied hastily before falling into step behind her. They talked about some of the techniques in the scroll and decided to focus on the two easiest ones. The water column and the ice blade. As they reached the garden they sighed, no one was there to bother them, and it seemed such a peaceful and encouraging area.

Then, out of nothing, Katara started shedding her clothes, and Aang gulped before saying nervously. "What are you doing?"

She looked at him as if he was crazy and replied dumbly. "Duh, I don't want to get my clothes wet"

Aang gulped again at the double meaning of the words and shook his head before following her lead. He took off most of his upper robes, took his boots off, and rolled up his trousers. Katara started then. "Okay, this one is pretty easy," She said as she pointed at the water column. "You just have to," she said as she turned towards the fountain and bent her legs, then she opened her palms and pointed them up, before bringing her hands in front and down of her.

She exhaled as she brought her body up and a tiny column of water rose from the pond. She instantly let it go and jumped up and down in excitement as she chanted. "I did it, Aang! I did it!" She jumped then into his arms and Aang embraced her with a smile, she was too cute for her own good, and his eyes widened at the thought.

They spent a good time training and talking, Katara tried her hand with water and Aang simply exercised the movements without any element nearby. Time passed and eventually, Sokka saw them from the entrance, before jogging towards them and telling them he was going to take a bath and a nap maybe or something. They both nodded and kept at it as they stole glances at each other from time to time.

---

After training by the fountain until sunset, Aang and Katara decided it was time to bathe and dinner, given that everybody they saw around the fountain and gardens were already fitted for the little dinner. Even the servants were on their finest clothes. They walked through corridors and halls until they finally reached their chamber where a guard was waiting for them so he could open the door with earthbending. Once they entered they saw some new attire in their respective beds, probably for the dinner.

Aang simply looked it over for a second and put it on his back before he spoke through the little hole in the wall for the guard to open the door, he did and went outside, directly to the men's bath.

Katara instead took a moment to appreciate her emerald green dress and the garments inside, it was truly beautiful and delicate, she had never worn something as detailed as this, and she was eager to try it. But she was also captivated by the fabric and the quality of it all, she wondered how one could make such a thing.

After a while of pondering and appreciating she gathered her things and went for the door, it opened with a signal to the guard and she walked down the stairs towards the baths. She passed by the men's one who was marked with a little stick figure of what looked like a guy, and she walked further on until he reached a stick figure with a little dress. She smiled at it for a second and went in. Her confidence with the public baths was much higher now than in Kyoshi, she wasn't ashamed of her body, she felt every day more beautiful.

She turned right, and then left with a smile on her face and heard some splashing. Oh, well. She sighed and turned one final time, and she gasped, audibly. Her fingers twitched and she almost dropped her garments before she recovered some of her bearings, her face was on fire as she stared with widened eyes.

There, just about a dozen feet away, in the middle of the bath was a very naked Aang, with his back to her. He was in the shallow part of the bath, so the water only reached his knees. His behind, his magnificent butt was firm, muscular, round, and there for Katara to see. She licked her lips as she continued to stare, the muscles on her arms finally relaxed and every fiber on her body was only there to stare. Her change of garments dropped to the floor, thankfully, she was still clothed with her Water Tribe attire.

He was washing his chest with a bar of white soap and his back muscles flexed and rippled, it was a mouth-watering sight. He took a step forward, opposite of Katara's direction and the water trembled, his creamy white butt cheeks jiggled. Katara whined audibly as she focused on his muscular thighs. She felt something she had never experienced before, the start of a fire in her belly, a little coil wrapping, and a weird sensation in her center that made her sigh happily. She wanted to grab those cheeks and squeeze them, it was such an instinctual urge that she couldn't believe her thoughts.

Aang heard her, and turned his body towards the sound, Katara was focused on his ass as he turned and she saw it, and Holy Shu! Was Gran-Gran crazy? How is THAT supposed to fit there? She thought about her lady parts and then gasped as she realized Aang had screamed and scrambled back for the water to swallow him up to his neck.

"Katara!" He said and his face was completely red, he looked very embarrassed and she groaned internally. Why did you have to stare so much? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

"I'm so sorry, Aang! I didn't mean...it's just that...you surprised me! Isn't this the women's bath?" Katara asked, trying to contain her embarrassment while looking away and rubbing her thighs a little bit.

Aang took a couple of moments to breathe and responded. "I'm pretty sure I came to the men's baths, Katara!"

She flinched at his tone and then said. "Let me check, there is another entrance here!" She followed throughout the entrance, took a couple of turns and made it out to the hall, and came face to face with the men's stick figure, her eyes widened and she came back inside and said. "It's the same bath both for women and men."

"Ughh! Bumi, what the fu - " He stopped himself, but he wasn't really surprised that Bumi would implement something like this. A unisex bath, Bumi, just...spirits. He felt extremely weird with what just happened, nobody had seen him naked but Luena. If he didn't count that time when he, Bumi, and Kuzon were on the beach skinny dipping. But still, it felt freaky. And Katara was probably super embarrassed as well, he had to apologize. "I'm really sorry you had to see that." He said with his head down, his cheeks flaming, Katara was about to tell him that she didn't mind one bit but she restrained herself and he continued. "I was about to finish, if you can wait outside for a second and I'll call you in"

She did as told and went to wait outside, before long Aang came out wearing the formal garments King Bumi had gifted him, he looked devastatingly handsome in his tank top orange vest that fit him like a glove and his brown trousers and black boots. They smiled awkwardly at each other and he said. "So, I'm finished" They stood there a second there without talking when he turned and started walking before saying. "Uhh, I guess...I'll see you in the dining room"

"Yes! Of course, see you Aang" She responded as he walked away, she sighed contently as he watched him walk away, his butt was now covered but now she realized that it was equally entrancing, and she didn't really know why. She felt an instinctual urge to grab them, her fingers twitched with the reminder as she laid her back against the wall and bit her lip.

She spent a moment imagining what it would feel like and shook her head, she didn't want to arrive late and waste a minute of being on Aang's side.

---

Katara eventually made it to the Dining Room wearing an exotic green wrap dress with a long white underskirt, a white belt secured it all together in her waist and it also had white markings on her shoulders and at the border of the garment. She thought she looked good in it, but as the now much more populated room realized her presence she felt doubtful.

Sokka was already sitting at the table waiting for food as Aang was talking with some of the people there, they made eye contact and he blushed before waving softly and turning his body a little so he didn't have to look at her. Katara felt a little hurt at the gesture, but she attributed it to embarrassment, she was embarrassed too, but it wasn't a big deal, right? She walked towards her brother's chair but was interrupted midway when a couple of boys stood in front of her. "Hello, lovely lady!"

She got a look at them and instantly knew they were related to Bumi somehow, maybe his grandkids, she tried to be polite. "Hi!" She said with a slight smile, at least they were respectuful and not looking at her chest.

Both boys wiggled their eyes and Katara's smile turned into a line, then the other one said, as charmingly as he could manage. "I'm Chuosho and he's Chalang, a pleasure to meet you..." He said and extended his hand and waited for her name.

"Katara" She said and went for a reluctant handshake but the daring boy took his hand in his and brought it to his lips in what should be a gentlemanly gesture, but felt extremely weird.

"Katara'' Chalang tested her name in his tongue when Katara turned for somebody to save her, she had expected Aang to be looking at her, but as she spotted him she became very aware of how little attention he was paying her. She gulped and felt a little hurt, it was silly, but she started to doubt some things she had thought before. The boy in front of her continued with a wink. "Well, I hope we can get to know more of each other by the end of the night, right now dinner is ready" And they both bowed and walked away as Katara hastily made her way towards Sokka.

She flopped beside him as Sokka eyed the servants oncoming with the food plates, Katara groaned beside him and her brother, in a moment of utter self-control, whipped his head from facing the food to look at her and ask. "What's the problem, sis?"

"Ugh, these boys that tried flirting with me." She said casually, it wasn't really the problem but it was something at least.

"Oh? What with them?" Sokka asked as he drooled at the plate of roast duck deposited in front of him. He almost fainted at the aroma, Katara rolled her eyes at him and responded quietly, not wanting to be heard.

"I guess they are not really my type...they weren't really handsome and - " She explained and Sokka teased.

"Like Aang?" He said while wiggling his eyebrows, Katara hit his shoulder lightly and shot him a look that stopped his eyebrows on their track.

"It's not...like I'm not only interested in looks but it felt weird, nothing like with Aang." Katara whispered with a little blush "And now they'll probably want to talk or something" she groaned then.

"Well, if they are making you feel uncomfortable you can stay with me, sis," Sokka told her softly and Katara smiled in return but then he whipped his head and committed. "That is if you don't mind me eating through all of the menu in the process" He finished as he eagerly licked his chops, and Katara shook her head.

Right then, Aang made his way to them and stood for a moment as he saw them chat, thinking something over. He knew it was stupid, that he shouldn't feel this way, he had talked about it but still, he felt guilty and embarrassed. He felt like he owed Luena something. So instead of going through the awkward situation of sitting next to Katara for the night, he chose to sit next to Sokka, hoping that the weirdness would fade tomorrow.

But the moment he sat down and looked at them, at Katara's face specifically, he felt even worse, she looked embarrassed, yes, but there was just a sliver of dejection in her eyes that almost broke him. Spirits, I didn't mean to… He should explain, he should sit by her side and tell her how what happened had made him feel but it was too much for one day and decided to evade.

Sokka's eyes too widened at the sitting arrangements, but he shrugged it off and commented. "Had fun meeting Bumi's family?" He said while recalling how Aang was thrown from handshake to handshake for about fifteen minutes as he acquainted himself with Bumi's numerous folk.

Aang smiled widely and nodded before saying. "Yeah, they sure are one of a kind" He laughed at that and added. "They got his humor for sure. One of his grandchildren told me a joke, he said: 'I don't trust stairs'" Aang paused for dramatic effect just as the kid had done, Sokka furrowed his eyebrows in question and Aang continued with a smile. "'They are always up to something'"

Sokka had a stupid little grin on his face that gradually widened and he shook his head slowly before running and down his face and chuckling. "Okay. That was really bad" He finished and looked at Aang who had the same stupid smile and they both burst out laughing.

"What are you two laughing about?" Katara joined in her most cheery tone from Sokka's side. Aang looked at her then and blushed. The dress the seamstress had made her made Katara look absolutely splendid. He noticed her loose hair, something he had never seen before, and gulped, she was a vision in green, brown, and blue. He shook his head and noticed Sokka for a second too, he was wearing a green button-up shirt that really suited him.

Before his staring turned weird, Sokka spoke while coming down from his laughter. "Aang was just telling me a joke, a really bad joke." He shook his head and then prodded for more. "Do you have another one?" He said while looking at Aang.

He nodded and bent so Katara could listen, and then said as his cheeks reddened a bit. "Yeah, he told me this one too. He pointed up and said 'That's a pretty good ceiling'" He looked up and the two siblings did too, waiting for the punch. "'It's not the best, but it's up there'"

Katara laughed then and the boys joined her before she said. "It wasn't that bad!" She said with a smile directed at Aang, he shrugged and quickly averted his eyes before he blushed again. Argh, why do I feel so embarrassed?! He asked himself, it was ok in the afternoon, now I can't even hold eye contact with her.

They chatted for a while more until Bumi gave a little speech, and without preamble, gave the signal to start eating. Aang went for the cabbage noodle soup, Katara for some deep-fried pickled radishes that she considered had a pleasant aroma and Sokka for everything in his sight.

After everyone was done with the delicious food, a small group started playing some tavern songs, as the dinner broke into groups. Aang was rapidly thrust into conversation as Bumi introduced him to one of his younger grandchildren, a girl of seventeen years old named Kara.

Aang groaned internally at Bumi when he whispered something in Kara's eyes and she blushed and giggled, before sending Aang a wink. He made sure Bumi knew he wasn't on board with whatever intentions he had with this extended talk by sending him a serious glare. His old friend's eyebrows rose in question, and Aang shook his head as Bumi shrugged and smirked, a devious look in his eyes like he had decided something before leaving them alone.

He didn't have anything against Bumi, but what he had in mind and creativity, he lacked in looks, and it seemed now that it ran common in the family. He chastised himself for judging someone for their looks, and shook his head, he should get to know them first, but he didn't really want to.

As he listened to her talk and tried to show some interest and try to learn something about Katara, his gaze landed on the dance floor where Katara was dancing with one of the boys he had seen her talking with before the food arrived. Something pulled in his heart as he watched, he told himself it was from the embarrassment of the afternoon, but he didn't really know. So he turned himself to give proper attention to Kara, even though he wasn't interested in the slightest.

On the other side of the room, Sokka watched as Katara's uncomfortableness showed on his face, he stood from his seated position, sending a kiss to the sugar cookies that awaited him for desert and made it to the dance floor. He stood by their side as he asked. "Might I have this dance, sis?" Shooting the boy a little look, the kid shrugged and let go, before he walked away reluctantly.

"Thanks to the spirits, Sokka. That was so awkward" Katara said as she placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I bet," He said while he put his hands on her waist and laughed. "Aang is not enjoying himself either," he said as he nodded towards where Aang and a girl were talking, there was clear uninterest on his face as he nodded to said girl.

Katara smiled at his expression, and then looked back at Sokka who was smirking, she decided to tease him a bit. "What about you? No grandkids approached you yet?"

"Nope," Sokka said while popping the 'p'. "Don't jinx it" He said next with a pointed look. It wasn't that he didn't want to meet new people, but there was a certain auburn Kyoshi Warrior on his head and he just didn't want to think about any other girl right now.

They danced for a while more before returning to their seats and eating dessert, Aang joined them soon after, and then Bumi announced he was going to sleep. Everyone concluded then that the dinner was over and the trio returned to their chamber.

There was a hearth at one side of the chamber, Aang had lit it on fire with some rocks he found on the side. He groaned and bent to touch his feet and stretch a bit before sleep. He wasn't aware of who was behind him on her bed, already ready to sleep, watching his behind with widened eyes and an open mouth. He straightened and his back cracked a bit, he looked behind him and saw Katara with her face a little red, it could be from the way the light from the fire reflected in her tan skin, then looked at Sokka on the other side who was already asleep and sighed.

He put the fire out and darkness ensued before he rid himself of his clothes until he remained in only his trunks and got on his bed, he was exhausted for the day, all the emotion and the training, he needed a good night of sleep and before he passed out he whispered. "Goodnight, Katara"

"Goodnight, Aang." She said softly, faking tiredness in her voice like she was just about to sleep. When in reality she felt restless, she hadn't forgotten about what she had seen in the baths, but now that he basically bent in front of her, she had the image as clear as day on her mind eye. Even with his trousers on she could see the defined curves of his butt, she almost whimpered when he bent, but she was able to contain herself and rub her legs together for some friction.

This was all too new and fast to her, but she couldn't help linger her thoughts on his naked body, her breathing shallowed all of a sudden as she remembered his alluring pale skin. The way water drops slid their way around his muscles, the way they flexed as he managed the soap around his body, leaving him all shiny and slippery. She sighed and rubbed her legs together more purposely. Whatever it was doing to her, it felt good as her heart thundered away and she felt hot all over.

The way her mattress cracked made her stop in embarrassment. Shit, I hope he didn't notice. She turned her head to her side to look at Aang and realized he was already asleep, the only conscious in the room was her. She was alone in this problem that she didn't exactly know what meant, she had heard from Gran-Gran some of the ways a woman's body responded when it was aroused, but hearing it, and experiencing it, were two totally different things.

The worst part was the ache in her center she didn't know how to scratch, the friction of her legs wasn't enough and she groaned and tried to breathe, just like Aang had taught her. And as he thought about it, again the images came and she shifted, trying to get rid of them. She needed to sleep, and she was going to. She took a deep breath, and tried again...and with time, she managed to calm down, to cool down, and to try to sleep.

---

The flavor of the appetizing roasted duck he was munching on invaded his senses as he hummed in satisfaction, he looked in front of him at the endless table of meat, and his eyes half-lidded as he thought about how much he would enjoy eating all of it.

He cleaned his fingers, popping them in his mouth one by one, and said happily as he unbuttoned his shirt a bit. "Ahh, how I love meat"

The roasted duck turned its head to look at him and spoke, seductively. "I would love to taste some of your meat, Water Tribe Boy"

"What in the-" Sokka started as he sat up but the duck continued.

"Sokka, is it?" He asked and then continued. "Mmm, Sokka"

Sokka was weirded out and looked behind him for a place to escape, but there was only darkness, then he whipped his head back and the duck was there no more, only darkness. And slowly, a dim sort of orangish light invaded his closed lids.

"Sokka" He heard a man whisper quietly, he opened his eyes and came back to his chamber. Someone was caressing his shoulder slowly and he sighed in satisfaction before closing his eyes again and snuggling further into his pillow as he laid on his side. "You like that?" He heard the same manly voice and Sokka hummed for a second before he opened his eyes in fright and scrambled back in his bed.

There, just a couple of feet from his face was a man, with very little clothing looking at him with a smirk. Sokka turned his head and noticed three other figures, two women and another man, all with as little clothing as possible, displaying their voluptuous bodies to Sokka's eyes. He backed up some more and covered his body before yelling worriedly at first, and angrily at last. "What the fuck is this?! Who are you?! What are you doing in our room?!"

The ruckus managed to wake Aang up as he whipped his head at the sound and noticed the people there, at the side of the fire as it swayed around and illuminated their almost bare bodies. He took his staff with air suction and jumped in front of Sokka as he pointed the staff at the intruders, who suddenly looked much less confident. He demanded firmly then. "Who are you?! Why are you here?!"

The man that had whispered to Sokka raised his hand in a motion that signified they were no harm, before explaining gently. "We are sex workers, we mean no harm. King Bumi sent us to give you a good time" He finished as he smirked again and the two ladies on his sides took steps closer to Aang with sultry smiles and an over-exaggerated but captivating sway of their hips. They had some coins attached to their skirts and they clinked hypnotically.

All of the talking and yelling managed to wake up Katara who had been in the middle of a heated dream, she woke up breathing heavily and angry at the interruption. She whipped her head about to scold Aang for being loud, even if he was the center of her dreams but stopped before a word came out and gasped. She noticed the other people there and blushed. What is going on? She asked herself as she assessed the situation.

Sokka was looking at the girls as they walked and his eyes widened, something twitched in his lower area at the first time he had seen a woman with so little clothing. He gulped and averted his eyes to look at the man instead, who was looking right at him, Sokka caught his eyes and blushed before lowering his gaze again. He became angry then at his embarrassment but before he could voice them to get the fuck out Aang spoke.

"ARGH! BUMI! What the FUCK?!" He yelled angrily, finally letting loose the swear that had been building from his old friend's constant antics. He took a couple of calming breaths and looked around the room at everyone looking at him. Sokka and Katara's faces were red, and the sex workers had expressionless faces as they realized they weren't welcomed. Aang groaned again and changed his tone of voice, he needed to have a talk with Bumi. "I'm sorry, there has been a misunderstanding. We don't need a good time, thank you." He said with a forced smile and then asked. "Do any of you know earthbending?"

The other man in the back happily said. "Me! What can I do for you, Avatar?" He pushed in a sultry voice.

"Can you open a door?" Aang asked calmly.

"Of course," The barely clothed man said and sunk into a horse stance before bringing his arms in front and down. The motion and the man's position allowed both Katara and Sokka to see the man's behind. Sokka groaned and looked away while Katara stared for a second and blushed before averting her gaze.

"Thank you," Aang said and bowed, then continued. "As I said before, we won't be needing your services, so thank you. I'll walk you out" And pointed with his hand outside, the sex worker's faces dropped, and nodded, before getting out, the trio followed.

As they got out the sex workers turned left and Aang turned right to go for Bumi's chambers but he was surprised at seeing his friends already there, waiting for them. Sokka and Katara showed up behind him from the door and looked at him quizzically. Bumi analyzed their faces and burst out laughing before he said. "I wanted to see your reaction" He snorted and continued. "Priceless!"

Aang was furious, and he showed it. "For Yangchen's sake, Bumi! What was that?!" He said, fuming. He wanted to add. What would Luena say?! But he refrained at the last second with a strained-looking face.

Bumi laughed even harder at that and managed a weak "It was just a prank!" as he clutched his stomach in laughter. Aang's frown turned into a thin line as he looked away, then he heard soft chuckling from behind and noticed both siblings were laughing, he couldn't help it then and he smiled at his old friend. "You should have seen your face!" Bumi cackled and pointed at him.

"Okay, okay. It wasn't that funny!" Aang said as he started laughing himself, he felt much better now after the whole situation, and he remembered playing some hard pranks to Bumi in the past, he surely had gotten enough Fruit Pies to the face to make this even. He laughed openly then and shook his head.

"Oh, let me take a breather," Bumi said as he tried to relax a bit, he snorted a bit and then said. "Okay, that's enough, you kids should go to sleep now. Sorry about that" he finished bashfully and all three nodded before shaking their heads and making their way inside. "Not you, Aang. We need to have a talk. Come with me" The trio looked at him and he nodded, before turning around and following Bumi down the hall as Sokka and Katara got inside.

"What did you want to talk about?" Aang said as he caught up to him, he was still in his trunks but there was nobody around, so he didn't really feel embarrassed. They walked past a couple of doors and got outside to the same garden Aang had first seen him today. Bumi sat on the edge of the bench and motioned Aang to sit too.

Aang complied and the silence stretched, they just sat there, thinking things over, appreciating the moonlight as it hit the nearby pond and the soft breeze that sent goosebumps through Aang's body. They had spent countless nights like this in the past, just them with Kuzon, and nature, talking about life. It made him reminisce those memories and he smiled before Bumi spoke. "You do know you need to let her go, right?"

He was startled out of his thoughts by Bumi's words and he asked, dumbly. "What?"

"Time might have passed, but I can still read you like a book, Aang," Bumi said softly, Aang looked away and his old friend continued. "I saw that face you made, you felt guilty"

Aang groaned out loud and dropped his face in his hand as he said then, strained "And what if I do? Uh?"

Bumi sighed and softly placed his wrinkled hand on his shoulder, before mentioning gently. "It's messing with your mind, Aang. It will mess with your mind. You know, your heart is part of your bending too. You're closing yourself to the possibilities and you're attached to someone who isn't here anymore. Luena wouldn't want that"

"I know" Aang exhaled softly.

"I'm not...I'm not trying to force you to forget her, I'm just trying to see your love for her in another light. You knew her more than I did, and you know that she wouldn't want you to be bound by your love for her when she can't return it, she would want you to be free and live a fulfilling life. To achieve your purpose without her memory being detrimental to your progress." Bumi explained softly, and by that point, tears were streaming down Aang's cheeks. He knew he had been still acting as Luena's boyfriend, loving her in his thoughts and hoping that any of these days he would feel her love back, something he deeply needed affection. Bumi embraced him from his side and let him cry onto his shoulder before he softly said.

"She'll always be here" Bumi pointed to his heart, and then continued. "Just like Gyatso and every Air Nomad that was lost. You can cherish their memories freely, I know you can, Aang" Bumi said as he squeezed his shoulder lovingly, and let the boy take some more steps towards feeling at peace with his past again.

---

After a long night for the trio, for shared and also different reasons, they woke mostly refreshed. Aang was feeling much better with some aspects of his life thanks to his talk with Bumi, he realized a couple of things that started to take hold of his mind and he felt much lighter in response.

Sokka felt a little weird about what had happened, he tried to block some of his thoughts of the night and focus on the good parts, the way those women looked, and how pleasant it was to watch them.

Katara was the one who felt the weirdest, last day had started so well, the moment they shared in the pasture, all of the training they did together, it was going so well. But then she saw him in that bath and even if she didn't regret it one bit, she understood that the bad stuff that happened next came from that point onwards.

She had started to doubt a lot of things regarding Aang, specifically about what she felt and if it was the right choice, she knew she really really liked him, she felt for him in ways she had never experienced before. Of that, she had no doubt. But as time passed and the more experience with boys she got, she realized that it wasn't that simple.

Some boys had flirted with her, and she hadn't even spared them a look because she was too interested in Aang. What if she was in the same position as them because Aang was too caught up with Luena. She knew she couldn't blame him, she didn't dare to think about how much that aspect of his life might have been hurting. But she couldn't help but wonder if he could ever let go of her, she wondered if maybe he had decided for something else. If maybe he had decided to live the rest of his life as a monk. By the reaction the sex workers had got of him it well could be. She didn't know what to think anymore, and she shook her head as she woke up from slumber.

They got ready for departure, packed up their new gifts and in Sokka's case, weapons, and made it to breakfast. They enjoyed a common Earth Kingdom menu and talked with Bumi all the while, planning what direction they would take next. Sokka stated as he looked at the scroll that contained the world map. "I think our best bet is to cross this river here, Tai's River, in the bay, to evade probably the heart from the pushing army and then fly straight north towards the pole."

He got approval from Bumi and most of his companions and after that, Aang took his glider and went to look for Appa, as Katara and Sokka explored Omashu's Market. They both had every red fabric they could find, which wasn't much, so Katara could try and make some disguises while they traveled. They also bought lots of nonperishable foods, like nuts and cereals. Sokka thanked Bumi for all the money he gave them as he packed some of his precious meats and specifically evaded ducks.

They also bought a black cap with a hood so if it was necessary Aang could hide his forehead arrows, and also some gifts to each other, but that would be for later. They backed up for the garden then and waited for Momo, Aang, and Appa to come back.

Once they returned they packed the new staff on Appa's saddle, said goodbyes to some of Bumi's family and as they were about to part from Bumi, he told them mockingly. "Aang, you are leaving knowing you haven't shown them the chutes. What a pity"

Aang's face lit up at that and he smiled widely. "How could I forget! Let's go, Boom!" He said as they walked towards the Royal Messenger Rail. When they got there, Sokka and Katara looked at him quizzically, and Aang explained. "As I've told you before, this is Omashu's delivery system." They all turn to look at the rails and the siblings' eyes widened in fright at the realization of the height they were at. "Miles and miles of tubes and chutes" Then he nudged Bumi and he smiled wickedly before he continued again. "Earthbending brings the packages up, and gravity brings them down"

Sokka was unimpressed and he voiced it. "Great, so they get their mail on time"

Aang laughed and then responded. "They do get their mail on time, but my friend Bumi" He squinted his eyes mischievously then, "found a better use for them," He said cryptically as Bumi took over and asked excitedly, replaying the memory in his mind.

"Look around you, Sokka. What do you see?"

"Umm...The mail system?" Sokka said unsurely.

Bumi pointed his finger in the air and waved it around while Sokka walked up to him to look over the rail. "Instead of seeing what they want you to see," Bumi leaned toward Sokka and Katara who had now joined them. "you got to open your brain to the possibilities."

Katara replied, uncomprehending. "A package-sending system?"

The old man excitedly responds as one chute full of mail makes its way towards them and lands on the waiting part. "The world's greatest superslide!"

All four of them smiled and Aang walked closer to them while smiling broadly. "Bumi, you're a mad genius!" Bumi laughed hysterically then while snorting a couple of times, and right then another chute made it towards them and everyone smiled.

They took the mail out of them and Bumi hopped on the front one, as Katara, Sokka, Momo, and Aang boarded the other one. Aang looked excited, while the siblings suddenly looked unsure and slightly frightened.

Aang raised one finger to emphasize his words, the cart rocking back and forth, creaking as Bumi, in front of them took off and screamed his lungs off as he snorted continuously. "One ride. Then we're off to the North Pole. Airbender's honor."

Katara replied, a little bit uneasy. "It sounded like fun at first, but now that I'm here, I'm starting to have second" Aang leaned forward, tipping the balance of the box, sending it down the slope at a tremendous speed, making Katara scream out her last word. "Th-o-o-oughts!" As Aang happily laughed.

Momo was inside Aang's robes, holding onto them for dear life, squinting his eyes due to the wind. Katara was screaming in fear and Sokka gritted his teeth in terror. The cart makes a turn and follows it down the slope as they hear Bumi yell excitedly, having the time of his life. "Wohoooooo!"

The chute they were riding pulls up next to a parallel one, where a cart with a rack of six spears was racing down. The trio pulled up next to the cart with the spears and they all stared at it, no one making a sound. They raced past it and both tracks joined together. "Oh, shit!" Aang yelled.

Sokka's eyes widened and he muttered. "Fuck"

Both siblings screamed as the two chutes merged into one chute with the spear-cart behind them, but quickly gaining momentum. Sokka heard it coming and turned around. He gasped and ducked just in time to avoid being skewered by the spears. Katara turned around and screamed in fear as she saw the weapons so close. Aang, who had everything under control but wanted to add some suspense yelled excitedly. "I'm on it!" Aang ban to rock the cart. Hitting each side once, the cart flew out of the chute and onto a roof, where it continued its descent.

A soldier was talking to his men in the middle of a street. "Men, you'll be going off to combat soon. It's important that you be prepared for anything." At that exact moment Aang, Katara, and Sokka came in riding the cart between the soldier and the warriors. The warriors gasped in surprise as the cart ricocheted and continued moving.

The teenager rode down several roofs, leaving damaged tiles in their wake. Somehow Bumi managed to catch up with them and started laughing from behind, they all turned around and waved at him for a second, before remembering what they were doing and focusing ahead.

Inside a craftsman's home, the worker whistled serenely as he put the final touches on a vase. The cart flew through one window, ricocheted off of the floor where the vase was, smashing it and making the riders grunt, and flying out the window opposite. Not a second later another cart with Bumi did the same and ended up dispersing even more of the broken pieces. The craftsman peered out the ruined window as a dust cloud emerged, revealing that the cart had crashed against something else. "Sorry!" Aang said apologetically as Bumi motions him not to worry.

The same cabbage merchant that had his cabbage cart thrown into the abyss earlier was now cuddling a cabbage at a replacement cart. Alerted by something coming from up above, he walked from underneath the cart's roof to check it out and gasped in horror as the teenager cart dropped on it, smashing the replacement cart to pieces and scattering what intact cabbages were left all over. Aang, Katara, and Sokka were in a tangled heap by the remains, while Momo elegantly floated down. Right then came Bumi who ended up destroying any cabbage that had remained. The cabbage merchant grasped his head in despair and yelled. "My cabbages!"

"Sorry!" He heard from somewhere and recognized the voice, he couldn't really be mad at him but he still felt sorry for his precious cabbages.

After one hectic ride on the Omashu Mail System and a lot of apologies and reparations, the group came back to the garden to say their final goodbyes to Bumi. Katara and Sokka embraced him and thanked him for their teachings, before climbing atop Appa and rearranging some of their new cargo.

Aang walked closer to the old man as he held his eyes with a soft smile, the tall teenager held his shoulders firmly as his grin widened, the old man snorted and laughed before bringing his old friend for a big embrace. "I'll see you next time, old friend," Bumi said teasingly and Aang laughed in response.

"I'm the old one, now?" Aang responded cheekily.

"Well, you are technically a hundred a fifteen years old" Bumi retorted as he snorted and Aang laughed some more.

"I'll learn waterbending as fast as I can and then come back here so you can teach me," Aang said then seriously and Bumi nodded, somehow knowing that it wouldn't turn out that way. Aang backed up and shot him a last smile before he aribent himself atop Appa's head and yelled "Yip Yip" The group waved at Bumi goodbye until he was just a little stop in their vision.

They turned their heads ahead and asked themselves what new adventures, experiences, and people there were to encounter. Omashu laid in the distance now, the enormous city of the Earth Kingdom in their backs, a city that left them with new friends, answers to questions, questions without answers, realizations, and doubts. But as they turned to look at each other in turns and smile, they knew that as long as they were together, as long as they were friends, everything would be alright.

---

Ufff! Long one ain't it? Did you enjoy it? What do you think happened to Kuzon? Will Aang see him again? What do you think of Sokka's plan? What about Gaoling? Did you like the butterphants? Katara got an eyeful, and some problems came with that privilege, what do you think about that? Where are they going now? What gift did they buy? Tell. Me. Everything. Please.

Response to reviews:

one sad kataang writer - My man! Yes! Thank you so much for that 10! I wonder what more he finds cute about her :eyes: I think so, Boom.

nateC183 - hey, Nate! Thank you, and yes, it did end on a sad note but this one was much more cheery, right? Hope you liked it!

Nadhla199 - Heeey! Rip aangsimp haha and thank you very much, did you see some of the plot seeds here? There were a bunch this chapter, and yes, how did you react to Aang's reaction about Katara catching him naked? Also, yes, Aang and Sokka's relationship is much more buddy like and I love it.

RMS10 - Thank you! Yes, I was wary of being too slow with the scenes but every scene has its pace. This chapter had a lot more going on I think. Also, yes, that was a last-second change, the apology scene, I'm glad I got it right. I'm so happy you think that way about Luena, she'll be mentioned a lot and there is a bunch of things left uncovered yet, it's going to be so cool to show you guys more of her. Yes, it did happen much closer to the Northern Air Temple, but I thought it fit here, I'm going through the stages of grief with Aang, and bargaining was the next one, so I took the chance hahaha about the lotus, yes, a lot of things are going to be accelerated, but you'll get to see much more of the internal workings of the White Lotus. Also, before someone asks, in this chapter Aang doesn't know Bumi is part of the order. Thanks for the review, RMS!

Rvoverkill - Thank you, bb.

TheLastSoulBender - Thank you, yes, I think it fits perfectly in this situation, with Aang's stages of grief too. And I feel the same, it should have been in the show too.

jjsmith103 - Hello! I love your review and I'm really glad you think I got that scene right, there is a lot going on and it's difficult to properly be realistic about everyone's feelings, and yes, Katara is very compassionate in this and just wants him to feel better. Also, what did you think about the conflict in this chapter?

APPATAR - APPA! First off, thank you for that, yes, it was to show Aang's bargaining and it fits really well, altought in the actual show it happened later. Second, yes, you know there was not really a chance for Gya, Aang was and still is going throughout a lot. I love Aang's and Sokka's relationship here, its a lot more buddy buddy hahah it's like they lose brain cells when they are together lmao, and also yes, I really like Sukka and I wanted to show its appeal really. And about that last part, thank you sooo much, it's the thing I most pay attention to, Katara's and Aang's relationship. Thank you for this review!

wil02 - Heeeey! Thank youuu, Katara is so sweet in this and compassionate, she's great. Imagine what it would take to do something like that, but it really helped him, and he's a step closer to finding closure. Thank you, yes, I think it fits perfectly. And about the lotus, you'll see a lot more of them.

phieillydinyia - Sukka for the win! lmao yes, it was a tough one. Thank you!

zayatlafan - heeey, zay! Thank you, yes, I've been wondering how you guys manage to remember all that happens in a chapter when it's so long hahaha yeah, that scene was a last-second addition, I'm glad I put it lol

marjojo02 - Thank you MJ! Yes, Zuko's redemption will be even harder in atlam, because there were a lot of things left unsaid about his past. I'll show you.

FINNISHTHESTORYPLS - Thank you! :blush:

Helena Black7 - Yes, the genocide is just so heartbreaking, every aspect of it. Yeah, I was really apprehensive of that scene, I didn't want Aang to snap too hard, it was a challenge to do something like that for someone who is mostly calm. But Aang is a little more...intense in atlam so it made sense hahah Yes, we'll be waiting for you there, same. I don't talk much but it's always fun around there.

Ashley Barbosa - Thank you, yes! I'm sooo grateful for Medik and I'm sooo glad you are liking where this is going! OMG Ashley! That's the BEST compliment I got regarding writing fanfics. I WISH I was part of that crew hahaha thank you so much, I really want to talk to you, you seem so interesting, and your reviews are the best, really cute! I'll never give up! 3

jonners2314 - Hi! Your fic Collision of fate is on my list to read, I can't wait to have the time, but I have read your newest one, the High School one, and OMG, it's SO good. Aw, thank you, it's always nice to know I've spurred some kind of emotion in my readers, I'm really happy you liked that scene, it was beautiful to write too. (I cried) Thank you for that, It means a lot. Your review is ON point too!

IWantColouredRain - Yes, I really wanted to get that right!

KingTweety - Here it is!

17pmontenegro - Thank you! It is a really fun premise, right?

UGudBroXD - Thank you, dude! 3