Zuko had to admit, even from a distance Omashu was a very impressive sight. Ones again he honestly had to marvel over all of the amazing things created around the world.
The city of Omashu, it looked like it was literately carved out from the top of a mountain and then was surrounded by nothing but a steep valley with an amazing drop going down and…. There didn't really seem anyway inside. There was just this massive drop and then the city in front of them.
"Stand back." Bumi grinned as he stepped forward and then dropped his robe and revealed a body made out of pure muscle making Zukos eyes widen. Then Bumi straightened and proved himself to be a positive giant towering above even Piandao who was a tall man himself. Unike Piandao though whom was lean. Bumis shoulders were wide and filled with bulky muscles.
And then he stamped his foot on the ground, he reached forward his arms and yelled and then… A bridge started to form. Coming from the earth and stretched towards the city bit by bit as Bumi grunted.
Zuko was stunned quiet… He hated to say such a thing but.. He wasn't really sure that even Toph would be capable of such a feed.
Toph was stupidly strong yes! And could easily lift boulders weighing about a ton each. But this was different. The sheer seize and weight of this bridge was massive. And it has to be firm enough for them to walk on too.
Then finally the bridge had formed and Bumi grinned. "Welcome to Omashu!" he invited. "Sorry about the mess in there. The fire nation left a lot of their crap behind. We are working to get rid of it."
"Erhm. May I ask what you mean?" Zuko asked. "They left what behind."
"Factories!" Bumi exclaimed. "The ingrates build factories in the middle of the city and filled the air with smog! I could barely even breath! And that is not even beginning on the statues. What eyesores. No offence lad, but if I had to look at your fathers ugly face for one moment more." he rolled his eyes.
Zuko smirked amused. "No offence taken." he said. "I'm not really a fan of his face either."
"New Ozai… Calling my city New Ozai?!" Bumi asked. "I should lay waste to his palace just for that."
"Well I wont mind if you do." Zuko smirked.
"HAH! You know what's best for you. Good for you lad!" Bumi laughed. "Now come on everybody!" he waved his hands and people started to step out on the newly made bridge.
At first a bit insecure. But soon it turned out the bridge was plenty solid and people relaxed as they walked across it to reach the massive stony gate opened by two earth benders.
The moment the last person was over the bridge. Bumi stamped his foot into the ground and the entire bridge collapsed again.
Zuko had to admit this was probably a better defense than any wall. The only way into the city now was either to get to the bottom of that massive fall and then crawl up a literate mountain or fly.
And yes the fire nation has their war balloons now, but they were easy target practise for a group of well trained earth benders.
As they entered the city Zukos first observation was indeed confirmed that the city itself was carved from the mountain. The houses and streets, all carved out and made of stone. It was easy to see what things had been more recent fire nation additions as the metal constructions seemed absolutely foreign for this city.
And then there was the people who ran out to get a look at the newcomers. And they all looked super happy.
Laughing and cheering. Children came running up and didn't even hesitate to run straight for Bumi who laughed as he picked them up and allowed the children to use him as their own private climbing tree and ride on his shoulders, back or just anywhere they could cling unto.
"HAHAHAHA!" Bumi laughed. "Now you all remembered to be good?"
"I smashed the Ozai statue they left in the library!" A kid lacking both his front teethes grinned.
"That deserves a medal!" Bumi grinned as he held the kid up using both hands.
"Candyyyy!" The kid pleaded and so did all the others.
"No… No! That always ends up with ten different angry women at my door!" Bumi exclaimed. "Your mothers are already not happy with me."
Then suddenly all the children started to make the largest puppy dog eyes you could imagine, you could tell they had done this a hundred times before. And obviously it always had the same result.
"Oh all right." Bumi sighed as he pulled out what looked like a single piece of rock candy but then as he waved his hand over it it started to grow. Soon he was holding a massive rock candy the seize of a boulder which he threw up into the air and then smashed as it came down again. Shattering it into hundred pieces of rock candy that rained down on the children who all laughed and cheered.
Katara smiled warmly by the sight of all the children, her eyes clearly glistening and Iroh seemed beyond delighted.
"Are you serious?" An older woman with long grey hair greeted them. "You are given them all tummy aches you know!"
"Aww. But Pumpkin. How can I say no?" Bumi asked and the old woman rolled her eyes. "They had such a hard time doing the occupation."
"That's no reason to ruin their teeth's dad!"
Katara halted. "You're…" she blinked.
"Oh this is my oldest daughter! Princess Jade!"
Zuko blinked. Honestly the woman looked older than Iroh but then again… Bumi was 112… And usually people would have children in their twenties, thirties and forties. And suddenly it occurred to zuko it wasn't at all far fetched that Bumi would have children whom were in their 80's! …. And he had just seen this man do earth bending more powerful than even Toph.
What was up with this guy? Was he even real?
"Pleasure." Princess Jade nodded at them. "We made rooms ready for you at the palace. Come this way please." she asked.
Katara was stunned as she walked beside Bumi. "I had no idea you had children."
"Why wouldn't I?" Bumi asked. "Sadly my dear wife has passed. But I have four wonderful children. Nine grand children and three great grand children!" he beamed.
"I'm… Sorry about your wife." Katara said.
"She was 92. We had a wonderful run if you ask me." Bumi simply stated. "But thank you."
Zuko was just trying to wrap his head around this. That was a lot of kids as far as he was concerned. But then again… Even Bumis grand kids would seem to all be adult too.
It really put it into perspective how old this guy was! He was old enough to remember Sozins reign!
…. Wow.
Zuko had been told that some very strong earth benders could grow to a very old age. They would grow very slow and steady like a mountain… Or something Iroh had said.
Princess Jade let them all to the big palace which was both the centre of the city but also at the highest point and made out the tip of the mountain itself.
"You must all be very tired." Bumi kindly addressed them. "There are rooms made ready for you and then something to eat. Though I fear that with our dear city closed off like this we simply must ration. So no big feasts."
"Thank you so much your majesty." Zuko spoke politely and Bumi grinned as they were all led to the guest chambers where people split up into groups.
Zuko was offered a private royal suite but declined and ended up sharing room with Katara, Ty-Lee, Haru and Zhau-Li. The five youngest people in the entire group.
Iroh on the other hand gracefully accepted a smaller private room while Jee and the Wani crew slept together.
The rest also very easily managed to split up without too much fuzz. Those who were refuges would eventually be relocated to houses out in the city while these guest rooms would be used for people important to the war Bumi was waiting for.
Zuko could only hope it would go well and everyone would meet up back here. It was a good plan. The city did indeed seem to be a very good spot for defence and regrouping!
So if the other groups would just get here soon…. Zuko really missed Mai. It was honestly a bit of a stab in the chest to think about her. He could only hope she would get here soon…. With Aang and Sokka of course… Oh and Hakoda and who-ever they managed to free at the boiling rock.
As the others settled in Zuko walked to the window and looked out to see the massive city spread out in front of him. "Wow." he breathed seeing the massive view and realizing just how high up they were!
"I know. Really incredible isn't it?" Katara asked in a smile.
"Why would the fire nation ever want to forcible change this?" Zuko asked as he leaned in the window frame.
"Narcissism." Katara replied very simply.
"Yeah. Makes sense they would get angry with the fire nation for adding factories to this place." Ty Lee commented.
"Omashu." Haru smiled. "It really lives up to the stories! It's amazing!" and Zhau-Li nodded.
"LET'S GO EXPLORE!" Ty-Lee shouted and they all turned to her. "Come on!" the girl exclaimed. "Just the five of us! Let's go out. Explore! Eat out! We earned it."
Zuko halted a bit then finally nodded. "You know what. Yeah let's do it." he said and Ty Lee cheered as she jumped up and down and the rest smiled.
Yeah, they deserved a night off for sure!