Dragon of Change

by windstorm16

No summary yet.

4. Chapter 4

Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll finally be seeing the Gaang appear as we head to Omashu, where we will be getting some major changes, and fair warning to everyone this chapter gets pretty dark and I'm pretty sure it's going to make a lot of you very angry with what happens, so don't say I didn't warn you. So, without further ado.

I own nothing

"The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it's really about: the destination." Sokka stated as he, Katara, Aang, Appa and Momo had made it through The Cave of Two Lovers.

Having travelled through the cave in order to reach Omashu, so Aang would get the chance to learn Earthbending from his old friend, King Bumi. All of them being relieved and happy to finally make it, after having dealt with General Fong, then getting lost in the cave. With Aang also being happy at seeing his friend again and being able to learn Earthbending from him.

"I present to you the Earth Kingdom city of O-" Said Sokka, holding his hand out to the city only for his eyes to widen, with Aang's and Katara's doing the same at the sight before them.

Seeing the Fire Nation banner hanging from the gates of the city, buildings that looked to be converted into factories releasing smoke into the air, metal bridges extending over the gorge, and what looked like a statue was being constructed at the very top of the city where the palace once was

"Oh no…" Sokka muttered in disbelief and despair at seeing Omashu has now fallen to the Fire Nation as well, with Aang walking forward with a shocked expression at what's happened.

"I can't believe it. I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed…untouchable." Said Aang, not believing that Omashu's already fallen and is under the Fire Nation's control.

Especially since they had been not too long ago, with the young Avatar starting to see just how far the war has spread across the Earth Kingdom.

"Up until now, it was. Now Ba Sing Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left." Said Sokka while crossing his arms, knowing with Omashu conquered, Ba Sing Se was the only thing left keeping the Fire Nation from controlling the entire world.

"This is horrible." Katara stated, walking up to Aang, sadden at seeing the city under the Fire Nation's control, but also knew they couldn't do anything.

"But we have to move on." Said Katara while turning towards Aang, knowing they needed to keep moving to find someone who can teach him Earthbending, otherwise the Fire Nation will just keep gaining more and more power.

"No, I'm going in to find Bumi." Aang said, refusing to leave his friend behind as a prisoner in his own city, making Katara and Sokka look at him in surprise that he wanted to go into the city.

"Aang, stop. We don't even know if Bumi's still…" Sokka said before stopping, not wanting to say it since Bumi is one of Aang's oldest and still living friends, but he also doubted the Fire Nation would keep the King of Omashu alive.

"What?! If he's still what?!" Demanded Aang, looking at Sokka while knowing what he was going to say, but refused to believe his friend is dead.

"A-around." Replied Sokka while looking away unsurely.

"I know you had your heart set on Bumi, but there are other people who can teach you Earthbending." Katara assured, believing there are plenty of other powerful Earthbenders that can teach him.

"This isn't about finding a teacher. This is about finding my friend." Aang stated before turning back to the city, not caring if he never finds an Earthbending Master, only caring about finding and saving his friend.

*Later*

Waiting until the sun started going down so they wouldn't be spotted, Aang had Appa bring them down to one of the cliffsides of Omashu, where a tunnel was.

"A secret passage? Why didn't we just use this last time?" Sokka asked in annoyance that Aang knew about a secret passage into the city, with the Avatar grunting as he tried prying the grating off with his staff.

Before finally getting it under the grating and jerked it off, revealing it was full of sewage, much to Sokka's disgust.

"Does that answer your question?" Asked Aang before flipping into the sewer tunnel, followed by Sokka and Katara.

Moving up and through the sewer, Aang created an air ball with his staff to clear a path through the sewage, while Katara used her Waterbending to maneuver the sewage around her. With Sokka being unable to do anything as he was continuously soaked in the sewage, while being further disgusted whenever it got in his mouth.

Luckily, it wasn't long before they arrived at an exit, with Aang releasing a burst of air at the sewer grate to loosen it, looking around to see if anyone was around. Seeing the coast was clear, Aang moved the grate aside and jumped out, with Katara climbing up after him.

"That wasn't as bad as I thought." Katara stated, having expected it to be much worse besides the smell, before they heard a groaning coming from the tunnel.

Looking, they saw Sokka climbing out, completely covered in sewage, making him look like a monster rising up. Before Katara spotted a barrel of water and bent the water, launching a stream of water at her brother that washed away all the sewage waste. With Aang swinging his staff, releasing a blast of wind that dried him off as well. Which also revealed three small, purple creatures on him, two of which being stuck to his cheeks and a third on the back of his neck.

"Ahh! They won't let go! Help!" Sokka screamed as he tried prying the creatures off, only to panic when they wouldn't come off, before he was suddenly tackled by Aang into a wall.

"Shh! Stop making so much noise. It's just a purple pentapus." Aang said to calm him down, with the non-bender looked at the pentapuses on his face in fear, feeling them sucking on his skin.

With the Avatar grabbing one and lightly scratching its head, causing the pentapus to remove its tentacles before Aang pulled it off, revealing red spots where its suckers were attached. Knowing how to remove them, Sokka hastily scratched the second one and pulled it off, as well.

"Hey!" Someone shouted, as Aang went to remove the third from Sokka's neck, the trio looking only to see three Fire Nation guards coming towards them.

Seeing this, Katara and Sokka quickly stood in front of Aang, while the Airbender wrapped a cloth around his head to hide his arrow.

"What are you kids doing out past curfew?" The lead guard demanded, narrowing his eyes at them suspiciously for being out this late.

"Sorry. We were just on our way home." Replied Katara before they turned and began walking away to avoid being questioned further, only for the guard to see the red spots on Sokka's neck from the pentapus.

"Wait, what's the matter with him?" Said the guard, making the kids stop while Katara glanced at her brothers neck, thinking of an idea to get the guards to leave.

"Uh, he has pentapox, sir." Katara said quickly, while turning Sokka around to show the other spots on his face, with the guard walking up to them, looking at Sokka closely before reaching to touch him to see if he was sick.

"Umm, it's highly contagious." Added Katara, causing the guard to pull his hand back before stepping back when Sokka began groaning.

"Oh, it's so awful! I'm dying!" Sokka groaned as if he was in complete pain while moving towards the guard, making him step back in fear.

"And deadly." Katara said, knowing that'll get them to leave, with the three guards now moving back, away from the "sick" and "dying" Sokka.

"Hey, I think I heard of pentapox! Didn't your cousin Chang die of it?" Said the guard while looking at another, making them all freak out as they kept backing away.

"We'd better go wash our hands and burn our clothes!" The second guard said before they ran away to avoid being infected, with Sokka coughing a few times before dropping the act.

"Thank you, sewer friends." Said Aang, smiling while scratching one of the pentapuses, knowing they now had a way to make sure the guards stayed away from them if they were spotted.

*Later*

Moving through the city, Aang, Katara and Sokka, along with Momo who joined them after Appa found a place to land outside the city. With the four of the moving to a higher level of the city, seeing all the scaffolding setup everywhere as the stone was slowly being replaced by metal. Before they quickly hid behind a pile of metal bars as a guard patrol walked past them.

"Let's find Bumi and get out of here." Katara said, not wanting to stay here any longer than they needed to and risk being found, doubting they'd be able to make it out of the city in one piece with all the Firebenders.

"Where would they be keeping him?" Questioned Sokka, wondering where they'd even keep someone like Bumi, with how powerful he was and the entire city being made of stone for him to bend.

"Somewhere he can't Earthbend. Somewhere made of metal." Aang replied, looking around the city, seeing any place that looked like it'd be where Bumi was being kept.

The group kept moving to find anywhere that was made entirely out of metal and where it'd be impossible for Bumi to Earthbend.

While unknown to them, on the level just below were three people and four guards, two following behind them and two in front. With one of them being Michi, the wife of the new Governor of Omashu, Ukano, and their two-year-old son Tom-Tom being carried in her arms, while the third was their daughter Mai.

Mai was a fifteen-year-old girl with fair skin, long black hair with some held in two small buns on either side of her head and two long strands that went over her shoulders, and tawny eyes. With her attire consisting of black, pointed shoes with the tips curving upward, a red robe with baggy sleeves, a black sash around her waist, a long maroon vest over it, and black fingerless gloves.

"There really is no fathoming the depths of my hatred for this place." Mai stated in her usual emotionless and bored tone, along with her expression not changing at all.

"Mai, your father was appointed governor. We're like royalty here. Be happy and enjoy it." Said Michi, wondering why her daughter wasn't happy at having an entire city under their control, even better that it's one as important as Omashu.

The group being unaware that two levels above them, several boulders were sitting in one of the mail delivery chutes, ready to be pushed down right towards them.

With Mai rolling her eyes at her mother's words, finding it hard to enjoy being in a city where no one liked them, along with finding it boring and plain.

"I thought my life was boring in the Fire Nation, but this place is unbearably bleak. Nothing ever happens." Said Mai, finding she hated that part the most, that nothing ever happened and all she could do was be the perfect, well-behaved daughter of the governor.

On the level above them, the Gaang were walking past them completely unnoticed, before they stopped when they heard what sounded like stones rolling across the ground. Looking around, Aang's eyes widened when he saw two boulders rolling down one of the chutes. Before spotting Mai and her mother walking past, knowing if nothing was done they'd be crushed.

Not caring if they were from the Fire Nation, Aang didn't hesitate to swing his staff the moment the boulders rolled past him. Unleashing a powerful blast of air that shattered the boulders, saving them, but also alerting them to the sound. With the guards tensing and held up the lanterns to see what the noise was, seeing the dust cloud created from the destroyed boulders.

While Mai narrowed her eyes and saw Aang standing on the ledge, with the Avatar glancing down at them, realizing he just blew their cover.

"The resistance!" Michi said in worry, thinking it was an attack from the resistance, with Mai gaining a faint smile at now getting the chance to do something.

Moving forward, Mai threw her hands out, launching multiple stilettos at Aang, who quickly jumped on top of a stack of wood, which the stilettos buried themselves into. With the Gaang quickly running away to avoid being caught, while two of the guards climbed up the ladders to chase after them. Stopping for a moment, Katara pulled some water out of her pouch and launched it at the guards, throwing them off the ledge.

While Mai was able to get up to them and rushed at Katara, holding her hand out and launching more stilettos at the Waterbender. Causing Katara to quickly move the water in front of her and freeze it, with the stilettos burying themselves within the shield of ice, with Katara running after Aang and Sokka as Mai jumped over the ice shield and continuing pursuing them.

Running past a scaffolding, Aang waited until Katara reached them before urging her to keep running, then waited until Mai was close enough. Once the ravenette was, Aang spun in the air and swing his staff down at the scaffolding with a sweep of wind, causing it to come crashing down between him and Mai. Gritting her teeth at seeing the scaffolding come down, Mai slipped one of her double-sided knives into her hand and threw it, having the knife ricochet off the wall towards Aang.

With the Avatar hearing the impact and seeing the knife coming towards him, before he quickly started spinning his staff as the knife impaled it, much to his surprise at how close it came to his head. Looking back at Mai on the other side of the collapsed scaffolding, Aang readied himself as she threw more knives at the group.

Only for the ground to suddenly slide open underneath Aang, Katara, and Sokka, causing them to fall into the hole before it was then sealed up as Mai's knives stabbed into the ground.

'Well so much for that.' Mai thought, sighing in disappointment at the chase ending before turning back to go check on her mother and brother to make sure they're alright.

*With Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Momo*

Meanwhile, the Gaang landed in an underground tunnel, holding their heads and feeling disoriented the sudden drop. Before looking up to see themselves surrounded by citizens of Omashu and three soldiers standing in front of them, who looked ready to attack.

"Woah! Easy, we're on your side!" Sokka said, holding his hands up, only for the Earthbenders to glare at them.

"Your actions say differently! You saved the governor's family when we were going to take them out!" Retorted the lead soldier, making Aang frown at him.

"Of course I saved them! They were innocent people and I wasn't just going to let them die!" Said Aang before raising his staff when the Earthbender stomped his foot on the ground, causing several rocks to shoot up into the air.

"Then that just means you're siding with the Fire Nation!" The soldier said with the other Earthbenders getting to attack, while Aang and Sokka got ready to defend themselves before Katara got between them.

"Please, can we all just calm down?! We are not with the Fire Nation! I'm Katara, this is my brother Sokka, and this Aang the-" Said Katara, thinking they didn't know who they were if they were acting like this.

"I know who you are!" Said the Earthbender cutting her off, before reluctantly lowering the rocks while motioning the other Earthbenders to do the same.

"I'm Captain Yung of Omashu's army and second-in-command of King Bumi, or at least I was until the Fire Nation captured the city. I've been working to expel them from Omashu and we would have finally gotten an advantage against Governor Ukano by taking out his family, if you hadn't interfered!" Yung said, narrowing his eyes at Aang, who flinched at the glare along with seeing how some of the other resistance members were looking at him.

"I…I couldn't just let them die, no matter who they are or where they came from." Said Aang, only for Yung to scoff before turning around and began walking down the tunnel.

"Tell that to the people the Fire Nation are imprisoning for breaking their new laws or those that can't even leave their homes anymore, with how they're basically turning the entire city into a giant prison. Make no mistake, I only had you three saved because of your friendship with King Bumi and how important the Avatar is to the war effort against the Fire Nation. Even if it seems you don't care to actually make an effort to strike back against them." Retorted Yung, making the Avatar flinch again at the accusations, not used to actually being hated like that, especially from those who support him.

'Or used too, I guess.' Thought Aang, lowering his head, with Katara putting a hand on his shoulder before frowning at Yung.

"You can't blame Aang for wanting to help people, that's what the Avatar is supposed to do, and he has to master the other elements before he can do anything against the Fire Nation." Katara said in Aang's defense, with Sokka nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, he's doing the best he can. And in case you haven't heard, he did help save the Northern Water Tribe and take out an entire fleet of Fire Nation ships." Added Sokka, though mentally, he did somewhat agree with the resistance in wanting to drive the Fire Nation out of Omashu.

If that meant needing to use a few dirty tactics, then maybe that's what was needed to get the job done if they were going to take down the Fire Nation. Though he didn't say it out loud, knowing how his sister and friend would react.

"Oh we've heard what happened, but it seems he's now refusing to utilize that same power to save Omashu as well, despite claiming to be a friend of King Bumi." Yung retorted as they soon arrived in an underground cave filled with refugees they managed to save, with Aang flinching again.

"So, is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance?" Questioned Aang, hoping to see a friendlier face here, only for the captain to clench his fists angrily.

"Of course not! On the day of the invasion, we readied ourselves for battle. We were prepared to defend our city…to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered." Revealed Yung, much to Aang's shock and concern that his friend would surrender without a fight.

"The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do. He looked me in the eye and said…"I'm going to do…nothing". Nothing?! King Bumi chose to surrender himself and the city to the Fire Nation!" Yung said in anger at Bumi choosing to surrender and let himself be taken prisoner, rather than try fighting.

"It doesn't matter now, though. Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom. And if we die, then we'll make sure to take as many of them down with us!" Said Yung, with the other resistance members nodding in agreement, making the Avatar lower his head sadly that they'd choose to die taking their enemies down with them, before perking up as he got an idea.

"Actually there's another path to freedom. You could leave Omashu. You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation. But you're outnumbered. You can't win. Now's the time to retreat, so you can live to fight another day." Aang said, knowing this way they'd be able to get out the city and better plan out how they'll fight the Fire Nation to take back Omashu.

Hoping that even if they don't like him for thwarting their assassination attempt, they'd at least understand prioritizing the safety of the citizens over the city itself.

"Absolutely not! You expect us to just abandon our home?! To let the Fire Nation win by driving us out?!" Demanded Yung angry at the idea of abandoning Omashu, with the other resistance members sharing his anger.

"You already stopped us from damaging the governors control over the city! Now you're trying to get us to leave?!" A resistance member said, also angry at Aang stopping their assassination attempt.

"I bet the Avatar is working with the Fire Nation if he's so eager for us to just leave and let them take the city!" Said another resistance member.

With Aang looking at them in shock and worry that they'd really refuse to leave the city and think he was working with the Fire Nation. Flinching when he saw the refugees muttering amongst themselves, looking divided on the idea of getting to safety and refusing to leave Omashu.

"Please! I don't want the Fire Nation here anymore than any of you, but the important thing is making sure everyone is safe! You should at least want to get the civilians out of here, so nothing happens to them!" Aang said pleadingly, knowing if he can't convince everyone to leave, them he at least wanted to get the non-combatants out of the city.

"Aang is right. Your first duty is to protect the citizens of Omashu, that means making sure they aren't inside the city where they can get hurt. If you want to stay and keep fighting the Fire Nation so badly, then fine. But the least you can do is help get them out." Katara said in agreement at getting the non-combatants out of the city.

"It would give you the chance to focus entirely on the Fire Nation, with the citizens safely out of the city. That way, there wouldn't be any worry of them getting caught in the middle of the fighting." Sokka added, knowing that's something that should help change their minds.

Yung frowned at this before looking over at the refugees, seeing how many of them weren't fighters and would be caught in the crossfire if nothing was done.

"…Fine! But that's still thousands of citizens that need to leave. How're we going to get them all out?" Yung said, relenting to the compromise, but knew it wouldn't be easy to get all the non-combatants out of the city.

"Suckers!" Declared Sokka with a grin, getting confused looks from everyone at what he meant.

"You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox." Sokka clarified, with Aang's and Katara's eyes widening in realization before smiling at what his plan was.

*Timeskip-One Day*

The next day, Sokka and Katara had managed to make all the citizens look like they were infected with "pentapox" after finding and gathering enough purple pentapuses. Before directing them to leave the city while acting sick, scaring away any guards in there way, who hastily had the gates opened to let the "infected" people out of the city before they could be infected as well. While Aang stayed behind to search for Bumi, along with being able find and to free his pet goat gorilla Flopsie during the confusion.

With the two searching the entire city for the rest of the day, only to fail to find where Bumi was located, leading to them sneaking out of the city to meet up with the evacuated citizens. Both of them feeling downcast at failing to find their friend, before being greeted by Sokka and Katara when they arrived.

"We looked everywhere. No Bumi." Aang said sadly, with Flopsie moaning sadly at not finding Bumi, while Katara hugged the Avatar and Sokka hugged the goat gorilla to cheer them up.

"We've got a problem. We just did a head count." Said Yung, walking up to them, having followed them via a tunnel to ensure nothing went wrong, making the Gaang look at him in worry.

"Oh no. Did someone get left behind?" Katara asked, worried that someone got left behind during the evacuation.

"No, we have an unwanted extra." Yung replied, pointing to Momo as the Gaang's eyes widening at seeing Tom-Tom holding onto the flying lemur's neck.

*Later*

After setting up a fire, the Gaang kept Tom-Tom with them, seeing how none of the refugees looked happy about a Fire Nation baby being with them. While Tom-Tom kept trying to catch Momo, with the flying lemur quickly jumping away before Tom-Tom's attention turned to Sokka's club. Falling down, the baby looked at curiously before picking it up and began suckling on it, only for Sokka to take it away.

"No! Bad Fire Nation baby!" Sokka scolded, refusing to let his weapons be used by anyone from the Fire Nation, with Tom-Tom looking at him upset at having the club taken away before he began crying.

Katara looked at the crying baby before narrowing her eyes at her brother and whacked him across the face, only for Sokka to cross his arms defiantly.

"Hit me all you like Katara, I'm not putting my weapons in the hands of anyone from the Fire Nation." Stated Sokka, surprising the Waterbender that he was going against her.

"Here you go little guy." Said Aang, handing Tom-Tom his staff, making the baby smile at having a new "toy", with Katara smiling at the Avatar before hugging Tom-Tom.

"Oooh, you're so cute!" Katara cooed before kissing his cheek.

"Yeah, he's real cute. I'm sure he'll be so much cuter when he's older and joins the Fire Nation army, becoming a killer just like the rest of them." Stated Yung, knowing he'll be a killer like the rest of the Fire Nation.

"Does that look like the face of a killer to you?" Questioned Katara picking Tom-Tom up to show Yung, knowing that he may be from the Fire Nation, but she doubted he would be like the rest of them.

While the Earthbender looked at the baby indifferently, only seeing the soldier and killer he'll grow up to become.

"I'm sure Fire Lord Sozin, Azulon and Ozai were all babies, and look at what they turned into. That kid won't be any different, just another killer in a long line of them." Yung said, making Aang and Katara frown that he'd compare Tom-Tom to the Fire Lords.

Before their attention turned to the sky when they heard a shriek, seeing a messenger hawk flying towards them before landing on a rock.

"A messenger hawk?!" Yung said, tensing at the sight of the bird, wondering if it was a trap, with Aang going over and took the message from the hawk, unrolling it to see who it was from.

"It's from the Fire Nation governor. He thinks we kidnapped his son. So…he wants to make a trade. His son for King Bumi!" Said Aang in shock that the governor would be willing to hand over Bumi in exchange for his son, with the others being shocked as well.

"You're kidding right?! They'd hand over a powerful Earthbending King for a baby?!" Sokka said in disbelief that they'd make such a trade before wincing when Katara smacked him again.

"Sokka! It's not just a baby, it's his son! Of course the governor would do anything to get him back!" Katara said before turning back to Aang.

"Are you going to take the deal?" Questioned Katara, with the Avatar immediately nodding as he was already writing a reply.

"Of course I'm going to! The governor wants his son back and we're not just going to keep as a hostage or anything! And this way we also get Bumi back, both sides will get what they want." Aang replied as went and gave the reply to the messenger hawk, which took off back to Omashu.

"I don't agree with bargaining with the Fire Nation, but as long as they hand over King Bumi, they can take the kid back." Said Yung, only caring about retrieving Bumi while also seeing this as their chance to deal with the Fire Nation invaders as well, a chance he wasn't going to pass up.

*Timeskip-One Day*

*Omashu*

The next day Naruto, Azula, Ty Lee, June and several members of Naruto's forces had arrived in Omashu to recruit Mai, as well as meet with Governor Ukano. With Azula being annoyed when Naruto had stopped her from being carried on her palanquin.

"I don't understand why I should waste time walking when I have a palanquin for a reason." Azula said in annoyance at needing to walk.

"Because it's a waste of time and energy to carry something like that around. And on the more practical side, it lets you be more aware of your surroundings and prepared in the event of an attack." Replied Naruto, making the Fire Princess scowl in annoyance.

"Lighten up Princess, you should enjoy the exercise more. We wouldn't want to have to squeeze you into your wedding dress, now would we?" June said with a smirk, with Azula glaring murderously at her.

"Did you just call me fat?!" Demanded Azula, wishing she could create lightning to vaporize her, while the bounty hunter shrugged nonchalantly.

"You said it, not me. Though now that you mention it…" Said June trailing off, with Azula growling lowly.

"I don't think she's fat. The wittle princess is just used to being carried around like a wittle baby." One of the soldiers said in a mocking baby voice, making Azula turn to them while seeing who spoke, one of the few soldiers Naruto brought that stood out.

With it being a seventeen-year-old girl with fair skin, short black hair and distinctly pink eyes, which are accentuated by her eyelashes running upwards at the corners. The girl wearing custom green and black armor showing she's one of the Earthbenders in Naruto's army, with the armor also having painted red cracks on it, that looked to glow in certain light.

Having learned the girl's name was Kurotsuchi, one of the captains in Naruto's forces and a skilled Earthbender, at least from what Azula's heard. Along with seeming to never pass up a chance to taunt people or make sarcastic remarks. Something that grated on the Fire Princess's nerves, whenever she targeted her.

The only other soldiers that really stood out was another Earthbender named Chōji Akimichi, as well as two Waterbenders named Ino Yamanaka and Haku Yuki. The latter two having rather unique looks for Waterbenders, as both of them have fair skin with Ino also having light blue eyes and platinum blonde hair, while Haku has black hair and brown eyes.

And despite her prejudice against Earthbenders and Waterbenders, Azula has managed to observe their training a few times and would, begrudgingly, admit they were rather skilled.

"Kurotsuchi." Naruto said while looking at the Earthbender sternly, with the pink-eyed soldier raising her hands in surrender, though gave Azula one last smirk.

With the group soon arriving at the palace, where Mai stood to greet them, bowing slightly to Azula.

"Please tell me you're here to kill me." Mai said hopefully, before gaining a slight smile when she looked at Azula, only to lose it at seeing her current state.

The Fire Princess looking better after the circus show and Ty Lee's own performance, she still looked tired and drained of energy. Along with feeling that her inner fire was still dwindling, despite her efforts to regain her bending's former strength.

Mai and Azula soon laughed at her remark and hugged each other.

"It's great to see you, Mai." Azula said sincerely, getting a raised brow from the knife-thrower before hugging Ty Lee as, well when she rushed forward.

"I thought you ran off and joined the circus. You said it was your calling." Said Mai, not expecting to see Ty Lee leave the circus after running away from home.

"Well I thought it was time for a career change and I wasn't going to miss the chance to see my best friends again." Ty Lee replied, happy that they're all together again.

"Right. General Naruto." Mai said while nodding towards Naruto, who returned it.

"A pleasure to meet you, I've heard about you from Azula and Ty Lee on the way here, along with your skills in using knives. Though if you don't mind me asking, why does it seem like the city is abandoned?" Naruto asked, having noticed how empty Omashu was on the way to the palace.

"Everyone got sick with some dumb disease called pentapox and my dad had them all removed from the city. But apparently it was just a cover and the resistance here kidnapped my little brother." Replied Mai, making Naruto frown while Azula scowled in annoyance.

"All of you spread out and search the city. Meet back here once you've finished searching." Naruto ordered while turning to his soldiers, wanting them to get a good layout of the city and see where this resistance was hiding, with all of them bowing before they began spreading throughout the city.

"Take us to your parents." Azula said, annoyed at the governor basically emptying the city of potential hostages, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.

*Later*

Mai had taken them into the palace throne room, with Azula taking the throne of Omashu for herself and waited until Ukano and Michi arrived. Having them explain what happened and how the "plague" had appeared within the city.

"I apologize. You've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back." Ukano said, having not expected the Fire Princess and a High General to arrive, otherwise he would have put together a proper welcome.

"Yes, I'm sorry to hear about your son. But really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?" Said Azula before standing up and glaring at the governor.

"My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things!" Azula said, with Ukano and Michi bowing lowly to the ravenette.

"Forgive me, Princess." Said Ukano, with Naruto putting a hand on Azula's shoulder and stepped forward.

"Let this be a lesson for yourself and your men, governor. If you all had actually taken the time to look into things, you'd know that there is no such thing as pentapox. Which doesn't even sound real, with a foolish name like that." Naruto stated, with Ukano nodding.

"Yes, General Naruto. I swear I'll not fall for such tricks again." Ukano replied, only to lower his head again when Azula stepped forward.

"If you remain in power for that long! Because of your foolishness, the city is now empty and the resistance here will be free to attack without concern!" Stated Azula, only to be pulled back again by Naruto.

"But it's also understandable that you haven't learned everything there is to know about Omashu and its surrounding land, leaving you unaware if such a disease did in fact exist. I've encountered enemy resistances and rebellions that also utilized such tactics, faking an illness in order to sneak around uninterrupted or causing chaos among their enemies they've "infected". So I'm sure you'll strive to study up on the lands you govern, so such a things doesn't happen again." Added Naruto, with Ukano quickly nodding in agreement, thankful the High General was being more forgiving than the Fire Princess.

"As for the hostage exchange, you, your wife and Mai will handle it. While Azula, June, Ty Lee and myself will join you to ensure no further tricks happen. My forces and your guards will also be on standby in the event the resistance tries going back on the agreement." Naruto said, much to Ukano's and Michi's gratitude and relief at having help to get their son back.

Plus with the resistances willingness to try and assassinate Mai, Michi and Tom-Tom simply to get at Ukano. And how they would be dead if it hadn't been for the Avatar's interference, given how Mai said he was able to knock over a scaffolding by just swinging a staff, showing he's an Airbender. It made Naruto rather concerned if they might try another attack during the exchange.

"One last order of business. There is no more Omashu. I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the city of New Ozai!" Said Azula with a smirk, pleased at the new name of the city.

"We're not renaming Omashu, let alone renaming it something that stupid." Naruto immediately said, making the ravenette's head snap towards him.

"Why not?!" Azula demanded in annoyance.

"For starters, it's pointless to rename the city when Omashu is just fine." Naruto stated, with the others nodding in agreement.

"New Ozai also sounds kind of…egocentric. I mean, a comet is understandable since that's done almost all the time, but a city. " Added Ty Lee, also not wanting the city named after the Fire Lord.

"And like Foxy said, it's a stupid name. Not to mention unoriginal, honestly Princess, try to be a little more creative." June stated with a mocking smirk.

"Azula, I already hated this city, please don't give me another reason to hate it even more." Said Mai, not thinking she could hate Omashu any more than she already did, but if it was called New Ozai then she'd be tempted to throw herself into the gorge around it.

"I…actually rather like the name Omashu and the history behind it, it's a rather romantic tale." Michi said nervously at disagreeing with the Fire Princess, but couldn't say New Ozai was a good name.

"Forgive me Princess, but it is rather…lackluster for such a grand city and one of the last Earth Kingdom strongholds." Said Ukano as even with his loyalty to Ozai, he couldn't say it was a good name either.

"Alright! F-fi-fine, the city will remain Omashu!" Azula said, crossing her arms while looking away in embarrassment at how no one thought the new name was good, while considering it unimaginative and lackluster.

"I believe that's everything. We'll meet up again, when it's time for the hostage exchange." Said Naruto, taking mercy on his fiancée and dismissing everyone, with Ukano, Michi and June all taking their leave, leaving Naruto, Azula, Ty Lee and Mai.

With the knife-thrower looking at her friends and the High General with a raised brow, upon seeing how close Naruto and Azula seemed to be. Given how Mai knew if anyone else had spoken against Azula, they would be incinerated on the spot.

"So, mind telling me why you are all here to begin with? And what's wrong with you?" Mai asked, looking at Azula, who frowned in annoyance.

"A lot's happened." Muttered Azula as she tried creating a fireball in her hand, surprising Mai upon seeing her fire wasn't blue anymore and how quickly it fizzled out.

The trio began filling Mai in on everything that happened, mostly Naruto and Azula while Ty Lee told her about when they recruited her from the circus, along with the show she put on for the Fire Princess. Which Azula furiously denied enjoying or that she even wanted to see it at all. Surprising Mai once again at seeing that Azula wasn't even being serious, being able to tell she seemed to genuinely appreciate what they did for her. Not thinking she'd ever see her friend acting like this, even more so that she's engaged to Naruto.

Though Mai did feel upset at the Fire Lord for what he's done to Azula, as despite how she acted and treated them at times, Azula was still their friend. And despite her own emotionless and stoic personality, Mai did want to try and help her.

"So, you're hunting the Avatar." Mai stated once they told her the reason they came to Omashu.

"That's right, and both of you have the skills we could use to capture him." Replied Azula, with Mai immediately nodding.

"Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place. But we can leave after my brother's safe." Said Mai, eager for the chance to get out of Omashu, but wanted to wait until her brother was safe.

"That's acceptable. And something tells me, we won't have time to capture the Avatar here once the trade has been made, they'll likely have an escape planned when they have King Bumi back." Naruto said, with the girls nodding in agreement, though Azula was annoyed that they wouldn't be able to capture the Avatar today.

*Later*

Once it came time for the hostage exchange, Naruto, Azula, Ty Lee, Mai, June, Ukano and Michi headed up to the almost-finished statue of Fire Lord Ozai, which was surrounded by scaffolding, where the exchange would take place. With several guards and Naruto's forces being around the area, staying out of sight and waiting for any sign of treachery.

With Aang, Katara and Sokka already waiting for them with the latter holding Tom-Tom, allowing Aang and Katara the chance to jump into action if this was a trick. The trio tensing as they looked at June with wide eyes.

"It's the crazy bounty hunter that was working with Zuko!" Said Sokka, not expecting to see June here as well.

"What're you doing here?! Are you trying to capture us again?!" Katara demanded, narrowing her eyes at the woman, while remembering how she used her necklace to track them.

"You kiddies can relax, I'm not after you…today, anyway. Can't say anything about tomorrow, or maybe an hour from now. You did hurt my precious Nyla and I'm known to hold a grudge." June said while putting a hand on her whip, before scowling in annoyance.

"That's without counting getting paralyzed and having to deal with Creepy Uncle Lazy acting like a pervert and hitting on me the entire time, until it wore off! Even longer when he kept pretending to be paralyzed! So, I can say you're pretty high on my shit list, right now." Added June, also upset at having to deal with Iroh holding her the entire time and trying to flirt with her.

The latter comment making Naruto and Azula cover their faces in embarrassment at what Iroh had done.

'The man who would have been Fire Lord and called The Dragon of the West…I don't even know why I bother anymore.' Azula thought, embarrassed at what her uncle had done.

"Are all wise old men secretly perverts? Because so far, I've found nothing to disprove it." Said Naruto, pinching the bridge of his nose, while the Gaang looked sheepish at the part about Iroh.

Along with Aang and Katara thinking about Gyatso and Pakku from Naruto's statement, before furiously shaking their heads, not wanting to think about it.

"Enough of this! Have you brought my son?!" Said Ukano, wanting to make sure they brought Tom-Tom, with Aang nodding as Sokka stepped forward and showed them Tom-Tom.

"Tom-Tom!" Michi said in relief, wanting to run forward and grab her son, but restrained herself.

"He's here! We're ready to trade!" Aang replied, with Ukano nodding before motioning the crane operator with a metal coffin-like cage being lowered down, as the Gaang heard a familiar laughter and snort.

"Hi, everybody!" Said Bumi, the cage turned revealing only his face was uncovered, showing his large grin, with Aang smiling in relief at seeing his friend while Naruto narrowed his eyes at the king.

'This guy's either as crazy as they say or…he's using Neutral Jing.' Thought Naruto, realizing why Bumi had surrendered the city and himself without a fight, he was waiting for the perfect moment to strike that wouldn't end in the city being damaged or his people dying.

'I'll give him one thing, he's a mad genius.' Naruto thought, feeling great respect for Bumi since he had no way of knowing he'd even be spared or executed, yet took the risk anyway.

"I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?" Azula said once Bumi was lowered to the ground, making everyone look at her.

"What is it Princess Azula?" Said Michi in worry, hoping she didn't do anything that'd stop them from getting their son back.

"We're trading a two year old for a king. A powerful, Earthbending king?" Stated Azula while looking at Bumi, who nodded his head in agreement with a grin, before Naruto put a hand on her shoulder.

"I know what you're trying to do and we're going through with the exchange." Naruto said sternly, making the Fire Princess narrow her eyes at him.

"You really want to just hand over a powerful Earthbender to the Avatar? Why not just start training him yourself then!" Azula retorted, not believing he'd want to go through with the trade, even if it meant the Avatar would be getting such a powerful Earthbender as his teacher.

"Azula, if you can't keep your word, then no one will ever believing anything you have to say. And I always keep my word. So be quiet." Said Naruto, with Azula looking at him in annoyance, but relented and motioned Ukano and Michi to continue the trade, much to their relief.

"Is there a problem?!" Aang asked, worried at what was going on.

"No! No problem, you'll return our son to us then we shall turn King Bumi over to you!" Said Ukano as he and Michi walked forward, with the Gaang doing the same.

But before they could get close enough to return Tom-Tom, several large boulders were launched into the air towards them, much to everyone's shock. Before Aang quickly swung his staff, releasing a blast of wind that destroyed the boulders, only for more to appear.

"What's the meaning of this?! We had a deal!" Ukano said, quickly grabbing his wife and moving back to avoid being hit by the boulders.

"This isn't us!" Katara said quickly, shaking her head that they were involved before their eyes widened as Yung and the rest of the resistance slid up on large stone platforms with several boulders on them, much to everyone's horror.

"For Omashu and King Bumi!" Yung cried out as he and the resistance began launching boulders at the Fire Nation group, who all moved out of the way.

"No! No, not for King Bumi! King Bumi wants you all to stop, right now!" Said Bumi, shaking his head at his men, not wanting them to do this.

"Captain Yung! Stop this, we were going to get Bumi back!" Aang said, jumping in front of Yung and his men, only for his eyes to widen when they launched boulders at him as well.

"The Avatar has betrayed us! Take him down along with the rest of the Fire Nation scum!" Said Yung, thrusting his fist forward, launching a boulder at Aang who opened up his glider and flew into the air to avoid it.

"We've been betrayed!" Naruto shouted before launching a blast of fire into the air, the signal to the guards and his forces to attack, with the guards rushing out and unleashing jets of fire at the resistance.

Not believing what's happening, Aang flew into the air towards Bumi's cage as it was being lifted into the air, still wanting to at least save his friend. Only to cry out when a wave of fire blocked him, before freaking out when he saw Naruto propelling himself towards him. The High General flipping in the air, releasing an arc of flames at the Avatar, forcing him to fly away to avoid them, with Naruto pursuing him.

"Mom, dad! Get somewhere safe, now!" Said Mai, throwing some knives at the resistance members pinning them down, before she and Ty Lee rushed towards Katara and Sokka to get Tom-Tom while Ukano and Michi nodded before they ran to hide by the scaffolding.

"Same goes to you Princess! I don't think Foxy would be happy if you died! Nyla!" June called out while grabbing her whip before whistling, with Nyla leaping up from a lower level, roaring as he tackled some resistance members before striking them with his tongue, paralyzing them.

With June cracking her whip at an Earthbender when they tried attacking her shirshu, wrapping her whip around their neck before pulling them in close, slamming her foot into their head. Before pulling out several Shirshu-spit darts and threw them at more members of the resistance, paralyzing them as well.

'I hate this!' Azula thought, scowling as she was forced to stay back, knowing she can't do much without her bending.

"We've got to get the baby out of here!" Katara said to Sokka, not wanting the baby to get hurt with all the fighting going on around them, while Sokka was blowing on the bison whistle to call Appa.

"Way ahead of ya!" Replied Sokka before blowing the whistle again, while keeping Tom-Tom from trying to grab it.

Katara and Sokka then started running to the edge as Mai and Ty Lee ran after them, the ravenette launching several stilettos at the siblings. With Katara quickly pulling water out of her pouch, breaking a few wooden boards, and lifted them into the air, blocking the stilettos from piercing her face. Before launching the boards at Mai, only to notice that Ty Lee was gone.

Looking back, the Waterbenders eyes widened when she saw her brother trip and go skidding across the ground, coming close to falling off the ledge. With Ty Lee jumping up from a lower level, having struck Sokka in his foot to trip him, the acrobat then running towards him to get Tom-Tom. Only to cry out when Katara wrapped her water whip around her leg, pulling her back. Giving Sokka time to get back up and ran to a ladder to climb down.

"Tom-Tom!" Michi cried out in worry at seeing her son being taken away, not caring about the danger as she ran to get him.

"Michi! Don't go out there!" Said Ukano, running after his wife, fearful of her getting injured or worse.

Only for his eyes to widen as he saw more boulders being launched into the air, the governor quickly running and grabbing his wife, pulling her back towards the scaffolding.

"No! Let go, we have to get Tom-Tom before they-AH!" Screamed Michi when one of the boulders crashed through the scaffolding, forcing the couple to keep moving as more boulders crashed down around them.

The two looking around fearfully as they had to keep changing the direction they were going as more boulders crashed down around them. Before their eyes widened as the scaffolding started coming down from the damage to it, crying out when a metal bar fell on top of them. Which got Mai's attention, the girls eyes widening when she saw her parents pinned down under the collapsing scaffolding.

"Mom! Dad!" Mai shouted, rushing to go and help them, only to be forced to jump back when a resistance member launched a boulder at her before stomping on the ground, creating stone pillar that rushed towards the knife-thrower.

Jumping out of the way, Mai launched several stilettos at the resistance member, pinning them to the ground before turning back towards her parents. Only for her eyes to widen in horror as the scaffolding completely fell down, right on top of them.

"NO!" Screamed Mai in horror at her parents being crushed, with the fighting momentarily stopping from the sudden crash.

The Fire Nation side and Gaang looking in shock and horror at what just happened, with Tom-Tom crying out in Sokka's arms, tears in his eyes and trying to reach out to where his parents were.

"Oh man." Sokka muttered, not believing what just happened, with Katara covering her mouth in horror.

"No…" Aang muttered in horror, not wanting this to happen.

"We did it men! The governor is dead, now it's time to drive the rest of the Fire Nation from-GAH!" Yung said to rally the resistance members only to cry out when a knife was buried in his shoulder, with Mai glaring at him murderously with tears in her eyes.

"You want this city so much?! Then you can die in it!" Exclaimed Mai while throwing multiple knives at Yung and the resistance members, everyone being aimed at their heads, throats, or hearts, most of them finding their mark and killing several resistance members while others were lucky to get out of the way.

"Katara! We need to-" Sokka said, knowing they needed to get out of here more than ever, only to be cutoff when he was suddenly ensnared by several water tendrils, with one grabbing Tom-Tom, pulling him towards one of Naruto's Waterbenders, much to Katara's shock at seeing Waterbenders.

"What?! Waterbenders, what're they-" Said Katara, only to be forced to raise a shield of ice when dozens of ice spikes were launched at her by Haku.

"Get the baby out of here, now!" Haku ordered the Waterbender, who nodded before creating a wave of water to ride away with Tom-Tom.

"What're you doing?! We're one your side!" Katara said, not believing they were being attacked by Waterbenders, only for Haku to wave her arms pulling water out of the air and freezing it into ice claws on her fingers which she launched at Katara.

"Yet you broke your end of the deal and now Governor Ukano and his wife are dead. I don't see how any of you are on my side." Stated Haku, much to Katara's shock before she moved out of the way of the ice claws.

"You're with the Fire Nation?! But they destroyed the Southern Water Tribe, attacked the Northern Water Tribe, tried to kill the Moon Spirit!" Said Katara, launching a water whip at Haku, only for her to pull more water from the air, creating several water rings that sliced through her water whip.

"All of which was done by men who are now dead." Haku retorted before creating several ice spears she launched at Katara, with the Southern Waterbender creating an ice shield, blocking the spears.

"The Fire Nation is still evil! They've been trying to control the world for a hundred years, just look at what they did to Omashu!" Katara argue, only to gasp when a water tendril wrapped around her neck from behind and slammed her into the ground.

"Yet you're the ones that betrayed us. You were going to get King Bumi back, but instead you attacked us. Now that baby you seemed so eager to protect is an orphan along with his sister. I think you're confusing who's evil here. And for the record, General Naruto's treated us with nothing but kindness, respect, and fairness. All of which we've returned and have no intention of betraying." Said Ino before rotating her hands and sent Katara skidding across the ground.

Getting up, Katara looked at the two Waterbenders nervously, with Haku forming ice needles in between her fingers, while Ino covered her arms in water that split into multiple tendrils. But before they could attack, Katara gasped in pain when she was struck several times in her back and her arms, knocking her back, showing Ty Lee behind her.

"That was for Mai." Ty Lee said as she glared at Katara, who quickly tried creating a water whip only to be terrified when she saw she couldn't bend.

Moving out of the way when Ino stabbed her water tendrils down where she was, Katara began running as quickly as she could, knowing she's helpless against them without her bending.

Meanwhile, the resistance members were now being pushed back as Mai didn't let up in taking them down with her knives and stilettos. Along with pulling out her foldable sai and stabbing any Earthbenders that got too close. The ravenette not letting up in killing as many of the resistance members as she could.

"She's just one girl! Attack her all at once!" Yung shouted, rallying the resistance before they all stomped on the ground, creating several stone pillars.

The Earthbenders punched the pillars, launching multiple earth disks at Mai, who ducked and dodged around them while still throwing her knives and stilettos. Only to grit her teeth when one of the disks connected with her shoulder, feeling it dislocate her arm. With the resistance members doubling their efforts, breaking the pillars down and unleashing a barrage of rock fragments at Mai.

But before the fragments could hit Mai, a massive boulder fell down in front of her blocking them, with the boulder then suddenly began spinning around. The sight shocking the resistance members, before they were forced to move out of the way when the boulder began launching rocks at them. Only for the boulder to start chasing them down and continue launching rocks that shattered bones on impact. Before suddenly, someone burst out of the boulder into the air, letting out a shout as they descended and slammed their fists down on the boulder. The impact caused the boulder to exploded, unleashing a hail of rocks at the resistance members.

With the person being revealed to be Chōji, who slammed his fists into the ground, pulling them back up showing they were now covered in large rocks gauntlets.

"Come on! I'll take you all down!" Chōji shouted, swinging his fists around, releasing rocks spikes at the resistance members.

"An Earthbender?!" Said Yung in shock and disbelief, with the rest of the resistance also being shocked that an Earthbender was working with the Fire Nation, before several resistance members fell to the ground as several earth pillars shot up and slammed into the side of their heads.

"He's not the only one!" Kurotsuchi said, emerging from the ground, before stomping on the ground and creating several earth spikes that shot up towards the resistance members.

"Sorry we're late, we needed to take care of your friends down below and keep them from launching any more boulders." Said Kurotsuchi with a smirk, having dealt with the Earthbenders that were launching the boulders into the air.

"You traitors! You'd side with the Fire Nation, after everything they've done to the Earth Kingdom?!" Yung yelled in anger that they'd sided with the Fire Nation, before grunting in pain when Chōji launched one of his stone gauntlets at the captain's back.

"You're the traitors! Going back on the deal when you were going to get your king back!" Retorted Chōji while creating another gauntlet, with Kurotsuchi stomping her foot on the ground lifting up several rocks.

"You could have all just left the city peacefully, but you just had to double-cross us. Now everyone here that dies, it'll be on your heads! But unlike you, we don't betray our comrades and right now, the General wants you to burn!" Said Kurotsuchi as her smirk widened before she began grinding the rocks together, with the resistance members being shocked when the rocks were heated until they turned into lava which Kurotsuchi morphed into several shuriken.

Before the Lavabender launched her shurikens at the resistance members, who quickly raised a stone shield, only for the lava shurikens to slice through it and them. With Kurotsuchi then slamming her hands on the ground, causing an eruption of lava that rushed towards the resistance members. The pink-eyed soldier smirking as they were forced to run to avoid the approaching lava. While Chōji, curled up into a ball and covered himself in another boulder, rolling after the resistance members.

"You good?" Kurotsuchi asked while looking at Mai, who held her shoulder before grunting as she slammed it into one of the earth pillar, popping it back into the socket.

"I will be once they're all dead." Stated Mai, pulling out her knives and rushed after the resistance members.

At another part of the platform, June was now riding on Nyla, throwing several darts at resistance members to paralyze them. Or wrapping her whip around them and throwing them against the walls, or pulling them in close to knock them out. While Nyla ripped apart any rocks thrown at them with his claws before striking the resistance members with his tongue to paralyze them.

"Come on Nyla! I wanna take as many of these guys down before Knife Girl there kills everyone!" June said with a smirk, eager to incapacitate and capture the Earthbenders before Mai can kill them, knowing each of them would fetch a nice price.

Up above the fighting, Aang looked down in shock, despair and horror at seeing people dying on both sides, having not wanted any of this to happen. Before the Avatar cried out when he was hit by a blast of fire, sending him crashing into the scaffolding. With Aang quickly righting himself and skidded across the platform, seeing Naruto floating in the air before cutting off his flames, creating two fire whips as he walked towards Aang.

"Please, I didn't know this would happen!" Aang said before releasing a blast of air when Naruto launched one of the whips at him, slicing through the wood.

"I thought Air Nomads were peaceful and didn't tell lies, but I suppose being the Avatar makes you an exception!" Retorted Naruto, swinging the second whip at Aang, cutting through the wood and metal framing.

"I'm not lying! We had no idea Captain Yung intended to attack! Please just listen, we can end this before anyone else dies!" Pleaded Aang, only to bend backwards as a whip came dangerously close to taking his head off.

"Yeah, we can end this. Just know, we were going to give you King Bumi, now you'll see what I do to liars and traitors!" Naruto said before having the fire whips shrunk down until there were mini fireballs in each of his hands.

The whiskered Firebender throwing his hands forward, unleashing two explosions of fire that rushed towards Aang, who's eyes widened before he began spinning his staff to keep the flames back. Before Naruto propelled himself above the explosions, launching himself at Aang with his hand held back with a fire bomb in his hand. The Avatar quickly inhaled deeply before releasing a powerful gust of wind to his side, launching himself away. Just in time as Naruto slammed his hand down on the platform, releasing a massive explosion of fire that incinerated the scaffolding platforms and melted the metal frames down below.

Though Aang was shocked when Naruto dragged his hand across the platform before thrusting his arm up, creating pillars of flames heading towards him. Opening up his glider, Aang quickly flew into the air, with Naruto shooting fire out of his hands and feet, flying after the Avatar.

Shooting multiple fireballs after Aang, the Avatar closed his glider for a moment and turned around, swinging the staff releasing a wave of compressed air that cut through the fireballs. With Naruto flipping over it, swinging his legs at Aang, and releasing arcs of flames at him. With Aang rotating his arms as he compressed the air around him, forming an air sphere as the flames hit and dispersed on impact.

Seeing this, Naruto increased the power of flames from his hands and feet, propelling himself at high speed towards Aang, before maneuvering himself to start flying around the Avatar. Aang's eyes widening as Naruto began leaving behind a trail of flames around him, flying faster and faster until he stopped in front of Aang and gathered the fire into a large, pressurized ball. With the High General giving a shout as he launched the fireball at Aang. With the Avatar inhaling deeply and absorbing his air sphere, before unleashing a powerful gale-force winds.

The attack attacks colliding together, with the fireball releasing a massive explosion of flames, the sight shocking Aang at the large amount of fire. Before he began freefalling until he opened up his glider, looking back to see Naruto chasing after him, making the Avatar nervous as he began flying faster.

Back on the ground, Azula had moved away from the fighting, looking around in shock at everything happening, those dying on either side. Along with Mai not hesitating in killing the resistance members after her parents were crushed. Having never thought the battlefield could be this…chaotic and dangerous.

Looking around, the Fire Princess saw Mai still cutting down resistance members without hesitation, while June and Nyle were paralyzing or knocking out any in their way, and Naruto's forces were taking down even more.

'Wait…where's Ty Lee?' Thought Azula, looking around for any sign of the Chi-Blocker, mentally sighing in relief at seeing her busy chi-blocking more Earthbenders while flipping around and avoiding their attacks.

Only for her eyes to widen when she spotted an Earthbender lifting up a boulder and aiming it right at Ty Lee, while her back as turned. The ravenette not even thinking before she ran to get her friend out of the way, only for the resistance member to launch the boulder at Ty Lee, making Azula afraid that she was going to be hit.

"Ty Lee!" Azula shouted, getting the brunette's attention, with Ty Lee looking at her in surprise before her eyes widened at the shadow behind her, turning to see the boulder flying towards her, not having time to avoid it entirely.

The sight now terrifying Azula, knowing she'd be hit and crushed by the rock, something that scared her even more, not wanting to see her be hurt or killed. Remembering the show she'd put on just for her, promising that she'd be there for her from now on. And now this Earthbender thought that they could kill her!

Acting on instinct, Azula tried shooting fire out of her hands and feet to propel herself towards Ty Lee, not even having time to be shocked as blue flames shot out of her. The Fire Princess getting in front of the acrobat, shock Ty Lee at seeing her fire, before holding her hand out with her index and middle finger extended. Unleashing a blast of fire that shattered the boulder, with Azula then manipulating the flames into a pinwheel she launched at the Earthbender. The wheel of fire slicing the resistance member right down the middle.

"Azula…y-your fire…it's back?! And…and you saved me?!" Ty Lee said in shock that not only Azula's fire was back, but that she'd saved her as well.

"Of course I did! The only one who gets to push you around is me, let alone these fools!" Retorted Azula while holding up her hand, smirking eagerly at the familiar blue flames.

Before swiping her arms up through the air, releasing a wave of fire at a group of resistance members, incinerating them on the spot.

'Now they'll see what real Firebending is!' Thought Azula, pleased at having her fire back.

Meanwhile, Yung could only look around helplessly, angry and worried at how badly the battle was going for them, knowing if something isn't done soon then they would all end up dead or captured.

"Men! Take out the ground beneath them! We'll bury them all within Omashu!" Yung said, gathering up most of the still standing resistance members as they ran to get some higher ground.

Going up to the level above the battle, the Earthbenders all jumped up before stomping on the ground, thrusting their arms forward before throwing them back. Causing the ground to begin shaking, before they stomped on the ground again to start breaking open the level everyone was on.

"Just a little more!" Said Yung, knowing the ground would break open any moment now, before they slammed their fists down on the ground, causing a mini earthquake.

Only for everyone to stop when they heard a creaking sound, before looking up in horror at seeing the statue of Ozai had been destabilized and was now falling down straight towards them.

"Everyone, move now!" Naruto shouted to his forces, as they all quickly began scattering.

"Katara!" Yelled Sokka from on top of Appa, having been able to slip away to get to the bison before flying low and pulled his sister up, knowing they needed to escape.

"Aang! We need to go now!" Katara said, looking up at Aang, the Avatar looking at her before looking back at the collapsing statue, his eyes widening in terror at seeing Bumi's cage was right in its path.

"NO!" Aang shouted quickly flying at Bumi, refusing to let his friend be crushed, only to cry out when a rock hit him in the side, knocking him down to the ground.

Looking up, Aang could only look in horror as the statue collapsed on top of his friends cage, much to the horror of the rest of the Gaang and resistance.

"BUMI!" Cried Aang, rushing forward to the wreckage, hoping and begging that he somehow survived, while Yung fell to his knees in shock and horror.

"Wh-what…what have I…what have I done? I…I…I-I-I…I didn't mean…I didn't mean for this…to happen." Yung muttered in horror and despair, realizing what he's become in his desperation to take back Omashu, only to end up getting his king killed.

Before he was struck by Nyla's tongue as June and Ty Lee took out the rest of his men, the two looking at the wreckage with frowns on their faces.

"What a fucking waste." Muttered June, unable to help but feel pity as Aang ran towards the wreckage and began blowing it away.

"Bumi! Bumi! Bumi! Come on Bumi, say something! Anything! Please!" Aang begged, searching for where his friend was, refusing to believe he was dead.

Only to freeze as he blew away some debris, the Avatar shaking as he fell to his knees when he saw a bloodied hand sticking up from it.

"N-no…NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Aang cried out with tears in his eyes, seeing that the only living friend he had left was now dead.

Though soon Aang's sadness, pain and despair turned into pure rage and anger as his tattoos began glowing, his head snapping back towards everyone else, showing his glowing, tear-filled eyes. Before Aang began floating into the air with hurricane force winds blowing around him. With an air sphere forming around him followed by a tornado wrapping around the enraged Avatar. Until Aang threw his arm out, unleashing a giant pressurized blast of air that ripped through the ground and anyone in its path, while those within close proximity were sent flying through the air.

Throwing his other arm out, Aang released another blast of air at his other side, taking out even more people and sending others flying. Before he began rotating his arms, causing the tornado to spin faster and faster, until he raised his arm into the air, with the tornado going up as well. Aang then sliced his arm down, causing the tornado to turn and head straight towards the ground, slamming into it, crushing, and destroying everything it hit or was close to.

With everyone quickly running to get as far away as they could from the Avatar, seeing he was attacking both the Omashu resistance and those affiliated with the Fire Nation alike.

Though Aang's rampage was stopped when Naruto fired a blast of fire at him, with Aang moving his hand and increasing the pressure of the wind from where the fire was coming from. Turning his head to glare at Naruto, who shot more fireballs at him, the Avatar merely swinging his arm out and releasing a wave of wind that cut through the flames.

Propelling himself out of the way, Naruto flew around Aang, shooting more and more fireballs at the Avatar, until Aang flew after him. Being able to reach Naruto by negating the wind resistance on him, before slicing his arms through the air, releasing several air blades at the High General. With Naruto immediately shooting himself off to the side, narrowly dodging the air blades. With the whiskered Firebender spinning in the air until he was facing Aang, thrusting his fist forward, creating a flame at the end of fist, releasing an explosive burst of fire at Aang.

The explosion managing to throw Aang out of his air sphere and back to the ground, with Naruto acting quickly and flew after him. Landing on the ground, Naruto began propelling himself around Aang as fast as he could, augmenting his flames as they began growing hotter and more intense. Until soon a massive fire vortex was swirling around the Avatar. Naruto taking a moment to look at his flames, surprised when he saw hints of purple and green in the vortex.

'What the…was that…' Naruto thought before quickly shaking his head and focused back on the enraged Avatar.

With Aang scowling before he began spinning around at high speed, forming a cocoon of wind around himself, which continued growing bigger and bigger until it turned into a tornado. As the Avatar then flew up before diving right back down on the ground, slamming his hand down. The impact causing the wind to disperse into a massive hurricane, which also dispersed the fiery vortex around him. With Naruto having gotten out of the way when he saw Aang jump up, managing to avoid being hit by the blast.

Before the High General began rotating his arms, creating trails of lightning just as Aang turned his attention back towards him. Thrusting his hand forward, Naruto fired a blast of lightning at the Avatar's feet, throwing him through the air before catching himself.

But before Aang could attack Naruto again, he grunted as he was struck several times in the back and fell to the ground, his tattoos losing their glow with Ty Lee looking down at him in shock and disbelief.

"Did I just take down the Avatar?" Ty Lee said, not expecting her chi-blocking to work on the Avatar when he was in the Avatar State.

The Chi-Blocker yelped when Naruto propelled himself forward, grabbing the brunette just as Appa landed on ground, bellowing loudly at everyone. While Sokka and Katara hastily grabbed Aang before climbing back onto the bison.

"Go, go, go, go, GO! Yip, yip, now!" Sokka shouted, grabbing the reigns and urging Appa to fly off, with the sky bison shooting up into the air and flew away.

*Later*

The battle ended with great losses on both sides, with the resistance, guards, and soldiers all being nearly wiped out, while the resistance members still alive were rounded up. With the remaining guards and soldiers being tended to and collecting the bodies of the fallen. While Naruto looked at all the destruction mournfully, having hoped this wouldn't happen, let alone on a scale like this.

Before looking over his shoulder at Azula, June and Ty Lee as the three approached him.

"How are you three holding up?" Naruto asked, glad they along with Mai, Tom-Tom, Kurotsuchi, Ino, Haku, and Chōji survived the battle.

"We should be asking you that. You're the one dumb enough to try fighting the Avatar when he was that angry." Said June, though one could hear the concern in her voice, while Naruto shrugged.

"Wasn't trying to fight him, just doing what I could to keep his attention on me and knock him out of the Avatar State. Good job by the way, Ty Lee." Said Naruto, nodding at the brunette, who nodded hesitantly.

"Y-ye-yeah, I-I'm glad I could help." Ty Lee replied, still shaken by everything that happened and then seeing the Avatar in such a state and the power he had with just one element.

"What about you Azula?" Questioned Naruto, looking at his fiancée, who also looked slightly shaken.

"It's…it's not what I expected. It was just…madness everywhere and so much…death." Azula replied, looking around, having only heard about "glorious" Fire Nations victories and those that died fighting for their homeland, but she didn't see anything glorious about this.

"Death is never easy whether it's that of an ally…" Said Naruto, looking over at a tearful Mai comforting a crying Tom-Tom, while their parents bodies were collected to be taken for a proper burial.

"…or an enemy. It's something I hate seeing every time I see it, but know there's nothing I can do about it. Only hoping to end things peacefully or quickly if it comes to a fight." Naruto said, making the trio look at him.

"…Why do you even do this? You don't enjoy killing and you try to find peaceful solutions. Why do you even stay in the army?" June asked, with Azula and Ty Lee also wanting to know this since Naruto didn't seem like he was suited for being in the Fire Army.

"Hmph…you already know I'm not like the majority of the Fire Army, that's because I was an orphan, a street urchin really. I didn't go to some school or grow up with a family spouting propaganda bullshit that everyone else is told. The only thing I cared about was surviving and being able to support myself, when I learned I was a Firebender, I saw an easy way in joining the army. But I didn't have the money to enroll into the Military Academy or the talent to get sponsored, that is until I was trained by my masters. Then I returned, I was able to get sponsored and enrolled into the Academy, then graduated when I was thirteen, now having a means to support myself and if I earned a reputation, that'd just be a bonus." Naruto explained, surprising the three at hearing why he joined the Fire Army.

"What changed?" Questioned Ty Lee, having seen how Naruto interacts with his forces on the ship and seeing the genuine sadness for those that died.

"I learned more about the war. Like I said, I didn't attend any school, so I didn't know anything about the war, only seeing it as a means to support myself. But after joining the Academy, I did learn more, that it was started as a means to spread the Fire Nation's prosperity to the other nations, to unite them all together rather than having them live separately. And…I liked it, the idea of helping unite the world and make it better for everyone. What I don't like is how the wars gone from spreading our prosperity to simply global conquest and eliminating all obstacle, like wiping out the Air Nomads and raiding the Southern Water Tribe, as well as other atrocities that I didn't agree with. But I stayed, knowing I was the only one who seemed to actually care about making allies with the other nations rather than conquer them, and I was the only one who believed in choosing peaceful solutions over more fighting. Not everyone agreed with my views, but they also can't argue with the results." Said Naruto before turning to look at them.

"That's why I stay with the Fire Army, because I truly believe in the goal of this war, to unite the nations and help them grow and evolve by working together. And…I also can't leave, not until this war has ended. Because if I leave, then the friends, allies, enemies, everyone that's died during this war, they'd have all died for nothing. And I'm not going to let their deaths mean nothing, not when I can help ensure this war ends before more people die." Naruto said, with the three looking at him with wide eyes, before June laughed lightly.

"Just when I think I have you figured out, you go and surprise me again. Don't think you'll be getting rid of me any time soon, Foxy." Said June while winking at him before leaving to go grab some of the Earthbenders to cash them in.

"I think that…that's really amazing Naruto. You're a really good person and I'm happy I get the chance to work with you." Ty Lee said, smiling at Naruto before hugging him, with her then going over to Mai to comfort her and Tom-Tom.

"And what do you think?" Naruto asked, looking at Azula, who looked unsure after everything he said.

"I…I don't know what to think." Muttered Azula, with Naruto nodding and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Give it time Azula, I'm sure you'll figure things out on your own, but I'm always here for you if you ever need anything." Said Naruto, the Fire Princess nodding slowly in response.

"I also heard your Firebending is back." Naruto stated, making Azula frown and hold up her hand, creating a fireball only for it to once again be orange and fizzled out.

"I did, but it's gone again." Azula replied, upset that she lost her Firebending again.

"Well, what were you doing when it came back?" Questioned Naruto, wondering what she must've been feeling at the time.

"I was…watching the fighting, everything go on…before I saw Ty Lee about to be hit and then…I ran towards her. I didn't think about anything else but wanting to save her…I remembered her show and her promise…then I was just…Firebending like I always do. But then it was gone again once the fighting ended." Explained Azula, causing the whiskered Firebender to smile at hearing this, which made the ravenette frown at him.

Looking at her hands, Azula wondered why she was able to Firebend to save Ty Lee, but now she couldn't anymore.

"You know why it came back, don't you." Azula said accusingly.

"Maybe. But this is a lesson you'll have to learn on your own, Azula. But I have faith that you'll figure it out, eventually." Naruto said, smiling at the Fire Princess, who quickly looked away from him.

"I hope you realize once we're married, I can control if you get to share my bed or not." Stated Azula, making Naruto smirk.

"Already thinking about being in bed with me, Azula? At least wait until we've had dinner first." Naruto said teasingly, with the ravenette glaring at him with a faint blush before quickly walking away.

Chuckling at the sight, Naruto turned forward again before frowning as he created a flame in his hand, seeing it was the normal orange, with no other colors in it.

'Was that really what I thought it was, or was my mind just messing with me?' Naruto wondered before extinguishing the flame.

*With the Gaang*

Meanwhile the Gaang had returned to the refugee camp, with Aang having woken up not long after only to immediately start crying his eyes out, while a teary-eyed Katara comforted him.

"It's…it's all…it's all my fault! B-Bu-Bumi…Bumi's dead…be-be-because…because of…me-me-me-me-me!" Aang cried, blaming himself for Bumi's death and not trying harder to stop the fighting, then losing control in the Avatar State and causing even more damage.

"It's not your fault Aang, none of this is your fault. You wanted to save Bumi more than anyone, Captain Yung is the one that ruined the exchange, he's the one that caused this." Said Katara, with Momo climbing onto Aang's shoulder and nuzzled against him, chirping softly.

With Appa and Flopsie laying around offering their own comfort as well, while also being just as devastated at Bumi's death as Aang was.

"It is his fault!" One of the refugees shouted, glaring at Aang, along with a few others.

"King Bumi would still be alive if the Avatar never showed up!" Yelled another refugee.

"Everything was fine until you ruined it with that Fire Nation baby!" Another refugee added, with their words only worsening Aang's guilt and self-loathing, while Katara and Sokka glared at the refugees.

"Hey! Can't you see he's already blaming himself?! He just watched one of the last and oldest friends he had left die! Aang doesn't need all of you making him feel even worse!" Shouted Sokka in his friends defense.

"He's right. The Avatar truly wished to save King Bumi, he couldn't have foreseen what would happen or ever wished for his death." Said one of the more emotionally mature refugees, getting the others to calm down.

"You have our apologies, but everyone here cared for King Bumi greatly and to learn of his death…it's hard for all of us to think clearly." Another refugee said, with Katara nodding.

"We understand, Bumi was Aang's friend and he's hurt more than anyone that he's dead and that he couldn't save him." Replied Katara.

"But…it may also be best if you all left Omashu and never returned." Said the first refugee, making the Gaang's eyes widened at hearing.

"Agreed. While we understand you have lost King Bumi as well, but he was our leader. We put our faith in him to do what he thought was best for Omashu, but now he's dead." Another refugee added.

"Perhaps it's our own fault as well, for putting too much faith in the Avatar. Believing they could solve everything for us." Said another refugee, making Aang flinch before standing up.

"O-ok-okay, we'll…we'll leave Omashu and…and we won't return. I'm…I'm sorry for not doing more." Aang said before hugging Flopsie and jumping up onto Appa, with Katara and Sokka doing the same as the bison flew off once they were all onboard.

*Later*

Naruto stood at the gates of Omashu as all the refugees that left the city were now willingly returning, all of them simply wanting to go back home. Only for them to stop when they saw Naruto, worried and afraid the Fire Nation was going to retaliate against them.

"You don't have to be worried, I'm not here to fight innocent people. I am General Naruto of the Fire Army and my words may mean nothing to all of you. But I am truly sorry for what has happened here today and I swear that the Fire Nation did not start this, though we were forced to finished it. The ones behind this attack was Captain Yung and his resistance, the men who claim to seek to libertate Omashu were the ones to kill King Bumi, in their refusal to negotiate. King Bumi was going to be released in exchange for Governor Ukano's son, but now he is dead as well as the governor and his wife, along with numerous other good men and women. I may not have known King Bumi, but you all did and he knew all of you. It's why he chose to surrender himself, so that Omashu would not suffer by choosing to fight. Even when Captain Yung and his men attacked, King Bumi tried ordering them to stand down, but they did not listen. I know none of you may care, but I am truly sorry and wish this hadn't happened, all I can do now is give you all the chance to return to your homes. As well as pay your respects to King Bumi, who will be given a proper farewell deserving of a King of Omashu and laid to rest within the royal tombs." Said Naruto, looking over the refugees, who were all surprised at his kind offer and sincere words.

With the refugees trading looks with each other and muttering amongst themselves, until they finally walked forward.

"We don't want any more fighting, we just want to go home." One of the refugees said, with everyone nodding in agreement, all of them simply wanting to return home and pay their respects to their king.

Nodding at this, Naruto stepped and motioned forward as the gates opened, allowing the refugees to return to Omashu and their homes.

*Later*

After ensuring Bumi was laid to rest, Naruto and the others had returned to the royal sloop, with the addition of Mai and Tom-Tom.

"Do you have any other family?" Naruto asked as he, Azula and Ty Lee stood beside Mai, while watching Tom-Tom be entertained by Ino and Haku with their Waterbending.

"We have our Aunt Mura, who owns a flower shop in the Fire Nation, while our uncle is the Warden of the Boiling Rock. But Tom-Tom's staying with me, I don't plan to let him out of my sight any time soon." Replied Mai, not wanting to leave her brother anywhere.

"Don't worry Mai, we'll help you look after him." Ty Lee assured, with the knife-thrower nodding in response.

"Do you still wish to help us hunt down the Avatar? You'd be more than welcome to just remain on the ship while we handle it." Said Azula, willing to let Mai stay on the sidelines with her brother, only to see her expression darken.

"No, I'm still going to help. And I'm going to make the Avatar pay." Mai said, refusing to ever forgive the Avatar for what he's done, getting her parents killed and nearly getting Tom-Tom killed as well with his rampage.

Before looking at Naruto and Azula when they put their hands on her shoulder while Ty Lee hugged her, reluctantly returning the hug, but nodded in thanks for their support. While looking at her brother, swearing to make sure nothing happens to him.

*With the Gaang*

Meanwhile, the Gaang were flying silently on Appa, none of them knowing what to say while Aang was still devastated by Bumi's death. The Avatar now questioning everything he's fighting for, if it lead to the death of one of his oldest and still living friends. One he can't even say goodbye to now, since he couldn't return to Omashu. With Katara, Sokka, Momo and Appa all feeling Aang's sadness and pain, while being saddened as well by the state he's in.

"Katara. Are…are we really the good guys?" Sokka asked, looking at his sister, beginning to question his bias towards the Fire Nation after the actions of Yung and his men, as well as the consequences of said actions.

Knowing that no matter which way he looked at it, this time the Fire Nation were the victims rather than the murderous monsters.

"I…I don't really know what to believe anymore." Replied Katara, still shaken at seeing Waterbenders and Earthbender fighting for the Fire Nation, hearing that their General treated them with kindness and fairness, with them being loyal to him.

While Aang merely kept flying silently, hearing what his friends were saying and honestly, even he didn't know if he was a good guy anymore.

"That's a difficult question to answer Aang. In war, no one is truly the good guy or the bad guy, with it mostly consisting of good people fighting for their homes and what they believe in. But rest assured, if there's anyone that can truly be called the bad guy in all this, it's Fire Lord Ozai." Said a familiar voice.

With Aang's head snapping up, his eyes widening with tears gathering in them when he saw Bumi in front of him, sporting a light, solemn smile.

"B-Bu-Bumi?" Aang said, hesitantly and hopefully, with the deceased king smiling at his old friend.

"It's still good to see again Aang, no matter the circumstances." Bumi replied, making Aang choke slightly with a tearful smile.

"It's…it's good to see you too. You're…you're a Spirit now, aren't you." Aang stated sadly, with Bumi nodding in response.

"Yep, but before I can start spreading my genius to the Spirit World, I wanted to see you one last time and tell you, don't blame yourself Aang. And even if you do keep blaming yourself, I forgive you." Said Bumi, surprising the Avatar before he shook his head.

"You shouldn't, you're dead because of me. If only I had-" Aang said, only for Bumi to stop him.

"I would have stopped you. After all, who do you think bent that rock at you before you could reach me?!" Bumi said before he began laughing madly, much to Aang's shock.

"That…that was you? You could Earthbend the entire time?!" Said Aang, hurt and upset that his friend could have escaped but chose not to.

"Of course, they didn't cover my face after all. But please, listen Aang, I don't have long before I cross over. The reason I surrendered was because I was employing Neutral Jing. You know that there's Positive Jing when you're attacking, as well as Negative Jing when you're retreating. But there is also Neutral Jing, when you do nothing! Neutral Jing is the key to earthbending. It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike. It's why I surrendered, I was waiting for the right moment to strike, but it seems I never got the right moment. That is who your Earthbending Master will be. Your teacher will be someone who has mastered Neutral Jing. You need to find someone who waits and listens before striking." Bumi explained, with Aang nodding slowly.

"But…but why, though? Why wouldn't you let me save you?" Aang asked sadly, making Bumi frown and sigh.

"You wouldn't have been able to free me in time, Aang. We both know it, the only thing you would have done is gotten yourself crushed along with me. And the world still needs you, not just the Avatar, but you Aang. Upon my death, I had a vision. One that showed that you and that young General you fought, Naruto, are the key to finally putting an end to this war." Bumi said with Aang looking at him curiously.

"Naruto." Aang muttered, remembering the said Firebender while being able to sense that despite being with the Fire Nation, he wasn't a bad person.

"He will be your rival in this war, Aang. With this war now becoming a conflict of preserving the old ways of balance or serving as the catalyst for a revolution to create something new. With the outcome depending on the both of you and your actions." Said Bumi.

"But how? How will know what I'm supposed to do?" Aang asked, hoping his friend will be able to help show him figure out what he's supposed to do.

"I'm afraid that's something you'll need to discover on your own Aang. Just believe in yourself, that's all anyone can do, even the Avatar. Believe in yourself and do what you know is right. And most importantly, never doubt yourself or those closest to you Aang." Replied Bumi, making the Avatar nod and smile at him sadly before the King of Omashu disappeared.

Having crossed over into the Spirit World.

So, what did you think, good. Yep we see things starting out like canon before it begins changing when the Gaang are saved by the resistance, who are much more hostile towards them for Aang thwarting their assassination attempt, along with refusing to leave the city but agree to get the non-combatants out. Before we see Naruto, Azula, Ty Lee, June, and some of Naruto's forces arrive, along with seeing a few of them include some familiar faces with Chōji and Kurotsuchi and Earthbenders, the latter also being a Lavabender, and Ino and Haku as Waterbenders, with them meeting Mai and learning what's happened, Naruto being more forgiving than Azula along with stopping her from renaming Omashu New Ozai. Then we get to the exchange only for things to end bad when the resistance attacks leading to a battle that ends in Ukano and Michi dying, and an attack from Yung and his men ending with Bumi being crushed and killed (a moment of silence for the original mad genius), causing Aang to go berserk in the Avatar State with Naruto keeping his attention on him before Ty Lee gets an opening to chi-block the Avatar, with the Gaang managing to escape. Then we see the aftermath of the battle, along with a bonding moment between Naruto, Azula, Ty Lee, and June, along with Azula slowly starting to understand how to get her bending back but is still not quite there, while we also see the Gaang devastated over Bumi's death before having to leave Omashu, with the refugees returning to the city and being allowed to return home and pay their respects to Bumi by Naruto. Finally we see Naruto and the others along with Mai and Tom-Tom returning to the royal sloop, along with the Gaang flying away now beginning to question what they're fighting for, with Aang also being visited by Bumi, now a Spirit, who gives him a few last pieces of advice before crossing over to the Spirit World.

Now I'm sure a lot of you are upset at Bumi's death and the depiction of the Omashu resistance, but keep in mind they are at war, they all see themselves as the good guys and in the right, this is to show that there are consequences in battle rather than everything being resolved, along with an eye-opener that the Fire Nation aren't always the cause of conflicts and can be just as much the victims as the Earth Kingdom or Water Tribes. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.

Storm out