Author's Second Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist. She is my buddy, a sister-figure, and a great person to talk to. This story is for you, WRA (a.k.a. Winter Rose Alchemist)! Oh and to all my reviewers!
- An Old Friend -
Across the open ocean and on Appa, Artymis yawned and stretched her arms. She opened her tired eyes and saw Katara hushing Sokka, who was glaring at his sister.
"It's alright," Artymis said, sitting up. "I'm wide awake!"
"Energetic?" Katara asked, smiling.
"Yup yup!" Artymis nodded her head, a wide smile on her face.
"Great," Sokka muttered. "No one give her sugar."
"Why not?" Artymis asked, taking a sip from her flasket.
"You're go hyper on sugar!" Sokka waved his arms.
"When have I gone hyper on sugar?" Artymis asked, crossing her arms.
Katara and Sokka both rose an eyebrow. "Recently or in order?" They asked, smirking.
"Ha ha!" Artymis said sarcastically. "Like you guys don't go hyper on sugar!"
"We don't!" Katara said.
"Yeah, Art!" Sokka agreed.
Artymis smiled and heard Anduril's voice in her mind. Good morning. he said calmly.
Still mad?
Not a nice thing to say when one greets another in the morning.
Just asking. You sound calm.
I'm still worried of who your suitor is, but nevertheless you'll tell me when you're ready.
Thank you and late-good-morning! They broke contact. Glad he's off my case, Artymis thought as she looked over Appa's back.
"Where are we?" She asked, her eyes traveling over some unfamiliar mountains.
"Mountains near Omashu." Katara said, "We just thought it'll be safe that we walk from the mountains to Omashu, so Appa and Anduril won't get hurt or anything."
"Good plan! Good brains!" Artymis grinned.
Anduril and Appa lowered themselves down onto the rocky plains of a mountain side. They landed there and the three humans demounted off safely. They slung a few supplies on their backs, and bid the large animals farewell 'till they got back.
Artymis, Anduril's overprotective voice entered the Avatar's mind. I'm serious. BE CAREFUL!
Artymis staggered back by the force of his voice and shook her head quickly, I know! I promise!
Anduril shook her head and closed his eyes. I still think we should head to the North Pole...
Shut up! Artymis shot a glare at him, he hushed up.
Artymis, Katara, Sokka, and Momo climbed to the top of mountains, which wasn't much. And overlooked the city of Omashu. It was beautiful, the city seemed to built on a hill as it rose high. High stone walls surrounding it and a long bridge to it's gate. Shouts could be heard from the city and at the gate.
"We gotta get in." Sokka said, "But if they find out you're the Avatar..." He looked at Artymis.
"Gotta get in though!" Artymis said.
"How?" Katara asked. "All the guards are bound to know you're the Avatar!"
"Good point!" Artymis frowned.
Katara thought for a moment, then her face brightened with a huge smile. She turned around and looked from Artymis to Sokka, and back. Her eyes full of amusement and mischief and her smile got even bigger.
"What?" Sokka and Artymis chorused, totally confused.
Artymis squinted her eyes to see what Katara's mind read. Her eyes widen as she took a step back, shaking her head and holding her hands out front. "No! No! No! No and no!"
"Wha - no!" Sokka realized what the plan Katara planned.
"It's our only ticket in." Katara said, holding back a laugh.
"No, I mean! I'm older than Sokka!" Artymis yelled. "He's not even mature enough!"
"Yeah!" Sokka agreed and crossed his arms. Five seconds later, he opened his eyes and shot Artymis a glare. "Hey! Wait a minute!"
"All I'm saying, you want to go in. I found a way in." Katara giggled, she went back to the campsite and brought out a piece of white clothing. A look of fear and embarrassment on both Artymis' and Sokka's face. "Now, let's see..." Katara muttered, stretching and tearing the white cloth.
Prince Zuko was practicing with a Firebender on the deck of the ship. He punched fireballs out and ducked his opponent's attacks. Iroh watched him and sighed. "Learn to breath fire, Zuko."
"Whatever." The prince muttered, attacking again. This time, the enemy-Firebender fell down in defeat. "I'll be in my room." Zuko muttered and walked back to his room.
Iroh watched his nephew leave and sighed, "He's always thinking of gaining his honor back and not thinking how beautiful the day is." The ship floated on the river around the mountains, where the Avatar should be. They had follow the Avatar since she had emerged from the woods by a their ship. "Always capturing the Avatar, nothing else."
Zuko shut his door and sat down in front of candles, and meditated. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard. But no matter what, his mind always kept bringing up the picture of the suitor's rose. It's lavender color and white ribbon, and it's ring. In the possession of the Avatar Artymis.
Suitor's rose, he thought with a groan. Why think of it now? It has nothing to do with me!
There was a knock on his door. The door creaked opened and Iroh peeked in. "Prince Zuko?"
"If it's not about the Avatar's whereabouts, then I don't want to hear it." Zuko said.
"Actually," Iroh, closed the door behind him. "It is about the Avatar. Apparently, she's not headed to the earth city Omashu."
"What!" Zuko stood up, and turned to his uncle with an angry face. "What do you mean the Avatar isn't heading there!"
"I mean," Iroh explained. "That the only people who are heading to Omashu right now, on it's bridge, are a wedding couple and their maid."
"Wedding couple?" Zuko repeated, he began jumping to conclusions. Had the suitor's rose of Artymis been well accepted that she agreed to marry her suitor? "Who?" His eyes betrayed his anger and seriousness, they were now full of fear and confusion.
"Why so curious and eager?" Iroh asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing! Just wanted to see if the Avatar was in disguise with the Water Tribe peasants!" Zuko lied.
"Well, from what we can see." Iroh said, "It's not the Avatar or her friends. Just another happy couple." He smiled. "More joy in the world."
"Oh goodie," Zuko muttered under his breath. "Now, where to?" He asked himself.
"I say we just drift off for a while, relax." Iroh suggested.
Zuko sighed, for the past couple of days, his uncle has been suggesting that everyday. "Alright, you win."
I can't believe I'm doing this, Artymis thought and sighed. She was still in her outfit, but her skirt was different. It didn't have an opening where you could see her knees, skirt, and boots. Instead, a long skirt over layered it, hiding her boots, skirt, and legs. Her sleeveless shirt was hidden under a shawl, where her necklace was hidden. She also had a thin silk bow around her waist. Her hair was fashioned into a bun and Artymis placed her lavender rose, one that Zhao gave her, in her hair. You couldn't see the ring, the white ribbon dangled from her bun. She also carried a bundle of wildflowers in her hands. Luckily, the small scar on her cheek had faded within the following days after Sokka scarred her.
"Katara?" Artymis groaned, looking over her shoulder to her friend.
Katara, wore a long cloth of the color blue, and draped it over her body, but exposing her kind face. The cloth, as she designed it, was tied in the front with a yellow ribbon. Two holes were made on the side, so she could move her arms. The cloth reached to her ankle. Her Waterbender's outfit well hidden. Katara was also carrying a basket in her arms.
"Artymis, I could've made it a lot worse." Katara replied in a musical tune.
"This is enough, thank you!" Sokka whispered over his shoulder. He simply had a dark brown cape on, hiding his Water Tribe clothing and weapons.
"I thought the only ones to fight now was the husband and wife!" Katara grinned.
"Shut up!" Artymis and Sokka whispered over their shoulders.
"I'm pretty sure the people of this city are still as nice as ever." Artymis commented, before anyone else said anything, there were shouts from up ahead.
"Cabbages!" The guard shouted at a man, who had a cart loaded with cabbages. "That's ridiculous!" With that, the guard - who apparently was an earthbender - lifted the rocks beneath the cabbage cart and flipped the cart over the bridge, and the cart went way down.
"Not my cabbages!" The man, who owned the cart, wailed.
"Just stay calm." A wide-eyed Artymis muttered.
"We're trying." Katara said, Sokka nodded.
As Sokka and Artymis walked side-by-side, with Katara behind him, her head lowered in a respectful manner. Though she couldn't hide her smile that was getting even bigger at their disguises right now. The three of them stood before the giant rock-wall of Omashu, a guard standing in front of them and along on the wall.
"Halt!" The guard lifted a fist up, a rock from the ground in front of him, lifted and hovered high above the three friends' heads.
Oh yeah! We're just gonna go right through the thick rock-wall and risk being squished by a rock? Artymis thought, as she lowered her head a bit, a gesture as respect. Smart!
"Who are you and state your business." The earthbending guard commanded, his fist still held up.
"I am Sudoken, and my..." Sokka looked to Artymis. Inside, he was screaming: This is insane! Insane! But he said in a calm voice, "...bride, Arivana. Our maid - " He gestured to the girl behind them " - Keisha." Katara rose her eyes to Sokka and gave him a glare, but the earthbender didn't notice. Instead, he was talking with Artymis.
"Arivana, huh?" He asked, a smile on his young face.
"Yes, my name is Arivana." 'Arivana' said, her head still bent.
"Your business with, uh, Suedueven?" He asked.
"Sudoken." 'Sudoken' corrected.
"My husband and I are here to receive a blessing from the king." Artymis said, following the plan. "You see, in my family, when we marry, we visit a king and ask for his blessing. In this marriage, we have chosen the Earth King."
"Arranged marriage?" Guard asked.
"Yes," Artymis answered. "May we go in?"
"Of coarse!" The guard, with his Earthbending, created a doorway through the three really thick rock walls that awed Sokka and Katara secretly. He turned to Artymis, "I wish I could give you a suitor's rose - " He looked at Sokka " - but you're married."
"I am sorry for that, I wish I could've received your suitor's rose." Artymis said sadly, she was successful at hiding her grin. Sokka secretly sent a glare in her direction.
The three friends entered the city of Omashu. The walls behind them reformed back to it's original form. The three friends sped up and hid behind a building. Sokka took his cape off, Katara took her disguise off, and Artymis removed her disguise as well.
"I hate this!" Sokka said, glad to not be 'Sudoken' anymore.
"I know!" Artymis agreed, she let her hair fall and placed the lavender rose back in it's original place.
"You both agreed." Katara reminded them.
"We - " Sokka shut it up. It was useless to fight against Katara, she end up winning anyways. "I hate you." Sokka frowned and crossed his arms.
"Alright, you two!" Artymis said nervously, stuffing her disguise (along with Katara's and Sokka's) in the basket Katara was carrying and covering it with a sheet of green colored cloth. Momo crept out of the basket and stood on Artymis' shoulder. "Knock it off!"
"You should've at the bridge!" Sokka pointed out.
"What I do?" Artymis asked, innocently.
"Flirting with the guard!" Sokka said.
"I wasn't, he was!" Artymis argued, then muttered lowly. "He was kinda cute too."
"What?" Sokka's jaw fell. And I thought Katara was sometimes mushy-mushy!
"Ok, you two. Knock it off." Katara said, grinning. The three friends, Artymis pleaded, made their way up high to one of the slopes that carried the mail of the city. Katara turned to Artymis and saw her friend perfecting her necklace. I've been meaning to ask Artymis... "Hey, Art?"
"Yeah?" Artymis said, looking at Katara.
"Who gave you that necklace?" Katara asked, she was meaning to ask Artymis for a while now.
Artymis smiled and closed her eyes. "My old guardian did." She answered, "On my fifteenth birthday, as a gift." She opened her eyes and looked to Katara, smiling.
"Were you guys close?" Katara asked, curious.
"Yeah." Artymis said, "He was the father that was always there for me. And he said I was like his own and treated me like his own."
"Hey Art?" Sokka said, interrupting their conversation.
"Hmm?"
"Why are we here again?" Sokka asked, the friends came to a halt. The three friends looked down from the top of the slope.
"We're here 'cause I just want one ride!" Artymis said happily. "Airbender's promise: one ride, then go straight to the North Pole!"
"A ride?" Katara asked, looking for any rides.
"Yeah. Long time ago, before I knew I was the Avatar, I had a best friend here..." Artymis explained, remembering her childhood friend.
(Flashback)
The city of Omashu was beautiful, and everyone was nice. Twelve-year-old Artymis saw her best friend looking over the city of Omashu. He, at first, had his back to her. But at the sounds of her footsteps, he turned around and smiled like he always did.
"Arty!" He said, saying his friend's old nickname.
"Bumi!" Artymis nearly screamed, she always was happy to see Bumi just as much as seeing her guardian and Anduril.
Bumi, messy brown hair and green eyes, wore the green outfit which he always wore. He pointed to the mail delivery slopes. "Tell me, Arty, what do you see?"
"A mail delivery service, that's free and always gets on time?" Artymis offered, walking up to her friend and standing beside him. Her uniformed Airbender's outfit billowing against the wind.
Bumi shook his head and said, "That's what anyone would see normally."
"Normally?" Artymis looked at her friend, "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is," Bumi explained, pointing a finger to his head where his brain would be. "You gotta open your mind to possibilities!"
"To a mail delivery?" Artymis was surprised. "I'd rather study!" She slumped over the rail.
Bumi shook his head, "No! No! To the world's greatest super-slide!" He lifted his hand to the air in triumph.
Artymis looked at him and giggled. "Bumi, like I always say, you're a mad genius!" Artymis smiled. Bumi laughed.
Both friends got into a cart, made of rock, and slid down the "super-slide". They screamed, they laughed, they caused mischief. It felt so fun and family-like back then. They took the rides all the time and laughed every time the guards caught them, they let them off very easy. But they were never surprised when the two best friends would get in trouble because of riding the mail delivery's "super-slide"...
(End of Flashback)
"...We always get into mischief, Bumi and I." Artymis smiled at the memory of her best friend. Her smile faded, "I wish I had said good-bye though, he wouldn't still be alive now, I think..." Katara place a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I'm sure he knows you meant to say good-bye...somehow." Katara said.
Artymis straighten her back and clapped her hands. "What would make me feel better is this..." Sokka and Katara cast worry faces as Artymis said what make her feel better.
"ARTYMIS!" Katara screamed out of terror as the wind blew hard against her face. She clung on the cart's rail for dear life. Sokka, also clinging, gave out a fearful cry. Momo, was the lucky one, he was well hidden in the basket, that was currently in Artymis' lap. Artymis was seated first, then Katara and Sokka.
"This is fun, you gotta admit it!" Artymis shouted, her voice barely heard. A smile on her face and in her eyes as the wind pressed against her face and her hair thrown back. "I thank Bumi for this!"
"I don't!" Sokka shouted back, this just made the Avatar laugh.
Her eyes looked to the side and she gulped. A delivery of six sharp spears that were stuck in a rock (obviously a safety thing), slid right beside them. Uh oh! she thought and looked back. Katara and Sokka were gaping. At least, she thought with a bit relief in her, those spears aren't right behind us! Their luck changed though. The two slides intertwined and the spears were right behind them now! Sokka ducked as the sharp spears came close. Katara gasped.
"Artymis!" She tugged at her friend's shoulder.
Artymis looked back and said, "I'm on it!" She, like Bumi and her use to do, drew the cart off the 100-and-more-feet slide and it sent them sliding down the brick roof of a house. But their little adventure didn't stop there, they kept on sliding! The friends bounced off the ground in front of a soldier, who was giving instructions on other soldiers. They bounced off the ground with Artymis' airbending, and got back on the track of another slide. They slid down the slide and seemed to be getting on ground level. The friends saw an earthbender up ahead, standing by the ground-level slide. A cart loaded was in front of him. They were going to crash. The friends gave out a cry of fear. The earthbender threw a fist at the rock cart and it drew aside.
A sigh came from the three passengers.
But the cry of fear came back as the earthbender unexpectedly pulled another rock cart from the ground. The friends crashed into the cart and flipped over a high ledge. Artymis twisted around and used her airbending skills. The three passengers - four, if counting Momo - were back on the cart, in the same position like they were never thrown out of their seats and flipped over a frightful ledge. The cart once again slid off two roofs of green bricks and sped into a pot maker's room through the windows.
"SORRY!" Sokka cried out, as they broke another window straight ahead, destroying a beautiful vase in the process.
The cart again slid off a roof and sped fast across an opened hall-like room. The friends finally, but not so safely, landed on top of a cabbage cart. An angry cabbage seller yelling and jumping around in angry. A few soldiers came around Artymis, Sokka, and Katara. Sokka sat up and Katara did too, both holding their hands up in their arrest.
"My cabbages!" The man moaned.
"Sorry?" Katara offered, but he kept yelling.
Artymis sat herself up and place a hand over her head. "Ow!" She whined, "My head!" Momo chirped from behind her, he slung on to her shoulder. "What is it, Momo?" She asked and saw the problem.
"Uh oh."
Artymis, Sokka, Katara, stood in a grand throne room of Omashu. The basic colors, as one can assume, was different shades of green. Everything, from the floor to the ceiling. Four guards around them, and two by a very old man on a throne - the king. The cabbage man was at one side of the room, very angry. Katara and Sokka looked upon the king with worry and mercy in their eyes. Artymis looked at the king with respect. All three friends knelt down in respect. Momo was currently hiding behind Artymis.
A guard pointed at the three friends with an accusing finger, the same one that had questioned them at the gate and flirted with Artymis. "You majesty, these juveniles are charged with: vandalism, under false pretenses, and massive destruction of the city." A grunt was heard from the cabbage man, the guard rolled his eyes. "And the destruction of a cart load of cabbages."
"Off with their heads!" The cabbage man yelled. "One for each head of cabbage!"
"What?" Artymis whispered, looking to the man.
"Silence!" The guard held up a gloved hand to the man. "Only the king can pass judgment."
"What is your judgment, sire?" Another guard asked, his voice deep.
Artymis only cast a glance at the king: he had white hair with large bags under his eyes. He had a look of seriousness and stubbornness on his wrinkled face. He didn't look so forgiving. Artymis saw he was a hunchback. His robe was quite royal with it green colors, and earth symbols, and the strange crown upon the king's head. There was a jeweled ring on each finger, except the thumb. She looked over her shoulder, not noticing something familiar about this aging man.
The king stared at each juvenile: the boy, didn't look so intelligent. He had brown hair, tanned skin and clear blue eyes. The girl next to him, which the king assumed was his sister, did looked intelligent and her clear blue eyes asked for mercy. Both were dressed of the Water Tribe, so obviously, they were Water Tribe people. His eyes fell on the eldest of the three, a young girl of fifteen. She was dress all in white. The king's eyes blinked fast for a moment at the sight of the teenage girl, especially her necklace that had four beautiful jewels and a rose in the center. He also noticed there was a lemur hiding behind her.
He rose a finger. "Throw them - " He said in the most unexpected squeaky high voice, the friends listened for their fate. "A feast." He said, a smile on his wrinkled face. The guards and the cabbage man gasped. The friends just stared, open-mouthed at their surprisingly luck.
In just a few minutes, the three friends sat side-by-side on one end of a wide table, covered with food and sweets. Sokka and Katara had removed their thick coats. The king was behind Artymis, who sat between Sokka and Artymis. Both friends cast a worry look to their friend. The king placed a ringed hand on Artymis' chair.
"The people of this city have become fat from too many feasts, I hope you like your chicken with no skin." The king said, lifting a chicken piece in front Artymis' face.
"No thanks," Artymis said, shaking her head. "I don't eat meat."
The king rose an eyebrow at first, then turned to Sokka. "How 'bout you?" He asked, shoving the chicken in Sokka's mouth, who ate it hearty. The king left the three friends and made his way slowly to his seat on the other side of the table.
Katara leaned towards Artymis, so the king or Sokka couldn't hear. "Is it just me, or has this king have too many feats?" Katara whispered, Artymis made a small smile at this.
"So tell me," The king sat in his chair, looking straight at Artymis. "Where do you come from?"
Artymis thought it was strange that he only asked her, but answered anyways. "Kangaroo Island." She lied, she kept a straight face.
"Kangaroo Island?" The king repeated thoughtfully, Artymis nodded. "I heard that place was really hopping." The king said. The girls blinked in confusion, but Sokka instantly started laughing.
Where have I heard that saying before? Artymis thought, trying to remember. She and Katara turned to Sokka at his laugh.
"What?" He asked. "Didn't you get it?"
There was a yawn. The friends look across the table to see the king yawning. He lifted from his chair and said, "All these jokes are making me tired. If you don't mind, I'll retire."
"Hey that rhymed!" Artymis said, out of the blue. Katara and Sokka were now looking at her weirdly. "What?"
A chicken was hurled at Artymis. Artymis knew it would land in her open mouth and possibly chock her. So she used an airbending skill to stop the chicken right in front of her, she tipped her chair back but it fell into place. The guards gasped.
Uh oh, Artymis thought as she looked up at a triumph-looking king.
"There's an airbender among us!" The king pointed at Artymis accusingly, who let the chicken fall on her empty plate. "But not just any - the Avatar!" All friends sighed, they were caught red-handed, again. "So, what do you have to say for yourself, 'Arivana'?" The king asked.
"Ok!" Artymis stood up and held her hands up. "You caught me. I am the Avatar, but just doing my duty. You see I came here to see if the Firebenders were here, but if they were, they attack before so I say your city is cleared. And remember never to run with sharp objects in hands. Bye!" Artymis, Sokka, and Katara were already at the exit when the two guards beside the exit, blocked the doorway with their spears.
"Let us go!" Katara said angrily.
"Katara, what are you doing?" Sokka whispered. "He's nuts, remember!"
"You all will be staying here, and the Avatar will be challenged with three deadly challenges tomorrow." The king said, he looked to the guard standing beside him. "Take them to their chambers."
The guard leaned in to his king, "Milord, the good chambers or bad chambers?" He asked.
"Huh?" The friends were confused. Were there good and bad chambers for prisoners?
"The newly refurnished chamber." The king answered.
"The one that was bad but now is good?" The guard asked.
"Yes, because of the recent refurnishing..." The king and the guard got into a little dilemma.
"Hello?" Artymis said, waving her arms for attention. "Are we going or not?"
"Alright then!" The king said, then ordered: "Send them to the newly refurnished chamber that was once bad!"
The guards pushed the friends towards another exit, which would lead them to their prison chambers. Artymis turned her head around, ready to give a glare to the king, when she noticed something. She turned around completely and stared at the king. He was watching her. But Artymis looked into his light green eyes and her heart stopped. She opened her mouth but no word came out.
It can't be...those eyes! she thought, a guard pushed her onwards. Anduril? No response from Anduril. Anduril, those eyes. she thought, even though Anduril couldn't hear her. Artymis was still thinking of the king's eyes and where she had seen them. The guard pushed her into a grand room and the doorway that she had gone through, became a wall again. There was no other way out or in, except earthbending.
"These are the bad chambers?" Katara asked, "But they're so nice!"
"He said it was refurnished." Sokka pointed out, "It doesn't matter though - we're prisoners!" He looked around.
"How are we gonna get out of here?" Katara asked, looking around too.
"The air vents!" Sokka said, not giving it much thought.
"None of us can fit!" Katara said.
"But Momo can." Sokka pointed out. He grabbed Momo, who was eating an apple he stole earlier. Sokka shoved poor Momo in the small air vent and shoving Momo in was a little difficult. "Get Appa and Anduril, boy!" Sokka said, giving Momo one last shove before he escaped through the vent.
"Artymis, we - Artymis?" Katara turned around and called out her friend's name. Katara and Sokka walked over to Artymis, "Art?"
Artymis was still standing where the guard left her, staring at the wall as if there was something there. She mouthed something.
"What?" Sokka asked, leaning in. "Say it again, please?"
"Nothing." Artymis said, shaking the thought from her head.
"Artymis, you're gonna have three deadly challenges tomorrow, at least get some sleep." Katara led her friend to a bed.
"Yeah, Art!" Sokka agreed, sitting on another bed.
Artymis refused. So she was sung to sleep by a soft lullaby sung by Katara:
Go to sleep, my friend, go to sleep
Dream, dream, dream,
Dream of a fantasy realm,
Where you can fly the highest sky
Where you can swim the deepest ocean
Dream of a dream where fantasy becomes reality
Dream, dream, dream,
Dream, my child
Katara opened her eyes and looked up to Sokka, her eyes shinning with tears of the lullaby her mother once sang to her. Katara found her brother already asleep. She smiled weakly. She took one last look at Artymis, who was sleeping, and laid down on her own bed.
"Mother." She whispered as she fingered the necklace around her neck. "Good night." She said out loud, even though Artymis and Sokka were already in dream land.
With that, Katara fell into a sweet dream. Her dream was of her mother, still alive. A dream where he mother was smiling and laughing.
"Wait!" Zuko cried out, running after the distant figure. He now stood only six feet away from the figure, who had it's back to him. "Who are you? Turn around!" Zuko ordered, his hands swirling with fire. The figure turned around. Zuko gasped, "You!"
Avatar Artymis smiled, her eyes showing laughter. She lifted her hand and waved at him, moving her hand side-to-side very slowly.
"What are you doing here?" The prince asked.
Artymis didn't do or say anything, but smile at him. Her hands clasped behind her back. She tilted her head a bit and Zuko could see the suitor's rose in her brown hair.
"Who gave you that rose?" Zuko asked. She remained silent. He then asked again, with anger: "Who gave you that suitor's rose?"
Artymis didn't say anything, she just closed her eyes in amusement. She opened her eyes and looked behind Zuko. He threw a fireball at her, which barely missed her cheek by a few centimeters.
"Who gave you that rose?" He asked, yelling.
"I did, Prince Zuko."
Zuko turned around. Falling into darkness at the sound of a familiar voice, laughing. Last he saw, was Artymis offering him her hand as he fell.
Zuko sat up and breathed heavily. He looked around, he was in his room. He sighed and bent his head down.
"Why?" He asked himself. "Why do I dream of her? Of Avatar Artymis?"
"Hello?" Artymis called out, looking around. Her boots making a sound at each step. Everywhere she looked was dark, the only source of light there was, was a distant sphere. Artymis saw it and made a run for it. Within one step, her legs were already weary. Artymis kept running to the sphere, which didn't seem to get any closer to her.
She stopped to catch her breath. She panted and looked up to the sphere. Only to see someone, in front of it. A certain someone she never thought she see again.
"Gyatso?" Artymis whispered, her eyes wide.
He nodded, a smile on his weary face. Artymis just stared at him for a second, then her eyes were full of joyful tears. With a cry of happiness, Artymis ran to him, new energy in herself. She was very close to him now. He opened his arms and smiled at her. Artymis spread her arms and was about to hug her father-figure...
"Wake up." A hand violently shook Artymis' shoulder. She shot forward, and sat up on the bed of the 'prison' chambers. She panted and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Come." She looked to her right, to see a young soldier. He had woken her up.
"Don't you know it's rude to wake someone up when they're having such good dream?" Artymis asked, giving him a glare.
"You won't have any sweet dreams, at least, that's what the king said." The guard had an apologizing expression on his face.
Artymis gave him a confused look and looked to where Katara and Sokka should've been, which they weren't. They were not in sight, as well as Momo. "Where are my friends?" She asked, turning to the guard.
"The king said he'll let your friends go once you complete the challenges." The guard said, walking back to the doorway he had made with earthbending.
"And if I fail?" Artymis asked, following him.
"He didn't say." He said, and led her away from the chambers.
"Good morning, Avatar." The king greeted Artymis as she walked into the grand room again with two guards. Artymis held back a laugh at the sight of the king. The robe that he had on yesterday, was the same, except it was all different shades of purple. "First of all: how do you like my new outfit?" He asked.
Say it calmly, Arty, Artymis thought and smiled very weakly. "Um, I think the color purple doesn't look good on you. Green and brown does, but purple just doesn't... go." She said as nicely as she could and not insulting. The guards gasped at how she 'insulted' the king.
The king nodded his head. "Excellent! I thought so too!" He said, "You passed your first test."
"Really? Cool!" Artymis relaxed, piece of cake.
"No, not really." The king lowered his eyes, then looked up at her. "The tests are more challenging then this one."
This made Artymis mad, she ran up to the king with the speed of wind. The guards were nearly thrown off their feet. "Release my friends and let us go!" She nearly yelled, her hands clenched into fists. The wind against her back and the king.
"I thought you say that, Avatar." The king said, a smile on. A crack from the right side of the room was heard. Artymis turned her face in that direction. Katara and Sokka, each held by a guard, were standing behind the made doorway. Each struggling as each guard placed an ice ring on their finger. "I decided to give your friends these: a creeping crystal ring." The ring on Katara's finger tighten and she struggled to take it off, but it was on too tight. Sokka struggled as well. "These rings - "
"I know!" Artymis interrupted. "Those rings grow rapidly. Covering the wearer of the ring in a crystal."
"By nightfall, your friends will be completely covered in them." The king closed his eyes. "I'll stop the process, but only if you follow my rules, Avatar."
Artymis cast a worry look at her friends. The rings already took their first step into covering them.
"They already starting to creep!" Sokka yelled.
"I'll do whatever you want." Artymis muttered, her eyes glued to the ground angrily.
The king was satisfy by this response.
A few minutes later, all three friends were on a balcony in a dark creepy cave. A water fall hitting hard among the rocks in the very center of the cave. Katara and Sokka were held back by two guards and Artymis stood by the king and looked around for her first challenge.
"What am I suppose to do?" She asked, looking at the king, who was just a little taller then herself now that Artymis actually looked.
"I lost the key to my lunchbox key, and I'm hungry.." The king said.
"And you want me to find it in this dark, very creepy cave?" Artymis guessed, eyeing the dark places of the cave.
The king shook his head and pointed to the hard-hitting rushing water. Artymis squinted, she saw a golden key hung on a metal chain. A ladder to reach it. All in the middle of the rushing water. "You have to retrieve it." He said.
"Really?" Artymis asked, casting him a confused look. "Piece of cake!"
With that, she jumped off the balcony. She was careful not to land directly on the sharp rocks from above or below the cave. She, instead, jumped off the rocks on it's side, just below the sharpness. She also carefully made her way to the ladder by climbing the rocks. Once or twice, she nearly fell to the ground, but managed to hang on tight. Artymis pressed against a rock as she looked up to the ladder and the water around it.
Water, she thought. So powerful and deadly!
Artymis made a jump for the ladder. At first she succeeded into clinging on the ladder, with a touch of airbending. But failed as she nearly tumbled to the ground. She clung onto a rock, holding on tightly as she panted.
"No one thought of climbing the ladder before, you know?" The king chuckled.
"Ha ha ha!" Artymis muttered. She made her way up to the rocks, that were hanging on the ceiling. She stopped between two rocks that were close together. She pressed her back against one, and her feet the other, as she though of a way to get the key. "Water is powerful." She muttered, looking to the ring that were on her friends. A shell of a crystal had already covered their entire hands and made it's way up to their elbow. Another part of crystal was added. "But, they always say that every element has a weakness... I got it!"
Artymis kicked the rock that she had laid her feet on. Her kick, along with her boots, managed to take the rock off. Artymis waved her hand out, and a powerful wave of air boosted the sharp piece of earth. It went instantly through the water. The piece of earth hit the door frame above the king's head, the golden key fell into his hands.
Artymis landed in front of him, her face showing anger. "Ok, I got you key. Enjoy your lunch. Give me back my friends, now." She ordered.
"Not so fast." The king said.
"What now?" Artymis asked.
"Now, now." The king shook his head, and looked to her friends. "Your friends are in the process of becoming crystals. To free them, you must face the next two challenges."
Artymis looked to Sokka and Katara, the crystals had entirely covered their arm. "What's the next one?" She asked.
"It seems I lost my pet, Flopsy." The king said from above Artymis. "And I miss him ever so!"
"Fine. I'll get him." Artymis muttered a curse under her breath as she looked around herself.
She was in a large built-in hole that was entirely, shockingly, made of rock. The king was behind the rail and was watching her. Katara and Sokka behind him, looking not so good. Artymis sighed and saw Flopsy instantly. A small bunny sitting upon a rock with huge floppy ears.
"There you are!" Artymis said happily, running up to Flopsy. "Found him!" She yelled over her shoulder to the king.
"Excellent!" The king said, "Bring Flopsy to me! Daddy wants to give Flopsy a hug!"
"Sure!" Artymis muttered as she picked up Flopsy in her arms and soothed his fur out. "What a good boy, you are Flopsy." She said.
Thud!
"Artymis - watch out!" Katara cried out.
Artymis slowly turned around and chuckled weakly. "Hi?" She said at a huge monster that was between a bunny with horns instead of floppy ears. Flopsy escaped from her arms. "Flopsy! Come back please!" Artymis begged, the monster roared behind her.
"Art - run!" Sokka yelled.
"Already on it, Soak!" Artymis yelled, running from the creature and chasing Flopsy. "Flopsy!"
The king laughed at the Avatar, and her attempt on "Flopsy".
"Flopsy!" Artymis yelled, as the small bunny disappeared into a hole. Artymis knelt in front of it and called the bunny out one more time. Something then clicked into her mind. "Wait, he's...?" She stood up and stared at the monster hurling towards her. "Flopsy?" She called out, hoping it was him.
She shield herself with her arms as dust arose. Realizing she wasn't hurt in any way, Artymis lowered her arms down and saw the creature in an awkward position. He was sitting, like a dog, looking at her with huge green eyes.
"Flopsy!" Artymis cried out, a smile on her face. She patted Flopsy's head.
"Flopsy!" The king called out. Flopsy ran up and jumped over the rail, and was scratched by his owner. "There's a good boy! Did that mean old girl scare you?"
"Mean old girl!" Artymis jumped up and stood on the rail, her hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'mean old girl'?" She asked, "I'm not that old!" She lied.
"Uh, Art!" Sokka cried out.
Artymis drew her attention to him, she gasped. The crystal were growing very, very rapidly. Katara's body - except her feet and head - were covered in green crystals. Sokka was too, except crystals were already as high as Sokka's head. He fell from the unbalanced weight of the crystals.
"You ok?" Artymis asked, looking to Katara.
"Oh yes!" Katara said sarcastically. "The only thing out of place is: that I'm gonna be covered in crystals entirely!"
Artymis rolled her eyes and jumped in front of the king. "I'm ready for the next one." She said, this made the king smile that caused Artymis uneasiness.
"Your next challenge is a duel." The king explained, "And as a treat, you get to choose your opponent wisely." A man with three scars on his face smirked evilly. Another man whose built was strong, came out with an axe in his hand.
Artymis blinked and looked from one opponent to another. Man with scars, or man with axe. Both stood beside the king like his body guards. Artymis asked, "Can I do the enie-minnie-minie-mo?"
"Choose wisely." The king responded.
"Um..." Artymis though through it, then pointed at the king himself. "I challenge you!"
"Wrong choice, milady." The king said.
The hunch on his back straightened and he seemed taller now. The robe he wore ripped and exposed his fighter's body as an earth bender. He had a piece of green cloth around him as a skirt, beneath it some shorts. The king now seemed stronger now, not an old man anymore.
"Um, did I say you?" Artymis asked, innocently. She was instantly thrown onto the battlefield by the king's earthbending. Artymis got up with a bit difficultly. Katara and Sokka watched in horror at the king's strength against their Avatar friend.
"Thought I was an old, weak man, eh?" The king asked, making a powerful leap from the balcony to the field in front of Artymis. "Wrong! I am a very powerful earthbender!"
"I can see that." Artymis said, then asked, "Can I take it back? Can I pick the scary man with the scars?"
"Too late now!" The king yelled. "You might need this, Avatar!"
Artymis looked up and saw a guard tossing her a wooden staff. She caught it and stared at it amazed. The staff was an airbender's staff. Artymis saw her name written in black lettering upon the wood. "My staff?" She looked up to the king, "How did you - Agh!"
A large rock was being hurled at her, Artymis dodged it. She looked up and saw that the king had already started the fight. More large rocks where hurled at her, she evade and avoided. She heard the king mutter something about "typical airbending combat". More rocks barely missed her.
"This will take a while." Artymis panted.
The duel between earth and air began and was fought with difficulty.
"Uncle!" Zuko whined, as his uncle presented him a cup of tea.
"Zuko." Iroh said, "You never know if you like it, unless you try it."
"I don't want to try it though!" Zuko said angrily.
"Zuko..." Iroh warned.
"I'm busy!" The prince said.
Iroh rose an eyebrow and sighed. "Never know, unless you tried it."
"I'll never know if I'm allowed to go back home, unless I try to!" Zuko said, "For instant, capturing the Avatar!"
"Oh yes, about the Avatar..." Iroh explained to Zuko that the Avatar did go to Omashu.
"What!" Zuko yelled, "You said she didn't!"
Iroh shrugged. "Must have sneaked in or gone in disguise."
"I want to go get the Avatar - now!" Zuko commanded.
"Calm down," Iroh said, "We couldn't anyways."
"Why not?"
"The Avatar is in the palace of the earth king himself. From what I heard, she is being held as a prisoner." Iroh said, "Besides, we can't stroll in and expect to defeat the earth king, the most powerful earthbender."
Zuko groaned. "We wait here, 'till we have news on the Avatar's next move!"
Iroh nodded and asked, "You want to try the tea?" Zuko stomped out of the room. "Never know, unless you try." Iroh sipped his tea in peace.
Artymis spread her arms out and began to twirl around like a ballerina, with her staff in one hand. The dust and wind sped up and soon, she was in the middle of a tornado. Artymis closed her eyes and focused all her energy on the creation of her tornado. The king, on the other hand, lifted a huge rock and let it hover above him. He threw the rock to the tornado with his arms. It only cause him more trouble. The rock was fired back at him, with help from Artymis' tornado. He divided the rock into two halves with earthbending. Artymis, taking her chance, ran with wind and pointed her staff at him, a smirk on her face. The king smirked and looked above, with his hands up. Artymis realized a part of the rock was above them, ready to come crashing down upon them.
The king chuckled, "Well done, Avatar. When you fight, you fight with much fire in your heart." He three the rock aside.
"No, just...fury." Artymis corrected him, lowering her staff.
The king disappeared beneath the earth and appeared before Sokka and Katara, who were in their final stages of the creeping crystals. Artymis twirled her staff and used it as a helicopter, she landed softly in front of the king and her friends.
"You've completed and passed all my test." The king announces, Artymis sighed from relief. "But, you must answer one question."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Artymis complained.
"No whining now." The king ordered. "What's the good of doing tests, if you don't learn anything?"
He has a point, Artymis sighed. "Alright, what's the question?"
"If you answer this one question, I'll set you all free." The king said.
"Come on!" Sokka whispered from behind.
"The question: what is my name?" The king asked.
Artymis blinked. "That's it? Your name?"
"Yes, and you don't have enough time." The king said, looking over to Katara and Sokka. He turned his attention back to Artymis, who was taken back by a familiarity.
Can't be though! she thought, the king left.
"I got it!" Sokka yelled in triumph.
"What?" Katara asked.
"Rocky."
"Excuse me?"
"You know, because..."
Artymis! Anduril's voice yelled in Artymis' head.
She blinked, Anduril?
Finally! I've been trying to contact you, but your mind was too occupied.
Anduril?
Yes?
Is it possible that my childhood friend could come back?
A pause.
Artymis, him? It's been over 100 years!
I know, but there's something about the earth king reminds me of him.
Such as?
I did tests. They were strange, I had to open my mind to something different, and ... Artymis closed her eyes. His eyes.
Eyes? Anduril was taken back.
Yes! Exactly like his!
Could it...? It has to be!
I'll contact you later! Artymis and Anduril broke their contact and Artymis turned her attention to Katara and Sokka, who were saying different names.
"Artymis?" Katara asked, "What do you think?"
"I - "
"We don't have much time!" Sokka warned as another part of a crystal added to the process.
"I know his name." Artymis said.
"How?" Katara and Sokka asked.
"Because, it was his eyes." Artymis answered, "His eyes showed a familiarity that is the same as someone I knew before."
Artymis stood before the earth king in the hall where she had met him earlier, who was once again dressed back in his green royal robe.
"So, have you figured out my name?" The king asked.
"Yes," Artymis hid a grin. "I could've known what your name was sooner, but I pushed it away. Opening my mind to possibilities, and that look in your eyes - " Artymis no longer could hide her smile. "Bumi, you're a mad genius!"
Artymis ran up to her childhood friend and embraced him. King Bumi patted his friend's shoulder.
"It's good to see you, Artymis." Bumi said, "And you haven't changed - literally!" He smiled.
"A little help here!" Sokka muffled, he was covered in crystals, except his mouth.
"Yeah!" Katara's face was the only thing left that was not covered.
Bumi and Artymis parted their reunion embrace. Bumi held out his clenched fist and pulled his fist back, the crystals around the Katara and Sokka shattered. Bumi caught hold of a flying crystal and ate it.
"Delicious!" He said.
"So, Artymis?" Katara said. "This crazy, old king is your old friend, Bumi?"
"I'm not old!" Bumi defended, he looked to Artymis, who gave him a look. "Ok, I am old. But not too, too old."
"Why didn't you tell Art who you were before though?" Sokka asked.
"Art?" King Bumi repeated, and looked to Artymis. "New nickname?"
"Yeah," Artymis said.
"We all use to call you 'Arty'." The king said, and smiled. "The good old times."
"Arty?" Sokka said, looking to Artymis, who sent him a glare.
"But," Bumi said, facing Artymis seriously. "I do have a reason for giving you these tests, beside the fact that it's fun messing with people's heads. Artymis, in the last centaury you've been gone, many things have changed. Many. You must learn the other three elements: water, earth, and fire. Only then can you defeat the Fire Lord Ozai. And when you do, think like a mad genius!"
Artymis smiled and bowed her head in respect. "Thank you, for your wisdom, Bumi."
"You are in good hands." Bumi said, looking at Katara and Sokka. Momo suddenly perched on Artymis' shoulder. "How's Anduril?"
"Overprotective as usual." Artymis answered.
"I can see why." Bumi said.
"Why?" Artymis asked, "Me being Avatar? Yeah, you get use to it."
"No, because of the suitor's rose." Bumi suddenly got a serious, but scary look on his face. "Who's the guy?"
Oh no! When Bumi got protective, especially when Artymis and him turned thirteen, he really did get overprotective.
"Um, no one!" Artymis lied.
"I can tell when you lie!" Bumi said.
"I am not!" Artymis defended herself.
"Yes you are!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"No!"
"Yes, you are! Don't lie!"
"Can we discuss this later?" Artymis asked.
Bumi frowned, "Yes we will. But I'll find out who the guy is! I'll make sure Anduril tells me!"
"Overprotective brother?" Katara whispered into Artymis' ear.
"Yeah, very overprotective." Artymis whispered back. She turned back to Bumi and said, "I've got a challenge for you..."
Bumi and Artymis slid down the world's greatest super-slide. They laughed and cause the mischief they once did long ago. But the fun ended all to quickly, when Artymis had to head back on the trail to the North Pole. They were packing new supplies on Appa and Anduril, who seemed happy at Bumi's presence.
"Good to see you too." Bumi said, patting Anduril.
Artymis came over when Bumi finished talking to Anduril, Bumi turned to Artymis. "Anduril told me you have a certain Fire Prince on your trail." The serious, scary look came back on his face. "He's the guy who gave you the suitor's rose?"
Artymis eyes widen and she laughed. "Pu-lease! Prince Zuko? Yeah right!"
"Anduril, keep an eye on her, will you?" Bumi whispered to Anduril, who nodded.
"Oh and Bumi," Artymis said. "Thanks for giving my staff back. Thought it was gone for good."
Bumi nodded, "Gyatso gave it to me for safekeeping after you ran away. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"You knew I was still alive?" Artymis asked him, "How?"
"No other Avatar has come forth, so I knew you where still alive." Bumi said, he then frowned. "You know how worried I've been about you? I thought I die without my partner in crime!"
"Sorry about that!" Artymis laughed, then looked back at her staff.
"Anduril also tells me you have nightmares now." Bumi commented.
"Yeah," Artymis answered, "I have."
"Of what?"
"Of the past. How it all use to be. Before I knew I was the Avatar." Artymis replied, "And how things been since I was gone. I see ..terrible things. Maybe if I had stayed - "
"Stop dwelling on it." Bumi demanded.
"On what?" Artymis asked.
"Stop dwelling on the past." Bumi said, "It does no good for you. What's done is done. Nothing an change it."
Artymis lowered her head and held the staff tightly. "I can't though! It's too painful!"
"Artymis," Bumi said seriously. "To live a better life, you need to let go of the past."
"Let's go!" Sokka called out.
"Thanks Bumi!" Artymis embraced him once more.
"Anytime, Arty." Bumi bid her farewell and to her friends.
Katara and Sokka rode on Appa, and Artymis rode on Anduril. The flew above the clouds, leaving Omashu and King Bumi behind them. The sun was setting, and Katara and Sokka fell asleep. Artymis stared out in the distance. Thinking what Bumi had said.
"Let go of the past?" Artymis whispered to herself. "Can I?"
"You can." Katara said weakly from her sleep. Artymis smiled, her friend fell back to sleep.
Artymis stared at the setting sun, and the red sky. The ocean below them was mixed between the colors blue and red. She thought about what Bumi had taught:
To live a better life, you need to let go of the past.
Author's Note: Whoa! This chapter was long! I hope you liked it, this chapter wasn't exactly free-style as the other ones, since I bought the episode on DVD. But I hope you enjoy. Yes, I had more humor in this chapter, since Bumi was in it - Bumi is awesome. Adios!
PrincessZula24400: Updated quickly again!
And-You-Are: Yeah, I think it'll be better and better now.
Firework (anon.): It wasn't meant that Zhao was gonna hit on Artymis, but I just had a great idea that he tell her lies about Zuko, and ... trouble. Yeah.
Firework: Thanks for adding me to your favorite authors list.