A/N: Now for the real mastermind.
Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Avatar or its characters. Owell. I'll get over it. So will you. In the meantime…
(Note: this was written shortly after the first season and long before the appearance of Toph, Aang's actual earthbending teacher. There is no way to adjust the story after the fact).
CHAPTER 6:
Thank the spirits he was a genius. Condensing decades of earth-bending training into the space of a few short weeks would, no doubt, have been impossible for an ordinary master, no matter how talented the pupil. And there was the even greater problem of keeping that pupil interested in the training, given his state of distraction. Aang could also be lazy, and fall back on his air-bending to fake some of the effects of earth-bending.
So Bumi had to be sharp. Yes, it was good to be a genius. Of course, it also helped since he had his own responsibilities as King of Omashu to attend to as well.
Not that he would admit it, but over the years Bumi had actually managed to automate or delegate most of the functions of running his kingdom, which left him time to devote to things that interested him, like art, design… and messing with people. And, of course, his favorite, coming up with schemes to at least hamper the Fire Nation's efforts at world domination.
They had been enjoying yet another feast since the return of the Avatar and his friends to Omashu, this one attended by a large gathering of the city's elite. For Bumi, the elite included craftsmen, artists, musicians and inventors. Of course, a smattering of merchants and aristocrats had to be included as well, for the sake of politics.
Young Sokka, his stomach sated and usual gloom eased by good company, had been engaged in a friendly competition with one of the musicians, instrument held loosely but fingers flying. Katara's eyes had rolled when she heard her brother baiting the older man on the quality of his playing, but she said nothing. Aang looked on gleefully, having placed bets around the room on which he had every expectation of collecting.
Bumi had been surprised at the young Tribesman's skill; it seemed out of character somehow. Still, the appreciation of music was universal. It flowed easily over all boundaries, even in the Fire Nation itself. And its practitioners were nearly as ubiquitous. They made good spies as a result, but it wouldn't do for them to take a more active role.
Bumi was a firm believer in compartmentalizing the activities of his covert security forces. Spies gathered information. Analysts determined the best use of that information, usually with Bumi's active involvement. The actual field work was accomplished by a stream of constantly rotated soldiers, individually chosen for each assignment for their particular talents.
Bumi considered the odd bundle of talents displayed by his guests that night. Then he cast a more speculative eye on the young Water Tribe warrior, as a series of hitherto unrelated facts began to coalesce in his brain. That, of course, was the true nature of genius, the ability to see the possibilities!
While Aang had been hurt at his friend's exclusion of him from the plan, Katara had been furious, and minced no words in telling her host what she thought of his machinations with their lives. Sokka himself had been dubious at first.
Open battle he understood, and he was the first to protect home and family, but he wasn't entirely comfortable with seeking out danger. On the other hand, Sokka had a fine appreciation for a good plan, and he could see the obvious benefits to the plan of his combination of skills and knowledge. He was also stirred by a strong desire to prove himself, a factor Bumi had anticipated.
Two factors he hadn't anticipated were Katara's insistence on accompanying her brother, and the degree of anxiety inflicted on Aang by the absence of both siblings. It only made his job teaching Aang earth-bending that much harder!