Chapter 3: The Mad King of Omashu
"This will be perfect for our next stop," Aang said cheerfully to the others.
"I've never seen such a place before. It's huge!" Sokka said in awe while looking at the city before them.
"We didn't have anything like this at the South Pole. We do need supplies too. I could only grab to so much before we left," Katara said.
"Whoa…" was all Harry said. He had seen larger cities. London was massive. The one before them was much grander to look at in his mind.
"We shouldn't have too much trouble keeping on the down low. This is Earth Kingdom territory. Even Zuko would be wary of following us here," Sokka said.
"I know this place very well. I came here to visit several times in the past. My friend Bumi showed me all there was to the place, including the best way to get around!" Aang said with a huge grin.
"You should probably still have a disguise," Sokka said looking Aang over.
"Like what?" Aang asked.
Sokka hummed in thought.
A minute later Aang had some of Appa's fur forming a mustache and he had a wig on top that Momo was hiding inside of. Aang gave his new mustache a scratch. "So itchy," Aang said.
"Perfect! You look just like a grandpa," Sokka said.
Katara giggled. "Aang is technically 112 years old," she said smiling to him.
Aang gave a grin as he twirled around his staff and leaned on it in a way an old man would a walking staff. He then hunched his back and used an old man voice to say, "Get off my Lawn! No respect. Youngins these days… Back in my day… we had to climb a mountain just to hop on a sky bison and travel fifty miles in snowstorms for a bottle of jubjub juice."
Harry chuckled. "You definitely have the role down," he said. Aang grinned to them all.
[-] [-] [-]
Aang, who was going by Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis… the Third, took his bag back from Sokka. Sokka was forced to carry it as part of their cover by the gate guards. They managed to sneak past a cabbage merchant having problems at the gate, but were still stopped by a different guard.
Aang chewed out the guard in his old man voice. He also convinced the guard Katara and Sokka were his grandkids and Harry their favorite cousin five times removed from their mother's side. It worked somehow and they were now inside the city.
"See that?" Aang asked pointing to a slide and chute system running through the city. "That's the mail system. Earthbending takes it up and gravity brings it down," he explained.
"Mailing with style," Harry said with a chuckle as Katara nodded looking at the mail system in wonderment.
"My friend Bumi discovered an even better use though. He always said you had to open your brain to the possibilities. He was a mad genius," Aang started as he smiled at the memory. "He then told me how the mailing system is the best super slide in the world!" he said cheerfully.
"We're going to ride it?" Sokka asked. He was unable to hide his curiosity on what it would be like.
"We sure are," Aang said with a grin.
[-] [-] [-]
"Yeah!" shouted Aang as he and the others were in a mail cart flying down through the city. Momo chittered away in excitement while hanging on to Aang.
Harry was laughing in joy. This was like the ride to his vault in Gringotts' except better! Here it was out under the sun and not inside a series of dark and low light caverns. Sokka was enjoying himself as well.
Katara? Not so much. "Aang! Do something! Use your airbending!" she screamed in fear. She was hoping he would slow them down or bring them to a stop.
"Great idea! That will make it go even faster!" Aang shouted in glee.
"That's not what I meant!" Katara cried out. No one was paying attention though.
Aang was grinning like a loon. Harry shouting in joy as they went faster. Sokka was holding on tight. Katara was the only one concerned with how they would stop.
[-] [-] [-]
"Your Majesty. These juveniles were arrested for vandalism, traveling under false pretenses, and the malicious destruction of Cabbages," a guard said.
After their joy ride came to an end, Aang, Harry, Sokka, and Katara were on the floor forcibly kneeling before the King of Omashu.
"Malicious destruction of Cabbages… This is indeed serious," the aged King said while nodding in thought.
"Off with their heads!" the Cabbage Merchant, who lost his cabbages, shouted as he jumped up and down in anger. "One for each head of cabbage damaged!" He didn't seem to realize they would still be short a few heads, if the kids were beheaded.
The King raised his hand and silenced the merchant.
"Throw them…" he started as the four gulped in nervousness. The King gave a grin and said, "A feast!"
Before the four friends could fully grasp what happened, they were sitting at a finely decorated table with a lavish feast on it. Aang was picking away at the vegetables and fruit. Katara was looking at the King warily. Momo was helping himself to some fruit from everyone's plate. Sokka was eating all of the meat he could without suffocating. Harry was eating in a polite fashion and shaking his head at Sokka.
"Table manners just like Ron's…" Harry thought to himself at Sokka's behavior.
"Is it just me… or is the King's crown a little crooked?" Katara asked Harry quietly.
"In the literal sense?" he asked her in return.
Katara shook her head. "I mean it is in that way too, but I'm talking about the other way," she whispered to Harry.
"Possibly… but we aren't being fined or something… So, be grateful for now," Harry replied to her.
"So… where are you from? Young bald one?" the King asked.
"Ummm… Kangaroo Island," Aang answered sounding almost unsure.
"Kangaroo Island," the King said nodding to himself. He then grinned and said, "I've heard the place is hopping!"
After a minute of silence, Sokka burst out laughing. The others looked to him. "What? It was pretty funny," he said just as the King let out his own crazed laugh at the joke.
"All of these good jokes are making me tired. Guess it's time to hit the hay," the King said as he stretched and yawned in an overly showy fashion.
He then suddenly threw a piece of chicken at Aang. Aang's reflexes kicked in and he caught it in an air ball. Sokka and Katara gasped. Harry wondered when he would learn that trick. It looked so handy… and Cool!
"We have an Airbender in our presence. Not just any old one either. The Avatar," the King said. He leaned in closer and asked, "What do you have to say for yourself now Mr. Pippinpaddleopsicopolis?"
Harry was actually pretty impressed the king was able to pronounce Aang's assumed name so easily after hearing it just once.
Aang looked very nervous as he opened his mouth to speak. Things were not looking good for the group...
[-] [-] [-]
"This is a dungeon? It looks so nice," Katara asked as they looked at their quarters for the night.
The beds were nice, the floor had nice rugs and there was even a couple of cozy tables with chairs. It had decent lighting, and even had good AC. The only dungeon part of it would be the jail cell style door.
"He did say it was newly refurbished," Aang pointed out.
"We're still prisoners," Sokka said.
"Any ideas on how to get out?" Harry asked as he sat on his bed.
Sokka shook his head.
"The air vents!" Aang said looking at them.
"Don't think we'll fit," Sokka said as Harry nodded in agreement.
"Momo can though! Come on boy! Go get Appa," Aang said and tried to rouse his flying lemur.
He had no success in his attempts. Momo was not in a cooperative mood tonight. After the fifth try, Aang gave up.
"What was Appa going to do anyways?" Sokka asked.
"Big huge ten-ton flying bison… I'm pretty sure he could figure something out," Aang said dryly.
"Guess we got no choice but to rest," Harry said as he stretched and yawned. He had an idea for later.
"At least the beds are nice. Aang will need his rest for tomorrow," Katara said as she got ready for the night. Aang and Sokka shrugged their shoulders and got to bed as well. As much as they wished it wasn't the case, they couldn't do anything about their situation tonight.
[-] [-] [-]
Harry opened his eyes once it was later in the night. He saw the others were asleep. He got up and sneaked over to the cell door. The outside guard was snoozing away. Harry pulled out his wand and whispered, "Alohomora."
He heard the telltale click of the latch unlocking. It didn't matter that it was a huge Earthbender stone lock. It was still unlocked for Harry. He thought about waking the others, but they weren't exactly the sneaky type. He was going to follow Aang's original plan.
Aang was right the bison could do something. Appa was unusually intelligent. He was also very large and loyal to Aang. He could barrel through the halls. Break through the ceiling. There were any number of possibilities.
Harry leaned up against a wall as he saw two guards walk by holding lanterns. He peeked around the corner to ensure they were gone. The halls were lowly lit with green glowing rock lights with plenty of shadows. He sneaked through carefully. He should at least find a way out of the place then wake the others, if he didn't go with the Appa plan.
The sneaking boy didn't notice as a tall figure dropped from the ceiling behind him. Harry did hear a rock coming his way though. He spun around and shouted, "Protego!" The rock blew apart after hitting his magic shield. He was so glad to have looked that spell up before the Goblet of Fire Ceremony. Knowing about the prophecy encouraged him to look ahead.
"Well well… Aren't you interesting?" It was the King. He no longer looked like a hunched over figure though. He was standing tall and was very muscular. It was surprising he was able to hide his true appearance earlier.
Harry was frozen still for a moment. Before he could react, his ankles were encased in rock. He was then pushed up against the wall and his arms cuffed to it. His wand was secured harmlessly at his side.
"Seems you're in the mood for a chat now," the King said grinning.
"Not like I have a choice. I am your captive audience," Harry grumbled. He really needed to learn Airbending or wandless magic. Why was he only now learning how useless wands really were? Even really good ones?
"Ha!" the King laughed in his maniacal way. He gave a large grin. "I really like Aang's new friends," he said.
Harry blinked to that. They hadn't really given away Aang's name, even during the feast. They didn't even say it after the King revealed he knew they were lying about who they were.
"Allow me to enlighten you on certain facts," the King said. He grinned as he clapped his hands and the halls lit up brighter. "Heh heh… Get it?" he asked.
Harry remained silent.
"Tough crowd… Seems you are at least willing to listen though," the King said grinning.
[-] [-] [-]
Aang woke up when he heard something which sounded like stone closing against stone. He quickly noticed everyone was missing. He ran to the cell door and demanded, "Where are my friends?!"
"The King will free them if you pass his tests," the guard answered.
"And if I fail?" Aang asked.
"He didn't say," the guard said as he entered the room. "Your staff, please?" he asked.
Aang begrudgingly handed it over and followed the guard to the King's chamber.
"First, Avatar. And this is serious…" he said with stern eyes. He then grinned brightly and twirled around. "What do you think of my outfit? Honest opinion," he asked.
"Fine. I guess?" Aang asked with a puzzled look.
"You passed the first test! Good job! Maybe you're a fashion bender too?" The King asked with a thoughtful expression.
"Really? I passed the first test?" Aang asked in hope.
"Of course! It isn't one of my deadly tests… But you passed it," the King said.
"I don't have time for your games, Old Man! Give me back my friends!" Aang demanded in anger at the way the King mentioned deadly tests so casually. It was like this was just his usual day and nothing of consequence was happening.
"Thought you might refuse…" the King said before clapping his hands.
A wall lowered and Aang looked worried. He saw Sokka and Katara being held with ease by guards as they struggled. They both had a green rock ring on a finger it looked like.
"I decided to give your friends both souvenirs," the Mad King said.
"Where's Harry?" Aang demanded.
"Ahhh… The sneaky one. I decided to keep him as… Insurance… You know, in case you three managed to pull something off," the King said.
"What is this?" Katara asked in worry. Her ring, as well as Sokka's, was starting to grow up her finger.
"Those rings are Jennamite. A.K.A. creepy crystal. It grows really fast. By nightfall, your friends will be completely covered in it," he said.
"Ahhh! It's growing… It's crawling up me. I don't like this!" Sokka yelled in shock as the ring did just as the King said it would.
"I can help free them of course… But only if you pass my challenges," the King said.
"I'll do it…" Aang said with narrowed eyes.
The Mad King of Omashu just grinned at him.
[-] [-] [-]
"Lunch time already? I seem to have lost my lunch box key. Ohhhh! There it is!" the King said as they stood in a giant open cavern. "Just in the waterfall. Would you be so kind as to fetch it for me?" he asked.
Aang looked at the waterfall thinking what to do. He still didn't appreciate the King's joking tone. Aang noticed a ladder right behind the waterfall. It went up high. He could climb and jump into the water and snag the key.
Aang ran for it.
"Oh yeah… I'm sure no one would think to use the ladder," the King said in sarcastic amusement.
Aang ran up the ladder and jumped before diving into the waterfall. He was so sure it would work. Then he realized the water was flowing a lot faster than he thought. He barely noticed as he flew right past the key.
"Keep trying. I'm sure it will work eventually. I've got alllll day," the King said. He then shrugged his shoulders and added, "Your friends don't, but I do."
Aang looked around for an answer. He then got an idea and ran over to a stalagmite. He used a wind blade to slice part of it off. He picked up the piece and launched it at the key and the King. He gave it a good boost with his airbending to speed up the process.
"There. Enjoy your lunch," Aang said as the makeshift spear impaled itself right by the King.
"Not just yet. You see… I've lost my pet Flopsie. I'm oh so worried about him," the King said acting so very sad. He was even giving something similar to puppy dog eyes. His eyes were bizarre so the effect didn't really work.
[-] [-] [-]
Once they arrived at a small sunken arena, Aang saw a small white rabbit in the middle of it. "Found him…" Aang said with a frown.
"Bring him up to me. Daddy wants kisses from Flopsie," the King demanded in an exaggerated whinny voice.
Aang gave a frustrated sigh as he hopped down into the arena. He quietly walked up to the rabbit. "Come here, Flopsie," Aang said.
There was a crashing sound from right behind Aang. He looked back to see what it was. His eyes widened. It was a giant goat gorilla! It was massive and powerfully built like a gorilla but it had the head of a goat and it was covered in white fur. The beast snarled at Aang and the bunny.
The bunny squealed in terror and bolted to the other side of the arena and into a small hole. Aang chased it and tried to pull it out. "Flopsie. Wait! Come here Flopsie. Flopsie," Aang called out to the hole.
He pulled the rabbit out and turned around. Aang then looked at the goat gorilla as it bounded towards him. Aang blinked a couple of times and asked, "Wait a minute… Flopsie?"
The goat gorilla came right up to him and picked him before licking his face playfully.
"Flopsie!" Aang said with a chuckle.
The King whistled and Flopsie put Aang down and jumped up to him. The King scratched Flopsie's ears as the pet rolled over and showed his belly. "That's a good boy. Such a soft belly. Who loves tummy rubs?! Yes, you do!" the King cooed to the pet.
"Are you guys okay?" Aang asked as he jumped out and landed by his friends.
"If you count having your body covered in Jennamite… Then yes! We're totally fine," Sokka said.
"Oh, that's right… the last test," the King said.
"Come on already!" Aang said to him. The rock was already encasing most of his friends' bodies. The King gave them an evil grin.
[-] [-] [-]
The group was now in an earthbending arena.
"Your final test is a duel. Since I'm such a great guy… You can pick your opponent," the King said grinning as two tough looking men came and stood next to the monarch.
Aang looked between the two. One had a giant axe. The other a giant mace, which he was already expertly twirling in one hand. They both looked extremely hard to beat. He got an idea.
"So… I can pick anyone?" Aang asked to be sure his idea would work.
"Choose wisely!" the King answered while nodding.
"You," Aang said as he pointed to the monarch.
The King let out a cackle. "Wrong choice," he said. The King sudden stood up tall. He cracked his neck and tossed his robes to the side. He was huge! He was really tall and very powerfully built.
Before Aang could do anything, the King stomped the ground. Aang went flying backwards into the arena. He flipped to keep from slamming into the floor.
"Gets 'em every time!" the King said before he launched himself from the balcony.
He landed in the arena and the ground shook beneath him. He grinned at Aang. "You thought I was a frail old man. But I'm actually the most powerful Earthbender you'll ever meet," he said.
"Can I fight the guy with the axe?" Aang asked hopefully.
"Sure," the King said.
"Really?" Aang asked, almost in relief.
He barely dodged a rock launched at him.
"As soon as you finish with me," the King said. "You might need this." He snapped his fingers and one of the guards tossed Aang his staff.
Aang caught his staff and just barely dodged a barrage of stone sent his way. He then dodged a few other stone attacks as well.
"Typical Airbender tactic. Dodge and evade. Great for an Airbender… Not so much for the Avatar," the King said.
The King launched a new series of attacks. Aang kept dodging.
"Soooo lame… So predictable… You're gonna have to change it up," the King said.
He continued attacking. Aang used his staff to launch himself in the air like a helicopter. He was thinking he would have the advantage here.
The King smiled to him and with a few movements he earthbent the ceiling.
Aang was forced to the ground as rocks showered down from above. He ran forward charging at the old king. The King twisted a foot while punching forward. A rock shot at Aang head on. Aang ducked and the floor jerked forward causing him to fall onto his back.
"I give it an E. For Effort! Not good enough though. No creativity. No flooshwha," the King said sounding like some snobbish food critic at the end.
Aang created an air scooter and hopped on it. He charged forward with it quickly and dashed from side to side. He then started tossing air blast after air blast at the ancient monarch.
The King brought his arms next to each other and erected a rock barrier. Aang's attacks were easily deflected by it. "Hmmmm… Bit drafty in here… I should have someone look at that. Wouldn't want to catch cold," he said absentmindedly.
Aang's onslaught stopped.
The King started using Earthbending moves to launch more attacks at Aang. Stones shot at him. Some were raining from above. The ground was sliding back and forth. A few spikes shot up from below. Aang desperately dodged and evaded for his life.
Next thing the Avatar knew, he retreated to the very opposite end of the large arena.
"How do you hope get me from there? Clock is ticking," the King called with a chuckle.
Aang charged forward and used airbending to speed up. He then jumped from side to side avoiding the softening sand patches below him. The King thrust his hands together and brought them down before separating them again.
Aang quickly made a new air scooter and jumped on it. The entire arena floor was softened sand, except for under the King. Aang charged forward again. The King sent a giant rock at him. Aang jumped on it after sending the air scooter forward as a hopeful distraction.
The King then broke off a large piece behind Aang and sent it forward. Aang back flipped over it and used an air blast to send it forward at the King much faster. He landed on the now solid ground as the large piece of rock flew forward.
The King looked worried for a minute. He then grinned as the rock turned to sand right before it would have struck him. "Hmmmmm better… I'd say a C… Maybe a C plus even!" he said as his eyes danced in amusement. It had been a while since he went out like this in a fight.
Aang was already rushing forward and jumping while propelling himself even faster. He was swinging around his staff in arches. Several wind blades were flung forward. The King used chunks of earth to counter them.
Aang air bent himself up quickly and launched an air blast behind himself to shoot forward even faster. He worked with gravity to sped up even more on his descent to the floor. He did not want to be an easy target for the earhbending king.
The King concentrated and brought up two giant boulders. They shot forward from Aang's sides. The airbender did a sort of circular air blade which cut right between them. He then used an air dome blast, which sent the boulders flying backwards.
Aang launched himself forward again quickly closing the final distance. He was standing right at the King's feet with his staff angled upwards ready to strike the King's throat or chin.
The King's arms were up as if he was going to surrender.
Then Aang felt a pebble land on his head. He looked up and his eyes widened in surprise. The biggest rock yet was hovering above them both, ready to crush.
"That will get you full marks…" the King said. He tossed the rock to the side with ease. "There may be hope for you yet. You've passed all of my tests. Now all you have to do is guess my name," he said with that same excited grin he had towards the end of the fight.
"What?! That's not fair… You said I just had to pass your tests," Aang complained.
"Okay fine… Have it your way," the King started with a dejected sigh. He then grinned. "Surprise Quiz! What's my name? Let's see what you learned."
Aang groaned. He should have seen that coming with this Mad Earth King.
"Ummmm… a little help here," Katara said in worry. She and her brother were almost fully encased in the rock crystal.
Aang thought on everything. "How am I supposed to know…" he said.
"Think about the tests… Maybe they're a clue," Katara said.
"None of them were straight forward. I had to think differently from how I usually do," Aang said in thought.
His eyes lit up in comprehension. "I got it! It was just the same way I solved all of the tests. I had to open my brain to the possibilities," he said. Aang grinned brightly. "You're a mad genius… Bumi!"
"Actually… I'm a Mad King now," Bumi said. He gave a big grin as he added, "I got promoted."
Aang laughed as he said, "True."
"It's so good to see you again Aang! You literally haven't changed… at all," Bumi said in a friendly manner.
"Ummm… About us?" Katara called out.
Bumi earthbent himself up right next to them. Aang jumped up right behind him. Bumi then used earthbending to free the water tribe siblings. He got a piece of the creeping crystal and took a bite. "Delicious! Jennamite is made of rock candy," he said grinning.
"So where is Harry?" Katara asked after recovering from finally being freed. It took a moment to regain her balance without being encased in rock candy.
"Oh yes. The sneaky one," Bumi said. He earthbent the ground below them and they were encased in an earth dome. They were then moved seemingly forward before they emerged in the dining room again.
"So Aang figured it out?" Harry asked as he opened his eyes from meditation.
"You were here the whole time?!" Sokka asked in shock.
"Yep," Harry said.
"Harry tried to sneak out last night," Bumi said as he launched himself onto his throne.
"Why did you do that?" Aang asked Harry.
"I was going to go with your idea and have Appa charge in through the halls in the middle of the night. At the very least, I was going to find the quickest route and come back for you all. King Bumi found me though. He then told me what was his plan was," Harry said.
"What was the plan? Why not just tell Aang who you were?" Sokka asked.
King Bumi straightened up in his throne and actually looked rather serious.
"You have a difficult task ahead of you, Aang. The world has changed a lot in these last hundred years. Your duty is to bring balance to the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai. You have a lot to learn. You must master the elements before you confront the Fire Lord. I hope you will think like a mad genius when you face him," Bumi said and gave a smile to Aang.
"It looks like you're in good hands already. You have great friends. Even a fellow Airbender blessed by Lady Cosmo! You will need them all when facing the Fire Nation," Bumi said.
Momo glided over to Aang's shoulder and chittered before nuzzling into his neck.
"And you'll need Momo too!" King Bumi said.
Aang grinned as he scratched Momo's ears. "Thank you for your wisdom," he said to Bumi.
The King then gave a laugh. "Plus… It's a lot of fun messing with people," he said.
Aang laughed out loud to that. "Then I have a challenge for you!" he said grinning widely at his old friend, in more ways than one.
[-] [-] [-]
Bumi and Aang cheered in joy as they shot along the Omashu mailing system. Aang was using airbending to make them go faster.
"You remembered the best way to get around after all!" Bumi cheered.
"All because of you, Bumi. You Mad King!" Aang cheered.
The two then crashed in a cloud of dust. They were both laughing more than they had in a good while. They were happy to see each other again after all of these years.
"My Cabbages!" the unfortunate Cabbage Merchant cried out loud after seeing the crash. When he saw the many felled cabbages, he took off his hat and placed it over his heart and lowered his head. He gave a sniff and wiped a tear from him eye.
A/N: Press 'F' for the Cabbage Merchant's cabbages…
Still rather samey to canon, but I think I started to get an idea on how to approach bending towards the end of this chapter. Feel free to let me know.