Chapter 9: The Crazy King of Omashu (Remastered)
Special Guest Star: Bugspip as Konna (Konna is Connor in Japanese)
Location: Los Angeles, California
Johnny was not happy about what happened for the last two weeks. Why it's because his longtime friend is 'dead' by the stupid ego Dexter Jeremy Paxton. He wanted to punch him in the face for killing his LBBFF (Little Brother Best Friend Forever, even though they're not blood-related). He liked to tease Ricky and Elsa for being a couple when they were in middle school, he and Anna would laugh out loud to see them blush furiously and argue how they are not a couple. Though, after a few months later, they FINALLY became a couple.
He laughed at the thought, wishing that he could relive the past before he 'past away'. He knew that Elsa, Susan, and Mr. Richards would be taking this the hardest out of all of them. He and Susan don't get along that well, but he knew that secretly that she has been protecting him and took care of him since the day of his birth. Johnny was the same age as her and they both have one thing in common, even though the two don't see it: they both want to protect Ricky from ANY harm. He was walking down to see Susan and Nikki after Summer School and was going to his LBBFF's 'funeral'. To be honest, he wasn't the dressing-type person; he wasn't the guy who wouldn't wear a suit like on weddings or prom, even funerals. He complains about how itchy and how extremely uncomfortable they are. But this time, he didn't even care about what he wears, very few people went to his funeral, which was his teachers, the Rainelle's, his family, and the Richards. Well, not all of them. For one, Ricky's mom refuses to go to the funeral because she was as dense as rock and his dad must not have heard the news yet. And two is that only Susan and Nicki were at his funeral. If there are two people that Johnny hates right now, it's Ricky's mom and Dexter. He wanted to give Mrs. Richards a piece of his mind for not caring about Ricky and now he knows why Ricky doesn't get along with his mom that much.
He finally got to the Richards' apartment and began knocking on the door. The door open, showing Nikki, wearing a black dress with a black rose on her head.
"Hey Nikki", he said solemnly.
"Hey", she said, still sad.
"Is Susan here?"
"Yeah, she's still in her room crying and I can't blame her…" she was silent for a moment, "I can't believe he's gone."
She began to draw a tear, but Johnny grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the tear off her cheek.
"Hey, don't worry. I know, I'm upset too, but I'm going to find that son of a b*tch Paxton and make him pay."
Nikki looked up at Johnny and smiled at him. Usually, Johnny would say something perverted about her breast or Susan's, but she has never seen him say something that was NOT perverted. She gave him a bear hug, knowing that she might be wrong about Johnny after all. Johnny was shocked to see Nikki giving her a bear hug, normally it was Anna giving him a bear hug, but he would make this an exception. He gave her nice, (slightly perverted) gentle hug back to her.
"I hope he's in a better place", He thought to himself.
Location: Five hundred miles from Kyoshi Island
It's been two weeks since they left Kyoshi Island; they just got a recruit in their voyage, Sari. She was very excited when she joined the Avatar and his friends. It was a usual day, Ricky was sleeping from his excitement when the Unagi transformed into Godzilla: The King of all Monsters and that he drove the Fire Nation out of Suki and Sari's home. Katara was sewing Sokka's pants (again) and Aang was whistling while heading towards their next location, Omashu. From what Sari and Ricky have heard, Omashu is the second strongest kingdom in the Earth Kingdom. This is the first time Ricky has ever been in the Earth Kingdom city and has always wondered what the people would like. For what he has heard from Aang, the earthbenders are strong, confident (and stubborn) people in the four nations.
"So Avatar Aang", Sari said, "What is Omashu like?"
Aang giggled, "Just call me Aang. Omashu is a really beautiful place. I use to go there to visit my friend, Bumi."
He started having a flashback about him and Bumi having fun when they were kids. He smiled at the memories, wishing that he could go back to the old times.
"Hey Aang," Ricky said, "You said that the people in Omashu are nice people right?"
He looked at him in confusion.
"Yeah why?" he asked.
Ricky pointed out at the guards who were yelling at a salesman.
"You think that you can enter inside Omashu with those rotten cabbages?!" one of the guards yelled, "Well, think again. Throw it away!"
Two other soldiers came down from the wall and launched the cabbage cart off the mountain.
"MY CABBAGES!" the salesman yelled.
He solemnly walked away from the city, while the Gaang watched in disbelief.
"Now what are we going to get inside the city now", Sokka asked.
Aang began to think of a way to get inside without being thrown out. Ricky has heard about the earthbenders can manipulate the earth without touching it, but has never seen it in person. And boy was he scared to tip them off the iceberg. He began to lean on Appa's mid-leg and began to wonder about what to do to get inside the city. That's when he got an idea.
"Hey guys", he yelled, "I got an idea."
The Gaang continues to walk towards the entrance, hoping the plan would work.
"I don't know about this", Aang says, having some of Appa's hair for a mustache and a weird looking hat, which he can't tell if it's supposed to be either a hat or a wig.
"Don't worry Aang", Ricky reassures, "Just like we planned."
They begin to walk to the entrance until they were stopped by the guards.
"State your business", the guard questions.
Aang then jumps in front of the guard's face.
"My business is my business pal", he yelled in an old man voice caught everyone by surprise, "Why I have half of my mind to make you bend on your knees and smack you!"
The guard steps back a little, not wanting to make this any worse.
"Geez calm down old-timer. No need to be hostile."
Ricky pulls Aang away from the guard. "I'm so sorry about that sir, my Grandpa can be like this from time to time."
"And who are you?" the guard asks.
"My name is Ryuu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis and this is my girlfriend Kat," Ricky says, pulling Katara into his arms.
Katana was blushing a bit when she heard him say "girlfriend".
"And the others?" the guard pointed at Sokka and Sari.
"That is my sister Sari Pippinpaddleopsicopolis and that's our servant, Dipstick." Ricky answers.
Sari tried her best not to laugh at Sock's nickname, his eyes twitch.
"Well, you guys have a pleasant time here in Omashu." the guard told them.
"We will", Aang reassures.
The stone gates begin to move by the earthbenders to allow the kids to enter. The Gang begins to enter the city and the gates begin close behind them.
"That was a great idea Ricky", Aang said, "Maybe you should come up with ideas with Sokka."
"Thanks, Aang", he replied with a smile on his face, "But I think I'll allow Sokka to do the planning from now on. It was just beginner's luck."
Sokka didn't respond as he was still upset on Ricky calling him Dipstick.
They began to look at the city in awe, the Water Tribe kids never have seen a city that built out of stone before. Aang has heard that in Ricky's world, that the houses were similar to the ones in China. Only that the houses were more colorful instead of tan, gold, and green ones. To Sari, she was amazed to see the beauty of the cultural houses were in the city if only Suki was here.
"So, what kind of fun things we can do in this city, Aang?" Ricky said sarcastically.
Aang began to giggle like a child.
"We're going mine-cart racing."
The four teenagers stared at him in confusion.
"What's mine-cart racing", Sari asked.
"You just have to ask!" Ricky yelled.
"What?" she yelled back.
The Gaang were screaming with the wind blowing into their faces, feeling like they're going to throw up. Sokka was screaming like a girl (which is unmanly as he calls it), Katara and Sari were holding on to each other screaming, Ricky was screaming hysterically saying, "We're all going to die!" while Aang was the only one who was enjoying it. It wasn't long until they saw they were almost at a dead end.
"Hold on guys, this is going to be a bumpy ride!" Aang yelled.
"What?!" they yelled since they couldn't hear him since the wind was all they can hear.
Aang grabbed his hang glider and launched his friends off the mine cart before they can retort. They all yelled and crashed into a cabbage cart, leaving nothing but a broken-down market. They all groaned in pain as they struggle to get up.
"NO! MY CABBAGES! The salesman yelled.
"I hate you Air-head", Ricky murmured (Aang's nickname).
It was long until he saw a spear pointed at his face, looking up he saw he and his friends were surrounded by the earthbending guards. He gulped, knowing that they're going to prison.
"Uh, hi?" he said worriedly, but he began out was a fireball sneeze, leaving the spear to burn.
The guards were shocked to see that a firebender was inside their city. Ricky looked up to see that he made even more p*ssed off.
"Uh-oh…"
Location: Omashu Dungeon
Ricky was thrown into a small, cold, and damped cell all because of his stupid sneeze. If he could just hold it on a little longer, then he would've held a little longer, then he wouldn't be in jail in the first place.
"Hope you like stone walls," said the security guard grimly, "Cause you're gonna stay here for the rest of your lives."
The guard laughed as he walked away from Ricky's cell.
"You got it all wrong! I'm with the Avatar, please let me out!" Ricky yelled, but to no avail.
"That's new", a male voice said, "I have don't think 'I'm with the Avatar' would do you any good."
Ricky turned around to see a boy at the age of fifteen in average height, with golden-ember colored eyes. He wasn't very muscular but he had a normal body.
"The name's Konna", he said, "So, what's yours?"
Ricky looked at him in confusion.
"Ricky", he replied.
Konna scoffed at the name.
"What kind of name is that", he asked.
"Oh, and Konna is not weird", he said accusingly.
Konna started to think about Ricky's question.
"Touché" he answered, "So, how did you end up here?"
"I kind crashed into a cart filled with cabbages, and I accidentally sneezed out the fire out of my nose."
Konna looked at him with amusement, trying to hold his laughter. All he could do is snickered, underneath his breath, until it began full-out laughter. Ricky sweatdropped, knowing that he was going to be a laughing stock in this world.
"So, Konna", he said, "How did you end up here? I bet yours a bit more amusing than mine."
He snorted at the comment.
"Please, I was here when I was ten, and let me tell you something." He leaned, "Its best if you just accept your fate."
Ricky looked at him in awe, to hear that pessimism that he was given.
"Well, that's a nice speech you got there Konna, but I have to get out of here and help my friends."
Konna sighed in annoyance as Ricky moved towards to cell door. He stretches his hand between the bars, finding that there wasn't a handle on the other side. He bit his lower lip until he got another idea. He steps back and pulls his right hand back.
"What the heck are you doing?" he asks.
"I'm going to blast the door off. That's what I'm doing."
Konna only scoffs, "There is no way you can—"
Ricky ignores him and shoots a fist-size blue flame at the lock, causing the bars to heat up and melt from the intense heat. The two turn their heads from the small explosion as the metal bar and lock melted into a melting puddle. Ricky looks at him, giving him a smirk to hide his almost scared expression.
"You were saying?" he said.
Konna didn't say anything but just grunt in anger. The two look out of their cell as they quietly got out of their cell looking for an exit, but then suddenly Ricky started to hear footsteps coming right in front of them. Ricky began to hide behind a wall, pushing Konna towards the wall.
"Dude, what the heck is wrong with you?!" Konna hissed.
Ricky violently shushed him as they heard the footsteps were getting closer and closer. Ricky grits his teeth to hear the footsteps getting closer and closer towards them. He couldn't take it anymore of it until he heard what sounds like lightning. He looked outside to see the guard fell to the floor, unconscious, and turned to see Konna in a weird yoga position with two fingers pointing out with smoke coming out.
"What the heck did you do?!" Ricky yelled worriedly.
"Relax", he said calmly as he stood up normally, "I just shock him with lightning bending towards the heart just enough for him to the unconscious for at least two hours."
"Why would you do that?!" Ricky yells, "Now we're going to be charged with murder!"
Konna rolled his eyes ignoring Ricky's worriedness, began to walk towards the guard. He places his two fingers onto the man's wrist, checking for a pulse. He sighed in relief, as he felt a small and faint heartbeat.
"It's okay, he's alright," Konna answered.
Ricky sighed in relief, knowing that the man is still alive. It wasn't long until he heard two more guards coming from the same place they escaped. Ricky's eyes widen in fear as he grabbed Konna's hand and began to ran for his life.
It felt like forever inside the dungeon, but they finally made it towards the entrance of the dungeon. The two ran towards the door when a huge wall came out of nowhere.
"We're trap!" Ricky yelled.
Konna began to hit the stone wall to no avail, when they turned around they were surrounded by five earth benders in a boxing defense stance. Ricky and Konna began to prepare to attack when all of a sudden, a large explosion came from behind to see Aang, laying on his back, moaning in pain as he tried to get up.
"Aang", Ricky said in shock.
"Ricky!" Aang said in a happy and worried tone.
He quickly got up and blasted a huge wind at the guards, while Ricky and Konna braced themselves for impact. The earthbending guards were caught off-guard and been blown away from Aang's airbending. After the guards were left knock-out at the other side of the hallway, Aang ran towards his friend and another person he has never met before.
"Ricky, I'm so glad you're okay" Aang replied by hugging him, "But who is this guy?" he pointed out at Konna.
"Aang this is Konna. Konna this is Aang", Ricky introduces to the two boys.
Aang shook Konna's hand with a smile on his face and so did Konna. It wasn't long until Ricky realize something.
"Wait a minute", Ricky said, "Aang, what just happened?"
Aang was about to answer Ricky's question when all of a sudden the three boys heard an old man calling Aang's name.
"Oh Aang", the old man replied, "Don't tell me you are already giving up?"
Ricky was confused about what the old man was saying.
"Aang, what is the old man talking about?" Ricky asked.
"That sounds like the Omashu's king. I met him once before, that old man is crazy", Konna said calmly.
"Yeah, I kinda accept his challenge to save Katara, Sokka, and Sari go," Aang said nervously.
Ricky looked at him like he was insane, but that's when he heard moaning from the guards on the other side of the hallway.
"Can we talk about this later, we need to get out of here now" Ricky said.
Aang and Konna didn't need to be told twice, they nodded and begin to run towards the exit but was greeted by an old man that looks like he escaped from a mental asylum.
"Well Avatar Aang, it seems that you have brought some backup?" the old man said with a crazy-looking grin on his face.
Konna and Ricky begin to do a battle stance when Aang pointed his staff at the old man. Ricky begins to notice some tiny sea-green crystals coming from Konna's arm, but he shrugs it off and begins to focus on the old man. It was then the old man got an eye on Konna and begin on to smile.
"Konna, it's been so long since we've met", the old man said, "How were you?"
"I've been fine, no thanks to you, your majesty", Konna said calmly.
"Why Konna, that's not like you; being so polite to me", the king said sarcastically, "I think that's low for you."
"So is my interest in bowing down to you," Konna said with a grin on his face.
Ricky tries to hold back laughter, biting his lower lip. Despite there situation, but this only made the old king smile.
"Now, we're going to have some fun." the king said and begin to launch his entire body towards the three boys.
The old man launches his entire body towards the three boys, bracing for impact Ricky, Aang, and Konna jumped out of the old earthbender's way. Ricky begins to launch fireballs at the old man, but he blocks it with an earth wall.
"Is that all you got firebender?" the king said, "I don't want to catch a fever."
Ricky begins to growl and then looked at his friends who are trying to get close to the king. Aang was avoiding the king's attacks, while Konna is trying to find an opening to attack the king. Ricky was wondering how he's going to get close to the king, but that's when he heard Katara's voice.
"Ricky!"
He turned around to see crystals were slowly encasing Katara, Sokka, and Sari.
"Katara, Sokka, Sari! What happened to you guys?!"
"Don't worry about us", Katara said, "Just beat that crazy king and save us!"
Ricky gave them a confident smirk and then launches his entire body using his firebending from his hands as rockets towards the king. The king notice Ricky towards him, he created an earth wall and launch it at him. Ricky's eyes widen in fear when all of a sudden, a flash of lightning hit the stone wall and destroy it.
Ricky stopped as he saw Konna in the same position he did with the security guard. He was a relief to see his new friend saved his life again. He heard a surprised gasp from Sokka and Katara.
"He's a firebender?!" Sokka yelled.
"A lightningbender", Sari corrected him.
"I don't care! This guy's from the Fire Nation!" Sokka ranted what seems like hours.
Ricky groans as he notices Konna's arm was now covered by sea green-colored crystals. He was curious about how did those crystals get on his arms. Then what shocked him, was when he launched the crystals at the king. The old man saw the crystal shards coming at him; he blocked them with another earth wall while several crystals began to penetrate the stone wall. The Gaang were shocked in awe when they saw Konna launching crystal shards coming from his arms.
"It seems that you have some tricks up on your sleeves", the king said.
Konna smirked with confidence.
"I have more surprises than you think", he replied.
It wasn't long till Konna to launch more of the green crystals at the king, Ricky and Aang follow suit with Ricky firing a blast of blue flames and Aang shooting but he blocks all three of their attacks with a huge stone wall protecting him from harm.
"You've got to be more creative than that, boys!" he mocks.
He thrust his scrawny arms forward and the stone wall moves towards the trio. They quickly dodge, but Ricky was a tad too slow and was hit by the wall, sending him flying a bit across the arena. Aang race towards his fallen comrade and looks down.
"Are you alright?"
Ricky only weakly nods before slowly sitting up.
"Y-Yeah, I'll manage. But how are we going to beat this guy?"
Aang looks at Konna and the King, clearly not stopping but it was showing that the strange lightning/earthbender was at a disadvantage. He bit his lower lip, brainstorming for an idea, thinking of all possibilities he could think of, until one click.
"Ricky, I need you to distract him for me so I can get a landing blow on him."
"Like I have any other options," he dryly remarks as he slowly gets up, "But I'll do my best."
Ricky begins to jog, seeing Konna shooting his lightning but sees that his arms aren't growing anymore of the crystals and trying to avoid the flying boulders coming in his way.
'That old man must've tired him out,' he thought before stopping and shoots a blue fireball at the king.
"Hey, over here!" Ricky shouts.
The man barely dodges the blast, feeling the synching heat before it hit the stone arena walls. His gaze shifts to see the brunette staring at him.
"My, you've caught me off guard!" he said in an ecstatic tone, before turning to see the Avatar racing towards him, "But you got to do more than that."
The old man bends two stones from the ground between Aang, pushing them together in hoping to catch the Avatar. He jumps in the air with visible anger in his gaze, landing onto the ground and begins to run in a tight circle to create a tornado. Ricky took this and starts running with whatever stamina his body could muster and going for his blindside. The king then pulls the ground to create a huge boulder with the stone walls crumbling. Konna also took this as his opportunity as he got into his stance and charge his index and middle finger, waiting for the right strike.
Aang moves even faster to make the tornado faster, with Ricky already coming from behind him and fires his blue fire at his bareback and Konna firing his lightning.
"I don't think so!" the king laughs, moving his arms to create two stone walls and push them forward at the attackers.
The walls then turn into hand-shapes, blocking the attack and pushing the two boys against the wall and then threw the massive boulder at Aang. Luckily, the tornado caught the boulder and it hurled towards the man, but he bends it into sand before it could hit him. Covering his eyes to prevent some sand particles into his eyes, he didn't notice Aang jump from the top of the tornado and land in front of him, his staff pointing at his chin.
The king quickly raises his hands, Aang breathing heavily. Showing clear signs of exhaustion before he felt a small pebble hitting his head.
"What?" He mutters before looking up to see the large boulder, hovering over the two.
"H-How?" Ricky mutters, completely shocked to see that they completely miss the thing.
"Well Avatar, it seems that you have passed all of my tests", the king said, "But I have ONE question for you."
"Oh come on!" Aang complained, "I have done all of your dumb trials and want my friends back NOW!"
"But what is the point if you did them?" he said.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Sokka yelled.
"Answer this one question and you'll have your friends back, okay?" he said.
Aang sighed in defeat, knowing that he has no other choice.
"Okay, lay it on me", he said.
"Alright, here's is my question; what is… my name?"
Ricky's jaw dropped and Konna slapped his forehead in annoyance.
"You've got a few minutes if you want to save your friends Avatar."
And with that, the king moves the boulder away from them and bends the two stones off on Ricky and Konna before leaving the young kids alone.
Ricky and his friends began debating on what the king's name would be; Sokka thought his name was Rocky because he's an earthbender, but it didn't seem to work. Ricky kept pondering about the king's name, but he was stumped and has no clue what so ever.
"Aang, what kind of tests did he gave you", he asks.
"Well, for starters; he made me grab a key from a waterfall, find his pet, and finally I have to duel him."
"And, does this ring any bell about who he might be?" he raised his eyebrow.
Aang begins to think about it for a moment until he got an idea.
"I think I know who he is!"
"Really, who is he?" Ricky asked.
"I'll tell you later, but right now we need to talk to the king."
Aang, Ricky, Konna, and the rest of the Gaang waited for the king to arrive and about a few minutes later, the king finally showed up with his royal attire.
"Well Avatar, have you found the answer?" he asks.
"Yes, I have", Aang replied, "In each trail I have to do, I have to think outside of the box and none of them make sense."
The old king began laughing hard.
"Bumi, you are truly are a mad man!" Aang said with a smile.
"Oh Aang, it has been so long since you have left", Bumi said with a calm voice as he hugs his old friend.
Sokka interrupted their reunion by coughing to remind them he, Katara, and Sari were still imprisoned in the crystals. Bumi laughed as he began to earthbend the crystals that almost engulf Aang and Ricky's friends. The crystals quickly to breaks down into tiny pieces as they began stretching their legs and arms for relief, from being cramped in their crystal prison.
"Did you know that these crystals are also delicious candy", Bumi said as he started chewing one of the tiny pieces.
Sokka was dumbfounded, not knowing that he could've EAT his way out, but who could blame him. Ricky picked up one of them and carefully put it into his mouth and started eating it. His eyes widen as he continuously eating it the crystal candy.
"Oh my gosh this is delicious!" he said while still having the rock candy in his mouth, "you guys got to try this."
Aang, Katara, Konna, and Sari laughed to see Ricky eating the rock candy. Bumi laughed as well to see Aang's new friend enjoying the crystal candy.
"Well then, guess we might have a lot things to catch up don't we?" Bumi grin as he motion his fingers for them to follow him.
They did and started following the king.
Ricky learned so much about Bumi and Aang's past when they were kids and he started remind to remind himself when he and Johnny were kids in the 2nd grade. He also learned that Konna use to be a thief when he was a teenager; he used to be one of the most wanted thieves in the Earth Kingdom, but he was betrayed by a bounty hunter he once consider friend name June. They robbed many rich people; not knowing that she was playing him so she could take all the money, leaving Konna to rot. He felt really bad for Konna; so he said that if he ever meets her, he's going to kick her butt for him and Konna agreed.
As they began to leave, Bumi has told Aang that he needs to mast all four elements in order to defeat the Fire Lord.
"Thank you so much Bumi", Aang said, "And thank you Konna for helping me with my last test."
"Ah, it was nothing", he waved his hand, "I need to focus on the future instead on the past."
That's Bumi got an idea.
"Say Konna."
Konna turns around.
"How you like to be my personal bodyguard-slash-double-spy?"
Konna's eyes widen in excitement.
"Really, that would be an honor!" he said excitedly.
Bumi nodded his head as he turns to Ricky.
"Young Ricky; the journey with your friends will be treacherous, you still have a chance to leave."
"No way Your Highness! My friends helped me so much and I'm not backing down now!" he said confidently making his friends smile with glee.
"Hey, Bumi! I got a challenge of my own," Aang said as a matter of fact.
Bumi looks at his old friend with a smirk on his wrinkly old face.
"Oh, what kind of challenge?"
"MY CABBAGES!" the merchant screamed.
Everyone started laughing as they watch King Bumi and Aang riding the mail system to see who would reach the finish line.
