BOOK TWO: EARTH
CHAPTER THREE: RETURN TO OMASHU
The great city of Omashu has fallen to the Fire Nation. Upon establishing the new law & order the Fire army began construction of factories in varies places; Factories to create weapons, armor, and support vehicles. And once the bridges have been built to connect the city to the other side of the valley they will begin transporting the armored division to the frontlines in the Earth Kingdom. Basically they were rebuilding from the damage they caused in the siege and assimilated to make it feel like home.
The heroes looked out in disbelief as the impossible covered and scarred the city of the two lovers.
"I can't believe it." Aang turned to everyone else, "I know the war spread far, but Omashu always seemed . . . untouchable."
"Up until now it was. But now Ba-Sing-Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left." Sokka said disappointed at what has become of Omashu but also he understood they had to keep moving if Aang was going to be safe to learn Earthbending.
"Untouchable this place and so isolated they can't reach out for immediate help." Dante stated ironic.
"This is horrible. But we have to move on." Katara recommend to Aang on what was best right now.
"No. Going in to find Bumi." Aang said, not wanting to let this go.
"Aang, stop!" Sokka warned, "We don't even know if Bumi's still . . ."
"What? Is he still WHAT?"Aang angrily replied at Sokka since he was too hesitated to finish what he was saying.
"A-around." Sokka finished unsurely.
"I know you had your heart set on Bumi but there are other people who can teach you Earthbending." Katara reminded him of the alternatives.
"This isn't about finding a teacher – this is about finding my friend." Aang stated with determination.
Far below in the great sloping chasm that acted as one of the Omashu's key defenses, Aang flew Appa down to a drainage pipe that would lead up into the city. Appa docked beside the path lining the edge of the ravine where the pipe was and Aang used his staff to pry the hatch open.
"A secret passage? Why didn't we us this last time?" Sokka bewildered in see this here.
Aang finally open it allowing a torrent of deep green sewage to gush out on Sokka. "Does THAT answer your question?" Aang asked ironically.
Aang was the first inside. Dante was next, though he had no problem with the stench or the things in it as he had went through worst places than this. Sokka and Katara were last; Sokka nearly threw up as some would the sewage smell hit their noses. The sewage got thicker and deeper as the continued upward. Aang created an airball that would move the gunk out of the way. Katara and Dante usesd waterbending to maneuver the sewage carefully around them. Sokka, on the other hand, is continually soaked in the foul substance.
Aang apply a small amount of Airbending to seep around the sides of the Manhole cover and forced it loose. Aang peeked up to see if the coast was clear. Once it was Aang Dante and Katara climbed out silently.
"That wasn't as bad as I thought." Katara said.
Suddenly a green blobby creature emerged groaning like the undead. It was so freaky that Dante's white Mohawk stood on end. Katara saw a barrel full of water and bended it to hose of the creature to reveal it was her brother. Aang then air-dried Sokka with a powerful gust. Sokka was relieved to be out of the hell that was the drainage pipe. But when he noticed three small purple pentapi have attached themselves to his skin.
"AAAAGGGGHHHHH! UGH! UGH! THEY WON'T LET GO! HELP!" He screamed.
Aang tackled him to the wall of a build to stop him from freaking out so loud. "Stop making so much noise, it's just a Purple Pentapus." Aang reassured him by stroke the top of the Pentapus causing it to squeak in satisfaction and pop off. Sokka rubbed his cheek and rubbed the next one himself.
"Hey!" said a voice forcing the four to look and see three soldiers on portal coming toward them.
Aang ducked behind his friends to wrap his bald head in a cloth to hide his arrow tattoo Dante, Sokka and Katara who smiled to the approaching guards. "What are you kids doing out past curfew?" one of the soldiers asked in a demanding tone.
"Sorry, we were just on our way home." Katara reassured them.
The four turned around and walked in the opposite direction of the street. Then one of the soldiers noticed some strange red dots on the back of the Sokka's neck. "Wait! What's the matter with him?" he asked.
The four stopped and Katara and looked behind Sokka's neck to see what the guard meant. But Katara was always clever to get out of trouble. "He's has Pentapox, sir."
The soldier in front stepped closer to examine it. "Uh, it's highly contagious."
Sokka then got an idea to drive the point home more. "Ugh! It's so awful, I'm DYING!" he groaned, walking closer with his arms hanging in the air like a zombie.
"And deadly." Katara added as Sokka swayed back and forth with drool coming out.
"With puss coming out of the sores on his genitals and scrotum."
"It hurts when I PEEEE!" Sokka added wailing insanely.
"Hey! I think I heard of Pentapox. Didn't your cousin Cheng die of it?" the soldier asked one of his peers. Sokka came closer and cough violently enough to scare the soldiers away. "We better wash our hands . . . and burn our clothes!"
The guards disappeared and all was once quiet. "Thank you, sewer-friend." Aang rubbed the top of the Pink Pentapus causing it to squeeze in pleasure.
Elsewhere on the coast of a port the Fire Nation made to have excess to the sea, the Royal Fire ship dock quietly as overcast shrouded everything in shadow. Azula sat on her veiled mobile throne between her twin elder advisors as advised their mistress on the next and best course of action.
"When tracking your brother and uncle, traveling with the royal procession may no long be an option. It may no long be wise if you hope to keep the element of surprise."The advisors stated in unison. They words were iron clad as always.
"Your right. The royal procession is dead weight. If I want to catch my prey I must be agile, nimble. I need a small elite team. It's time to visit some old friends."
Back in the city of Omashu, our heroes raced up the steps to one of the base of one of the Fire nation construction sites. Two fire soldiers walked past and down the steps out of sight.
"Let's find Bumi and get out of here." Katara reminded everyone.
"Where would they be keeping him?" Sokka asked Aang.
Aang looked around them and out on the hilly city. "Somewhere he can't Earthbend, somewhere where made of metal."
"Well, that is really not narrowing down our choices because the whole damn place was slowly turning into a metal urban jungle. Clever, no Earthbender could ever bend metal." Dante pointed out from under his hood.
Not far away just down a level the newest ruler, appointed by Fire Ozai himself, decided to take a night stroll with his family. "There really is no fathoming the depths of my hatred for this place." the eldest daughter of the governor said in a monotone manner.
"Mai, your father was a pointed governor, we are like royalty here. Be happy and enjoy it." Michi was was Mai's mother, who holding her baby brother, tried to cheer her up.
High overhead on the delivery slides some Earth soldiers watched the glowing torches of the governor and his family arrival to the area where they will make their strike.
"The targets are approaching." Whispered the soldier to his commanding officer.
"Take them out." Yung ordered.
Below Mai continued to voice her displeasure of her current predicament. "I thought my life was boring in the Fire Nation. But this place is unbearably bleak. Nothing ever happens."
Like a shot heard around the world that would start a revolution that bleakness changed when the Earth soldier struck the boulder that would go down the slide and in the targets below. However by pure coincidence Aang and company were walking in the opposite direction when they noticed the boulder going down the slide. Aang saw where it was going, noticing the woman is holding a baby in her arms. Thinking fast he used his air staff to create a slash of air that destroyed the boulder into cloud of dust.
The procession stopped and looked upward. Mai narrowed her eyes as she saw a person in the cloud of dust with a staff.
"The resistance!" Mai mother shouted in alarm.
Mai was just itching to get into a fight just to get rid of her accursed boredom. She fired spring action arrows from her wrists toward Aang. He jumped up on top a stack of planks and he bolted in the opposite direction with his friends following behind him. Katara opened her water satchel and used the water to whip the pursing foot soldiers back down the ladder. Mai climbed up the ladder and flew like a bird of prey toward flesh meat. She fire darts at Katara who blocked it by creating an ice shield in front of her.
After make reaching halfway around the tower walkway Aang turned around, airbending a gust that destroy the scaffolding to the right of him. The wreckage collapsed between them and their pursuer. But she flung a throwing blade toward him. The turned and twirled his staff to block it but instead the blade hit the side of his staff.
Aang was surprised that it stuck and saw the girl fire another volley toward them. Then suddenly the ground under them dropped down with them and closed behind them. Mai, who saw them getting away in a blink of an eye, gave an exhausted sigh as her boredom returned.
Below ground team Avatar rubbed their heads as the floor turned upside down and dumped them in a tunnel. They all looked up and discovered they were surrounding by Earth soldiers of the resistance.
Elsewhere someone's world was about to be turned upside when circus received a royal visit. Azula found out that the Fire Circus is indeed traveling in the Earth kingdom. Though some they were Firebenders in the act they preformed, the Earth Kingdoms tolerated their presence so as long they stayed outside their city walls and didn't give any reason to be spies for the Fire Nation with the war on their lands. People came far and wide to see the performers do fantastic feats. One of them was a star here and the first member of the Elite team.
"Ty Lee, Could that possibility be you?" Inquired Azula to the acrobat that was standing on the tips of her pointer fingers.
"Azula!" greeted Ty Lee with big beautiful grey eyes, a sunny disposition and cloudlike grace. She got back on her feet, twirled and bowed herself parallel to the earth. Ty Lee then ran and embraced her long time friend. "It is SO good to see you." she exalted her long time gal pal.
"Do let me interrupt your . . . what it is you are doing." Azula said and Ty Lee flipped backwards lying on her chest while stretching her legs in the air.
"Tell me, what the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly our parents didn't send us to the royal Fire academy for girls to end in . . . places like this." Azula asked while looked around at the circus sights like the some men trying to get a Platypus-bear to move from its spot where it was sit on its egg. "Have a proposition for you. I'm hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy duddy uncle, don't you?" Azula asked while casually examining her claw-like nails.
Ty Lee rested the bottom of her chin on her hands while the bottom of her feet on top of her head "Oh yeah, he was so funny." She said for she remembered that he taught her to love life.
"I would be honored if you would join me on my mission." Azula finally offering the invitation.
"OH . . . I . . . Ah . . . love to." Ty Lee flipped back onto her feet, "But the truth is, I really happy here. I mean - My aura has never been pinker!"
"I'll take you word for it."Azula finally dropped the issue, though she didn't know that Ty Lee's aura was PINK in the first place. "Well, I won't want you to give up the life you love just to please me."
"Thank you, Azula." Ty lee bow before returning to aerobics.
Azula turned around and walked away until she got a brilliant idea. "Of course, before I leave, I'm going to catch your show."
Ty Lee felt a lethal chill go up her spin. "Oh . . . yeah, sure . . . of course." She acknowledged.
The pink aura was certainly being to look very grey at this point.
Deep underground in the passages of glowing emerald torches the gang was lead into the hideout of the resistance of Omashu, or rather what is left of them.
"So … is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance." asked Aang.
"Of course not!" The commander said in a pissed off tone, "The day of the invasion we ready ourselves for battle. We were prepared to defend our city; to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi . . . surrendered."
This was troubling news to everyone even Aang, the nutcase of a King was tough as he was crazy. But to surrender before the battle began with no legit reason is not very honorable. Thinking back to when he was in the Earth Kingdom hundreds of years ago assisting the Earth Army against a sedition who was in the wastes a little to the west. Upon arriving there they discovered it was a trap. After a bloody skirmish they were forced into a ravine with no hope of escape. But the commanding officer was not going to give up just because they were surrounded. He was going to find a way to get his men out alive no matter the cost. His spirit inspired the men and the Demonhunter himself and the result was a memorable one for the history books, even Dante would have to remember that plan.
But this situation was not a ravine with any hope in sight; this was city that hadn't even started to fight all because their surrendered. "The day of the invasion I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do. He looked me in the eye and said . . ."
I'm going to do NOTHING. HA! HA! HA! HEH! HEH!
"I can imagine the royal windbag's expression and snorting laugher didn't inspire confidence." Dante said with irony.
"It doesn't matter now; fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom – and freedom is worth dying for."
"Actually there is another path to freedom: you could leave Omashu." Aang suggested a wise plan. "You're directing all your energy to fight the fire nation. But you're outnumbered, you can't win. Now is the time to retreat so you can live to fight another day. "
"You don't understand, they have taken our home and we have to fight them at any coast!" the commander stated heatedly. Thought Aang's words seemed to have reached.
"I don't know yet, living to fight another day is starting to sound pretty good to me." said the one of the soldiers next to the commander; "Yeah, I'm with the kid." the other could help but agree with his comrade.
The commander looked at the crowd who was murmuring in agreement also. He almost forgot that there are innocent civilians hiding down here with the resistance. The possible of the Fire Nation actually finding the resistance base right under their noses is very high.
"Fine," the Commander said finally listening to reason, "but there are thousands of citizens that need to leave, how we are going to get them all out?" he asked.
"Suckers!" Sokka said out loud that had a slight echo from where he stood. Everyone looked at him with a questioning stare as it was unexpected. "You're all about to come down with a nasty case of Pentapox."
Outside the collected the Pentapus' in buckets of water and 'infected' everyone by have the little suckers latch on, and with a gently rub on the head they squeak and let go with the suckers popping off leaving little tiny red spots behind. Sokka examine the crowd and found they LOOKED like they got a plague.
"The marks make you look sick but you got to act sick too. You gotta sell it!" couched Sokka before a old man with a cane limped in front of him moaning and groaning perfectly. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
"Years of practice." The old man tapped his can on his wooden right leg.
"Alright everyone into sick-formation." Sokka instructed.
Katara turned around and saw Aang walking off. "Aang? What are you doing? Aren't you coming with us?" She asked.
"No. I'm not leaving until I find Bumi." Aang replied.
Momo jumped up on his owner and pawed at his mouth. "Sorry Momo I'll feed you later." He said to the lemur and sat him down on the ground. Dante and Katara watched as Aang leaped up on the roof tops and out of sight.
"Dante, you need to be covered in spots of your going to be in the crowd." she said, noticing Dante didn't have any of the Pentapus marks.
"Okay, let's go somewhere quiet and I'll remove shirt and . . . just kidding! Oh man you should see how red your face got." Dante laughed hard.
"Ha ha, very funny." Katara said with her cheeks a bit red.
"Actually, sight they people had to act sick in order to sell it – I think it is time to add some academy winning performances." Dante said thinking of a role he could do.
The Sun had reached high noon and the fire soldiers were on alert with reports of strange things, one of which was trudging right toward them moaning like the zombies of the made by the Earthbending Voodoo priests of the eastern part of the Earth Kingdom. Suddenly a guy with his face wrapped in badges with tuffs of white hair sticking out raced ahead of the mob. When the guard saw him they aimed their spears toward him. They were trained to expect any resistance. But nothing could get them ready for a plague or anything self inflicted. The bandaged man fell to his knees and to out what looked like a flyswatter and proceed to whip his face and torso. "I can't get clean! I CAN'T GET CLEAN!" he wailed like an absolute madman. Katara and Sokka where in the thick of it moaning along with people.
"PLAGUE! PLAGUE" the soldiers shouted as turned bolted in the other direction. The alarm was sounded which called the attention the governor and his family to the main gate. "What is going on down there?" the governor asked.
"I saw some kids who were sick with Pentapox. It must have spread." The captain explained.
"Pentapox? Hmm I'm pretty sure I've heard of that." mused the governor.
"Oh, this is terrible!" replied the governor's wife.
"What should we do?" asked the captain.
"Drive them out of the city, but don't touch them. We have to rid this city of this disease." stated the governor with steel resolution.
Mai offered bowl to her father."Fire-flakes, Dad?" she asked without a care in the world about the grim death below.
The governor's wife embraced her husband for comfort while her infant son waddled inside.
Meanwhile the crowd of plague victims exited the city except for one. Dante slipped unnoticed into the alley and began to change out of his disguise into another that was suited for the task at hand. He wore black pants in dark brass shin armor with dark leather boots, he thought about wearing the flexible leather armor suited for the task but gave it up as he preferred more freedom of movement and decided to go commando from the belt up. And finally he summons a tattoo of a dragon coiled center on his right arm and arms his shoulder. He stepped out the second story window and raced across the rooftops with the ease of his experience in parkour.
While Dante handled on part of the city Aang search in another part looking for Bumi. He jumped from roof top to railing until he saw a large gorilla-goat chained up operating a wheeled crank.
"Flopsie!" Aang called out to another old friend.
The Gorilla-goat reached out it hung him but the chain prevented him from coming any closer. Aang jumped to the base of the chain bend water from the trough over to it, freezing it slid and with one good swing he shattered the chain freeing Flopsie. Greatful Flopise bear hug Aang and licked him in greeting.
"Heh, come one floppies, you got to help me find Bumi." Aang got on his the creatures back and said: "Yip-Yip!" Flopise just sat there not understanding what Aang meant. "Oh I guess that doesn't work with you – Let's go!" And as quick as a flash the gorilla-goat went full gallop down the alley.
Back in the upper part of the city Dante sprint across the rooftops and leaped over a gap in the buildings. He saw another gap that was large and noticed that I had a wall. He ran on it crossing the gab and landing on the other side in quick succession.
He saw a two guards talking to each other and stop and hide around the corner. He peaked out to watch them. The discussed the plague victims leaving the city and how they should lucky they did. Then they mentioned the governor and his family housed in the lavish palace just few stories above them - that is where he wanted to go. Suddenly he failed to noticed a guard stepping out of a build and turning the corner and seeing,
"Hey!" the guard said and Dante turned just in time to evade the spear coming toward him. He twisted around and pulled a dagger he always had on his person and swiftly cut the guard in the three vital places.
Then the two other guards saying goodbye as they return to their duties. One went inside and one returned to looking out of the railing. Dante picked up the body and put him over his back and looked for a place to hide the guard . . .
. . . Afterward he made his way up the manor of the governor and went inside thru the windows. Judging by the looks of it was a living room. If this the governor's quarter was here then it should hold the something important the resistance could use like strengths and weakness in the fortifications or perhaps where the mad king was hold up at. He slipped into the all hallway and crept soft around the corner. He needed to stick with the shadows wherever he could find some in broad day light in a manor filled with guards on duty. He then heard someone speaking in a nearby room. The door opened and Dante took cover quick. His eyes could hardly believe it the girl from last night who shot daggers at them . . . Mai.
He remembered her and her friend Ty Lee and Azula when they were runts running thru the fire palace halls. Mai and Ty Lee were the daughters of nobleman we were sent off top Fire Academy for Girls as part of their education. Mai already had a boyfriend though Dante still could woo her with word that could take her mind off what she hated – which is everything. Her jaded calm, cool, collected attitude toward life was something Dante could relate to.
Mai entered into her room and jumped backwards on the bed to relax for a moment before she had to deal with the imbeciles that were her family. Then she heard a someone taking a bite out of a fruit and sat up to see who it was.
"Eh … what's up doc?" Dante said with a cheek full.
"Dante?" Mai said unexpectedly.
"One in the same. The Demonhunter is name." Dante replied back.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Trying to figure out why the skies grey over the city."
"Last I heard you were at the North Pole."
"Contract ended; if we won I get paid. If we lost they pay me double. I took the money and I'm on vacation."
Mai got off her bed and walked over to the window. "Possibly hot and sunny?" she asked.
Dante shrugged "Maybe." He replied
Mai sighed and looked out the window. "Super." She said monotonously.
"Aw. What's wrong my little den of vipers, trouble in paradise?"
"More like the boring hell that is my life." Mai answered truthfully.
"Tell me about." Dante said as he leaned against the wall in interest.
"My dad got a new job here, and that's all there is to It." she explained shortly.
"Good as gold, boring as hell?" Dante said which Mai nodded with rolled eyes. "So you want excitement? If that's the case how about a few relaxing massages that'll rid you of all the stress?" Dante posed.
"You are a masseuse?" she asked.
Dante shrugged, "When I have the time, which is few and far between." he replied.
Mai pondered on the offered, "I highly doubt a massage would help get rid of my absolute abhorrence for this place . . . eh, I'll give it a shot." She sighed.
After getting extra blankets and pillows Dante grabbed the one oil bottle, that was half-full, and sat it on the nightstand. He removed his shirt and placed it fold on a chair and waited until around to see if she was ready. She stepped out from behind the changing screen wearing nothing but red towel she wrapped herself in. She lay down on her belly and rested her head on her arms. Dante began with her feet. Smooth and gentle then he pressed in circular motions into the muscle. Mai closed her eyes and exhaled with a pleasing smile.
Next were the legs, they were the velvety save for a scar on the side of her thigh that seemed to be caused by a blade. He passed his palm over it gently not to cause any discomfort. She shifted slightly and that was all.
"Have you been injured recently?" Dante inquired.
"Yeah, some bonehead was sloppy with an arrow during training and shot me by accident. I told him it was nothing personal . . . before I killed him." Mai explained with another sigh.
"And his head was put in . . ." Dante asked wanting her to continue.
"Poppers grave." she replied. Mai really hasn't changed at all when people have annoyed her. "Let me ask you a question as my masseuse: Do you give the full-service?" she asked suddenly causing Dante to pause and glance at her as she turned her head to the side to look at him.
"Why? Are you wondering or asking." He asked back.
"Both." She replied seductively turning around and sitting up till her face was merely inches from his.
"Then . . . yes." Dante answered before they kissed.
The two embrace each other until they fell onto the bed. Mai broke the kiss to remove his pants. Seems the chance to get some have caused her to be eager. "Hold on there, if you want this to last you need to take your time. If we finish too quickly, then we would have to go back to the boring hell that is life sooner."
Mai got a hand full and yanked them off in one motion. "Oh I AM going to take my time. Believe me."
She opens her robes and tossed them aside to reveal her medium ample breasts to him. Dante reached up and gave them a massage in circular motion. Mai moan in a satisfaction leaning into it as he was striking the first right cords.
An hour has past as the two had sex in various positions and speeds before succumbing to the weight of their combined orgasms. They lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, breathing as if they ran a mile.
"Thanks, I needed that. How about round two and this time with knives." Mai said she turned toward him. Dante felt hot as realized that of sharp weapons during sex was Mai's turn-on.
Elsewhere Momo soared above the roof tops until he landed on the balcony of the Governors manor. He peeked in the window and saw two naked people. He recognized the white hair one known as "Donte" the other was someone else he had not seen before. "Donte" had apple on his head while the girl pulled a blade from the set that line the belts around her thighs. Tossed it and it hit the arm dead center.
Momo went next door and peeked inside to see it was a room full of toys fit of a toddlers dream. Then he saw a bowl of red berries and drooled on sight. He scampered towards it and started gobbling it down and pausing to spit out the seeds that were in his mouths. The baby brother of Mai was tossing his teddy bear into the air and catching it until the sight and sound of seeds being spitting out peeked his curiously and he crawled to investigate. When he got to the table where the berries are all he could find was a long black and white tail dangling over the edge. With a yank he pulled Momo to the floor causing to run for his life while pulled the giggling baby with. Momo escaped the baby's grasp and jumped out of the window and onto the stoop. He looked behind and saw the toddler walking toward him on the rail's edge giggling like the damned. Momo flew away just before the child could snatch him and watched and he slid down the roof into a stone crate of red berries flying down the delivery slide. Momo landed and continue to feast on his favorite snack of the day. The baby popped up and cooed grabbing Momo's tail forcing him to take flight while hauling the child in the air. But the extra weight was too much and he dropped and tumbled with the child landing on top of him. Momo smacked the ground in defeat as he gave up wrestling the adorable demon baby. Then a group of citizens, who were moaning from some odd reason, exited right thru the city gates. Momo went after them with the toddler toddling in hot pursuit.
The night closed in but the circus was awake to perform a very special guest of the Fire Nation. Azula sat down on a special throne they readied for Princess Azula.
"We are deeply honored to have the Fire Lords daughter at our humble circus!" The ring master announced to an empty audience, courtesy of her royal highness' wishes for a VIP show. "Tell us if there is anything we can do to make the show more enjoyable."
"I will." Azula acknowledged.
Dear delicate Ty Lee balanced herself perfectly on a stood designed for the tightrope high above the floor of the circus. Though she was confident in her performance for her friend it was reassuring that there was a net to catch her if she were to fall.
Azula was pleased so far with the performance. "Incredible. Do you think she will fall?"
"Of course not." the ringmaster smiled with reassurance.
"Then wouldn't make it more interesting if you remove the net?" Azula asked.
The Ringmaster eyed widened as he turned to the princess. "Eh … the thing is …" he tried to explain but Azula got another idea.
"Your right, your right, that's been done." The Ringmaster then smiled as the idea was abandoned. "I know … set the net on fire."
"Of course Princess." He gulped in obedience.
He got out of his seat and firebended the net causing it to become a crisscross blazing death trap. Ty lee's expression turned to a worried one – but her focus was not broken. Still balancing herself with one hand she made herself horizontal. The Ringmaster clenched his fists praying for a miracle that she wouldn't fall.
"Brilliant, just brilliant. Oh! What kind of dangerous animals do you have?" she asked next.
"Well, our circus boasts the most exotic assortment-"
"Release them all!" she ordered.
The night was filled with the roars of dangerous animals unleashed on the stage – and dear beauty Ty Lee performed with her trademark grace.
Aang and Flopsie searched high and low, while evading the Fire Soldiers, but no cackle or eyeball of King Bumi.
Through the dim lighting of the candles around the dark bedroom Finally Dante saw it was night time and decided to leave and sat up in bed with Mai awoke seeing him getting dressed.
"You're leaving?" she asked.
"Hunter's Moon. Gotta go." Dante shrugged.
"So soon." She groaned.
"Good thing that we went on for a good while." Dante commented.
"But all good things must come to an end." She said.
"Cheer up I bet there will be something got tomorrow. I highly doubt it but you never know what tomorrow may bring." Dante finally got dressed and stepped out onto the balcony. Mai wrapped herself in her bed sheet with one shoulder exposed and lend against the open window.
"See 'ya." She sighed monotonously as her boredom returned.
"Eh, I'll be around." Dante stood up on the railing and jumped backwards into the darkness of the city below.
Aang and Flopsie crept about through an unlit alleys searching for Dante. They heard a whistle and long over head Dante jumped from one of rooftop and landed in front them.
"Flopsie?" Dante exclaimed. The Goatilla bear hugged Dante tightly before he let him go.
"Did ya'll find Bumi?" Dante asked jumping on flopsie's back.
Aang shook his head. "No."
"We'll first you don't succeed – try, try again … tomorrow, I'm tired. Where did you find the big lug, Aang?"
"Chained up doing hard labor. Where were you?"
Dante shrugged "I went around some blocks, scouted the enemy, found new positions. The usual."
Flopise carried the two heroes through the streets, over the wall and along the battlements until they were able to get to the path that lead from the gate to the mountains. The camp of the resistance was made in a deep ravine that hided the light of their fires. Katara and Sokka looked and out the darkness they saw Aang walking beside Flopise with Dante lounging on his back. The immediately ran over to see what was the news. But Aang's tired expression showed that it was neither good news nor bad news.
"We looked everywhere … no Bumi." Aang informed.
Katara hugged Aang tightly while Sokka hugged Flopise who whimpered greatly.
Dante slid off Flopise when the Commander came over to deliver some odd news of his own. "We got a problem, we just did a head count . . ."
"Oh no, did someone get left behind." Katara asked.
"No," the Commander replied, "We have an extra."
Yung points to something to the left. Katara gazes in that direction and sees Momo staggering forward with the Tom-Tom clamped around his neck. Team Avatar and Yung just stare for a second at the poor animal and the baby.
Dante picked up the baby and looked him in the eye. "Tom-Tom, I presume?"
The baby giggles in response.
Dante nodded, "Hi you big sister told me about you."
Back in Omashu the governor's house in Omashu. The governor's wife is sobbing on the balcony. Her daughter Mai slowly reaches into her robe and pulls out a handkerchief and gives it to her mother with a bored expression on her face.
"So … has kidnapped my son. Everything so clever, so tricky, just like their King Bumi" governor Ukano mused. Even in the absence of the king the people seem to have carried on his wit like a banner in the wind.
"What do you want to do sir?" the captain asked.
Governor had no answer at the moment but steadily an idea was being created.
Back at the Fire Circus in Ty Lee's dressing room she placed a bouquet of pretty dark flowers on her makeup table. Azula followed her to see how she was doing.
"What an exquisite performance. I can't wait to see how you'll top yourself tomorrow." Azula praised her friend.
"I'm sorry Azula but unforchantly there won't be a show tomorrow." Ty Lee informed.
"Really?" Azula said with a clue to the sudden change in plans.
Ty Lee placed her golden tiara on one of the hooks above the mirror. "The universe has given me strong hints that it is time for a career change. I want to join you on your mission."
Azula smile with satisfaction that everything is starting to go her way.
The campsite in the valley. The gang, the baby, Flopsie and three resistance fighters are sitting at one of the many campfires. The baby is still trying to catch Momo. The lemur leaps out of the way and the baby tumbles down, right next to Sokka's club. He picks it up and starts to suck on it. Sokka snatches the club out of the baby's hands. He clearly has no skills when I came to a baby.
"No! Bad Fire Nation baby!" he said sternly.
The child starts to cry. Katara looks from the baby to Sokka and whacks him across the face before placing her hands on her hips in a motherly fashion.
Annoyed Sokka finally gave up. "Oh ... all right."
Sokka gives his club back to the baby who immediately stops crying and starts to play with it. Katara hugs him from behind. "Oooh, you're so cute." She said in a baby voice. She kisses him on the cheek, while an annoyed Sokka looks the other side, resting his head on his hand.
Yung took notice as he sat on the other side of the fire. "Sure he's cute now, but when he's older, he'll join the Fire Nation army. You won't think he's so cute then. He'll be a killer."
Katara picks the baby up and shows him to Yung. "Does that look like the face of a killer to you?" she asked.
Yung's face remains totally indifferent at the sight of the cute baby. It certainly was too soon to tell for him to make sound judgment.
"He may not join the Fire Nation army. The son of a nobleman he may enjoy a life of peace, and prosperity and years of pleasure. I know that from experience."
"Nothing is certain at the present. One can hope that certain things don't come to pass, but under the Fire Nation's guidance, he will.
Dante thought for a moment and turned to Katara with an idea. "Let the little rugrat." He said.
"Really? Have you ever had experience with handling babies?" Katara asked.
"Yes, I had a hand in raising some. If you want any more proof just remembers what your brother did a little while ago." Said Dante causing Sokka to leaning over glare at him.
Katara handled Tom-Tom over to Dante who got him comfortable in his lap. "So you're the newest edition to the nobility of Fire? Well I think it best to introduce you to the other elemental nations. But since we are hiding ravine with some folks the next best thing: THEM." Dante gestured to everyone sitting around the fire. "Let's start with the men in green. They are of the Earth nation. Most diverse of the nations for they have many people of skin tones, tribes, beliefs and cultures. They are a strong people who, like the mountain that stands in the wind, shall not bow."
"However they have gained a rep for being stubborn as they element they bend. There is an old proverb amongst them: "The Nation of Earthbenders without war is a sin." For many centuries the Kingdoms and tribes of the Earth Nation have warred with each other for control; one piece of land to fight with and to fight over. So what is the middle ground of the pros and cons of the Earth Kingdoms – the Avatar, in this case the ones that are born in the Earth Kingdom. One good example is Avatar Kyoshi. She was a true giantess among men. When the great Qin the conqueror began his dream to take over all of the Earth Kingdom she alone stood as a defiant rock solid testament. And we were lovers for a time but your WAY to young for that story."
"I love to hear it." Sokka informed.
"You are WAY too stupid for that story." Dante informed.
Out of the darkness a bird shrieks and lands on a nearby rock. "A messenger hawk!" Yung says.
Aang stood in front of the campfire reading the message. "It's from the Fire Nation governor. He thinks we kidnapped his son. So ... he wants to make a trade. His son . . . for King Bumi." Aang's eyes widening.
The watchful night closed in and the campfires died out. Dante watched as Katara put Tom-Tom to bed; he went to sleep fast from a very fun day. Dante decided to get some sleep, or at least try to.
Upon the midnight hour he began to dream again - Dreams of war.
During the Dragon of the West's campaign to the heart of the Earth Kingdom, Dante was hired once again to assist the Fire Nation's forces. His skills as a Firebender were needed to burn the enemy to ash. His skills with a sword were needed to cut through the "dark spirits" that would show up periodically and cause trouble on the battlefield for both sides. Dante agreed that they will double his pay at the end of the tour.
He smiles upon seeing General Iroh and his son Lu'ten again. They greeted him with a hardy hand shake and hug before asking him to sit down for tea. Dante hated tea and Iroh kept reminding him that it is a real joy to have tea with an old friend or even a fascinating stranger you meet on the road.
The horn was sounded and the battalion advanced. Dante jumped out of the transport and onto his scaly rhino and followed the tank divisions. This was a long journey to the Earth Kingdom capital. One he seems to be reliving even now.
The dream fades to the shadows and Dante sit up whipping his neck of the sweat. He believed he wasn't going to rest easy at all to night and decided to go for a walk. Thru the ravine lit by the light moon he fallowed the path until he came to a spot that was far away from the camp. He sat down and looked at the moon.
But he then sniffed the air and rolled his eyes. "You can come out Katara, I know you are there."
Katara stepped out from the shadows and walked over to him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Dante sighed. "Yeah I just . . . need some air from the smell of your brother's farts."
Katara chuckled and took a seat beside. "Yeah . . . it is a lot better out here."
"Probably because of. . . Her" Dante pointed up to the moon.
"Huh, oh . . . yeah." Katara got what or rather who he meant.
"Yue's father knew the day when she would become the moon spirit. And he embraced her fate long before she could ever walk, knowing that she will gone from his arms." Dante patted his chest with his fist. "For a firebender it gets me here, ya' know? Not to mention she was quite pretty."
Katara nodded. A moment passed before she remembered what she was going to say. "You know, You and Yue have the same white hair…"
"Because she was touched by the Moon spirit." He said.
"Right. Are you the same?" she asked.
"Yeah." Dante confirmed while his fingers touched the sport on his chest where his necklace would be. "Yes, in a way we are the same. Our roots can be found in the spirit world."
"So, what of your roots?" Katara asked.
Dante took noticed her curiosity and decided to tell her a story of his past while giving it a creative spin to it so the truth is not completely told."I was born on island in the Fire Nation. My parents were wealthy and lived in a manor in islands rolling hills. Even the name of the place reflected it beauty."
"What was the name of the island?" Katara asked.
Dante looked at her with a small smile. "Spring Garden. The reason for that was that it had many natural springs that helped the farmers plant their crops. In spring the cherry trees blossom in full bloom. In the summer the trees become lush and green. In fall the trees are in a swirl of colors. And finally when winter comes it covers everything in a thick blanket of snow."
"It sounds like a paradise." Katara said as the images of such a place filled her head.
"It was. My parents built the place and called it Paradise. They who were firebending masters and spirit beings at the same time. They wanted to see the beauty of what the world could offer. As a child I saw the good in the world … and the evil."
"What do you mean?" Katara asked again.
"All I can say for now is that that the Fire Nation may have started this war but it is just part of the cycle. Another war will begin afterward and another nation will started. That is the one truth. Something I wish I could forget and return to the days when I was a child playing in the fields with my mother.
Morning came to the mountains surrounding Omashu. Aang holds the baby in his arms while he stares at Omashu. He walks down the hill he was standing on toward Katara Dante and Sokka, who are waiting next to Appa.
"You realize we're probably walking right into a trap." Sokka stated.
Aang disagreed, "I don't think so. I'm sure the governor wants his son back as much as we want Bumi." He said smiling at the sleeping baby he holds against his chest. "It's a new day. I have a good feeling about this."
Inside the city of Omashu. A royal palanquin is being carried up the stairs toward the house of the governor. The silhouette of Azula can be seen through the veils. At the base of next stairs, the lonely figure of Mai awaits the arrival of the palanquin. Azula gets out and she and Ty Lee walk over to Mai. They halt before her. Mai puts her hands together and bows slightly toward Azula.
"Please tell me you're here to kill me." Mai greeted them in a bored aura. She looks up at Azula and a slight smile appears on her otherwise emotionless features. Both girls start to laugh.
Azula places her hands on Mai's shoulders. "It's great to see you, Mai." She says.
Ty Lee rushes forward to give Mai a big hug. Mai uncomfortably pats her back a little with her left hand. "I thought you ran off and joined the circus. You said it was your calling." She said confused upon seeing the happy screwball again.
Ty Lee released Mai. "Well, Azula called a little louder."
Azula places a hand on both her friends' shoulders. "I have a mission and I need you both."
"Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place." Mai looks annoyed at the palace.
Inside the palace throne room a large red flag with the black Fire Nation mark on it. Azula is now sitting on the throne of Omashu, flanked by two Fire Nation guards. The governor and his wife are in front of her, as well as Mai and Ty Lee. Governor Ukano who squatting down on a pillow asked the princess for forgiveness, "I apologize. You've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back."
Azula crossed her legs and clasps her hands, she was disappointed in the Governors handing of the situation. Yes, I'm so sorry to hear about your son, but really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?" She stands up, addressing the governor in a harsher tone. "My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things!"
The governor and his wife prostrate themselves before her. "Forgive me, Princess." He pleaded.
Azula did forgive the Governor, this time, only that it were more matters to time to at this time. Azula walks between the four bowing people in front of her, looking down upon the governor. "You stay here. Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don't have a chance to mess it up. And there is no more "Omashu". I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the city of New Ozai."
The trade was to take place at the foot a large statue of Ozai, still in its scaffolds though. Aang, Dante Katara and Sokka standing on a large wooden scaffold. They look serious as a party of three girls approaches, with Mai leading the way.
"Well, if it is a cold day in hell." Dante said from under his hood.
"What is it?" Sokka asked.
"I know those three since they were little. As they grew older they all developed a crush on me." Dante said.
"Oh really?" Sokka said as he found this a bit amusing.
Dante snapped at Sokka quietly. "Keep sharp, I also assisted in their training."
"Training?" Sokka asked with a worried expressed.
"If we're lucky, you three would see what they can do." Dante concluded
They learn many things including martial arts. Unlike Azula who is a Firebender Mai and Ty Lee were taught in other forms; Mai with blade weapons and Ty Lee in hand to hand, between the three of them they make the perfect warrior. Dante however taught them each a skill that was appropriate to their fighting styles. The fact they have mastered it amazed Dante a great deal, but it worried him at the same time.
A crane began lowering a metal plated cage. In the cage reveals that it is used to contain King Bumi. Only his head is left uncovered.
"Hi, everybody!" chuckled King Bumi.
Aang smiles as he sees his friend. The cage touches the ground behind Azula and the rest.
"You brought my brother?" Mai said loud and clear enough for them to hear.
Aang nodded. "He's here. We're ready to trade."
Suddenly Azula just realized something interesting and decided to inform her friend." I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?"
Bumi follows the conversation, shifting his eyes from one speaker to the other. "Of course not, Princess Azula." Mai replied.
We're trading a two year old for a king." She looks up at Bumi. "A powerful, Earthbending king?"
Bumi Nods "Mmm hmmm!"
"It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, does it?" Azula asked with a bit of her famous logic.
Mai's ponders over the idea as she looks at her brother who yawns and happily rests his head against Sokka's shoulder. Though she tolerated her little brother at his present stage of life, she really rather get her brother back from these resistance's lifeless fingers.
Azula smiles slyly while Mai walks forward. "Your right. The deal's off."
Mai holds up her hand, gesturing the guards to pull Bumi back up. As the chains reel in from above, the King is suspended in the air once again. "Whhhoa! See you all later!" he laughs, clearly amused by all this. Bumi chuckles and snorts as he is lifted from scene.
"Bumi!" Aang shouted and ran after him. He will not lose Bumi again.
"Boy! Get back here!" Dante shouted after him as he failed to snatch him as he ran off.
Aang sprints forward with his glider at the ready, increasing his speed with airbending. Azula tries to stop him by blocking his path with a mighty stream of blue flames. Aang dodges these by leaping high up into the air. Azula is completely shocked by this incredible jump. Aang briefly touches the scaffolding around the statue and pushes himself off, opening his glider in mid air. While opening his glider, he loses his hat, leaving his arrow tattoo exposed. He holds on to the hat with his teeth.
"The Avatar!" Azula said to herself still surprised. She then realizes that, the with the Avatar traded along with Tom-Tom for King Bumi, it was indeed fair. "My lucky day." She said as she smiles smugly.
She runs over to a pulley and blast through the rope that serves as a break. The winch begins to spin rapidly. Azula grabs hold to the rope and is pulled up rapidly toward the top of the construction scaffolding.
Aang lands on the top of Bumi's metal cage. "Aang, is that you? Where did you come from?" Bumi asked sounding surprised.
"Hang on! We're gonna get you out of here." Aang reassured him. He takes a deep breath of starts to blow a cold wind on the chain that is lifting Bumi up. The chain slowly starts to freeze.
On the ground, Mai and Ty Lee charge Sokka and Katara. Mai readies her stilettos while Katara and Dante take on defensive positions.
"We've got to get the baby out of here!" Katara warned Sokka.
Sokka blows on the bison whistle before looking at his sister with a big smile. Way ahead of ya! Tom-Tom reaches for the whistle and starts to play with it.
Dante readied his hands he conjures fire and launches it at them which still keeping up with his friends. Sokka and Katara running to the edge of the big platform. Before they can reach it, Ty Lee's fist emerges from one of the holes in the floor and punches Sokka's foot, causing him to fall over and slide toward the edge. He protectively clutches the baby in his arms, preparing for the worst, but they stop just in time.
Katara, who sees Ty Lee jumping out of the hole in the floor and setting course for Sokka. She bends water from her pouch to attack her, but notices something behind her. Mai, who throws four knives at Katara. Katara reacts by quickly by using her water whip to raise up several wooden planks. the wooden board is just in time to prevent the knives from piercing her face. The knives embed themselves in the wood. Katara uses her water whip again to shoot the wooden boards to Mai. She turns around in one fluent motion toward Ty Lee who has almost reached Sokka and the baby by now. The water whip grabs Ty Lee by the ankle, pulling her to the ground. Dante pulls out Temüjin and deadlocks with Mai as she blocks it with her retractable arm blade out of her right sleeve. This gives Sokka the time he needs to get up and head for a nearby ladder. He slides down and starts his descend of the scaffolding.
Bumi and Aang are still being raised in the air. Aang is still trying to freeze the chain with his breath.
"Aang, stop you're blowing for a minute." Bumi said hoping his friend would listen.
Aang finally succeeds in freezing the chain, when an explosion occurs on top of the scaffolding. Azula is propelled in the air and shoots a plume of blue fire toward Aang with a powerful kick. Aang startles by her sudden appearance and swift attack. He deflects the flame with a strong air current of his own.
Aang turned back to Bumi and readies to break the chain. Bumi tries to stop his friend. "Now hold on just a … DUAHHH!"The swing of Aang's staff breaks the frozen chain and they freefall down.
Aang turns over Bumi's coffin, so he would crash to the ground head first. As they are about to crash upon one of Omashu's chutes, Aang creates an air ball under them to break there fall. They rapidly slide down the chute they landed in. Azula who was following the spectacle from atop the scaffolding frowns and sprints to a nearby chute, pursuing the Avatar and the King down the chute in a box of her own.
Aang standing on Bumi's coffin having a good laugh. "It's just like old times, isn't it, Bumi?"
"Aang, I need to talk to you!" Bumi looked serious as he shouted over the rushing air in his ears.
"It's good to see you too!" Aang replied clearly not listening to his friend.
While Aang is still smiling, he notices the fast approach of something in a chute on his left. He turns to see what it is, just as Azula shoots several fire missiles toward them. He spins his staff above his head to deflect them. Both chutes come together and Azula is now behind them. Aang directs a gust at her, but she parts it with her hands clasped together in front of her. She retaliates with several fire blasts. Aang ducks underneath them and starts to peddle with his staff, increasing their speed. They enter a portion of the chute that has wooden arches over it at short intervals. Aang cuts these through with an air blade, making them collapse upon the track. Azula is caught in the dust cloud, knocked up by the falling debris. When her box emerges again, it seems to be empty. Aang does not see Azula anymore and sighs in relief, but his sigh quickly turns into a scream as Azula emerges again from the box, sending another beam of fire toward him.
On the large wooden platform Mai is still fighting Katara. Mai dodges Katara's water whips and answers her attacks by shooting stilettos out of the launcher attached to her leg. Katara easily defends herself by freezing the water to create an ice wall. Mai uses this time to charge Katara head on. The waterbender defends herself by capturing Mai's right arm in a stream of water and freezing it. Mai tries to break the ice, but fails. Ty Lee climbs on the platform behind Katara. She bounces toward Katara and hits her with several quick jabs on her arms. Katara is surprised by this attack and loses control over her water stream that splashes on the ground. She tries to raise the water again, but it only moves a little.
"How are you gonna fight without your bending?" Mai taunted.
Mai pulls out a sai from her robe and takes aim at a shocked Katara. Just as she is about to throw the weapon, Sokka's boomerang knocks it out of her hand. Ty Lee and Mai spin around to see Sokka and Dante flying in on Appa.
Sokka catches his boomerang with a victory grin. "I seem to manage!"
Dante rolled his eyes. "If you say so."
Sokka and Appa land between Katara and her attackers. As Appa lands, he slams his tail hard on the ground, sending Mai and Ty Lee flying off the scaffolding. To and insult to injure Dante took out one of Mai's throwing blade recovered from earlier and threw it back towards her. It hit the space beside her head. She turned and looked at it with a raised eyebrow. Ty Lee sat up and mused over who she just fought with.
"I can't believe that was Dante. Can you?" Ty Lee asked Mai.
"I had a hunch he would show up at some point." Mai replied. She'd never told and Ty Lee of what she and Dante did yesterday. A girl doesn't kiss and tell about some guy she would like to see again.
Sokka and Katara are flying down the chutes of Omashu atop Appa's head. Katara looks and points to her left. "There's Aang!" she shouted.
Sokka gazing in the direction Katara pointed. "We can catch him!"
With a growl, Appa changes course toward Aang.
Azula who is still on the offensive, directing multiple beams of fire at Aang. He spins his staff around in defense while they are still rocketing down the chute. Appa pulls up next to him.
"Hang on, Bumi! Our ride's here!" Aang said.
Appa swerves to avoid another blue fire blast. As he pulls closer again, Aang lifts up the coffin by hitting the side of the chute. Katara and Sokka try to grab hold of the coffin as it passes overhead, but they cannot reach it. Dante hooks onto the coffin with his grappling claw Ophion which I pulls through air as he goes for a ride. Bumi screams as he and Aang fall down. Aang moves the coffin to a more horizontal position in midair. Their fall is broken by another chute as they land crosswise on it, breaking right through. They land on another chute and start to slide down once again with Azula on their trail. Dante land on the Coffin and smiles at Bumi.
"Howdy, Dante. You haven't changed a day." Bumi smiled.
"Nice to see ya', you old coot." Dante responded.
Azula creates a whirling disk of flames and sends it down the chute. It rapidly gains on Aang and Bumi. Bumi peeks at the upcoming fire disk and clenches his teeth in effort. A pillar of earth rises in the middle of the chute, protecting them from the disk. Azula gasps for air as she notices that her path is blocked. She jumps up in the nick of time and slides down the chute on foot, while her box slams to pieces against the rock. She eventually halts in the middle of the chute, looking displeased at Aang Dante and Bumi who continue their descent.
Aang was shocked, "You could earthbend? All along?"
"Well, they didn't cover my face." Bumi said with a smirked.
Bumi strains himself again in effort and raises another earth pillar to stop their descent down the chute. The coffin hits it and ends up standing straight atop the rock, while Aang and Dante lands in front of it, looking up at their friend.
"I don't understand. Why didn't you free yourself? Why did you surrender when Omashu was invaded? What's the matter with you, Bumi?" Aang asked slightly annoyed and angry.
"Yeah, is your dementia suffering it own version of dementia?" Dante demanded why the guy he was ricking life and limb for is playing the 'I Surrender!' game."
"Listen to me, Aang. There are options in fighting, called jing. It's a choice of how you direct your energy." King Bumi began calmly explain his actions.
"I know! There's positive jing when you're attacking, and negative jing when you're retreating." Aang agreed in an annoyed tone.
King Bumi Happily smiles as to what he is about to tell them. "... and neutral jing when you do nothing!
Aang looked shocked "There are three jings?"
"Well, technically there are eighty-five, but let's just focus on the third. Neutral jing is the key to earthbending. It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike."
Aang finally understood as it all became clear. "That's why you surrendered, isn't it?"
Yes, and it's why I can't leave now."
Aang sadly turns around. "I guess I need to find someone else to teach me earthbending."
Dante patted Aang's shoulder to cheer him up. "The show must go on, bro, even if we're still looking."
"Your teacher will be someone who has mastered neutral jing. You need to find someone who waits and listens before striking." Bumi concluded.
Momo lands on Aang's shoulders. "Hey, Momo!"
Bumi smirked. "Momo's mastered a few jings himself!"
Momo screeches loudly at Bumi in agreement.
"Goodbye, Aang. It was real see again Dante. I'll see you both when the time is right."
With that King Bumi lets his coffin tumble backward and begins his ascend of the chute. He laughs and snorts like a mad man while he uses his earthbending to drive him back to the top of the chute, leaving Aang Dante and Momo behind.
The royal palanquin began to exit out the city, flanked by Mai and Ty Lee.
"So, we're tracking down your brother and Uncle, huh?" Mai finally got caught up on the news.
"It'll be interesting seeing Zuko again," Ty Lee teased, "won't it, Mai?"
Mai looks away as a smile plays upon her face. Azula on the other hand was deep in thought when she speaks again in a serious tone. "It's not just Zuko and Iroh anymore. We have a third target now."
The Avatar.
that night Aang peeked down over the gutter of the governor's house. The governor holds his wife while they are looking over the city with a sad expression on their face. Aang silently lands behind them and drops off Tom-Tom. Aang takes off again while the child toddles toward his parents. As they hear the cooing of the child, they turn around, gasping with surprise and excitement.
"Tom-Tom!" Michi said in joy.
The governor and his wife joyfully take the baby up into their arms under the watchful eye of Aang who is sitting on the roof. He smiles at the happy scene of the reunited family before he takes off.
A child's life is more precious than any treasure. To see the child returned to their parents after being lost is truly its own reward.