There was an open air market in the south eastern province of the Earth Kingdom that Katara loved. The people were as brown as her, but wore robes as loose and airy as Aang's. The dyes were more vibrant and everything had a scent; even the hard packed dirt smelled like the saffron that seemed to color it. Spices of every sort were sold there and they were set out as conical spires, too perfect to look at sharply.
Omashu's main buildings resembled those spice cones, but everything was hewn from the same desert rock that surrounded the city-kingdom. It was impressive, but it wasn't beautiful.
That same color wiped the earth clean beneath them and made Katara almost seasick when she looked at it. Of course, there wasn't much in her stomach to worry her. Their rations were short, since Rin's brothers ate more than most and Aivilayoq was an additional mouth to feed. If they wanted to keep Aktuk's body from decaying that is.
Riku had quickly assessed the situation and meted out the rations, but they were all feeling weak and fatigued. The constant travelling also hadn't helped; they had had no choice but to fly straight to Omashu lest Ruan or Xai Bau catch up to them. Lucky for them, Ruan didn't know where they were headed and Xai Bau wasn't aware of the spirit inside Aktuk's body.
They had to land outside of Omashu, on the other side of the bridge, and it gave Katara a vivid flashback. She remembered peering out toward the city-kingdom, having not yet seen a place so large before. Omashu had been breathtaking then; now it was just another Earth Kingdom stronghold. The feudal center of lands that stretched out with tenuous borders till it hit the next city kingdom.
The sun was setting when they arrived, washing the desert stone in reddish light. It was muddied by the rock and looked like slurry. The imagery just weighed on her more.
"Let's go." Riku said and pushed open the door to the airship. Haoran and Jiro jumped out to secure the lines while Katara moved slowly to stand next to Riku. Her knee was fine, but they were all stiff from sitting in the tight quarters for so long.
Only Aivilayoq flowed out, giving them Aktuk's smile to show either malice or amusement. It unnerved Katara to see his face; an inversion of her issue with Riku.
"If it bothers you so much, shall I get a new body in the city?" Aivilayoq asked, seeming to read her mind.
"No!" Katara snapped and clapped a hand over her eyes. "No killing."
"That does not rule out a new body. You humans die all the time of very inconsequential things." Aivilayoq replied.
"I like her." Riku said with a small smile.
Pulling her hand down her face, Katara only glared at Riku.
"Don't hurt anyone." Katara said, turning to Aivilayoq.
"I am amused that you believe you have any say in this, but I will oblige on this matter." She replied.
"So what now?" Haoran asked as they all grouped up.
"We go in and talk to King Bumi. I'm going to need resources to get back into the Fire Nation palace, and you two will need somewhere safe to stay." Katara said.
"Isn't King Bumi insane?" Jiro questioned.
"Eeeeeeeh." Katara intoned with a shrug. "Aang called him a mad genius, but I just think he's odd. And very, very old."
They all started to walk to the bridge and Katara remembered the only other time she had done this. After the war, Aang had always flown them directly into Omashu and they never had to cross the bridge again. But even with the airship free of any nation's sigil, both Katara and Riku had agreed that they couldn't pull such a maneuver.
At least this time she wouldn't need a ridiculous alias.
The sun had fallen below the line of the wall and the shadow was dark on this curve of the city-kingdom. A large bonfire illuminated a patch directly in front of the gate, and Katara saw a pair of guards watching them approach.
"Halt." One called while they were still a few feet away. "State your name and business."
"I'm Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe. These are my friends. We're here to see King Bumi." Katara answered in a clear voice.
The guards conferred with each other, but the one who spoke turned and walked to them.
"Where's your bison?" He asked as he got closer.
The weight of her hunger and exhaustion pressed on her and Katara sagged as she sighed.
"I'm just here to play a game of pai sho with an old friend." She said,her voice flat and emotionless. The guard startled and bowed.
"Welcome Master Katara. We'll take you to the palace immediately." He said.
The guard turned and they all followed as he walked back to the gate. Riku, shouldering their only pack, leaned in to whisper with Katara.
"Is there some secret society you're a part of too?" She questioned. Katara snorted and shook her head.
"No, I just know enough people in one to ask for help." She answered.
They moved swiftly through the city. Another trolley system took them upward and into Bumi's palace. The top courtyard was open and, during the day, the gazebos were refreshing spots to hide from the sun. Now it was just silent rock.
The palace was entombed in the largest of the rock cones, so another trolley took them back down. Crystals of every sort illuminated their path and they bled into one pale line as the trolley sped up. When they finally stopped, Katara recognized the pale green light that poured over everything within the palace.
A woman in her sixties stood waiting for them. She bowed as everyone disembarked.
"Hello Master Katara and friends." She said and stood with a smile. "Welcome back to Omashu."
"Hi." Katara said hesitantly. "Who are you?"
"My name is Jun. I'm technically King Bumi's heir but I act more like his assistant." She replied.
Katara sputtered and Riku looked at her, confused.
"I didn't know Bumi had children." Katara finally managed. Jun grinned and laughed, waving a hand in front of her.
"Oh no, I'm not his daughter. My father was a tilemaker. King Bumi picked me because he said my name reminded him of an old friend." She replied.
Katara turned, choking, and Riku stepped forward.
"He made you his heir because of your name?" She questioned.
"Oh, my name is less meaningful than the happenstance of birth?" Jun retorted. When Riku didn't reply, she shook her head and continued. "I was wary at first as well, but since I've been working with Bumi, I've come to realize certain things. The only difference between me and a so-called legitimate heir is that my training has come a bit later."
"Bumi's wisdom was always a little different." Katara admitted.
"But you came here to see him, correct?" Jun asked.
"We did. We need his help." Katara said.
"Of course. Dinner is about to be served and he's just waking up from a nap. Please." Jun turned and held out a hand. Katara glanced at Riku, who nodded.
They followed Jun into another room. It was where Bumi had thrown their feast when they first arrived in Omashu, and where they had met for many meals since. The lighting was a bit darker, but Jun waved a hand and they all instantly brightened. She was also a crystal bender then.
Sitting at the long stone slab, Katara finally saw Haoran and Jiro seated at something more their size. The dense hardwood of the tea shop tables still looked flimsy against their stature, but nothing was bigger than pure cut rock.
As they were seated, servants came around with dishes and a large tureen of soup. Another appeared from a dark corner, accompanying Bumi.
The hunch to his back was less of a ruse now, and his liver spots were darker on his thin skin. Tendons and veins were raised over his knobby hands, which trembled a bit under the weight of his rings.
"I don't need a nanny," Bumi snapped as the servant tried to help him into his seat. "I'm not yet a doddering old fool."
"I beg to differ." Jun said dryly, taking over for the servant.
"Insolent whelp. You should show more respect." Bumi was gruff but avoided her face, looking intently at the chair instead as he lowered himself into it.
"He's become more like my grandfather than anything else." Jun said to the table as Bumi sat down with a groan.
"I knew all three of your grandfathers. All of them cheated at cards." Bumi grumbled. Jun only smiled at him and patted his shoulder before returning to her seat.
"It's good to see you again Bumi." Katara said.
"Same to you Katara. But where is Aang? I'd like to see him before I croak." Bumi said.
"You're not dying." Jun interjected. Bumi waved her off and she shook her head as she poured the pale broth from the tureen into his bowl.
"Aang's gone off doing Aang things." Katara said.
"Fair enough. Better than doing Avatar things I suppose, that always takes him a while to get around to doing." Bumi chuckled at his own joke and Jun rolled her eyes.
"So who are the rest of these hooligans you've brought into my kingdom?" He went on.
"This is my friend Riku, she's from the Fire Nation. And these are Iroh's stepsons, Haoran and Jiro." Katara introduced them and they bowed their heads in turn.
"And that one?" Bumi asked, gesturing to the end of the table where Aivilayoq watched a servant pour soup into her own bowl.
"This one is Aktuk." Aivilayoq said, not moving Aktuk's gaze from the servant's hand.
"The upstart from the North Pole?" Bumi asked and then looked at Katara. "What is he doing with you?"
"Well, that isn't actually Aktuk." Katara started uneasily.
"I am the spirit Aivilayoq inside of this human's body." Aivilayoq added, sounding proud.
"I will need a little more information about that." Bumi said, sitting back in his chair.
"You need to eat." Jun said to him.
"I can do both." He retorted, bringing up a spoon to his mouth and slurping loudly.
Aktuk's head tilted and Aivilayoq watched the exchange. After a moment, she turned to Katara.
"I've never been an Earthbender." She said.
"Stop." Katara demanded.
They ate and Katara told Bumi about what had happened in the Poles, omitting her involvement with Zuko. It was odd to now have a bigger picture of what happened; that Aktuk's plot may not have been an isolated incident.
"We had tried to recruit Aktuk and his sister into the White Lotus, due to their work with the Spirits. We sent Xai Bau but he told us they refused." Bumi tapped a finger against the top of the stone slab. "You say Kanda recognized Aktuk as an ally?"
Katara nodded. "They must have been working together."
"And what was their plan?" Bumi asked.
"I don't really know. It wasn't clear." Katara said.
"They wanted to open the portals in the oasis." Aivilayoq said. Everyone at the table turned to her.
"There are places in each of the four nations where the veil is the thinnest. A Bender can open it, if they make a connection to the other side." She went on.
"They nearly killed me!" Katara said.
"When a Bender has not fully realized their power, extreme situations will usually unlock certain attributes. Have you not noticed the same thing of your Avatar?" Aivilayoq snorted. "They are all just Benders with more energy."
"Why didn't you tell me that?" Katara questioned sharply.
"I do not care about the veil. In fact, it would only help me if it were gone." Aivilayoq slurped up some of the soup. She then pointed the spoon at Katara. "Your job was to find my egg. Which you have abandoned so cruelly!"
Putting her head in her hands, Katara slumped down and groaned.
"Xai Bau must be doing something with the Spirits then, which isn't surprising considering his mentor." Bumi said, ignoring Aivilayoq.
"Can the White Lotus stop him?" Katara inquired.
"Of course!" Bumi bellowed, then softened as Jun glared at him. "Though it would be easier if we had some younger members. Us old fogeys aren't as spry as we used to be."
"Is there anything else we can assist you with?" Jun asked.
"Yes, Riku and I need to return to the Fire Nation. Supplies would be great." Katara said.
"And we need to off load these two behemoths." Riku added, jerking a thumb at Haoran and Jiro.
"Hey." They protested in unison.
"Xai Bau might see them as a threat and they need to lay low for some time, until he's handled." Katara clarified.
"Of course. They're welcome to stay here until then." Jun said.
"And can we stay the night?" Katara asked. "We all need the rest I think."
"Certainly." Jun answered.
"That's all fine and dandy, but you left out the spirit thing." Bumi said.
"I go where the Waterbender goes." Aivilayoq replied. Bumi shrugged and took another exaggerated slurp of soup.
The rest of dinner was spent talking about supplies, about tea, and about Haoran and Jiro's mother. Katara and Riku looked at each other, unsure of how, or even if they should, tell Bumi about what was happening in the Fire Nation.
After eating, Jun showed them to the large room where they would all be sleeping. It was very much like holding cell Katara had been in with Aang and Sokka during their first trip here together. But there was more furniture, it was a little nicer, and the earthen door was not wiped away when the servants left.
Although, this time she had two Earthbenders with her.
As they all started to settle in, Katara went to wash up. The bathing area was actually an artificial grotto with a man made pool. The water was heated by a massive fire underneath and the room was split in half for men and women. Katara shed her clothes and stepped gingerly into the hot water. The minerals made the water silky and Katara brought up handfuls over her arms.
The purple was completely gone. With a sigh, Katara pulled the water around her, soaking herself as she leaned against the wall of the pool. Having her bending back made her feel complete, but something was still off. There wasn't the same strength behind her motions and she wasn't bending the way she had even during the war.
Sinking lower into the water, Katara could feel the surface tension next to her bottom lip. It was that feeling that pressed against her hands, something she couldn't break through. Water had been an extension of herself, but now it was only something to manipulate. It made her feel weak.
Hearing someone enter on the other side, Katara held her breath to see which of the brothers was getting in.
"May I join you?" Jun asked from behind Katara. With a yelp, Katara flipped around and floundered in the water.
"Sure." She coughed out and Jun smiled as she stepped in.
"I didn't know a Waterbender could drown." Bumi called out from the other side of the wall.
"I try not to make a habit of it." Katara retorted.
Jun laughed lightly as she settled and Katara stilled, turning her face away.
"So what's your other problem, missy?" Bumi asked.
"What do you mean?" Katara replied.
"Jun insists there's something wrong." Bumi said and Katara looked over at the woman.
"I raised two daughters. I can tell these things." Jun added.
"There's a situation in the Fire Nation." Katara began.
"You bet there is." Bumi said with a laugh. "Haven't you heard that you're missing?"
"I was aware of that." Katara said wryly.
"So did you get the boot or did you run?" Bumi asked.
"I ran." Katara answered.
"And now you're running back. Good for you." Bumi said.
Katara nodded, knowing he couldn't see, and sank back into the water.
"What made you run?" Jun asked gently.
Lifting her mouth above water, Katara still looked at the rock floor as she spoke. "I think either Xianji or Ruan has brainwashed the palace in order to take it over." She said.
"Ah, Ruan. Such a charming girl she used to be." Bumi mused and Katara looked at the wall.
"You knew her?" She asked.
"I trained her. Aren't very many crystal benders in the world you know. That Beifong friend of yours is going to figure that out with her metalbending; specialties are hard to come by." Bumi said. Thinking of her own bloodbending, Katara grumbled in a sort of agreement.
"What was she like?" Katara pressed.
"Too conniving by half. See, she was with me when Kuei was born. Up until then, she had been the heir, but with Kuei in the picture, she knew it was over. She wanted me to make her my heir." Bumi laughed and it was a rattling sort of noise in his throat.
"Why didn't you?" Katara asked.
"Do you know how I became king?"
"Weren't you-"
"I'll save you the time. I was the last king's bastard." Bumi interrupted. "My mother taught me how to stay alive and to stay a decent person while doing so. The woman didn't have enough common sense to keep away from the king when he was married, but she did alright by me."
"Did you know you'd become king?" Katara asked.
"Not until the day it happened. My mother died of some sickness and the king tipped himself off a parapet in grief." Bumi snorted. "For being the ruler of Omashu, he definitely missed the mark on recognizing his star crossed love."
"Bumi's dear mother was a tradesman's daughter." Jun said. "They were never permitted to marry due to their class difference."
"Do you think your parents should have married?" Katara asked.
Bumi was silent on the other side of the wall and Katara looked over at Jun.
"As the king, there's a lot of things I can do that don't make sense because of the decades of stability and goodwill I've established. Like surrendering to the Fire Nation. My people didn't rebel after everything was said and done because they trusted me.
"But that's when the king is being the body of the kingdom. I was always representing Omashu. For matters of the heart, that's more personal to people. A choice I make about love becomes a choice I put onto other people, and they're more likely to get angry about it. If the king had married my mother, even after his first wife died, I don't think the kingdom would have been happy about it." Bumi explained.
"Oma may have raised this city out of the ground to end a war, but her legacy of love stays in the tunnel." Jun added.
"So a king must always put his nation first?" Katara questioned.
"Now I didn't say that. I said it was a choice. And anyway," Bumi grunted and water sloshed on the other side of the wall as he moved around. "Oma and Shu's villages don't exist anymore, but Omashu does."
"Hmm." Katara intoned and leaned back.
"Jun, I'm getting out. It's too damned hot in here." Bumi grumbled.
"Hold on, I'm coming." Jun said and started to get out.
"I can manage you nag!"
"You're going to slip so just wait one moment you ungrateful mule."
"I will not slip and oop!"
Jun froze, as she was drying off and Katara went stiff as she heard earth shift.
"BUMI." Jun called nervously as she pulled her clothes on while still damp.
"I CAUGHT MYSELF." Bumi retorted. "But, ehm, I do require some assistance."
Cursing and muttering under her breath, Jun stormed through the doorway to access the other side of the grotto. Hearing the two start to snipe at each other, Katara relaxed and sank back into the water.
Bumi's wisdom was a bit sideways, but it did make sense.
Getting out, Katara dried herself off slowly before dressing. Using her bending, she combed out her hair, taking out the moisture with each stroke. Then, walking back, Katara looked down at her hands again.
After everything was said and done, what did she have left? Paltry bending and no friends. She was going to need more backup if she was going to take on the palace, and one partially unstable Firebender was not ideal.
Plus there was the variable that was Aivilayoq.
Her thoughts meandered around the subject, as she didn't want to get into anything too serious before trying to sleep. Amaqjuaq was a possibility, and any warriors that were still in Kyoshi. Toph's metalbending students could be useful, and maybe she should at least ask to see if Haoran and Jiro were interested in coming along. Their sister was also being held against her will.
"Hey."
Shaking herself, Katara looked up to see Riku standing from her place on the floor.
"Why are you out here?" Katara asked.
"I wasn't going to be alone in there with people I don't know." Riku replied.
"Sorry. I should've taken you with me."
Riku shrugged and looked back at the doorway. Katara watched her and shifted her weight from foot to foot.
"I was thinking." Katara said and Riku turned to face her.
"Good to hear." She said.
"Are you coming with me? To the palace?" Katara asked.
Looking confused, Riku leaned her head back a bit.
"Of course. I told you I would, didn't I?" She responded.
"Not in so many words."
"Well, yeah. I am."
"I think we'll need reinforcements."
"What, like them?" Riku questioned, pointing back over her shoulder toward their shared room. "I don't know."
"We can at least ask." Katara said with a shrug.
"Will we need to? I mean, isn't that spirit pretty capable?" Riku asked.
"Actually, I was hoping she'd help by finding the Avatar." Katara said and Riku let out a guttural sound of frustration.
"You would want to get rid of our best weapon." She said as she stared up at the ceiling.
"We can talk about it in the morning. Come on." Katara said and lightly touched Riku's arm. Still looking displeased, Riku went silently with her into the room.
Since Aktuk's body needed sleep, it was something Aivilayoq indulged in from time to time. So she, Haoran, and Jiro were three large bodies all snoring in the room.
"This will be fun." Riku muttered. "It's like having three papas in one room."
Katara watched Riku climb onto one of the open beds. It had been weeks since meeting her in the imperial city. In the apartment she shared with Noren, they had slept with their futons side by side. They were close.
Thinking back to the Fire Nation palace, Katara could remember only large, solitary bedrooms.
She wondered what it would have been like growing up in such a place. It would have been terribly lonely.