Untold Secrets and Common History

"What! What do you mean you haven't heard of the Fire Nation. Everyone knows about the Fire Nation." Ed had just woken up after they left Kyoshi Island and had asked about the people they had fought there.

"Obviously I don't so can someone start talking sense." Ed yelled back at Sokka who had changed back into his normal clothes but the dress was folded up next to him. They all stared at him with varying degrees of shock.

"So what, were you frozen in an iceberg or something?" Ed raised an eyebrow at Sokka who looked like he had asked a completely serious question.

"I don't think it's scientifically possible so survive being frozen in an iceberg let alone surviving without it killing you either from the cold or the pressure." Ed could tell they didn't believe him but he wasn't going to press the issue.

The others just shrugged at him while Aang yelled, "I survived it for a hundred years so I guess someone else could to." Ed just stared at the back of Aang's head waiting for them to burst out laughing at him but the looks on their faces (other than Aang's sense he was still guiding the chimera somewhere) showed they were being dead serious.

"Wait what? You're telling me that you were frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years? That's not possible there is no scientific reason as to how you could have possibly survived in there." Aang just shrugged at him but didn't say anything else. He couldn't really explain it either so he just waited for Ed to calm down.

Unfortunately for Sokka he didn't have the sense to wait for Ed to calm down before saying, "So Aang's the Avatar he doesn't tend to follow the natural order of things."

Ed rounded on Sokka and said, "The human body needs food water and air to survive and while water would be easy to come by in an iceberg where would you get everything else not to mention the fact that he would have had to of waited a hundred years he barely looks older the twelve!" His voice had gotten louder the longer he shouted at Sokka till the boy was scooting away from him fear in his eyes as he looked at the angry alchemist.

Taking deep breaths Ed calmed himself down as he tried to figure out how Aang could have possibly survived in an iceberg for a hundred year. The only reason he believed them was because from what he had seen of Aang back in the village he may be boastful but he was an honest kid.

As Ed furiously tried to solve how Aang survived when a thought occurred to him. Looking up Ed asked, "Were you awake at all when you were in the iceberg or did you just seem to wake up when it cracked open?"

Aang turned to look back at Ed somewhat surprised at the question as he answered, "I woke up when Sokka and Katara found me and Appa in an iceberg the only memories I have after that are from before I was frozen why?"

Aang didn't expect an answer and wasn't disappointed when he turned around to see Ed thinking about what he said and muttering to himself.

Everyone else just let him be for the moment and they rode on in silence for an hour or so when Ed said, "Anyways back to my question earlier what is the Fire Nation?"

This time Katara explained the Four Nations to him and the war that was going on for the past hundred years in a much calmer tone then her brother could have along with Ed's question on bending when the subject came up. After finishing her explanation it was Ed turn to explain why he didn't know this already.

"My country is far away from here and very isolated from the rest of the world except for the countries right next to it which are normally at war with each other so we don't tend to focus on things going on everywhere else." Sokka had a look of suspicion on his face while Katara and Aang looked fascinated about his home even though he didn't go into specifics about it.

Rather bluntly Sokka asked, "If that's true then why are you here?"

Sokka was promptly smacked by Katara as she said, "Sokka don't be rude." Before she turned to face Ed and said, "I'm sorry about my brother he tends to not think before he opens his mouth."

Ed simply waved his hand at her to show he understood. He understood why Sokka asked him and probably would have said the same thing in his place. That didn't mean he was going to tell them he had traveled through the Gate and ended up here because of a deal to get his brothers body back.

"It's complicated let's just say it was part of a price in order to help my little brother." Ed watched as they all went silent at his words. Even Aang had turned to look at him with a look of curiosity but they thankfully dropped the subject and started to discuss where they would go next.

Ed woke up on Appa's back as they flew over the Earth Kingdom on their way to the City of Omashu. He still had a hard time with flying as it was simply too unnatural for him to get use to even after the explanation on haw Appa was able to fly.

"So Ed what did you do back in your country?" Katara had scooted over next to him as he kept one hand firmly gripped on edge of the saddle and turned to face her.

"My brother and I were scientists of a sort and often traveled around the country as we worked." Ed said as he remembered all the things he and his brother did on their travels while a sad smile spread across his face. Thinking about Al made him feel lonely as his brother wasn't there at his side this time but he knew it was for the best as it meant that Al was safe back home with Winry and Granny and was happy.

"O what were you studying?" Katara asked as she studied Ed. She had noticed his smile when he mentioned his brother but she also saw sadness there to. It made her wonder just what kind of deal he made for his brother.

"Nothing you would know about so don't worry about it." Ed said looking down and fighting back his memories, they wouldn't help him here and just made him sad as he recalled that he couldn't go home.

With a sudden lurch downward Ed grabbed hold of the saddle with both hands as and he could hear a loud creak come it as his grip tightened on it. I officially hate flying this is just too unnatural was the thought running through Ed's head as Appa made his way to the ground. As soon as Appa landed Ed was out of the saddle and happily on solid ground again as the others were getting off Appa.

Aang led the way over a hill that brought the city of Omashu to sight and Ed had to admit it was pretty impressive from this distance it looked like someone had just taken the top of the mountain and turned it into a city. The siblings were even more impressed while Aang started to run ahead toward the city.

"Wait Aang it might be dangerous if people knew you were the Avatar." Katara's words stopped Aang dead in his tracks as he turned around to look at them.

"Well what do you want me to do grow a mustache?" But as Aang was saying that Ed happened to be looking at Appa and an idea sprang to his mind.

"Hay Aang come over here will ya I think I can whip up something." Aang walked over to Ed who was walking toward Appa a smile firmly on his face.

Five minutes later Aang had a full head of white hair and big mustache on his face while Ed examined his handiwork. He knew he was covered in hair to but he could deal with that later as Sokka declared Aang looked like his grandpa while Aang was going full out with the old man act voice staff and all.

"Ed you might want to change into something else to people might think your with the Fire Nation with that coat on." Katara was met with a glare while Sokka came to stand next to her.

"She's right you know and plus reds a stupid color." Katara almost swore she saw Ed's eyes turn into golden fire at Sokka's words and knew things were about to get ugly.

"Reds a badass color and what's wrong with coat?" the fire was still in his eyes so she quickly covered her brother's mouth before he could say anything that could lead to a very beaten up Sokka.

Choosing her words carefully Katara said, "It not really the color itself but that it's the Fire Nations main color and most people who wear it are normally members of the Fire Nation and it would probably be a bad idea to be mistaken for a Fire Nation spy here then back at Kyoshi Island."

Praying that Ed would listen to her she watched as he seemed to think about it when all the sudden he climbed up Appa grabbed Sokka's dress and disappeared behind Appa. Moments later they saw what looked like blue lightning then Ed stepped around Appa with a complete copy of his old coat only in green and his normal red one in his arms which he tossed onto Appa.

"This good enough for you?" Ed asked still irked he couldn't wear his normal coat but it would make disguising Aang rather pointless if he drew in unwanted attention so he made a new one out of the dress Sokka had as he doubted Sokka would let himself be caught dead in it again he was still teasing him with that as it served as perfect blackmail martial.

"Ya but what did you just do back there?" Katara couldn't understand how Ed was able to make a new coat so quickly or what the lightning was earlier and wondered just who it this person.

"Just something I've had a lot of practice with, now can we go or are you going to stand there all day?" the others quickly started catching up with him and Aang as they started walking when Ed got his new coat.

Everyone traveled in silence as they followed the path to Omashu till Aang decided to break it with, "You'll love Omashu it the friendliest place it the world."

At that point the universe decided to prove Aang wrong while everyone watched the guards react violently to some guy's cabbages sending them over the path and back down to the 'Low Lands' as Ed decided to call it when he looked over the edge to follow them down.

"Just keep smiling." Ed heard Aang mutter and figured were sunk as they approached the guards.

One of the guards a tall beefy man suddenly stomped on the ground and a boulder roughly the same size as him shot out of the path and hung directly above Aang. Before he could move forward to save Aang from death by rock the Airhead had already shot forward and was giving the guard a good elderly man scolding that nearly made Ed fall off the with laughter.

Thankfully Katara was able to settle the problem and they were allowed to pass but Sokka got forced into carrying Aang's bag like a good grandson.

"Welcome to Omashu guys." Was the first thing Aang said the instant they were pass the gate/wall thing giving Ed a good took at the city. Everything was green, yellow, and or brown while long slides with open like crated full of things were all over the place.

"Well I'll be damned but I bet Al would have loved this place." Ed said to no one in particular as he examined his surroundings completely ignoring what Aang was saying till Sokka started to drag him off somewhere which ended with an angry Ed and Sokka cradling his hand and staying as far away from Ed as possible.

sorry to everyone for the cliff hanger but i couldn't help it.