Book 1: Earth
Chapter 2: Avani and Oma
"Okay Mister Navigator, how much further to Omashu?" Houkou asked.
Houkou and Syaoran were on the back of Susanoo headed for the city of Omashu for Houkou to learn how to earthbend. Today was their second day of travel since they had left their village, Jasmine Village.
"Why are you complaining? It's not like it's summer or winter. It's spring," Syaoran asked as he sat up and looked at the scenery. "We're close."
"It does look like rain though," Houkou argued, pointing to dark clouds that were gathered in the distance.
"Luckily for you, the city is just over that hill. Omashu is in the Kolau Mountains, which is just beyond here," Syaoran replied.
And sure enough, Syaoran was right. Once the two boys and lion turtle were at the top of the hill, they were able to see Omashu, as promised.
"Whoa," Houkou said in awe at the city.
"Just wait 'til you get inside the city. It's great. I mean it's not big yet, since it's still relatively new, but it's getting there," Syaoran commented. "They're developing this ingenious mail system that involves slides."
"Slides?" Houkou asked with a mischievous smile.
"Yeah. Just wait until you see," Syaoran said with a smile.
"I already know I want to give them a whirl," Houkou declared, hitting his fist on the palm of his hand.
"I don't think that's allowed," Syaoran responded with a smirk.
"And your point would be? I'm the frickin' Avatar. I should be able to do whatever I want," Houkou said proudly.
"Oh jeez, I hope you don't start using that as an excuse for everything…" Syaoran muttered. "Don't get carried away, Houkou."
"I won't, I won't. But I could tell by your face you were thinking the same thing," Houkou replied. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have mentioned it."
Syaoran smiled and shrugged at the boy's comment.
The two boys continued onward down the long path toward the developing city. When they neared the gates, they stopped.
"So…how do we get in? Do they let just anyone in?" Houkou asked.
"Usually when my mom and I come they just let us in. You just state your name really and your business. So just say Houkou and visiting. I'll tell them you've never been here before. They should recognize me. I've been here enough," Syaoran replied.
Houkou nodded and hopped off his lion turtle, gripping the reins in his hand. "It's probably better if we get off though."
"Good idea," Syaoran said hopping out of the saddle.
The two boys approached the earthbending guards in front of the gate and stopped.
"State your names and business," one of the guards commanded.
"That one's Syaoran. He travels here with his mother Meihui all the time," one of the guards said, waving his hand dismissively at Syaoran.
The guard that questioned the boys nodded.
"This is my friend, Houkou. He's never been here before and wanted to visit the city after all the stories I've told him about it. He's never been to a city before," Syaoran explained to the guard.
"Where's your mother, son?" the guard that identified Syaoran asked.
"She's back home. It's just my friend and I," Syaoran answered.
"Don't you think you're a bit young to be travelling alone?" the guard asked.
"No sir. We're not going to cause any sort of trouble, we're just here to see the city," Syaoran replied.
The guards studied the boys for a moment and then stepped aside.
"As long as you boys don't cause any trouble, okay? We don't allow any trouble here; this is a peaceful city. The Great Oma won't allow it," the guard said sternly to the boys.
"Understood. Thank you sir," Syaoran said, nearly saluting the guard out of nervousness.
The earthbending guards used their bending to pull the three, massive, solid rocks used for the gate apart to allow for the two boys to enter the city. Houkou was in even more awe when they were on the other side of the gate.
"Isn't this bending business relatively new? So how many people know how to earthbend already?" Houkou wondered aloud.
"I'm sure quite a few already are quite skilled at it. Oma and Shu were just the first human earthbenders, and they first learned a nearly two decades ago," Syaoran answered. "And Oma opened up a couple of earthbending schools for benders to learn earthbending."
"You and your knowledge, Syaoran," Houkou said teasingly, rolling his eyes. And then he saw them.
"Are those the slides?" Houkou asked pointing up at the steep slides used for mail and delivery service throughout the city.
"Indeed," Syaoran said with a sly smile. "But there are only so many that are running because as you can see, this city is still in development. It's going to become much bigger and greater than this. Only half of the city is finished, and by then, they'll probably expand it some more."
"Let's do it," Houkou said instantly.
"Alright," Syaoran agreed.
"Where can I keep Susanoo though?" Houkou wondered as he gazed around the area.
Syaoran looked around and spotted a post. "Tie him up here. No one should mess with him. People here are really friendly and don't mess with other peoples' things…or pets."
Houkou led Susanoo over to the post and stroked his lion turtle's mane. "We'll be back soon, Susanoo. Syaoran and I are just going to have a little fun before we get back to business."
Susanoo let out a small roar at Houkou and the boy hugged the massive animal goodbye.
"Lead the way to the loading docks," Houkou instructed the older boy and pointing to the slides.
"Aye, aye, cap'n," Syaoran replied.
Syaoran led Houkou through the city up to the only mail chute he knew of. Or at least, where it began. Once there, Syaoran was about to grab one of the empty carts they used for mail and delivery when a voice startled the boys.
"Hey!"
Syaoran and Houkou turned their attention to the sound of the voice. A girl about their age stood a few feet away. She was shorter than both of them by a few inches. She had raven black hair that went just past her shoulders that had a pink flower pinned in the back and celery green eyes and fair skin. She wore a long light green dress with kimono-like sleeves that was trimmed in a darker shade of green that also decorated the front of the dress with elaborate designs. She looked rather cute and pretty. Definitely non-threatening.
"Are you about to use that cart to ride in down the slide?" the girl asked.
"Wh-what? Don't be absurd!" Syaoran said quickly under panic.
The girl laughed. "It's okay. I won't tell. That's actually what I'm up here for. I've done this plenty of times though mother doesn't like it. Mind if I ride with you?"
Syaoran and Houkou looked at one another and then back at the girl.
"No, you can ride with us," Houkou said with a smile.
"Thanks. My name's Avani by the way," the girl said as she climbed into the cart Syaoran had loaded onto the chute.
"I'm Houkou," Houkou said as he climbed in behind Avani.
"And I'm Syaoran," Syaoran said as he climbed in behind Houkou.
"It's a pleasure. Are you guys ready?" Avani said excitedly.
"You bet!" Houkou whooped.
"All right…here…we…go!" Avani said as she tipped the cart forward and down the slide.
The trio zipped down the steep, twisting slide at a great speed. It was both exhilarating and frightening. They laughed and cheered as they shot down, whizzing past various houses and miscellaneous buildings. They even raced other carts that held actual deliveries to various locations.
Unfortunately, when they were approaching their stop, another cart was in the way, full of large things and no one was there attending to the delivery.
"Oh my goddess we're gonna crash!" Houkou yelled.
"No we aren't!" Avani yelled back.
She began rocking the cart back and forth until finally it gave way and lifted out of the chute. The boys screamed while she laughed. They landed on a roof, tearing shingles as they slid down into the street then crashing through the window of a shop and out the window on the opposite side. They hopped down one more ledge, sliding down yet another roof and tearing off more shingles. Finally, an earthbender guard appeared and made a massive column of earth shoot up into the air, causing the cart to hit it and come to a rough stop.
"Whew! Man that was fun! They really need to make a sport out of this!" Avani cried.
"No they do not. You come with me, young lady," the guard said, pulling Avani out of the cart and onto her feet. He gripped her tightly by the arm to prevent her from running away.
"Ugh no! Lemme go!" Avani protested.
"You two boys too," the guard holding Avani's arm said, pointing at Houkou and Syaoran. Two more guards appeared and pulled the boys forcefully out of the cart and onto their feet.
"To Oma with them," the guard with Avani said, causing panic to run across Houkou and Syaoran's faces. Disappointment and pouting crossed Avani's.
One by one, starting with Avani, the guards began to led the three to Oma's palace. As they walked, without any sort of warning, Avani stomped a bare foot against the ground, hard. Earth shot up and knocked her guard straight into the air, freeing her. She turned and did the same maneuver for both Houkou and Syaoran, setting them free. And as fast as she had freed them, Avani began to run. The two friends followed her without second thought, for they both had the same thoughts running through their minds; she's a fantastic earthbender and therefore could teach Houkou!
When the guards came to, they set after the three, as fast as their aching bodies could carry them.
As they ran, Houkou turned his head to check and see if they were being perused. To his horror, the guards weren't terribly far behind.
"Damn! They're behind us!" Houkou said without turning his head back to face forward as he ran.
And then he slammed right into someone.
Houkou put a hand to his messy brown hair and shook his head and pulled away from the person he ran into.
"Ow…sorry about that…" Houkou said as he looked up at the person he ran into.
The man had black hair that fell over one eye, while the other revealed that the man had unusual orange colored eyes in the non-covered one. He was rather pale as well. He appeared to be dressed in upper class Earth Kingdom robes. The smile he gave Houkou made him rather uneasy. He clenched a fist in response.
"Whoa there, tigerdillo," the man said to Houkou as he put a hand on Houkou's shoulder and stepped away from him. The man looked Houkou up and down and then smirked. "What's your hurry?"
The guards finally caught up to Houkou, Syaoran, and Avani.
"Ah, I see," the man said slowly with a wicked smile. Houkou's other fist clenched.
"That's enough you three. You're coming with us. Now," one of the guards said. They swiftly used an earthbending maneuver to bind the hands of the three young adolescents, ensuring that they will not escape again.
"My apologies Mister…" one of the guards said to the man, waiting for the man to give him his name.
The man's uncovered orange eye flicked over to Houkou and a smile appeared once more on his lips. "Tenebris," he finally answered.
"My apologies Mister Tenebris. I assume there was no harm done?" the guard asked.
Tenebris shook his head. "Nope. No harm done. The lad just ran into me. All is well."
"Good. We will take these delinquents to Oma straight away," another guard responded.
With that, the guards escorted the three teens away without another word or protest. As they walked, Houkou turned his head and saw that Tenebris was watching them be escorted away, still wearing the same smile as before. Something about that man infuriated Houkou, which was odd. He had never encountered someone that could infuriate him by simply looking at him. However, the man was rather peculiar and he didn't seem friendly at all.
"What's up?" Syaoran hissed at Houkou, snapping him out of his stare.
"That man…" Houkou muttered, lowering his gaze.
"What about him?" Syaoran asked.
"Quiet you two!" one of the guards said, tightening the hold on the rock handcuffs they bent around their arms.
"Later," Houkou said through gritted teeth.
Houkou, Syaoran, and Avani were brought into a large, dimly lit, green themed throne room. At the end of the room sat a woman, about late thirties, early forties. Her long dark black hair was beginning to lose its luster to be replaced with a gray color. Her skin was fair and her lips were painted blood red. She wore a royal Earth Kingdom dress that was elaborate and elegant in design. For an older woman, Oma was still rather beautiful in appearance. However, her facial expression wasn't beautiful; she looked angry.
"What is this that I hear you're making amuck in my city?" Oma demanded from the boys. Though her voice was angry, her voice didn't at all sound like it got angry often. It was too soft and nurturing, like a kind and gentle mother.
Avani let out a sigh and rolled her eyes in response to Oma.
Oma's eyes swept the three and landed on Avani, which made her eyes narrow. "Avani."
Avani walked forward and stood before Oma. Her face was apathetic.
"What do you think you're doing, young lady?" Oma asked in a slightly softer tone.
"I was just having a little bit of fun. I've done this before –"
"I know. Believe me, I know. And that is going to end," Oma replied, shaking her head.
"What? Why?" Avani protested, suddenly upset.
"Because those chutes are for mails and deliveries, not for entertainment of children. It's not a playground," Oma said.
"But mother!"
"MOTHER?" Houkou and Syaoran cried in unison.
Avani turned her head and Oma looked past the girl at the two young boys.
"This is your mother?" Houkou asked in utter disbelief. "The Great Oma?"
"Yes…" Avani said slowly.
"Who're your friends?" Oma asked, regaining the attention of her daughter.
"Houkou and Syaoran. I just met them when we used the chutes as slides. And I didn't think any of this was going to happen, mother! You must believe me!" Avani said still a bit panicked.
"You boys. Come forward," Oma instructed.
With a shove of the guards, Houkou and Syaoran walked forward and approached Oma. They stood a couple feet behind Avani.
"I've never seen you in my city before, so you must be foreign. Who are you and what is your business here?" Oma asked.
Syaoran looked at Houkou questioningly. Houkou lowered his gaze in thought for a moment and then looked back up at the powerful woman.
"I'm looking for an earthbending teacher. I am Avatar Houkou," Houkou informed her.
"Avatar? What is an Avatar?" Oma asked curiously.
"The Avatar is the Spirit of the World, ma'am. He is able to bend all four elements. He will serve as the peacekeeper of our developing nations once he has mastered each element," Syaoran explained.
"I have never heard of that before…" Oma said slowly. She looked at Houkou in awe.
"I'm the first one, ma'am," Houkou said nervously.
"Is that so? Would you mind showing me, then?" Oma asked. All anger seemed to have lifted out of Oma and replaced with genuine curiosity.
"That's just it, ma'am. I don't know how to bend yet. I just know that I can. That's why I came here to seek out an earthbending teacher," Houkou explained, lowering his eyes.
"So, how do you know then that you can bend? Especially all four elements?" Oma asked.
"The Four Sages told me, and performed a ritual to prove it in front of my village," Houkou responded automatically.
"That must mean the elements react to you," Oma declared with a smile.
"They elements do, react to him, ma'am," Syaoran piped in.
"Who might you be?"
"I am Syaoran of Houkou's village. I am his best friend. I have seen throughout the years the elements react to him," Syaoran answered.
"Hmm…" Oma said in response. She looked at the two boys, deep in thought, taking in all that they said and mulling it over. She then looked at her daughter and smiled.
"I have just the thing. As a "punishment" for Avani, I am going to assign her as your earthbending teacher," Oma said with a smile.
"What?" Avani protested.
"You need to be grounded and taught responsibility somehow. Besides, I thought you liked them and were friends?" Oma said as she ruffled Avani's hair.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean I can teach. Or want to teach," Avani spat back.
"You will do it. You have no choice. He needs a teacher and who better to teach him earthbending than you, my daughter?" Oma replied coolly. "Plus, I want to see this boy bend all four elements as soon as possible. Queen Gaialin may have blessed us with a great warrior."
"Why don't you teach him then?" Avani asked, folding her arms.
"Because what will you have learned from my instructing Houkou? This is a lesson for you. And to also help you sharpen your own earthbending, my dear," Oma answered.
"But-!"
"I don't want to hear any more on the matter. It is done. You will instruct Houkou. That should help keep you out of trouble," Oma said firmly.
Houkou and Syaoran looked at each other and gave weary smiles. Oma was quite the mother and ruler.
"You two shall stay here in the palace with us as long as you need. Your first lesson will take place tomorrow at dawn. Someone will retrieve you," Oma said with a gentle smile to Houkou.
Houkou bowed to Oma.
"Thank you, ma'am. I truly appreciate this gesture," Houkou replied as he pulled himself up.
"If you are who you say you are, the pleasure is all mine. It is truly an honor to be in your presence, young Avatar," Oma said seriously. "A guard will show you to your chambers."
"So tell me about what was going on with you and that Tenebris guy," Syaoran said after he and Houkou were settled in their new bedroom.
There were two beds with soft green blankets, a handsome fire at one end of the room, and a table across from it for them to set their belongings. Two small dressers sat at the foot of each bed. Two lights hung above the beds, emitting a green glow. It was a simple setup, but the room felt at the very least cozy.
"I don't know. Something didn't feel right about him," Houkou said shaking his head. "And did you see his eyes? They're orange."
Syaoran nodded. "Yeah, that was a bit odd. Maybe he's sick and it did something to his eyes?"
"He looked pretty fine to me," Houkou said with a shrug. "He also came off as quite the bastard. He just kept smiling as the situation happened like we were just…deviant brats that were beneath him. I don't know how to explain it. He definitely gave me an uneasy feeling."
"Well, hopefully we won't ever have to see or deal with him again," Syaoran said.
There was a knock on the door. Whoever it was didn't wait for a response until they pushed the bedroom door open and allowed themselves in. To Houkou and Syaoran's surprise, it was Avani.
"Avani," Houkou said when he saw Avani shut the door behind her.
"Hey," she said with a weary smile. "Listen. I just wanted to apologize what happened back there in the throne room. It's not that I don't like you or don't want you to earthbend, it's just, I can't teach. My mom could've easily gotten you an earthbending instructor. I don't know why she didn't. But I just wanted to let you know it isn't you. I actually do like you guys, even though I just met you. I had a lot of fun today."
"We had a lot of fun today too. I didn't think I'd meet the Great Oma," Houkou said with a smile.
"Yeah. She really is great… You should see her in action. She's a great mother, too. I love her. Just, sometimes she never lets me have any fun, which sucks. So obviously I'm going to go out and do something I think is worthwhile, like using the mail chutes as slides," Avani said thoughtfully.
"Well, I definitely can't wait to see her in action," Houkou nodded.
Avani nodded in return. "Well, I better get going. Long day tomorrow and I have to get ready. You should definitely rest up. Earthbending can be rather tiring to a newbie."
"I will. Thanks for the advice," Houkou said with a chuckle.
Avani's cheeks dusted with pink slightly. She smiled at the boys and departed the room, shutting the door behind her.
"I think she likes you," Syaoran teased once he and Houkou were alone.
"Whatever," Houkou replied as he flopped down onto his bed.
"It's cute," Syaoran continued.
"Blah, blah, blah. Shut up so I can rest up, will ya?" Houkou said, pulling a pillow over his head. Syaoran laughed.
Tomorrow was definitely going to be interesting.
