~~~~~~~~~~~~~*`~~: Chapter Eleven :~~`*~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You've caused quite a stir, we have been trying to find you." said the guard ruefully, "The king had requested your appearance to a feast tonight."

"What? Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"He didn't say." said the guard stoically; confused by Ally's reaction.

Ally sighed, "What time?" she asked, resigned to meeting this King; maybe he could help me find Aang... Ally thought optimistically.

"Twilight." The guard, raising an eyebrow at Ally's behaviour. "You do not seem too thrilled. - You're not in trouble are you?" He asked, suddenly suspicions, Ally noticed the small changes in his posture; the way he moved would allow him to slip into fighting stance at any given moment.

"I'm a little weary of people in high places." Ally admitted, "War can do that to people." She watched the fists relax slightly, but the guard was still on edge.

"I know how war can affect people, but I didn't expect it people so young to be involved." The guard said as Ally started to walk back to the stables, where Snow-fire and the lemurs were, the guard followed.

"I'm older then I look." Ally mumbled.

"Mentally." the man said, "you're eyes say that you've seen a lot of things you shouldn't have."

Ally laughed, though it was laced with sadness, "You have no idea how right you are with that statement. I've been in my fair share of fights." That's an understatement of the century.

The man looked at her alarmed, "You said you were a Nomad?"

Ally nodded, "I only attack to defend myself and or others."

"Are you an Air Bender?"

Ally froze and the guard stopped as well. "What makes you think I am? - they've been instinct for a long time." Ally lied.

"I just thought, with your tattoo's... The way you say you've been in your fair share of fights... Just made my think that..."

Ally internally grimaced and looked away... stupid poo-poo hot head, Ally thought kicking a stone, thinking of fire lord Sozin made her answer more harshly then she intended, "No."

"Err-well - Go to the King's palace in the afternoon." He said before walking away, giving her a backwards glance as he turned onto another street.

Ally frowned as she felt the feeling of people watching her, the rest of the day was spent with her animal companions. She wasn't very good at low profile, but if she was assigned to follow someone she would at least do better than these guards, she had seen three by window reflection and four by a casual glance out of the corner of her eye.

The afternoon was when she had enough, "If you're going to spy on someone at least be less obvious." she called out. No one answered. Ally rolled her eyes and leaped into an alleyway, opening her fans all the while and surprising two guards that had been spying on her. "Your footsteps aren't light enough; I could hear both of you and see from a reflection where you are. Choose less obvious places." Ally looked up, where she heard scuffled laughter. "You lot on the roof top aren't any better." She said. The laughter stopped. Ally smiled amusedly as the guards dropped and landed on the hard ground.

"Their trainees." said a voice from the entrance way. It must have been a experienced soldier by the way he carried himself.

"Practise makes perfect." Ally said, "Just don't practise on those you don't know; they might think your fire-nation and lash out."

"You thought we were fire nation?" asked one of the guards who had been following her.

"Old habits die hard." Ally admitted, "At first I did but then I realized that I was in Omashu and more likely to be earth-benders. So I decided to play along for a while and see what you would do."

"Come, the King is expecting you." said the more trained soldier.

Ally nodded.

The King certainly had a warped sense of humor, when she said that she was from Kyoshi Island the King said that place must be really 'fann-C.' Ally had chuckled to be polite, it could have been worst.

"So tell me, young one." the King said, "Why are you here?"

"A friend of mine is going to pass through here, so I'm waiting for him; then I'll be travelling with him and some friends of his." Again Ally decided to be as true full as possible.

The King raised a white bushy eyebrow, "Who is this friend of yours?"

Ally looked down, "His name is..." Ally hesitated, "Aang." she said, what were the odds of this old king knowing the air bender? None.

The King leaned backwards and connected his ringed fingers together in a pensively. "Aang... there hasn't been person named Aang in my kingdom since I was a young boy... He use to call me a mad genius."

Ally did a double take, realization flashed in her stormy blue eyes, "Bumi?" Ally asked in shock.

The old man, who was now so familure she couldn't believe it took her so long to realize, smiled widely, and laugh with the familure snort. "It's good to see you Ally, you're still the same as I last saw you..."

Ally laughed and jumped out over the table in one light bounce and hugged her old friend before she touched the ground. The guards stepped forwards in alarm but Bumi waved them off with a smile.

Ally stepped back, "No, Aang hasn't changed."

"I suppose we should make some plans for his arrival." Bumi chuckled/snorted.

Ally looked at him with amused suspicion, "What's going through that genius mind of yours?"

Bumi tapped his finger to his temple, "you have to open your brains to the possibilities', how do you think he'll do with a few tests?"

Ally amused expression turned thoughtful, "and what is the point of these tests you're thinking of?"

"The kind that challenges his limits and stretches his creativity," grinned Bumi.

"Count me in." Ally beamed, she hadn't felt this care-free since before Sozin's Comet. "I'll need a disguise though."

Bumi nodded, "I spotted you out of the crowed in an instant." he snorted, "The look on your face was priceless! I thought you were going to hyperventilate."

Ally frowned, "Thanks Bumi." She said sarcastically.

"Heheee, No problem Ally." Bumi said, either ignoring the sarcasm or didn't catch it.

Ally smiled fondly, this was going to be brilliant.