SMST: The Ethereal Path of the Avatar! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 10
"So, what's the next on out itinerary?" Usagi asked, as she peered over Sokka's shoulder.
"Do you mind?" Sokka says, as he pulls the map away.
"What? You're still mad at me."
"Oh, let me see: you drop me from one-hundred feet, and, taking your sweet time, you didn't get to me until the last minute. Thank you for traumatizing me, 'sensei'."
"Hey, that's how I learned to fly."
"Well, I didn't, okay?"
"But you did float at least," Goku says, as he performed a handstand.
"Humph!"
"Honestly," Katara says. "As annoying as Sokka is, he IS my only brother."
"Yeah, next time, WE should do the training together…okay?" Ranma says.
"Fine," Usagi says, as she folds her arms. "Humph!"
"ANYWAY, we should be close to the city of-" Sokka says.
"Omashu," Aang says, as he points to a huge, mound-like castle.
"Is this place the Earth Kingdom?" Ranma asked.
"Actually, no," Aang says. "I don't know how it is now, but when I was last here, there were hundreds of smaller kingdoms."
"Huh."
"Maybe you can learn some 'earth-bending', Aang," Goku says.
"Maybe…"
When Appa lands, the gang steps up to the front gate of Omashu…if there was a frontgate.
"Um, how do we get in?" Goku asked, as he scratches his head.
"They're earth-benders, silly," Katara says.
As if on cue, the gang sees an altercation between the guards and a cabbage dealer.
"What's this?" says the lead guard, as he picks up a cabbage.
"Er, just cabbage, sir," says the dealer.
"Humph! We don't WANT your cabbage!" says the guard, as he uses his "earth-bending" skills to jut out a rock from within the ground, and knock the cart high and over the terrace.
"Now beat it!"
"Ohhhh," the man laments.
"Hey, they can't do that!" Goku yells. With that, he immediately runs down the hill.
"Goku, wait!" Usagi says.
"Come on, let's go," Aang says.
"Well, so much for a break," Ranma says.
"You don't expect to not do anything about it, right?" Katara asked.
"No. In fact, had Goku not say anything, I would have."
"Yeah, sure," smirk Sokka.
BOP!
"Ow!" Sokka yelled, as he rubbed his head.
"Show your teacher some respect," Ranma says. "Come, let's go."
Sokka merely grumbles, only to receive a huge tongue lick from Appa.
SLURP!
Sokka sighs. He was NOT having a good day.
With the guards patting themselves on the back, the failed to see a young teen jumping down—from on top of Nimbus—in front of them.
THUMP!
"Huh?" says the lead guard.
"Hey, you shouldn't be doing that!" Goku yelled. "You ought to compensate for what you have done!"
"Oh, it's no trouble at all," says the cabbage dealer, with a nervous grin. He didn't want to get barred from Omashu entirely…
"Who are YOU to tell the guards of the kingdom of Omashu what to do?" the guard says. "Beat it!"
Goku brought his staff to bear.
"You WILL compensate."
"I don't THINK so!" the guard says, as he produces a nice size border from within the Earth, before hovering it over Goku-
"Constables, I must apologize for my…little brother's behavior," Usagi says, who decided to not explain the fact that a teenaged-looking girl could have adopted Goku. "But you should compensate."
"Great another one-"
Suddenly, the guard receives a sense of dread from Usagi. At first, the guard sees her eyes seemingly flicker from blue to silvery-green. And for a moment, he could have sworn that he had seen some sort of monster behind Usagi's façade. And it was this monster that would give the guard nightmares for some time to come…
"Er, maybe I was a bit harsh," says the guard, as he laughs a bit. "Yeah, I'll do it."
"Huh?" the other guards say in surprise.
"Yes, that would be very nice," Usagi says with a smile.
"Any problems?" Katara asks.
"Naw, Ma made these guys pay for that man's cart," Goku says.
"And I appreciate that, miss," the cabbage dealer says. "Thanks!"
Usagi smiles.
"You're welcome."
"So, we're going in or what?" Ranma asked.
"Um, sure," Aang says, as he fed Momo (who was on his shoulder). He then turns to the guards. "Can we enter the city?"
The lead guard was about to say "no", when he remembered the feeling he felt from Usagi.
"Well, I'm sure. We're kind of weary of strangers these days, with the Fire Nation and all. But…I'll give you all a day pass."
"We really appreciate that," Sokka says, as he comes up from behind.
Katara looks at her older brother.
"Sokka, how come you're always wet?" Katara asked.
"Just…don't, will ya?" Sokka says. "I just want to get inside and dry off."
Ranma whistles to the group to stop.
"What is it, Ranma?" Usagi asked.
"Okay, you and I are going to get some supplies and junk. The rest of you…stay out of trouble."
"Wait, do you have money?" Sokka asked.
"I took some money from the hidden treasury before leaving the Southern Air Temple," Aang says. "I figured we could use it, now that I'm…alone."
Silence.
"YOU HAD MONEY ALL THIS TIME?" Sokka says, as he violently shook Aang.
"Sokka, stop it," Katara says. "I'm sure that Aang has his reasons for not saying anything."
"Um, I just know that Ranma and Usagi could handle money better, that's all," Aang says.
"So…where's ours?" Sokka says, as he rubs his hands greedily.
"Fine," Ranma says, as he gives each person a gold coin.
"What this?" Sokka yelled.
"Your allowance. We're not here to enjoy ourselves."
"Aw!"
Just then, Momo swipes Sokka's coin.
"Hey! Come back here-!"
"So while Ranma and I get things together, you four enjoy yourselves…but, please, stay out of trouble," Usagi says.
"Yes, Ma!" Goku says.
"It would be nice to see the sights," Katara says-
"Come back here with that coin!" Sokka yelled, as he continues to chase a flying Momo, while being completely ignored by the others.
"Now, you four behave yourselves," Ranma says.
"We will," Aang says, as he waves goodbye, as Ranma and Usagi walks off.
"Ranma, should we give Sokka another coin?" Usagi asks.
"Naw," Ranma says. "Trying to get his coin back will be good training for him."
After Ranma leaves, a tired Sokka and Momo returns to the group.
"So," Sokka says in a huff. "So, what's next?"
"Guys, I've got to show you something that is SO neat," Aang says. "Come."
"What is it, Aang?" Goku asks, as he and the others walk around the pavilion.
"My old friend 'Bumi' showed me how to use the delivery system as a ride."
"Hey, that's cool!"
"Aang, I hope that you are not implying that we should-" Katara began.
"Oh, lighten up, Katara," Sokka says. "Can't we have some funs some of the time?"
"Maybe you're right."
"Great!" Aang says. "You won't forget it…"
A short while later, Aang, Goku, Katara and Sokka are standing in front of the ruler of Omashu…for joyriding in the Omashu delivery system.
"Wow, that was fun, Aang," Goku says.
"Goku, you're NOT helping," Sokka says.
"Sire, we're waiting for their other friends to arrive," the lead guardsman says.
"Oh, really?" says the old king. "And pray tell…who allowed these people into Omashu…on a free pass?"
"Er…"
And then-
BAM!
Ranma and Usagi enter the throne room, carrying a dozen of guards between the two of them.
"Ma!" Goku yelled.
"I believe these are yours?" Ranma says, as he dumps the unconscious bodies unceremoniously unto the floor.
CLUMP!
"Sire, stay back!" the guardsmen say.
"Stay your hand," the king says. "If they wanted to harm me, then they would not have merely put your men into a state of unconsciousness."
Ranma looks at the others, and then at the king.
"Sir, I apologize for any inconvenience that you might have had…with our friends," Ranma says, as he bows his head slightly. He could tell that this world's culture was very similar to that of Asia's on Earth…or even on Chikyuu.
"And we apologize for doing this to your men…but they were acting like jerks."
The king leans over…before laughing.
"HOHOHO!" the king laughed. "You are indeed an interesting bunch. I invite you to have dinner with me…ALL of you."
"Um, sure."
"Thank you for the invitation, sir," Usagi says.
"You are quite welcome," the king says, as he eyes Aang. "You are welcome indeed."
Tbc.