A/N: This one took me a while, obviously. Being older and wiser, Aang and Bumi's interactions would be different, and it was difficult to figure out how to set it up. Plus I'm working on three other stories (3rd case of Phoenix Wright is almost done, btw).

If you guys find any discrepancies or mistakes, grammatical or otherwise, please let me know. I want this story to be perfect.

BOOK 1: WATER

CHAPTER 4

"The King of Omashu"

The group made good time during their travels, with Suki being a great addition to the team. The routine the three had developed hadn't changed; they simply added Suki to the mix. Aang would still practice with Katara on waterbending while Suki and Sokka practiced martial arts, and then the entire group would practice martial arts together. Aang noticed a definite improvement in Katara's waterbending after a few days of training with Suki; the training was tough, and Suki was an unforgiving teacher at the best of times. The results were undeniable, though: Katara was becoming used to her body, and her waterbending skill increased with her physical conditioning. Without Suki's admirable skill, Aang admitted he could never have gotten the progress from Katara that he was getting now.

Suki wasn't just an adept warrior, however. She had also proven herself an able cook and seamstress, preparing food and repairing clothing for the group without complaint. She had even modified the tribesmen's clothing to allow more movement and air, their old clothing being tight to keep in heat. She lent her skills to the others generously, with an attitude to simply improve the group's chances and quicken their pace to the Northern Water Tribe. She was completely devoted to their cause, but oddly remained at arm's length to the rest of the group. Her stoic attitude never seemed to falter, and Aang felt she was keeping herself detached from them on purpose. Even Sokka's relationship with her suffered, and the warrior, despite his best efforts to hide it, couldn't help but feel flustered at the sudden change. It wasn't truly a problem, Aang decided, and she had every right to detach herself from the others, but Aang couldn't help but want to befriend her, and to understand why she would feel the need to ostracize herself. He had planned to ask her of this when they had settled down near a dry riverbed for lunch, but the opportunity never came up.

Aang sat on a small ridge overlooking the riverbed as he watched Katara and Suki practice martial arts. The Kiyoshi warrior had traded her kimono and armor for the simple flax outfit he had seen her in back on Kyoshi Island, and had shed her face paint. The waterbender had enough trouble as it was fighting one-on-one with the warrior, as martial arts wasn't her forté, but Suki had thrown armor in there once and Katara had almost broken her hands as a result. "Perhaps we'll try the armor later," Suki relented, wanting to improve Katara's skill before adding something so drastic to the mix. As Aang watched the two fighting below, he couldn't help but admire their form. Katara was reverting to her waterbending forms he had taught her, using the movements and the grace of the forms to avoid or redirect Suki's attacks. The Kyoshi warrior, he noticed, adopted different stances depending on the situation, pressing the attack in all manner of ways that kept Katara on edge. She was hard-pressed to keep the warrior at bay without her waterbending, but she seemed most comfortable with her waterbending techniques despite this. He was proud to admit that after a week of practicing with Suki, Katara had improved much; the warrior wasn't able to land a direct hit on her now, a stark difference from the first day of practice.

Satisfied that the two were without need of him for a while, Aang bowed his head in meditation, turning his thoughts inward to reflect on what all he had done, and what he would need to do. It was still hard for him to accept that his entire people had been wiped out, but he was coming to terms with the revelation. He remembered all that his people had stood for, and was finding it easier to forgive the Fire Nation for their crime. He couldn't continue the hostility; someone needed to stop the fighting in order to bring about peace, and besides that, he wouldn't want to honor his people's memory with vengeance. He had explained that to Katara during their nightly talks and she admired him for the decision, which made him all the more confident it was the right one.

He sat in meditation for much of Katara and Suki's training, rising from his trance when Katara called out to him. "Aang! Sokka's back with food!" Aang opened his eyes and smiled at the waterbender before leaping from the ridge and landing on the rocks of the riverbed ten feet below. "It looks like he's got quite a bit," Katara said as she led the way to intercept Sokka, Suki and Aang trailing behind. The waterbender was sweating heavily from her exercises with Suki, and Aang had the sudden idea that the woman wasn't used to the warmer climate. It was a wonder neither tribesman complained about the heat. He looked ahead to see the warrior carrying his knapsack over his shoulder, close to full with food, and waved at the approaching tribesman. Sokka waved back with a smile as Katara closed the distance and took the knapsack from him. "You were out there tromping about for a good hour or two." She hefted the knapsack over her shoulder as her brother rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension of carrying pounds of food for that long a time. "Found quite a bit, didn't you?"

Sokka nodded. "I did. Enough for all of us for at least a day or two." He looked among them as he cocked an eyebrow. "Why the entourage, though? I'm only returning from a food run. It's like you're starving or something."

Katara shrugged. "Suki and I finished my training just a few minutes ago, and I am feeling famished. They decided to tag along, I guess." Aang shrugged with the explanation, confirming the spur-of-the-moment decision to just meet Sokka halfway.

Sokka also shrugged. "Works for me." They walked back to camp and set the knapsack down before splitting the food between the four of them. There were many nuts and berries, with the occasional fruit found on the forest floor, so everyone had enough to fill their stomach and still have some left over. Knowing it would go bad soon, they all gave the leftovers to Appa, the flying bison swallowing the remaining food whole before going back to grazing. Content for the moment, Sokka turned to Katara, resting his elbows on his knees from his position sitting on the ground. "How's your training going with Suki and Aang?"

Katara nodded. "I think it's going well. I'm getting better at waterbending all the time, and I have fewer bruises every day after training with Suki, so I consider that progress."

Sokka nodded, pleased with his sister's answer before turning to Aang. "So Aang, how much farther do you think we are from the North Pole?"

The Avatar hesitated as he shrugged. "Truthfully, I don't know." He looked to the sky as he explained. "The air is still too warm for us to be nearing the pole. I'm following air currents to the north when we fly, but it might still be some time yet."

Sokka nodded, standing and looking to Suki. "What about you, Suki? Do you recognize this part of the Earth Kingdom? How far north are we?"

The Kyoshi warrior shrugged. "I'm unsure. I've spent my entire life on Kyoshi Island. I couldn't tell you where we are." She fell silent, and Sokka turned from her as he decided on their next action.

"We should probably get moving, then. Every day, more people die from Fire Nation attacks. We should only take enough time to eat, and then move on."

Aang shook his head. "Appa has to rest, too. Flying is strenuous on bison if they're airborne for too long at a time. He'll probably take a nap here soon to recuperate." As if to accent his master's statement, the bison yawned noisily before collapsing on the ground. Aang looked at his friend as he laughed. "I think we have our answer right there."

Sokka sighed with impatience but quickly masked it. "Well, what should we do? Do you want to continue practicing, or should we rest as well?"

Aang shook his head. "I think we could make some more progress with our forms." He stood, and Suki stood as well, ready to do his bidding. "What do you think, Suki? You think we could do with a little more practice?"

Suki nodded. "Yes. Sokka is still too rigid in his form. Katara's form is unique and is suited for her, but I would like to see her use more aggressive stances should she ever need to take the fight to someone." Suki shrugged at Katara's raised eyebrow. "Sometimes, to protect the ones you love or to save the things you cherish, you must act first, with haste and precision. You can't always wait for your opponent to begin his attack."

Aang nodded. "Then let's practice together. I'll practice with Katara, and Suki will practice with Sokka." Suki nodded and left with Sokka to practice several feet away, out of earshot so as not to distract Aang or Katara. Aang looked to Katara as he smiled. "She sure is different."

Katara nodded, relieved to be out of Suki's presence. She liked the woman, but she could be a little overbearing at times. "She is." The waterbender looked to her brother and his trainer, watching as they started in on their practicing. "She's so serious. I can understand why, given the circumstances, but…" she fell silent, unsure of how to voice her idea, but Aang understood.

"I know how you feel." He shrugged. "Maybe she'll warm up to us. I doubt she's had any experience with anyone but her own people on her island all her life."

Katara nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She changed the subject. "So, do you think Suki's right? I'm not aggressive enough?"

Aang shrugged. "There's nothing wrong with letting your enemy make the first move. You can make an educated decision on how to respond to it, and it gives you certain advantages that the first move would give up." He held up a finger to indicate a point. "But, there are advantages to making the first strike in a fight. I think what Suki is trying to teach you is to learn what those advantages are and how to weigh them against the advantages of waiting on your opponent, and then deciding how to fight from there. She's right. I've found myself in situations where I had to make the first move, or else risk someone getting hurt because of my inaction."

Katara nodded. "I know. It's just hard for me to do that. I don't feel confident in my abilities. Not enough to start the fight."

Aang nodded. "That's alright. If you don't feel confident, you're humble, and humility is the key to getting better. But sometimes making the first strike, or attacking when you would usually feel comfortable waiting for them to move first, is the key to winning. It could catch them off-guard, and they could be hard-pressed to keep up in the fight after that." He smiled. "It's okay to be patient and see what the opponent is going to do, but sometimes you have to be aggressive. It's up to you when you choose to be patient, or to take the initiative." Katara nodded, and he settled into a stance, prompting her to do the same. "Now, let's practice a bit with it. I want you to try to rush in for attacks when you feel you would usually hang back and wait."

By the time the four had finished practicing with their martial arts, Appa was fully rested and ready to continue. They packed up their belongings before piling into Appa's saddle and taking off into the air, heading north once more on their quest for the North Pole. Aang steered Appa, using the air currents to keep them pointing north, with Katara riding by his side, the two benders sharing conversation together to pass the time. Sokka thought about talking to Suki in an attempt to continue the friendship they had had on Kyoshi Island, but decided against it at the last minute, not entirely convinced she would be any different anyway. He instead stretched out on the saddle, taking a nap. Suki noticed Sokka's longing gaze at her, and knew that he was pained by her decision to remove herself emotionally from the others, but she stood by her choice, knowing it was for the best. If she were required to lay down her life for any of them, or even worse, required one of them to die to keep the Avatar alive, she couldn't allow emotions to make her doubt. This mission was too important.

They flew for the rest of the day, settling down to sleep for the night, before beginning again the next day. They were just preparing to set down for lunch again when Aang recognized the area of the Earth Kingdom he was in. "I know this place," he said, and Katara looked down at the passing world below to see if anything conspicuous stood out, or if he were referring to the geometry of the land. "The Kingdom of Omashu is just to the northwest of that lake right there," he said, pointing to a bean-shaped lake off to their left. He turned Appa in that direction, and Katara looked at him with confused eyes.

"We're going to Omashu?"

Aang nodded. "It's not too far a detour, and it's the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom. Since I'm going to be checking on the state of all the nations left in the world, I have to visit their most prominent cities. Omashu may not be the capital of the Earth Kingdom, but it is one of the most important."

Katara's brow furrowed in confusion. "But wouldn't you see how badly the Fire Nation is affecting the others by visiting the smaller villages? They're not as protected, so the Fire Nation has affected them the most."

Aang nodded. "True. But the cities are the hub of civilization. There will be many accounts of the Fire Nation's transgressions to be heard there. It might give me a better idea as to how the rest of the world has fared against them." He shrugged. "I truthfully don't know if Omashu is still standing. I have to know if they've survived the last one hundred years." He turned to her with a smile. "Don't worry. We won't stay long. I just want to see how they're doing." Katara nodded, keeping her doubts to herself, as she wanted to get to the North Pole as soon as possible. Aang didn't mention that he had been to Omashu before, and that many of his childhood memories were held within its walls. It was, for all intents and purposes, his second home while learning how to earthbend. He had to see what had happened to it.

They came upon the city minutes later, the giant mountain peaks that marked the palace stretching high into the sky just like Aang remembered. Katara stared on in stunned silence as Aang gestured to the city. "The Kingdom of Omashu."

"Wow…" Katara said, drawing the attention of Suki and Sokka. "We don't have cities like this at the South Pole." She looked to Sokka, who was looking over her shoulder at the city. "Look at that thing! It's huge!"

Sokka stared, just as stunned as Katara, as they flew closer to the city. "That's amazing… Their buildings don't melt!"

Aang nodded. "Yep. They make their entire kingdom out of stone and dirt." He guided Appa to the ground, rethinking his idea of flying into the city. Sky bison hadn't been seen in over a hundred years, and there probably weren't a lot of places he could land inside the city. It would be best to walk the rest of the way. "This was my second home, back when I was learning how to bend the other three elements." He was silent as he stared out at the city, taking in the familiar scene. "It hasn't changed at all." Appa landed softly onto the ground amidst trees on a ridge overlooking a downward plain that stretched to the bridges of Omashu. "Appa, you stay here. It might look weird with a six-legged bison walking through those streets." He laughed. "And I doubt you'd fit anyway. Omashu was cramped the last time you were here." The bison growled good-naturedly, as if agreeing with Aang, before plopping down on the ground and beginning to sleep. Aang turned to the others and smiled. "Let's go. We have a little walk to get to the city, so we'd better get started."

Katara held him by the arm as he started to walk past her. "Wait, Aang…" He stopped and looked at her, confused as she pointed to his forehead. "Don't you think you'll be conspicuous with your tattoos showing? People might connect you to the Avatar." She shrugged. "You'll be drawing attention to us, at least."

Aang nodded, looking at his hands. "You're right. I need a disguise."

"I might have something," Suki said, walking to her satchel and rifling through its contents before finding what she was looking for. "I brought a devotion cloth we warriors would use when honoring our ancestors." She held out a yellow piece of square cloth to Aang as she continued, "We would kneel on it during moments of remembrance of our ancestors. It is a way we honored them." She gestured for him to take it. "It would still bring honor to them if it helped you in any way on your journey, be it an assistant to prayer or a disguise."

Aang nodded, taking the cloth gently as he smiled. "I am honored that you would do this for me." Suki only smiled before Aang looked at the cloth in closer detail. "I might be able to tie this around my head and hide my tattoo…" The others nodded, and Aang did so, finishing the knot and looking at them. "How do I look?"

The others shrugged, and Sokka smiled. "Like any other person we might meet on the road." He pointed to Aang's mala. "Except for that. That's sort of different." Aang looked down to view his necklace as Sokka traced the lines of the symbol on the central piece. "That's the symbol for the Air Nomads. Someone might notice that and ask questions." Aang nodded and handed the necklace Katara, who put the mala into a satchel on Appa's saddle. Content that Aang was unidentifiable as anything other than a wanderer, Sokka gestured for them to follow. "C'mon. Let's head to the city and find out what's been going on since Aang was last here."

They quickly closed the distance to the city, making the long trek up the stone bridge that zigzagged up the ridge, all the while Aang telling them about the city as he knew it. "The city was founded almost a thousand years ago by the first earthbenders. At least, that's how the legend goes." He looked up in thought as he recalled the story told to him by Monk Gayatso.

"Legend states that a man named Shu and a woman named Oma, each from one of two warring towns, met atop a mountain that divided their peoples and fell deeply in love. Although their relationship was forbidden and it was dangerous for them to continue meeting, the couple found a way to continue seeing each other. They became earthbenders after watching the ways of the badgermoles and created a great labyrinth which only they could navigate successfully. That was how they met secretly, while anyone else who tried to follow them would become lost forever in the ever-shifting tunnels. One day, though, Shu didn't come to meet Oma. She later found out that he was killed in the war against their two villages. Oma, stricken with grief and sorrow, was driven into a frenzy that would have easily destroyed the two villages in a terrifying display of earthbending power. Instead, she declared the conflict over and demanded the villages live in peace. A city was created in honor of the couple's love, which eventually became the Kingdom of Omashu, named after both lovers."

"Did that really happen?" Katara asked, smitten by the story.

Aang shrugged as he looked back at her. "I don't know. That's how legends say the city came about, but I wasn't around then."

"Cool story, though," Sokka said. Suki didn't comment.

As they neared the gates to the city, Katara voiced an uncertain doubt lingering in her head. "Um…where are the doors?"

Aang laughed. "They're right there!" He pointed to the wall at the end of the bridge, but gave no further explanation, and Katara's brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to understand just how a seventy-foot wall was a door. Her focus was taken from the walls to a commotion up front as they came up to a farmer attempting to enter the city. He had a cart ladled with cabbages, but the guards weren't letting him pass.

"Rotten cabbages?" an Omashu guard exclaimed, disgusted. "What kind of a slum do you think this is?" He tossed one of the cabbages he was holding into the chasm separating the mainland from the mountain peak that was Omashu, thrusting the other vegetable into the farmer's face. "Where do you get off thinking you can bring such disgusting produce into the city?" The farmer stuttered as he attempted to explain himself, but before he could utter a coherent word, the guard tossed the other cabbage aside and used earthbending to sweep the cart of cabbages off the bridge and into the chasm below.

"My cabbages!" the farmer exclaimed, horrified at the sight of his profit falling to the earth some three hundred feet below.

"Move along, farmer," the guard said, gesturing to the top of the wall, and Katara looked up to see more guards at the top acknowledging his unknown signal. "Don't cause trouble in Omashu, and don't try to sell such disgusting slop here again." The massive wall split down the middle, opening in sections to reveal a city beyond the stone, leaving Katara speechless as her previous question was answered. Her surprise amused Aang, who had to shake her shoulder to snap her from her stupor before they moved up to the guards.

Expecting more trouble, the guard that confronted the farmer rushed forward, drawing a boulder from the earth and hanging it over Aang's head as he glared at them. "State your purpose here in Omashu, travelers."

Aang wasn't expecting such a greeting from Omashu; this city was one of the friendliest he had ever visited during his time, and he was caught off-guard as the man looked expectantly at him. "We're performers," he explained, and as soon as he heard the words slip from his mouth, he regretted them.

"Performers?" the man asked. He relaxed slightly, but didn't put down the boulder yet.

Aang nodded, the idea flying through his head. "We were invited here by a friend, Salisa Ro-Chan, to perform for her sister's birthday party. Perhaps you know them?"

The guard shook his head. "I do not." He looked the four up and down before asking, "Just what type of performance do you do?"

"Dancing." Aang gave his brightest smile, hoping it was convincing enough.

The earthbender held his gaze for a moment before nodding and replacing the boulder into the bridge. "Very well. You may pass. Enjoy Omashu, but cause no trouble." He made the same gesture to the guards at the top of the wall again, and the group watched in awe as earthbenders pulled the wall apart, allowing them passage into Omashu. Aang sighed in relief as the wall closed behind him, glad that his ruse had gone as smoothly as it had.

"Dancers?" Katara asked, and Aang nodded with a smile.

"We've all danced once. If he'd have asked, I'm sure we could have pulled it off."

"And who is Salisa Ro-Chan?" Sokka asked.

"She was a the owner of my favorite tea shop back when I was here a hundred years ago." Aang smiled at the memory.

"I'm just surprised they didn't stop us based on your clothing," Suki mentioned. "No one else wears clothing like that."

Aang shrugged. "It's been a hundred years since an Air Nomad was seen. I doubt they'd have made the connection. If anything, they thought it was part of my costume or something." He smiled at her before scratching the bandana to satisfy an itch forming at his crown. "Anyway, let's get started. I want to see how much the city has changed, and if it's seen the war yet." Beckoning to the three, he walked further into the city, amidst the crowd of people to rediscover his second home.

As they walked, Aang noticed that, no matter which part of the city they looked at, there wasn't a single piece of Fire Nation culture anywhere, very unusual for Omashu if he compared it to the city a hundred years ago. When he mentioned it to Sokka and Katara, they looked at him like he had grown three heads, and he proceeded to explain to them, "The Fire Nation of my time was well-known for its tea, and it was common to see several tea shops throughout many cities." He smiled at their disbelieving faces, and nodded. "It's true. There was nothing better than hot tea after a hard day's work, and the Fire Nation was the best at it." They were walking through the streets, looking at various merchants as he said this, and Aang waved his arms at the different booths as they passed. "This city once flourished with the culture of all four nations. It makes me sad to see that, because of this war, the city has retreated in on itself." He looked to the Water Tribesmen as he explained, "I haven't seen a single reference to the Water Tribe culture either, or any other culture for that matter."

"It may not look it," Suki said, traveling alongside the group, tugging at the shoulders of a brown traveling jerkin she had put on, "but this city is afraid. Afraid of what's out there. Afraid of what could happen if the Fire Nation ever opposed them. They go about their lives as if nothing is wrong, but you can see the difference between the city you knew, and the city now. The Fire Nation might not kill everyone if they end up dominating the world, or the other nations might just defeat the Fire Nation. However it happens, though, I do know this: If the Fire Nation is not stopped soon, the nations' cultures will die off." She looked at Aang, knowing he would understand the importance of such a declaration.

The visit was a somber one, and Aang would have left much sooner if not for overhearing two citizens of the city talk about their king. Even that wasn't unusual; Aang knew Omashu had a king, but the name they said caught his ear, making him halt in his place.

"Do you think the city will be overtaken?" A woman asked a man as they were gathering fruits from a farmer's market.

"No. That'd be impossible." The man shook his head as he gathered apples for his family, paying the merchant for the fruit before turning to the woman. "King Bumi has kept the city safe for the last fifty years. He's as solid and powerful as the stones that make up the city. He won't break easily."

Aang wanted to ask the people directly if they had really said 'Bumi' but decided against it. He might have a bandana to hide his tattoos, but he knew he still looked different from Earth Kingdom citizens or Water Tribesmen. Air Nomads were slimmer and had finer features than others, and anyone truly observant would notice the difference without trouble. He instead turned to the others, watching the two buyers walk in the other direction as he gestured to them. "Did you hear what they were talking about? Who they mentioned?"

Sokka looked back at them as he replied, "I thought they said something about their king. Boomy?" he asked, and Aang nodded.

"Yeah, King Bumi. That's what I thought I heard." Aang was silent, looking down in thought, and the group wondered just what about that overheard conversation had struck the Avatar as significant.

"Aang?" Katara asked. "What is it?"

Aang looked around, noticing the cluster of people before shaking his head at her. "Not here." He gestured for them to follow him, and the group walked down several more streets before Aang turned into a vacant side alley. The tribesmen were looking at him expectantly while Suki kept an eye out for trouble, and Aang explained why that conversation had so interested him before.

"Back in my time, one hundred years ago, I learned earthbending here from a good friend. His name was Bumi. He was a bit of an eccentric fellow, but I never suspected he would become king of Omashu."

Katara shrugged. "Are you even sure it's the same Bumi that you knew from long ago?"

Aang shook his head. "No. Bumi had no relation to royalty, so I don't know how he could have been crowned the king. But I would like to meet him and see. If it is, I would much enjoy a chat with my old friend." He pondered the thought before adding, "He would be very old if he were still alive today, so odds are, it isn't the same Bumi. But it's almost too much a coincidence for me to pass up this chance."

Sokka nodded. "Well that's great, Aang, but just how are we going to seek an audience with the king? Tell him we're dancers?"

Aang laughed. "No. I could just ask the guards to mention my name to him. If it's really the Bumi I know, he'll invite us in." He stepped out into the main street again, the other three following him through the dusty, stone walkways. The city of Omashu was built on levels, with the gates at the lowest of the levels. The palace was at the top, meaning the four had to walk up hundreds of steps just to reach the palace. By the time they had reached the top, even Suki was feeling tired.

"I sure hope this is worth it," Sokka said irritably, and Aang found himself agreeing with the warrior.

"Don't worry," he assured, panting slightly from the climb. He looked around to sight the palace and began the walk to the huge building. "All I have to do is ask a guard to say my name to him. If it's my friend, we'll be able to enter. If not, we'll go ahead and get out of here."

The four stepped up to the beginnings of the palace, a long road stretched out in front of the building, painted green to match Earth Kingdom colors and flanked by pillars along the entire stretch of road. As they neared the building, Aang saw just how colossal it was; as long as he had been here, he had never gone to the palace itself. The doors themselves were at least fifty feet tall, and looked to be made of solid stone. He wasn't intimidated, but he did have a newfound respect for earthbenders the first time he was here, for surely that was the only way such a colossal building could have been made.

There were earthbenders at the foot of the mountainous palace, stepping up to intercept them before they reached the gates. "Halt!" one of the guards cried out, and as a precaution, the four flanking guards earthbent stones from the road to serve as protection. "You are standing at the foot of the Omashu Palace. State your business!"

Aang stepped forward, bowing low to the men before speaking. "My name is Aang. I've come to seek an audience with King Bumi."

"For what purpose?" the man asked. "The king doesn't see anyone unless it is for the good of Omashu."

Aang nodded. "I understand. Could you at least mention my name to him? I know the king, and I think he'd like to speak to me if he knew I was here." At this, the guards hesitated, the spokesman looking at Aang with confusion. "We'll remain here while you ask if you'd like."

The guard nodded. "Don't move." He nodded to his fellow guards before departing inside the palace, and Aang looked to the others.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Katara asked.

Aang shrugged. "Like I said, I have no idea. If it's Bumi, we'll be fine. If not, we'll just leave." He chuckled. "Maybe a little embarrassed, but at least we'll be on our way to the North Pole." They stood waiting for a few more minutes before they noticed the doors open and the same guard coming out.

"The king would like to speak with you," was all he said, and the guards let them pass. "Follow me, please." Turning, the guard walked back into the palace, opening the door for them with earthbending and closing it after they had walked inside.

To describe the inside of the palace, one would think 'green'. The entire palace, from the walls to the ceiling to the pillars decorating the walls, was a jade green. The audience chamber was T-shaped, with the four at the bottom of the T. The king sat at a throne at the far end of the wall, surrounded by guards with spears, and as Aang neared, he thought to himself that if this was Bumi, his eccentric side had certainly extended to his clothing. The man was dressed in layers of green clothing, with an unusual crown that Aang could think of no way to describe other than cloth horns spiraling up from it. He was certainly old; if Aang was correct, he was almost one hundred and twenty two years old. He had a bush of white hair crowning his head and a strong white beard, and as Aang came to a stop before the throne, the king's eyes widened.

"Aang?" he asked, surprised and unbelieving. "Is that you?" The king stood, and the guards backed away to give him space as he took a step forward. "Avatar Aang?"

Aang removed his bandana and smiled at the old man. "Are you the same Bumi that confessed to being a mad genius?" Katara, Sokka, and Suki had no idea what Aang was referring to, but it was the only thing the two needed to confirm each other's identity.

The king cackled. "That it is, my boy. That it is!" He stepped forward, and Aang met him halfway with a hug. "My, you haven't changed a bit." He pulled out to arm's length to look at Aang in full. "Literally, at that!" He cackled, and Aang chuckled good-naturedly. Bumi frowned as he regarded Aang. "How is it that I've grown to be a decrepit old badger and you're still the young airbender that you were the last time I saw you?"

"It's actually quite embarrassing, really," Aang said. "I was on a trip to the South Pole to serve as the Air Nomad's ambassador when Appa and I flew into a massive storm. I wasn't thinking clearly when it suddenly came up, and it drove us into the water. I panicked and didn't think to try to save us. The last thing I remember about that day was the feeling of the Avatar awakening inside me." He gestured to Sokka and Katara. "These two found me encased in a sphere of ice near their village. I've been encased in that ice until about a month ago."

Bumi cocked his head. "By the spirits, I didn't think we'd ever see the Avatar again!" He cackled, excited beyond comparison, as he pulled Aang into another hug. "My boy, you have no idea how good it is to see you again!" He pulled away again, his hands on Aang's shoulders. "When I heard about the air temples, I had feared the worst. And then I heard nothing from you, or even about you for a hundred years." Aang was surprised as he saw his friend begin to tear up. "And now you're back." He suddenly remembered the guards behind him, and he turned to them quickly as he yelled out. "Go to the kitchens! Tell them we're to have the finest feast this palace has ever seen!" The guards saluted and left, leaving Bumi to turn to his friend. "Now, Aang, we have much to catch up on. But first, who are these friends you've brought with you?"

Aang suddenly remembered them and gestured to them in turn. "This is Sokka, Katara, and Suki. Sokka and Katara are from the Southern Water Tribe, as you might have guessed. Suki is the leader of the Kyoshi warriors on Kyoshi Island. They're traveling with me to help me stop the Fire Nation."

Bumi nodded, recognition in his face. "So you know about the recent war, do you?" Aang nodded, and Bumi sighed exhaustively as he sat in his throne. "The war started the same year you disappeared. I've been seeing the effects of it ever since, and it's beginning to take its toll on me." Bumi looked at Aang, and the airbender could see that his friend was tired. "I'm almost 122 years old." He cackled. "Well, so are you, give or take a few years, but ice treatments have kept you looking so youthful and carefree." Aang smiled at Bumi's attempt at a joke, but the old man went on. "This war is destroying the world we love, Aang. You, as the Avatar, have to stop it."

Aang nodded. "That's what I intend to do. I'm traveling to the North Pole to rally the Northern Water Tribe with me. I intend to have them lend support to their sister tribe at the South Pole." He shook his head. "Without their help, the South Pole won't survive much longer."

Bumi nodded. "It's like that for many people around the world. My city has long been protected by the walls that surround it, but even that won't last. Fire Nation tenacity will see to that."

Aang shook his head sadly. "What caused all this, Bumi? Why has the Fire Nation suddenly attacked others? I know they've been more aggressive than the other nations, but I didn't think they were capable of this."

Bumi nodded. "It came as a surprise to everyone. A comet came through the atmosphere, almost striking the planet almost a hundred years ago. That comet made firebending overwhelmingly powerful. It was during that attack that the Fire Lord of our time, Sozin, launched an attack on every nation at once." Bumi shrugged. "I've heard rumors over the years that Sozin was trying to bring about his nation's culture to every other nation, to enlighten them." He shook his head. "No one really knows, and this far into the war, I doubt it even matters anymore. What we need is for someone to end it." Bumi stood. "I know you can end this war, Aang. I've never seen such a powerful bender in all my life, and I've never heard of someone mastering soulbending until you did." He laid a hand on his shoulder. "You will have my support the entire way, my friend. To the very heart of the Fire Nation archipelago, if need be."

Aang nodded. "Thank you, Bumi." He laid a hand on his friend's shoulder as well. "I will stop the Fire Nation with all my power and restore peace to this world once again. You have my word."

Aang and the others enjoyed a bountiful meal at Bumi's palace, the feast especially exotic to the Water Tribesmen, who had never seen so much food at once. Sokka, in particular, was excited about the different meats he had to choose from. Bumi remembered his old friend's tastes, of course, providing a modest selection of fruits and vegetables for Aang to choose from. The group sat at a long table, Bumi sitting at the head, with Aang and Sokka immediately next to him; Aang, due to his status as Avatar, and Sokka as the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. The two women sat next to either man. Despite being in the presence of a king amidst a feast, the five chatted about things as if they were merely friends having a simple lunch.

"So," Aang said as the last conversation died down. "How'd you become king of Omashu?" He pushed his plate away and leaned on the table, looking at his friend. "As far as I know, there's not an ounce of royal blood in your body."

Bumi smiled. "Simple. I killed the previous king and took his place." He cackled at the airbender's expression. "A surprise, I know, but it's the truth."

Aang failed to see the humor in the subject, more concerned with the validity of the comment. "You're serious?"

Bumi nodded, humor dropping from his face. "I am. I killed Puyi and was named his successor through democratic vote."

Aang shook his head. "But why would you kill Puyi? And why was his heir not crowned king? What happened here, Bumi?"

Bumi took a deep breath as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, most of the events elude my failing memory. The pains of growing old." He smiled to himself as he continued. "What I can tell you is that Puyi's entire line was ready to surrender the city to the Fire Nation. That was something I couldn't let happen." His eyes grew remorseful. "I remember leading a group of earthbenders to the castle gate after I'd heard of Puyi's intentions. He had brought an ambassador from the Fire Nation to Omashu to sign a treaty that would end hostilities between our nations. I knew what would happen if he signed that treaty. I had to stop it at all costs. We broke through and fought our way to the throne room, where Puyi, his two sons, and the Fire Nation ambassador were. Words failed to sway the old badger, so we were forced to fight. Puyi's sons died in the attack, as did the ambassador, but we spared Puyi. With testimonies from the castle servants and advisors, we brought him before the people, asking that they judge him. It was only fitting, as he was ready to sign them over to the Fire Nation." He hesitated for a moment, likely reliving the event. "Though it was unorthodox to allow the people to judge the king for his actions, it was the right thing to do."

Katara, who was hanging on every word of the story, pressed Bumi for the rest of it. "What did they decide?"

Bumi looked down at his hands clasped in his lap as he answered sadly. "They chose execution." There was silence afterward. Nothing could be said. "I was the one who executed the man," Bumi finally said after a time. "I was caught up in the moment. I didn't stop to think Puyi was only doing what he thought best for his people. I only knew that he planned to surrender us to the enemy."

Another lingering silence permeated the air before Aang spoke up. "The people chose you to be the king afterwards?" he asked softly.

Bumi nodded. "I refused. I had no right to take the throne, and I didn't want to lead an entire people." He smiled. "They wouldn't have it, though. The entire city, more or less, wanted me to lead them in this time of war. They were willing to overlook the social structure and grant me a one-time opportunity to make a difference. So I took it." He looked to Aang. "And from then on, my earthbenders have been harassing the Fire Nation at every turn while I have endeavored to make the city as safe as possible." He smiled. "That's my story. What have you been doing these past hundred years, Aang?"

Aang smiled, despite the tone of the conversation. Bumi's good humor was infectious. "Shirking my duties. I figure I've avoided them long enough, though. Perhaps you and I can talk more about the world as it is today."

Bumi smiled as he stood. "Perhaps we can. Though right now you look to be as tired as I feel. I think it best if we retire for the night." He clapped his hands and two servants appeared. "Show our guests to their rooms and see to their every need." He looked back at Aang and company as he bowed. "It has been a pleasure to see you again, Aang, and my honor to meet your friends. Tomorrow, we shall catch up on old times."

Aang stood, and as one the others stood with him. "Thank you, Bumi. It's good to see you again." He bowed, and the others mimicked his bow before they were led to their chambers. Aang found himself in a room next to Katara, with Sokka and Suki further down the hall. As he entered, an air of familiarity overcame him. The room was massive, containing a bed, wardrobe, dining table, shelves with books, and a floortop model of the world. It was a room reserved for a guest of honor, and though he hated to admit it, Aang was used to this kind of treatment. He was, of course, the Avatar. He looked to the servant waiting politely beyond the threshold. "I believe I have everything I need here." He smiled at the servant as he bowed and left, leaving Aang to unwind for the night. He placed his staff in a corner of the room and tugged off his boots, setting them to the side of the bed. There, he found a jar of water, and the Avatar smiled at the thoughtfulness.

Moments later, he wiped his face clean with a towel and left the room, intending to see what the others thought of their own rooms. Katara's door was still open, and he cautiously peeked inside to see that she was going through the clothing in the wardrobe, her face beyond excited. "I see you're getting used to the room," he said as he leaned on the doorframe, startling her.

She smiled at him. "This room is amazing! I've never seen such a big room!" She looked to the rest of the room, spreading her arms out. "This one room is as big as an entire house at my village!"

Aang chuckled, nodding. "I know. My old room at the temple is able to fit in a room like this four times over."

"And they live like this all the time?" she asked, incredulous.

Aang nodded, assuming she was referring to those in the castle. "Yep."

Katara sighed, a little of the happiness draining from her face. "It must be nice to be rich."

Aang chuckled slightly. "Having wealth isn't everything, I've learned."

Katara cocked an eyebrow. "I thought you said Air Nomads shunned earthly possessions." She earned a nod from him, and she put her hands on her hips. "So how would you know that wealth isn't everything?" she asked in an amused voice.

Aang hesitated before shrugging. "A good point." He chuckled as he walked inside the room. "Let's say it's a very good guess." They laughed for a moment before Katara stepped away from the wardrobe, looking at Aang in full.

"How does it feel to be back in Omashu?" she asked, tumbling on the bed.

Aang looked away as Katara unknowingly began showing cleavage, instead taking an interest in the mirror. "It's...surreal, I suppose." He cradled his arms, hands on opposite elbows, as he inspected himself in the mirror. "To see Bumi so old..." His voice died a little as the revelation that his friends were all probably dead or just as old as Bumi. Here he was, one hundred years later and yet still in his prime. He shook his head. "It's hard to accept." Katara didn't seem to have anything to say, and they lingered into a small silence before Aang continued. "I still have a job to do, though. I'll have to get used to Bumi walking a little slower than me now." He flashed a small smile to Katara to let her know he would be fine, and to not worry about him.

She returned the smile as she rolled onto her back. "Life will get better," she said in a positive tone, clasping her hands on her stomach. "I tell myself that every day. I'm starting to believe it, too, now that I met you." She gave him another smile, one he returned. "How long do you want to stay here?"

Aang shrugged, looking away in thought. "I'm not sure. We shouldn't stay long, but..." he fell silent, and Katara was perceptive enough to know why.

"You'll miss Bumi..."

Aang nodded, remaining silent for a time. "It was a mistake coming here," he said finally, earning a look of shock from Katara. "The loss of a hundred years is still hard for me to bear, and I keep reminding myself of that fact." He walked back up to the mirror, staring at himself for a long time. Katara remained silent on the bed, staring at Aang as she wrestled with what to say - if anything could be said at all. "So much could have been different had I been at the temple when this happened."

Katara pulled herself up from the bed, walking behind Aang and laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But you weren't." He sighed heavily, and Katara's face took on a look of concern. "The Air Nomads sound like people who valued wisdom above all else. From what I've seen in you, you're everything they aspire to be." His face betrayed no emotion, and so Katara felt slightly discouraged before continuing on despite her misgivings. "You can't change the past, no matter how you feel about it. The wise course of action would be to learn from the past and use its lessons to better the future."

Aang nodded, still depressed, but slowly overcoming it. "I know." He shook his head as he turned to Katara with a small smile. "Forgive me. Sometimes it's too easy to get caught up in what could have happened."

Katara nodded, offering a sympathetic smile. "If I can help in any way, just let me know."

Aang gave her a genuine smile that, while not entirely joyful, was much brighter than before. "You're doing enough as it is." There was a small, awkward silence before Aang decided this was a time for him to settle in bed. "I think I'll head to bed. I'm sure I have much to learn tomorrow, if Bumi is still the same genius as he was a hundred years ago." Katara cocked a questioning eyebrow at Aang as he walked past her, and he laughed. "Bumi was always into these strategy games that required unique thinking. He always had a knack for that stuff. If I know him, he's kept a close eye on the world, with details of everything possible stored away for possible use." He paused at the threshold and nodded to Katara. "Thanks again, Katara. Sleep well."

The waterbender smiled sweetly. "You too, Aang."

Aang walked out, closing the door behind him and took a momentary glance toward Sokka's room to see the warrior walking out of Suki's room at the same time, looking sullen. Aang glanced toward his bed for only a moment before he turned and met the warrior at the entrance to his room. "Sokka," he greeted, drawing the tribesman out of his thoughts. "Something wrong?"

"Oh, hey Aang," Sokka said half-heartedly. He sighed as he looked toward Suki's room, the door being shut at that moment. He stared after it for a moment before looking to the Avatar and beckoning him inside his room. After he had closed it, the warrior turned to Aang, his facial features distraught. "Have you noticed anything weird about Suki lately?"

Aang cocked an eyebrow, certainly noticing Suki's sudden change in behavior, but curious of Sokka's own conclusion. "Weird?"

Sokka nodded. "Yeah. At Kyoshi Island, she was a lot more approachable and outgoing. Now," he held out his hands to emphasize his helplessness. "She's a completely different person. It's like she doesn't want to travel with us, that it's a sort of obligation."

Aang nodded, brows furrowing. "I have noticed her distancing herself lately." He crossed his arms as he stared at Sokka. "Why do you think she would do that?"

Sokka stared at the wall, as if looking through to Suki's room. He shook his head. "I don't know," he said, dejectedly.

Aang smiled. "Of course you do. There's one explanation that makes sense, and you, as chief of your tribe, should be familiar with it."

Sokka looked to Aang for a moment, his brain likely picking apart the different explanations he could think about. Moments later, a flash of recognition passed over his face. "Indifference for the sake of the mission."

Aang nodded. "She swore herself to me and my ultimate goal. I think in doing so, she's distancing herself from us to make it easier to do what's necessary." He shrugged. "It's not a viewpoint I'd like, but it's also one I'm familiar with." Sokka cocked his head in confusion as Aang explained. "Air Nomads shunned hope, a common emotion to others. We saw it as a distraction, stealing our thoughts away from the present to the desires of our imagination. Having been raised by all four cultures, I can see the benefits of hope now, where I didn't when I was young." He looked to the wall as well, a small gesture to Suki. "I think Suki struggles with her upbringing, a way of life that demanded survival above all else." He looked back to Sokka. "In a way, preparing herself emotionally to make choices necessary for my survival helps guarantee her own people's survival."

Sokka's face fell, likely saddened by the news. It would mean any possibility of a relationship with the woman - for Aang could see they were blatantly heading towards one on Kyoshi Island - was almost impossible now. He sighed heavily. "I guess it's for the best," and the comment surprised Aang as Sokka attempted a smile. "At least I know it wasn't anything I did."

Aang smiled sympathetically. "Life often makes us stronger by knocking us down."

Sokka nodded. "Yeah." There was a small silence before Sokka nodded once more to Aang. "I think I'll turn in. I'm getting to be a little tired."

Aang nodded. "Alright. If you need to talk, you can always talk to me, Sokka."

The warrior gave a grateful glance to Aang as he smiled. "Thanks."

Aang left the warrior to his inevitable brooding and made his way to his room, closing the door behind him. There were many things on his mind as he removed his clothes and collapsed on the bed, but none of them held his mind longer than the time it took for his head to hit the pillow. In a matter of minutes, he slept.

Bumi allowed Suki and the tribesmen to have full reign of the palace the next morning while he and Aang discussed much about the past one hundred years. They talked about the Fire Nation's bold attempts to gain territory throughout the Earth Kingdom, as well as their onslaught against both Water Tribes for the past century; nothing was said about the Air Nomads - nothing needed to be said. They spoke about the nations' attempts to fight back the Fire Nation, different battles between Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe, as well as the many changes that Aang could expect to see throughout the world as he traveled to gather supporters.

"Firebending will be very dangerous in the world now, Aang," Bumi said, and Aang nodded as he understood the king's reasoning. "Firebenders are the enemy to anyone that isn't Fire Nation. If someone sees you using firebending, they could think you a traitor. If too many people think this, you'll find it very difficult, if not impossible, to gather survivors." Bumi took a bite of bread as he and Aang pored over a map of the world as it was now, Bumi listing the cities that still remained, and those that had fallen since the beginning of the war. "It's important not to get discouraged over people's lack of hope, too. After a hundred years at war, very few people will have the drive to stand up and fight back. Especially non-benders." He pointed at Aang as he said, "You have to be the reason they remember what it was like to live in peace. You have to give them that desire, to live in peace again, away from the tyranny of the Fire Nation."

Aang nodded. "I'll try my best, but..." he looked down. "I'm not a leader."

Bumi cackled. "Oh, yes you are. You're the Avatar. The Avatar is always the one to lead." He smiled, his left eye twitching like it did when he was a child. "Just search your memories. Your past lives will help you with this situation."

Aang smiled. "I don't know. I don't think an Avatar has ever been in this situation before. The world at stake?"

Bumi shrugged. "Who can say. You Avatars have been around for over a thousand generations. Surely something of this magnitude kicked an Avatar in the rocks once or twice."

Aang chuckled. "Maybe." He thought about something else to say but suddenly noticed Katara standing in the doorway. "Katara! Come in. Bumi was just catching me up on the cities that have fallen since I was last here, and the cities that still stand today."

Katara came up to sit beside Aang, looking at the map of the world with wonder. "Wow. The world is bigger than I thought." She looked to Aang. "No wonder it's taking us forever to get to the North Pole." She looked back at the map, finding Omashu on it and widening her eyes. "We're not even halfway there."

Bumi cackled. "Nope. Not even close. If it's taken you almost a month to get out this way, I'd expect you have another month and a half. Maybe even two months."

Katara shook her head at the scale of it all, looking to Aang as she gestured to the map. "How are we going to do this?" Doubt crept into her voice, and Aang placed a hand on hers to quell her fears.

"We'll simply do our best." He smiled reassuringly at her. "We can do nothing more."

Bumi nodded. "You must rally as many people to your cause as you can. Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom. Get to the North Pole as quickly as you can and convince them to lend their support to their sister tribe in the south. After you reach the North Pole, you'll need to go to Ba Sing Se and get the Earth King on your side. Though, from what I hear, talking to him is like talking to a rock." Bumi cackled at his own joke as Aang turned to Katara.

"Bumi's going to give us money and supplies to last us a few more days, as well as a few more changes of clothes we can use if we ever need to disguise ourselves."

Katara smiled. "The money will be useful. We can buy food that won't spoil on the go. That seal jerky didn't last as long as I'd hoped it would."

Aang nodded. "Where's Sokka and Suki?"

Katara leaned her head on her arm as she recalled the two telling her where they were going. "They said something about visiting the outer rock gardens earlier. Sokka wanted to talk to Suki about something." She shrugged. "I hope he doesn't say the wrong thing, or I might have to use your earthbending to dig a grave." Aang laughed with Katara as Bumi suddenly recognized the interaction between the two.

Bumi smiled wickedly as he leaned on the desk towards the two. "So, Aang," he started, and Aang could see a mischievous glint in his eye. "Has the Avatar already found a suitor?"

Both benders sat there for a moment, the question going over their heads. Katara was first to blush, and was so surprised, she couldn't control her tongue as she denied the accusation. "No! We're nothing like that! We're just friends!"

Aang chuckled, though he himself was blushing slightly, and hoped Bumi would go on to another subject quickly. He thanked the spirits when Bumi did.

"Well, you'd probably best be on your way." Bumi stood, and Aang and Katara stood with him. "I would love to stay and chat with you, my old friend, but the world needs you to get started for the North Pole again." Bumi circled the table to Aang and both friends hugged each other again before they separated and Bumi bowed to Aang. "Wherever the Avatar goes, know that he has a friend in Omashu, and that the city of Omashu is wholly committed to his cause."

Aang returned the bow. "Thank you, Bumi. It was wonderful to see you again." Aang smiled as Katara also stood and bowed to Bumi.

"Thank you for your help, Your Majesty. We-"

"No, no! I'm not anyone's majesty!" Bumi laughed. "To you, I am Bumi." He smiled at Katara as the lady laughed.

"Very well then. Thank you, Bumi. We promise we'll do whatever we can to bring peace back to the world."

Bumi nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Be sure you do, young one. And watch over my friend." Katara straightened from her bow and looked at Bumi as the older man continued. "Be there for him always, and let him never forget that he has friends in this world who love him and care for him."

Katara smiled, promising never to let Aang think the opposite. "I promise. He'll always have a friend in me."

Bumi nodded. "Right! Then off you go! You have a world to save! You have a world to save, and you can't do it amidst these dusty old halls!" He shooed them away from the desk and into the connecting hallways. "Find those friends of yours gallivanting among my corridors and leave! Do whatever you can to restore the world peace!"

Aang smiled at Bumi and nodded. "I will. Keep Omashu safe. We'll return once again."

Bumi nodded. "I know you will, my friend. I didn't doubt you a hundred years ago, and I won't start now."

The walls of Omashu closed shut behind them with a thud, leaving the four to descend the winding earthen ramp to the mainland. Aang looked to Sokka and Suki as they descended, smiling at the two. They probably didn't think they were conspicuous, but Aang could tell there was something unusual about their attitudes. Sokka seemed quite cheerful, and Suki was smiling. Aang wondered what the two had discussed out in the rock gardens but left that to them. If they wanted to share it with him, they would. He was just glad he saw Bumi again. To think that he was still alive... It made Aang happier than he had ever felt in his life. It even overshadowed his other problems that he knew he would have to face later in life. Rallying others to his cause, defeating Ozai, establishing a peace between the remaining three nations... and that brought up a whole new issue that he knew would be difficult to fix: rebuilding the Air Nomads. He knew without a doubt he would be obligated to marry and have children. Many children, probably. And probably with many women to give him as many children as possible. One child every nine months wasn't enough to bolster the Air Nomads' ranks, and even then there was no guarantee any child he would have would be an airbender. Solutions to the problem flew through his head, and yet none of them sounded good enough. Those issues usually put him in a somber mood, but today, he knew his friend Bumi was alive, and nothing else mattered at the moment. That was good enough for him.

Katara was busy thinking over Bumi's question to Aang, the question that may have been a small jab of humor at his old friend...but may have been an honest question. Had the Avatar found a suitor? Katara was a practical girl; it came from being without a mom for most of her life. But she still found Aang to be undeniably attractive and mysterious, and lately she had been having thoughts about wondering what Aang would do after the war was over, assuming they survived. Would he have that family he always wanted to have? She assumed he would; he would have to rebuild the Air Nomads from his own family. But part of her was also wondering just who he would have that family with, and she admitted to herself that she wanted him to pick her for that. She had traveled with him for over a month, training and talking with him about everything they could think of. She knew him better than any other person her age, and she guessed she was feeling her first infatuation of her life. Aang was the first man she had ever seriously thought was attractive, but before she dwelt on that thought, she reminded herself that he was the Avatar. Though she deeply wanted to at least see if a mutual attraction was there, she promised herself she'd keep it to herself. Aang was going through enough as it was. This was something he didn't need to stress over. She'd simply be there for him as a friend.

The four made it back to the trees they had left Appa near, the sky bison still there despite their overnight stay in the city. As they piled into the saddle with their new supplies, each had much on their mind. What was prevalent among all four of them, though, was the idea that they were the last remaining hope for the world. If they couldn't establish a peace between every nation on Earth, the planet might as well be engulfed in a wash of fire.

A/N: Take special consideration into Aang and Katara's relationship. Let me know by review or PM if you think they're going too slow or fast, or if anything seems unrealistic about ANY of their characters' interactions so far, Suki's especially. I want her to be that stoic warrior that will eventually warm up to everyone, but she seems sort of hollow in this chapter. Next chapter, I'll try to touch on her emotions and ideals, but I still would like feedback to hear opinions. It's how I get my ideas and such :-/

Thanks for reading! I'm honored!