Disclaimer: I claim only to be writing this story and any characters invented by others are not mine. For better explanation read chapter 1… :P
Sorry for the delay in this story my muse was sort of out of town on this story as it was torn between the easy route (boring too, rewrite cannon), or the hard route, write some cannon with my own stuff interspersed. I opted to write how I wanted and use cannon to enhance the story. So if this seems like cannon sorry but the next chapter will be all non-cannon as the gang head to the northern water tribes.
Chapter 15 – Omashu…
The group traveled over lightly snow covered hilly ground. Aang swept his arm and staff showing a pyramid shaped city built on a large hill. "The Earth Kingdom city of Omashu, I used to always come here to visit my friend Bumi." Aang said with pride.
Sokka and Katara's jaws were left open. Hinata giggled as Naruto smirked. "Wow… we don't have cities like this at the South Pole." Katara commented in awe.
"They have buildings here that don't melt." Sokka said as if he had never seen stone buildings before.
"Well what do you expect Sokka? I am sure it is warmer in the summer. It will get too warm to have buildings made of snow and ice." Naruto replied and chuckled.
"Shall we go or not?" Aang implored. "The fun is inside."
"Maybe we should disguise you Aang?" Katara asked hesitantly.
"Maybe you're right." Aang responded while he sighed.
"We have not had a chance to work on the 'Henge' Aang so we are going to have to use some sort of unusual disguise." Naruto pointed out.
Twenty minutes later Aang was disguised as an old man thanks to generous amounts of Appa's shedding hair. "You look like an old man Aang." Katara commented.
"Well then we should get along shouldn't we you young whipper snappers?" Aang said toying with the others.
"Here may I guide you, you beautiful young lady?" Naruto offered his arm to Hinata who giggled and took his arm.
"Okay we are the grand children of the old guy, Aang, and you, Naruto, are guiding our blind sister. Works for me…" Sokka commented with a chipper tone.
The group walked along the long winding path to Omashu. They came upon a guard arguing with a man selling cabbages. The guard put the sent the cabbage cart flying as the group watched. Aang led the group and the guard used earthbending to create a large stone to hover above Aang. "What is your business in Omashu, old man?"
"The name is Pipsipotlopsicus, Edward, the third." Aang said as he dashed right up to the guard and was in his face. "And my business is my own." Aang said as he poked the guard.
"Take it easy old timer. We are only doing our job. What is your story?" The guard asked as he looked at the others.
"Our grandfather is a little eccentric if you could not already tell. Our sister is blind and her fiancé is her guide. We wanted to see Omashu. May we enter?" Katara asked politely.
"You look like a responsible girl… so keep an eye on your grandfather." The guard stated as the gates slid aside. "Hey you!" The guard yelled at Sokka while he grabbed Aang's pack. "You are a strong boy you should carry your grandfather's pack." The guard tossed the pack at Sokka.
The group entered Omashu with no further incident.
"Told you the buildings don't melt." Naruto teased Sokka.
"I know we can make bricks from ice but they make them from stone here?" Sokka was dumbfounded.
"What do you see?" Aang asked as he spread his hands wide.
"A mail delivery system that uses earth-bending and gravity to deliver the mail." Sokka answered matter-of-factly.
Naruto smirked and Hinata began to worry. "Am I thinking what you are thinking?" Naruto asked as Hinata shook her head.
Aang looked directly into Naruto's eyes and nodded. "Gravity slide!" Both yelled as one.
Hinata put her face into her hands and shook her head. "I married a kid at heart." She then smiled warmly. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go and get this over with. We can let the kids play then I have my happy Naruto-kun back." Katara put her hand on Hinata's shoulder to reassure her that she was not alone.
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Twenty minutes later and near the top of the city Katara and Sokka were starting to get cold feet about using the mail system as a slide. Naruto had found a companion slide near Aang's location. "Race you down! First one there… buys lunch… Do you think they have ramen here Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked inquisitively. Hinata just shook her head and kissed Naruto affectionately.
"Ready, set, go!" Aang yelled out as Aang, Katara and Sokka took one stone sled while Naruto and Hinata took another. Both groups slid down the mail slides at breakneck speeds.
Naruto was having the time of his life, he was flying down the slide at an incredible speed and Hinata was there to enjoy it with him. Naruto noticed that a weapon sled had pulled up behind Aang and the others, and it was closing. Naruto threw a kunai and it hit in such a way that it slowed the decent of the weapon sled. Aang had already used air-bending to accelerate. Aang's sled broke through one of the turns and cascaded across a roof, through an apartment, and past a group of Earth Nation recruits in training who learned the meaning of 'expect the unexpected.' Their sled finally came to rest on a cart owned by a cabbage merchant, who yelled a soon-to-be familiar slogan 'My cabbages!'
Naruto and Hinata arrived just in time to be arrested with Aang, Katara and Sokka. Naruto and Hinata did not fight as they did not want to cause a commotion and get Aang and the others hurt.
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"I demand justice! Off with their heads, one head for each head of cabbage…" The cabbage vender began to shout until Naruto looked at him and the man wet himself.
"Be quiet! The king will decide the punishment for this crime." The guard standing next to the king retorted.
An old bent over man turned and looked surveyed the group. Aang, Katara and Sokka were nervous. Naruto and Hinata just held hands and were did not seem fazed at all by the scrutiny of the king.
The king cleared his throat and began. "I have decided…." Apprehension gripped Aang and the water tribe siblings. The king began to eye them and caused their nerves to nearly break. The cabbage vendor's grin spread across his face. "We shall…" Everyone was hanging on his every word. "We shall throw them a feast. Yes, a feast!"
Everyone including Naruto and Hinata's jaws dropped to the floor. "As you wish your majesty." A guard replied and took the complaining cabbage vendor out of the hall screaming about 'justice for his cabbages'.
A table and food were assembled and setup in the throne room. Seating for six was arranged with the king at the head and Aang at the other end of the table. Aang had Katara and Hinata was next to Naruto, and Sokka next to them. "So Mr. Pipsipotlopsicus, is the food not to your liking?" The king asked as he stood, walked behind Aang and took the chicken leg off of Aang's plate. s
"I am a vegetarian." Aang answered.
The king returned to his seat and looked Aang in the eye. "Why not try it once it is rather good." The king threw the chicken leg at Aang who stopped with an airbending trick.
"It would seem that we have an air-bender among us. And not just any air-bender, we have the Avatar." The king proclaimed.
Aang stood and smiled. "You caught me, I'm the Avatar, here to save the world and ensure peace." Aang picked up the dining cloth on the table and looked under it. "No firebenders here, guess my work here is done. Omashu is safe." Aang slowly backed away as Katara and Sokka followed. Hinata and Naruto continued to eat with smirks on their faces.
"So my lord… I am sorry I didn't catch your name?" Naruto questioned the king with a smirk.
"I hadn't given it. But you may continue your question young man with the funny hair color." The king responded.
"The name is Naruto, Hyuuga Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto. You are not ready to let us go yet are you?" Naruto inquired while smiling a broad foxy grin.
The king smiled. "Nope."
"Aang come eat something you might need your strength tomorrow. I am sure the king has something planned for you." Naruto said as he pointed to the empty chair. Naruto knew something was up as he had been a prankster for years and this king did not have him fooled. He knew that he did not intend to harm Aang but maybe teach him something.
"Yes… Aang… please sit and enjoy your last meal so that you will have your strength for tomorrow. Your friend is right I intend you no harm tonight." The king motioned the others back to their seats.
"Let us go, we have done nothing to you!" Sokka pleaded.
The king picked up a piece of lettuce and put it near his mouth. "Lettuce go? (munch, munch) Why should I? But (laugh, snort) you did make a funny one. (laugh, snort) Lettuce go…" The king continued to laugh at the bad pun.
Hinata was worried but looked into Naruto's eyes and saw the mirth there. She knew that they were safe but not sure what the king was up too. Hinata continued to play the blind girl routine almost flawlessly. "Naruto-kun is there any more of the potato's and meat?" Hinata asked.
"Yes Hinata-chan there is. I put the potatoes on the left and the meat on the right. Your napkin is on the left." Naruto stated knowing she could see perfectly, but if the king was going to play game then they would also.
"Tell me young man. I know that Aang is from the Air Nomads but where are you from? I have never seen anyone with a hair color such as yours." The king inquired.
"Really?" Naruto wore a look of complete confusion upon his face. "You know… now that I think about it I haven't seen anyone with my hair color either. Guess being an orphan doesn't help much in the department of finding out your lineage." Naruto deadpanned his face with his statement.
The king began to laugh hysterically. "I guess it wouldn't. Yan…"
An older gentleman walked to the king's side. "Yes your majesty?"
"Send our guests to the chamber." The king stated which caused most of the group to take in a breath in shock.
"Which chamber? The good chamber or the bad chamber?" Han inquired.
"The newly refurbished chamber." The king replied.
"Isn't that the bad chamber?" Han asked.
"Yes… Send them to the newly refurbished chamber that was once bad." The king stated. "Except for the blind girl and the boy with golden hair, I wish to speak with them without the Avatar present."
The guards lead Aang, Sokka and Katara to a hallway where they stopped and a wall slid into the floor from earth-bending.
"Wow… pretty nice room for a jail cell." Sokka commented as all three walked into the room while the wall behind them resealed itself. The room was nicely lit with light crystals. There were three beds made and with fine linens. There were a couple air holes in the walls about a foot in diameter.
"Well he did say they were newly refurbished." Aang replied.
"We need to get out of here let's try to get Momo to get Appa." Sokka suggested as he looked at Momo who had an oversized belly. "Okay… maybe not. Momo you ate too much." Sokka scolded. Momo lay down on the bed and promptly went to sleep. "Great we can't even contact the fifteen ton bison to get us out and why do you thing he wanted to talk to Naruto and Hinata?"
"I don't know and I am a little worried. The king does not seem to be all there." Aang worriedly stated.
"Naruto and Hinata can take care of themselves. I am just worried about what the king is going to do with us." Katara commented as she bit her left thumbnail.
Aang flopped down on the bed and thought for a few seconds. "We are here now and there isn't much we can do about what is going on so I guess we make the best of the situation." Aang stated as he smiled at Katara.
Sokka looked between his sister and Aang. Finally having enough of Aang staring at the contemplating Katara he walked over to Aang. "What are your intentions toward my sister?"
Aang immediately turned bright red and crossed his hands up in defensive position in front of him. "Wha… what do you mean?" Aang asked defensively.
"You better not try anything with my sister buster." Sokka threatened as he was sent flying over Aang onto the bed on the far side.
Katara was standing behind where Sokka was standing her fist clenched and her anger spiked. "I can look after myself. So stop picking on Aang."
"Thanks Katara." Aang thanked Katara with a kind smile.
Katara's face turned from a grimace to gentleness almost immediately. "You're welcome Aang. I think we should call it a night."
"I second that motion." Sokka answered as he was still stunned from Katara's hit, sounding like a drunk.
Aang chuckled at Sokka's antics before sleep took them all.
Aang woke blurry eyed and searched the other two beds to find them empty. He woke quickly. "Katara, Sokka where are you?"
The wall opened to reveal a guard who held out his hand. "Your staff please, the king has a few tests for you."
Aang put his foot on the staff rolling in onto his foot and then using his foot to push it up to his hand. Aang with an annoyed look on his face gently tossed the staff to the guard. "Now where are my friends?"
The guard caught the staff and motioned Aang to follow. Aang and the guard met the king in the hallway. "You want to see your friends?" The king asked as Aang nodded. The king nodded as a wall slid down and revealed Katara and Sokka being held by guards. The guards were putting a rock ring on both of them. Katara's ring was red and Sokka's was light green. "The rings are made of Genemite also known as the creeping crystal. I figure it will take about six hours before they are completely covered by the crystal. I can stop it but you have to do pass several deadly tasks before I free them." The king threatened as the rings grew on the Water tribe siblings to their great surprise. Sokka and Katara attempted to remove the rings but to no avail.
"So Avatar will you do my tasks or will you let your friends die?" The king inquired from Aang.
Aang hung his head and sighed. "Okay I will do your tasks but you will then have to free my friends."
"Okay for your first task… What do you think of my outfit?" The king asked wearing the gaudiest purple robe and feather cap Aang had ever seen.
"I… think it looks nice." Aang replied with a smile as one of the guards rolled his eyes.
"You… have completed your first task, but not one of your deadly tasks." The king commented.
Aang's shoulders slumped. "Where are Naruto and Hinata?"
"They are doing their own tasks. Naruto is it? He is quite a talented young man. I like the way he thinks." The king praised Naruto.
Aang raised an eyebrow at the king's comment as they were lead to an arena. "I have lost my pet Flopsy. Please get my pet Flopsy."
Aang grimaced and jumped down into the arena. He looked around and called out "Flopsy! Here Flopsy!" His eyes came upon a long eared rabbit. "Ah I found Flopsy!" Aang yelled as he reached down to grab the rabbit. Suddenly a large ape shaped animal with goat-horns and hooves jumped down near Aang. The rabbit bolted at this and Aang called after it. "Flopsy! Wait come back!"
The rabbit finally bolted into a hole as Aang slid with his arm extended attempting to capture the bunny. "Come on Flopsy… the king wants you back." Suddenly as the large creature that followed Aang and the rabbit closed something struck Aang. He sat up and turned to the creature "Flopsy?" Aang inquired with a questioning look.
The animal stopped short and wagged its tail. It then embraced Aang and licked him. "Did you find my Flopsy?" The king inquired from above. Flopsy dropped Aang and climbed up to the king. "It that my good Flopsy?" The king called to the pet. Flopsy jumped up and then rolled head first landing on its back. The king began to scratch Flopsy's tummy and Flopsy's leg began to spasm in throws of enjoyment. "Does daddy's little boy like that?"
Aang jumped up to the platform angry. "That was one of my tests? To find your lost pet? I thought it was going to eat me." Aang scolded the king.
"Flopsy wouldn't eat anyone. He is a good boy." The king stated in a playful manner. The king's mood changed to a serious. "We have more tasks for you to complete." Small laughter was not noticed in the background.
The group then entered a cave with lot of stalactites and stalagmites. There was also a rushing waterfall, inside the waterfall was a ladder and a key on a chain. "I have lost my lunchbox key and am hungry. Get me the key." The king ordered.
"You can do it Aang." Katara cheered while most of her torso was covered in Genimite. Suddenly the cavern shook. "Aang what was that?"
The king chuckled. "That would be your friend playing with a few of my guards." The king replied as he cackled and then snorted.
Aang jumped into the cavern and ran towards the waterfall. He ran at full speed and got to the ladder. He was able to take the first rung but the water pressure was too much as he was flung from the water. He barely caught himself on a couple stone stalagmites.
"Ooh… climbing the ladder… no one has thought of that before…" The king said sarcastically.
Aang very annoyed then jumped up to the ceiling and attempted to jump into the water to capture the key, but was taken down with the flow of the water. He was then thrown out into a stone spire.
"That's it… keep diving in head first I am sure it will work eventually…" The king again commented sarcastically.
Naruto walked angrily holding a couple guards. "I beat them now give me back Hinata!" Naruto dumped the guards on the floor.
"You will have her soon enough my boy. We must wait until the Avatar can complete his challenges. And no helping." The king warned Naruto who wore an angry look.
Aang found a level place in the cavern and started to throw air bullets at the waterfall.
"Sure I am sure you can beat nature with some air… if you had years to do it maybe… time is running out Avatar." The king reminded Aang.
Aang thought he might have an idea. He climbed a spire and broke the tip off. He used the flat surface as a standing platform and launched the spike towards the waterfall. He then created a large crescent of air that over took the spire and cleared the water out of the way of the spire as it sunk into the wall above the king, key dangling just above his head. "There is your key, I hope you choke on your lunch. Now give me back my friends and give Naruto back Hinata!" Aang demanded.
The king chucked and snorted. "There is one more challenge and I will free your friends."
Everyone left the waterfall cavern only to enter a large underground battling arena with three daises. Hinata was chained and being held by several guards on the far dais. Naruto and Aang were standing in front of the king. "Now the last challenge is a dual. And as a bonus Avatar you get to pick your opponent. Naruto has to stand by me." The king said as a large man with an axe stood next to the king. "Now choose. And Naruto if you are chosen you must fight to the best of your ability or that lovely young girl over there will not survive." Naruto angered at this statement.
Aang ponders his choices. "So all I have to do is point at who I am going to fight?" 'I can't fight Naruto he is still too good and I can't endanger Hinata.' Aang thought, as he was sure his time was running out.
"Choose… but choose wisely." The King warned.
Aang's finger flowed over each of his choices. Naruto looked down and away as if in shame. The King eyed him intently for a decision. The man with the axe flexed his muscles showing how light his axe was to him. "I choose you…" Aang smiled as he pointed to the king.
The king frowned then smiled. "Wrong choice." The king spread his stance showing a solid footing. He straightened up popping his back and threw off his cloak revealing a very well endowed older man even more solidly built than the man with the axe. The axe wielder laughed as he left. "I am the most powerful earth-bender you will ever encounter, Avatar. Prepare yourself." The king warned as he shifted into a bender stance. Showing a brutish physique he moved towards Aang. "So what will it be, Avatar? Give up now and lose your friends or fight me and save them?"
Aang contemplated his situation. "Can I take the guy with the axe?"
The king smiled. "There are no 'take-backs' in my kingdom. Now prepare to fight me." The king replied and pulled a rock out of the floor they were standing on. Aang jumped off the balcony they were standing on just as a guard threw him his staff. "You might need this?" The king implied.
The king jumped down to the arena floor. Using earth-bending he pulled a couple basketball-size rocks from the ground and sent them towards Aang in crossing pattern. Aang dodged the missiles as the king produced four more and again fired them at Aang. Aang again dodged the projectiles. "Dodge and evade, is that all you air-benders know how to do?" The king taunted Aang who began to run through a couple of hand seals.
"Wind style: Great breakthrough!" Aang yelled as he created a large horizontal wind crescent that headed towards the king.
The king seeing how much power was in the attack put up a double stone barrier in front of himself both over a foot thick. The first crumbled as the second wall held. The king playfully peered out from behind his solid barrier. "Do I feel a draft? Did someone leave the window open?" The king looked seriously at Aang. "Are you hoping I will catch a cold?" The king put his foot on the wall and it fell over but rose up with gravel forming a bulge under it, he pushed it forwards and it flowed towards Aang gaining size and strength as it approached. Aang jumped as high as he could but just could not jump high enough and was struck by the avalanche of stone. Aang landed in a heap this caused Katara to gasp and Sokka to cringe. "You need to be better than that to fight the fire-benders. You act like an adept air-bender not a master like you should be. Come now, do you think the Fire lord will just stand there and let you hit him? He will be ruthless as most fire-benders are. Now get up and fight!" The king demanded as Aang rose to his feet.
Aang changed his stance and appeared to be concentrating. The king got a gleam in his eye and a smile on his face. "Good idea but you are taking too long." The king again threw several rocks at Aang who changed his stance slightly and used his right hand to send waves of air at the rocks thus diverting their trajectory away and behind Aang. "Good you are starting to think. Now can you deal with this?" The king asked as he changed his stance and showed he was making great effort. The center balcony pulled away from the wall and headed towards Aang.
Aang screamed as he saw the massive chunk of stone heading his direction. Aang began to run in a circle as the huge chunk of wall headed towards him. Aang's actions created a whirlwind and started to suck all the loose gravel and sand into the Avatar created tornado. The massive rock was grabbed out of its path and spun around the whirlwind and headed back to a surprised king. The king pushed his hands forwards at the stone and it dissolved into sand as it passed by the king to end up as a pile of sand behind the king who was grinning like a mad man. He started to laugh until he saw the stance Aang was in a water-bending stance, the king's face sank but still had a hint of a smile. "Take this!" Aang yelled as a geyser of water hit the king sending him into the wall, which he promptly sank into.
The king appeared near Aang as Aang shifted his staff to meet the threat. Aang appeared to have the king who had his hands up until a pebble hit Aang's head. Aang looked up only to see a massive chuck of the ceiling a foot or so above his head. The king smiled and snorted as he threw the rock to the side. "You fight well Avatar and with much spirit. Meet me with your friends." The king said kindly as he fell back and sunk into the ground leaving a hole the looking like his outline. The king appeared next to Katara and Sokka who by this time were nearly covered by the creeping rock.
Aang ran to the balcony and jumped up next to Katara. "Set my friends free now! I have passed all your tests!" Aang demanded.
The king back in his robe shook his head. "You have one more task left…"
"That's not fair!" Aang retorted.
"You must answer me one last question… What is my name?" The king then wandered off.
Aang looked at Naruto who was holding Hinata then at Katara and Sokka. "I've got it!" Sokka exclaimed. "He's an earth-bender, right? So his name must be Rocky… huh? What do you think?" Sokka asked Aang and Katara. Naruto and Hinata suppressed their entertainment at Sokka's expense.
"Good idea we will use that as our second choice. Aang what did you learn from each of the tests?" Katara asked.
Aang's eyes brightened and he suddenly walked out of the arena towards the throne room. "I know who he is." Aang exclaimed as he walked off. Naruto grabbed Sokka as Hinata grabbed Katara as they followed Aang into the throne chamber. "Bumi, you mad genius I missed you…" Aang said as he wrapped king Bumi in a hug.
"Ah… Aang it has been a long time hasn't it? I have so missed you my old friend." Bumi kindly exclaimed.
"Uh… crystals… suffocation…" Sokka exclaimed as his mouth was covered by the crystals.
Bumi raised his arm and pulled it suddenly back, this caused the crystals that had nearly encased Sokka and Katara to burst apart. "Genimite crystal candy, it is also known as rock candy." King Bumi explained.
"So you encased us in candy the whole time? How did it grow?" Sokka inquired.
"Don't know and don't care. So Naruto, do you want to tell him or shall I?" Bumi asked with a wicked grin on his face.
Naruto put his hands up in surrender and took a deep breath. "Your friend Bumi saw a kindred spirit in me, a prankster. He also could tell I was nearly as powerful as he was. So after they took you away he talked with Hinata-chan and myself for a few hours and we came up with a way for you to learn and become stronger at the same time. Also to convince Bumi here that you can handle yourself in a fight. Well… we came up with the challenges. I am sure you figured that out at the end." Naruto explained as Aang nodded. "We needed to know that you could fight if your back was against the wall and you did. I am sorry we had to do this."
"Don't be too mad at them Aang. It was mostly my idea. Also when you fight the Fire Lord I want you to think like a mad genius. You have good friends and companions. Learn from then and you will go a long way. Train Naruto here in the ways of the air-benders and help him accomplish his goal after he helps you with yours." Bumi stated with a proud smile.
Aang got a devilish smile on his face. "Now I have a challenge for you Bumi."
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Naruto pushed the mail delivery sled off the entrance and into the slide of the delivery system with a big grin. "Ah Hinata-chan why can't I go too?" Naruto whined.
Hinata gently took Naruto's face into her hands and kissed him deeply. "Because Naruto-kun, your place is beside me." Hinata replied as Naruto smiled and gave her an even deeper kiss as they heard Aang and Bumi screaming in delight. Katara sighed at the romantic sight of Naruto and Hinata kissing.
A few moments later a crash and a scream were heard. "Not my cabbages!!"
Katara could swear she heard Aang laughing at the bottom of the city.
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A/N: Like I said like cannon with a twist. If you think I took too much from cannon I am sorry but Bumi and the lessons learned are important to Aang's development. I am sort of taking November off for those of you who do not already know. I will write my stories sporadically as I have another project that is the National Novel Writing Month challenge. A dear Friend challenged me and I could not refuse her.
I hope you liked this chapter. See you in December.
Oh and thanks for Chewie Cookies for his help in betaing this chapter. Really good finds my friend.