Chapter 6:
Appa stayed above and watched as the three walked down the stairs to the coffins on the floor. The pedestal the coffins sat on was as tall as Aang and the coffins themselves were enormous.
"It must be the two lovers from the legend. That's who's buried here." Aang believed
"What ever happened, their people must have felt either really bad or really honoured to have put so much effort into the tomb." Freya whispered as she looked around. "After all Chong, said this story was as old as earth benders. What if they were the first earth benders?" she wondered, turning to Aang as Katara walked up to the side of the pedestal. It held carvings all around it and she shone the light onto it in curiosity.
"These pictures tell their story." she realised and Freya and Aang leaned down to take a look as Katara read the inscriptions to go with the pictures. It started with a mountain.
"They met on top of the mountain that divided their two villages. The villages were enemies so they could not be together. But their love was strong and they found a way." the three moved around the pedestal to follow the pictures "The two lovers learned earthbending from the badger moles. They became the first earthbenders." Katara and Aang looked at Freya.
"Lucky guess." she shrugged
"They built elaborate tunnels so they could meet secretly. Anyone who tried to follow them would be lost forever in the labyrinth."
Freya looked around as Katara continued confused. How did the lovers themselves find each other then?
"But one day the man didn't come. He died in the war between their two villages. Devastated, the woman unleashed a terrible display of her earthbending power. She could have destroyed them all. But instead she declared the war over. Both villages helped her build a new city where they would live together in peace." Katara said as they came to the other side of the pedestal.
"The woman's name was Oma and the man's name was Shu. The great city was named Omashu as a monument to their love." Katara pointed to a picture of Omaha, the last one.
"Wow, not just a legend, but the history of Omashu." Freya smiled amazed as Aang and Katara smiled at her as Freya looked around before she noticed, in the light of the torch, the statue behind them. Aang and Katara followed her gaze.
In the rock was a giant statue of two people, kissing. A plaque sat between them and Katara read the last inscription.
"Love is brightest in the dark."
Freya looked surprised before she frowned and turned to walk back around the tombs.
Love is brightest in the dark… she repeated as she looked at the tombs. "Two people from opposite sides of a war…" she mumbled. Just like… she shook her head and folded her arms.
We're different. We can't ignore the war between us, he's too busy being on the wrong side.
It's not the wrong side for him.
No. He's just fighting for his father's affection. Freya sighed as she placed a hand on the stone before her sadly.
"Can't believe I'm still letting this get to me." Freya mumbled to herself.
"How are we gonna find our way out of these tunnels?" Aang questioned as Freya was wrapped in her own thoughts.
She glanced at the two, indicated by the light Katara held and looked around, as if hoping there'd be some clue to the problem.
You're current situation or your mental problem? Freya frowned Like I can do anything about the other one.
"I have a crazy idea." Katara suddenly said, turning away from the statue.
"What?" Aang asked.
Katara hesitated and glanced around.
"Never mind, it's too crazy." she decided walking away from Aang.
"Katara, what is it?" Aang asked as Freya peaked around the pedestal.
"I was thinking… the curse says we'll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love." Katara began
"Right…"
"And here it says 'love is brightest in the dark' and…" she turned to Aang but avoided his gaze. "has a picture of them kissing."
"Where are you going with this?" Aang questioned cluelessly.
Freya started giggling and put her hand over her mouth as Katara blushed, looking at her.
"Sorry, I'm gonna…" she pointed and turned, still all girly, as she walked away back towards Appa.
"Well... what if we kissed?" Katara offered, ignoring Freya as she giggled some more rather childishly.
"Us, kissing?" Aang asked surprised
"See? It was a crazy idea." Katara said turning away from the boy.
"Us… kissing…" Aang said dreamily
"Us kissing. What was I thinking? Can you imagine that?" Katara said trying to laugh it off. Aang looked at her and did the same.
"Yeah, heh, heh. I definitely wouldn't wanna kiss you!" he said pointing at her.
Freya gasped and appeared from around the pedestal.
"You did not!" she said as Aang realised what he'd said and Katara rose an offended eyebrow.
"Oh, well I didn't realise it was such a horrible option." she snapped before leaning over him angrily "Sorry I suggested it!"
"No, no, I mean…" Aang began trying to cover up his mistake "If there was a choice between kissing you and dying…" Katara gasped insulted as Freya covered her mouth dramatically
"What? I'm saying I'd rather kiss you than die." Aang said clasping his hands together "That's a compliment."
"Well, I'm not sure which I would rather do!" Katara said as she turned to him infuriated. She thrusted the torch into his hands and turned to stalk off past Freya.
"Smooth." she said as she approached him
"What is wrong with me?" he asked dejected
"You're just bad under pressure." Freya said "You should have said something like, 'it wouldn't have been so bad'," she offered "She probably would have been flattered." Aang sighed before he turned to follow Katara back to Appa. Freya glanced at the statue before she did the same.
"You're not the only one having problems." she mumbled.
The three left the tomb and Appa followed them as Katara stalked into the darkness. Aang watched her worried as he held the torch which was getting lower and lower by the minute.
"We're gonna run out of light any second now, aren't we?" Aang frowned as he stopped walking. Freya glanced at the torch and Aang looked at her.
"I think so." Katara agreed as she glanced back to them. Aang gave Freya a look and she frowned before turning to look into the darkness, glancing at Katara as she walked past her and glanced around.
"Then what are we gonna do?" Aang wondered
"What can we do?" Katara turned and walked towards Aang, taking a hold of the torch with him. Aang glanced down at it before he smiled at her.
Freya glanced at them as the light disappeared. She smirked before glancing at her hands as they disappeared in the darkness. The girl sighed annoyed at her own fear before the entire cave was suddenly light up with a green glow. Crystals sat in the celling of the cave and move off down the passageway as Katara and Aang stopped to look at it surprised.
"Wow." Freya smiled at it as she turned to the two grinning. "That's,"
"Beautiful." Katara agreed
"It's made of some kind of crystals. They must only light up in the dark!" Aang beamed
"Love shines brightest in the dark." Freya repeated "Urgh, they even told us what to do." she complained
"That's how the two lovers found each other. They just put out their lights and followed the crystals." Katara released Aang's hand she had been holding to point down the hallway. "That must be the way out!"
"Yes!" Freya cheered as the two hugged behind her.
"So… um…" Aang began uncertainly
"Let's go!" Katara ignored him as he rubbed his head and ran forwards to grab Freya's hand. Freya glanced at Aang with a shrug who simply smiled and ran after them, Appa following.
They continued down the hall before there was light at the end of the tunnel and they sprang forward from the cave. The exit was just like the entrance, a plaque sitting at the top of the opening.
Appa ran straight for the exit and growled at being out in the light of day again, standing on his back feet and reaching for the sky before he fell onto his back and collapsed as it from exhaustion of his worry.
Freya couldn't help but laugh as Aang grinned and looked around.
"What about Sokka?" Aang asked. Freya blinked before she gasped
"You forgot about him didn't you?" Katara said
"No…" she lied and Katara rolled her eyes before the wall of the cave suddenly started to rumble. Appa got to his feet before dust blew out with a bang on either side of the exit to the cave. A badger mole suddenly launched it's way through the dust as the three covered their eyes from the cloud. With a closer look they noticed Sokka was sitting on it's back waving down at them. Freya gapped surprised. Momo appeared from behind him and flew straight out into the air.
"Sokka!" Katara grinned as the boy turned and slid off the moles' back.
"How did you guys get out?" Sokka asked
"Just like the legend says: we let love lead the way." Aang admitted grinning and Freya giggled
"Really? We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way." Sokka said pointing over his shoulder to them.
"Aww they're not ferocious." Freya smiled as she walked forwards and patted one on the nose sweetly.
Sokka looked surprised before he sighed and waved to the beasts. They turned and went back into the holes they created which sealed up behind them.
"I guess that explains why the tunnels were changing." Freya realised as Momo landed before Appa and chatted to his big friend, looking back at the badger moles before Appa growled in response. He sat down as Momo started waving his arms around.
Katara and Sokka shared a hug as Freya giggled at the animals while Aang ran up to Chong and his friends.
"Why is your forehead all red?" Katara asked as she released her brother. He had a spot just above the middle of his eyebrows.
"Looks like he's been hitting himself." Freya said as she leaned to take a closer look.
"Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you," Chong said as he leaned towards Sokka who looked at him annoyed. "I think that kid might be the Avatar." Freya bursted out laughing as Sokka hit himself in the forehead again, answering Katara and confirming Freya's thoughts. Aang was talking to Moku as Sokka's red forehead grew from hitting it.
"So, are you guys gonna come to Omashu with us?" Aang asked
"Nope." Moku returned
"Okay. Thanks for everything, Moku." Aang said. He waved as the four turned and began to dance away. Chong removed his flower necklace and put it over Sokka's head.
"Sokka, I hope you learned a little something about not letting the plans get in the way of the journey." he said wisely before he hugged Sokka who looked flattered but weirded out.
"Just play your songs." he said sullenly. Chong released him and grinned.
"Hey, good plan!" and he began to strum his instrument and walk off after his companions. "Even if you're lost you can't lose the love because it's in your heart. Ooooohhhh…"
Aang glanced at Katara and Sokka rose an amused eyebrow as he crossed his arms while Katara looked down sweetly, blushing as Freya smiled at her noticing. She glanced at Aang before turning away and taking a step back.
"So, shall we go? Omashu's just over the hill." she said and the three shared a look before they nodded.
The four turned and Appa followed while Momo flew over their heads as they climbed the hill separating them from Omashu.
"The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it's really about — the destination." Sokka said as he was in the lead and he reached the top first looking smug.
"I present to you the Earth Kingdom city of O…" Sokka looked at the city and his expression fell with devastation. "Oh, no…" Freya, Katara and Aang ran up beside him to see the city and gasped.
The entire city was smoking and several bridges had been built to the city as the Fire Nation flag with it's insignia sat flapping over the wall.
The Fire Nation had over taken Omashu.