XIII/ First lessons in the sky

Staying for another day in Omashu had allowed Elsa and her companions to take a welcome break after their two first days full of trouble and unexpected challenges and surprises. It had allowed Elsa to truly admire the ingenuity and the beauty of the city without the antics of her young friends or the eccentricities of King Bumi. A part of her was glad the incident in their arrival didn't end with dire consequences, but she also considered they needed to be careful as the next ruler they made a blunder with might not be as lenient with them. And while she could use her powers to protect them, she knew they were situations that could and should be avoided.

The sun was rising as her friends and she were moving on the terrace of the palace, waiting for Appa. She observed Aang saluting King Bumi with warmth. She was watching it with a fond and yet still confused eye, considering the fact they were both friends one hundred years ago and yet the age gap made them look like an eccentric grandfather hugging his lively grandson. She was inwardly amused and disturbed by the situation.

"Quite the sight, huh?" Katara's voice interrupted Elsa's thoughts as the waterbender approached her, her face expressing fondness.

Elsa nodded, a small smile quirking her lips. "Definitely an unexpected reunion. I suppose in a world as vast and unpredictable as this one, we should come to expect the unexpected."

Katara chuckled softly, her eyes still fixed on the scene unfolding before them. "I guess you're right. But at least it seems like everything turned out okay in the end."

Their conversation was interrupted by a familiar growl echoing through the sky, drawing both Elsa and Katara's attention upwards. They watched as Appa descended from the clouds, relief flooding through them at the sight of their trusty sky bison.

"There he is," Sokka remarked, his voice tinged with relief as he joined them on the terrace. "About time, too. We've still got a journey ahead of us."

Elsa and Katara exchanged glances. While they were bemused by his impatience, they also shared a bit Sokka's relief. "Yes, it's time to move forward," Elsa agreed, her gaze lingering on the sky bison as he landed near Aang and Bumi.

As Appa touched down, the old king of Omashu approached him with a wide grin, his eyes alight with excitement. "Ah, Appa! It's been far too long, my friend!" he exclaimed, reaching out to pat the sky bison's side.

Appa rumbled in response, his tail wagging happily as he greeted the earthbender in kind.

Aang turned to his friends, a determined look in his eyes. "It's time, guys," he announced, before leaping onto Appa's saddle.

Bumi turned to Momo next, saluting the flying lemur with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Until we meet again, little friend."

Momo chirped in response, before gliding over to join Aang's shoulder.

Elsa, Katara, and Sokka made their way towards Appa, the young queen raising her hands and summoning her powers to create a set of ice stairs to help them climb.

Bumi watched her with an impressed expression. "That's really a gift you have, Elsa," he remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Elsa smiled gratefully at the old king, feeling a sense of camaraderie despite their brief encounter. "Thank you, Bumi. It's been an honor meeting you," she replied, before joining her friends on the saddle.

As Aang prepared to command Appa to fly, Bumi saluted him once more, his expression serious yet filled with wisdom. "Remember, Aang. Think like a mad genius," he reminded the young airbender.

The young Avatar nodded, his determination renewed. "I will, Bumi. Thank you," he replied, before looking down at Appa. "Yip yip!"

The sky bison soared into the sky, carrying Elsa, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Momo toward their next adventure.

As they flew over the lands northwest of Omashu, Aang turned to his companions with a bright smile. "That was quite the experience, showing you guys around Omashu," he remarked, a hint of emotion and of nostalgia in his voice as he glanced back at the receding city below.

Katara nodded enthusiastically. "It was amazing," she said, her eyes shimmering with appreciation. "Bumi is... unique," she remarked a hint of amusement in her voice.

Aang smiled widely at the waterbender. "He is," he confirmed with a enthusiastic voice.

Sokka chimed in, though his expression was more guarded. "Yeah, it was fun and all, but we have to be careful. We don't want to cause any more trouble like we did there."

Katara shot her brother a reproachful look. "Sokka, we've been over this. It was a mistake, but everything turned out fine in the end," she reminded him, her tone gentle yet firm.

Elsa nodded in agreement with Sokka's caution. "He's right, though. Omashu is beautiful, and Bumi is someone we can trust, but we were lucky that he was understanding. Not every ruler would have been like him," she added, her tone serious.

The three children exchanged puzzled glances, clearly intrigued and a bit unsettled by Elsa's words.

"What do you mean, Elsa?" Aang asked curious and confused.

Elsa sighed, realizing she needed to explain. "If King Bumi wasn't your friend and wasn't... eccentric, we could have been in far more trouble for the stunt we made with the mail delivery system," she explained, trying to keep her tone light despite the seriousness of the situation. "I mean, this merchant that was demanding your heads. I don't know if he was overreacting or not, but another ruler might have complied."

Aang's eyes widened in realization, while Katara and Sokka exchanged nervous glances. They hadn't fully considered the consequences of their actions, but Elsa's words made them realize how fortunate they had been.

Sokka cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Well, uh, at least we had you looking out for us, Elsa. With your powers, we could've handled whatever came our way," he remarked.

Elsa smiled at her friends, appreciating their trust in her abilities. "Let's hope we won't have to find out," she replied, her tone hopeful yet cautious. "Besides, there would be times when using our skills to escape might create more issues than solving them," she added, both thinking about how her flight in the Great Thaw event almost doomed her kingdom and how her duties as a queen led her to deal with ambassadors, rulers, and representants, not to mention some of her advisors.

As her words hung in the air, Katara couldn't help but interject, her curiosity piqued. "Is this why you advised against fleeing Omashu when we didn't know Bumi was the king?" she asked, her tone reflective.

"Yes," Elsa affirmed, her gaze drifting to the vast landscape below. "If we had fled the way you wanted, Omashu might have been less welcoming to us afterward. And that could have been an issue, considering that Aang is the Avatar."

The three children exchanged thoughtful glances, while Aang felt a bit worried and looked down. Elsa felt a bit bad for him, considering he was a bit like Anna, but she didn't want him to have more problems to handle than those they were currently facing.

"So, every time we encounter a ruler, we have to be careful of how we interact with them?" Katara asked, seeking clarification.

Elsa nodded, turning to face the group. "Exactly. Each interaction, each word, each gesture, reflects not only on us but also on the people we represent," she explained, her voice tinged with solemnity.

Katara and Sokka exchanged puzzled glances, processing Elsa's words while Aang was pensive and confused.

"But why does it matter how we act? Can't we just be ourselves?" Sokka questioned, his tone tinged with scepticism.

Elsa sighed softly, her expression thoughtful. "With your friends and outside of official encounters, you can. But when encountering kings or important people, it's more complicated. The way we behave can either create allies or adversaries," she replied, her eyes lingering on Sokka.

Katara nodded in understanding. Aang then asked, "But how can you teach us how to deal with that stuff?" he inquired, his eyes reflecting his curiosity.

Elsa smiled softly. "Well, as a queen, I've been trained to interact in formal circles and understand diplomatic protocols," she explained, hoping to shed some light on the matter.

The three children exchanged surprised and awkward glances. "I can't believe we forgot you told us you were a queen," Katara admitted sheepishly.

Elsa smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's easy to forget amidst all the adventures," she remarked, her tone light.

Katara smiled sheepishly while Aang chuckled.

"So, what do we have to do?" the young waterbender inquired, eager to learn.

Elsa smiled gently, her gaze softening. "I'll teach you everything I know about interacting with people like me. Not only it would help you to avoid incidents, but it would help us to find allies to end this war and to build peace," she stated firmly, her sense of duty evident in her words.

"But Aang is the Avatar. Doesn't that make him the most important?" Sokka pressed, glancing at his friend.

Elsa nodded, acknowledging Katara's point. "Yes, Aang has a great responsibility, especially as the protector of the peace. But he's also just a child. He shouldn't bear it alone," she emphasized, her gaze shifting to Aang, who listened intently. The airbender's eyes softened with a mix of understanding and concern as Elsa appreciated her words. He met the young queen's eyes and nodded to her with a small and grateful smile.

Elsa returned his smile, offering a comforting and reassuring one. She then looked back at the two siblings. "Both of you need to learn it as you both have your roles to play too," she reminded them, her gaze shifting between Katara and Sokka.

The two Water tribe teens exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of how to respond. Katara then asked, "But why?"

Elsa answered, "You've told me your father was the chief of your village?"

Katara nodded while Sokka seemed to realize the queen's point. "Are you saying that because of his position, we are representing our people?"

Elsa nodded, her expression serious. "Yes," she replied, her gaze settling on Sokka. "That concerns you specifically, Sokka. I've seen how much you want to be a leader. And if you want to be one, there are things you need to learn, including how to eat in presence of other people," she added, her tone firm.

Sokka's face fell, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "But I like eating the way I do," he protested, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Elsa remained resolute, her gaze unwavering. "You have to. If we encounter a king and you eat the way you usually do, then he might assume your people are as unmannered or worse, uncivilized, as you," she explained, her tone stern.

Katara and Aang couldn't help but stifle their laughter at Sokka's misfortune, exchanging amused glances. Sokka whined in protest, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Hey!"

Elsa's tone softened slightly as she addressed the young Water Tribe warrior. "Trust me. It's important," she reassured him, her voice gentle yet firm. "My sister also tends to stuff food when she eats, but she knows her manners when interacting with officials."

Sokka let out a heavy sigh, his expression a mixture of resignation and determination. "Fine," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I guess I can learn some manners if it means we don't get into trouble."

Aang, trying to lighten the mood, placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "Hey, look at it this way—maybe you'll impress some fancy people and get some cool stories out of it!"

Sokka's frown softened slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, maybe. But if I starve to death because I can't eat the way I like, it's on you guys."

Katara rolled her eyes but smiled affectionately at her brother. "You'll survive, Sokka. And who knows? Maybe you'll even enjoy it."

Aang nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, and it's not just about eating. We can learn how to talk to people, how to make allies, and how to avoid unnecessary fights. It's like another form of bending—social bending!"

Elsa chuckled at Aang's enthusiasm, remembering again Anna's own enthusiastic energy and thinking his energy and his tendency to try to avoid conflicts would be a strenght if she taught him well. "That's a good way to put it, Aang. And remember, you're not alone in this. We're all learning together."

Sokka let out a deep breath and stood up straighter. "Alright, Elsa. Teach us how to be... well, more royal, I guess."

Elsa smiled warmly at her friends, grateful for their willingness to learn. "We'll start with the basics. And remember, it's not just about following rules. It's about understanding the people we meet and knowing how to interact with them."

Katara's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Like what, Elsa? What should we start with?"

Elsa thought for a moment, then said, "Let's begin with some simple greetings and proper table manners. We can practice while we travel, and I'll share more as we go along."

Aang's face lit up with a grin. "This is going to be fun! We're going to be the best-behaved team in the world!"

Sokka couldn't help but chuckle at Aang's optimism. "Alright, I'm in. But if I have to use the right fork for the salad, you guys owe me big time."

Katara laughed, shaking her head. "Deal, Sokka. Deal."

Elsa shook her head with fondness as the interactions between her friends. While she knew she would teach them things that could be hard to handle for people of their age, she trusted in their abilty to thrive. She knew Aang could thrive and would need to do so if his situation of Avatar meant he had to protect peace as it would need dealing with people of her position. Sokka had potential in spite of his goofiness and bluntness and Katara was someone who was always trying to improve herself and to learn.

A part of the young queen was however concerned as she didn't know how customs were there or how long it would take to bring an end to the raging war, not to mention the uncertainty of what she'd do if they found a way to send her back to her reality. But she was sure of one thing: she would help her friends in every manner she could and give them all they would need to thrive in the future.