by The Tale of Aang; Azula; Toph; Sokka; Zuko; Katara (retail) (epub)
Aang’s old friend King Bumi of the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu will be his Earthbending teacher, so that’s where we’re heading now. It’s time to say good-bye to Pakku, the Waterbending master I met at the North Pole.
As we say our good-byes, Master Pakku hands me a crystal amulet.
“It contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties. Don’t lose it.”
I promise to keep it safe, and use it for something really important.
As we started traveling, we met a group of singing nomads. “We’re heading for Omashu,” I explained.
“That’s dangerous,” Lily, one of the nomads, said. “The Fire Nation is spread out to the coast. You’ll be headed right for them.”
Hmm. We need to get to Omashu, but I don’t want to risk a run-in with the Fire Nation.
“There’s a story about a secret pass through the mountains,” Chong, another nomad, said.
Then he sang a song about two lovers whose people were at war. They were separated by a mountain, but they used Earthbending to create tunnels so they could meet secretly. It sounds so romantic! I wouldn’t mind checking it out, but Aang said no because Appa hates going underground. I guess I’ll have to check out the tunnels some other time.
The second we took off, the Fire Nation attacked us! So I’m going to get my wish after all– we’re going through the Cave of Two Lovers.
“Secret love cave, let’s go,” muttered Sokka.
Of course, he had no problem getting all lovey-dovey with Princess Yue. … I could tease him about that … but nah, I’ll let it go for now.
“The legend says that only those who trust in love can make it through the caves,” Chong said as we entered.
What does that mean? Trust that love will bring you to the right person, or trust the love you already feel for that person? I wonder if Gran Gran trusted in love, if that’s what made her leave Master Pakku and go south. Did she let love lead her to my grandfather instead? I wonder where love will lead me. …
What’s that sound? It’s getting louder! Now I hear wings flapping–wolf-bats! Now Appa’s going crazy, slamming into everything–
BOOM! Oh, no! The cave wall’s collapsing. Can’t see. Dust everywhere. AHH! The rock slide’s coming toward me!
In a flash Aang grabbed me and flew me just beyond the edge of the rock slide. Phew! But where are the others? It looks like they’re trapped on the other side of a mountain of rocks. “If we try to dig through, we’re going to cause the whole thing to cave in.”
“Sokka will find a way out,” Aang says.
“Let’s hope we can too.”
Okay, so, Aang, Appa, and I are making our way through the tunnels. Hey, there’s a huge round door–maybe it’s a way out!
“It’s a tomb,” Aang announces. “It must be the two lovers from the legend.”
Of course! They must’ve been buried here together. “Look, it says ‘Love is brightest in the dark.’ What do you think that means?”
Aang shrugs. “How are we going to find our way out of these tunnels?”
I guess that means he’s not answering my question. It would be nice if sometimes he would talk about his feelings WITHOUT me having to drag them out of him. Oh, well, I guess we should focus on getting out of here. They say that love is brightest in the dark … I wonder if … no. But what if it works? Or what if it causes … some confusion? We’ll never know until we try, right? “I have a crazy idea.”
“What?”
Oh, no. What if this is the worst idea ever? And I’m just caught up in some romantic dream with all this talk about the two lovers and trusting in love! He’ll think it’s stupid. Maybe he’ll even laugh at me. “Never mind. It’s too crazy.”
“Katara, what is it?”
“Well.” All right, here goes nothing. “The nomads told us that the curse says we’ll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love.”
“Right.”
“And next to this picture of the lovers kissing it says ‘Love is brightest in the dark.’”
“Where are you going with this?”
Oh, boy. He really doesn’t know what I’m getting at? Or wait, maybe he does but he doesn’t want to embarrass me so he’s pretending not to. Wait, that’s just crazy. This is not SO far-fetched; it IS the Cave of Two Lovers. Just say it. “What if we kissed?”
“Us, kissed?” Aang repeated.
He’s stunned; he’s numb from the shock. Now things are going to be all weird between us. I knew this was a mistake. “See, that WAS a crazy idea.” I have to play it down. “Us kissing. What was I thinking? Can you imagine that?” I guess Aang never thinks about kissing me. Strange, I was almost positive he had, too. Oh, well.
“Yeah, ha. I definitely wouldn’t want to kiss you.”
I guess he’s really NEVER thought about it. That’s fine–wait a minute! What? He definitely wouldn’t want to kiss ME? It’s not like I wanted to kiss HIM. I just suggested it because of that saying. How dare he? Am I so repulsive that he couldn’t ever imagine kissing me for any reason? I didn’t think it would be so bad … but apparently, HE did. Hmph. “Oh, well, I didn’t realize that it was such a horrible option.”
“No, I mean if it was a choice between kissing you and dying, I–”
So, the only way Aang would ever kiss me is if his other option was death! Nice to know he thinks so highly of me. “Well, if I had that choice I’m not sure which one I’d rather do!”
That’s it. I’m leaving. No use standing around looking at two lovers’ tombs–it’s just making me feel worse. They trusted in love and love found them. But what happens when I trust in love? NOTHING, because the person I put my trust in would rather die than kiss me.
Wait a minute, what am I getting so worked up about? I mean, I care about Aang a lot, but it’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything. We are just friends. And friends don’t kiss, so it’s not really fair for me to be mad at him.
Oh, no–our torches are starting to fade. Soon it’s going to be pitch-dark in here.
“We’re going to run out of light any second now, aren’t we?” Aang finally said.
“I think so.”
“Then what are we going to do?”
“What can we do?”
What’s he doing? It looks like he’s moving toward me. He’s moving closer and closer. Is he trying to kiss me? I thought he didn’t want–oops, the torches just went out! It’s totally dark; I can’t even make out where he is. … Okay, Katara, just close your eyes and go with it. …
Whoa! Lights just went on! They’re forming a path across the ceiling! Huh, I guess love really is brightest in the dark!
“They’re crystals,” Aang said. “They must only light up in the dark.”
“Of course. That’s how the two lovers in the legend found each other. They put out their lights and followed the crystals.”
We made it. We’re out!
And there’s Sokka, Momo, and the nomads! Looks like they’re riding badger-moles.
“How’d you get out?” Sokka called out.
“Just like the legend says, we let love lead the way,” Aang said.
Hmm, maybe love did lead the way. I’m still not exactly sure what that means, or what Aang means by saying it, but I guess we’ll have to leave that for another time.
“Really?” Sokka said. “We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way.”
So, now we’re heading toward Omashu’s front gate. The last time we were here, Sokka and I spent most of our time enclosed in creeping crystals–hope this visit is better than that!
Whoa, what’s going on? Something’s terribly wrong here. There’s a huge Fire Nation flag hanging from the city’s main wall. This is worse than we ever imagined. Omashu is in the hands of the Fire Nation!
Chapter 2
“I can’t believe it,” Aang said, hanging his head. “Omashu always seemed untouchable.”
It’s so unfair! The Fire Nation just keeps taking people Aang cares
about–first the Air Nomads, now King Bumi. “This is horrible, but we have to move on.”
“No. I’m going in to find Bumi.”
I knew it. I knew he wouldn’t stay focused. “Aang, let’s talk about this. There are other people who can teach you Earthbending.”
“This isn’t about finding a teacher; it’s about finding my friend,” Aang said sadly.
Well, I’m not leaving Aang. If he’s determined to go in, we’re going in with him.
We snuck into the city through a disgusting sewer pipe. Poor Sokka got covered by the mold and filth in the tunnel and ended up with little round marks all over his skin from tiny creatures called purple pentapi. But the pentapus marks helped us fool Fire Nation soldiers into thinking that Sokka had a contagious disease called pentapox! They stayed clear of us after hearing that. We were free to roam the city.
What’s that rumbling? It sounds like another rock slide. AHHH! Huge boulders are rolling down Omashu’s mail chutes–and they’re heading right for that family!
Aang quickly Airbended the boulders away from the family. Close call, though.
“The resistance!” shouted the woman.
The what?
Now the teenage girl is hurling flying daggers at us! What is she doing that for? Aang just saved her life. It doesn’t make any sense–AHHH! We’re falling through the ground!
Where are we? It looks like some kind of underground cavern. And who are all these people in uniform? Oh, the resistance!
“Is King Bumi with you guys?” Aang asked.
“Of course not!” a resistance member shouted angrily. “On the day of the invasion King Bumi surrendered!”
This doesn’t make any sense. Why would Bumi surrender? Aang looks devastated. …
“It doesn’t matter now,” said the man who turned out to be the resistance leader. “Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom, and freedom is worth giving anything for.”
“You could just leave Omashu,” Aang suggested. “You’re outnumbered, you can’t win. Retreat now and live to fight another day,” he said before leaving to find Bumi.
Sometimes I forget that he’s the Avatar. It’s funny, most of the time I just feel like I have to protect him from the Fire Nation, but actually he’s the one who’s protecting us. But we need to find him an Earthbending teacher, and if it isn’t going to be Bumi, we might have a long search ahead of us.
So, we’re not fighting; but how are we going to evacuate the thousands of citizens of Omashu with the Fire Nation’s permission?
“You’re all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox!” Sokka announced.
That’s it! It’s a perfect plan. I knew we could count on Sokka. He may be goofy sometimes, but he’s a master of schemes and solutions for all sorts of sticky situations.
By putting purple pentapus marks on all the Earth Kingdom citizens, they looked like they had some terrible disease. The Fire Nation governor ordered all the “sick” people to leave the city. So, we gathered on a hillside outside the city to plan our next move, but King Bumi is still nowhere to be seen. I guess I just have to trust that Aang will find his way back to us once he has Bumi. Aang IS the Avatar–I’m sure he’ll be fine …
Oh, look! There he is with Bumi’s pet, Flopsie. But no Bumi. Aang looks so upset.
“We’ve got a problem,” the resistance leader said suddenly.
Well, looks like we picked up an extra person–the Fire Nation governor’s baby son! He’s so cute! But how did he get mixed up with us? We can’t continue on with him–we’ll have to face them again.
It seems like the governor wants to trade his son for King Bumi! So Aang, Sokka, Appa, Momo, and I are heading back into the city for the trade.
Okay, there they are. There are three girls. That one I recognize! She was with that family we saw. They must be Fire Nation, she’s the governor’s daughter. But I have no idea who the others are. And where’s Bumi?
What’s that? It looks like a metal cage. It’s dropping down from above.
Thank goodness he’s still alive! Let’s just get this over with. I will be sad to give up this little fire baby, though. They’re still so cute before they know how to fight.
“The deal’s off!” yelled the governor’s daughter suddenly.
What happened? Now Bumi’s cage is shooting back up into the sky.
“Bumi, no!” Aang cried as he flew into the air, landing on Bumi’s cage.
“We’ve got to get the baby out of here!” I shouted, handing the little guy to Sokka.
I’ve got to help distract these girls so Aang can get a clean getaway. Oh, no! One of the Firebenders is following him!
Well, time to focus my energies on the girls who remain. Take that! An ice shield should halt her daggers–yup. Now let’s just encase her arm in ice–whoa, what’s that? Who’s that behind me? The third girl–she’s poking me with her fingers! What does she think that’ll do?
I’ll just Waterbend this puddle at her and–wait, what’s going on? Nothing happens when I try to Waterbend! That girl did something to me! She took away my bending ability!
“How are you going to fight without your bending?” snarled the girl with the flying daggers, preparing to fling one at me.
I’m completely powerless! There’s absolutely nothing I can do to stop her!
BOING! What’s that? YES! It’s Sokka’s boomerang, knocking the daggers from her hand!
“I seem to manage just fine without bending,” he said as he reached down and pulled me up onto Appa’s back.
My brother the warrior, here in the nick of time. He also returned the Fire Nation baby. Now we’re flying toward Aang, who is still without Bumi.
“Let’s go,” Aang said. “I’ll explain later.”
Well, looks like we’re finally leaving Omashu. At least we’re back on track to find Aang an Earthbending teacher. I still can’t believe that that girl somehow blocked me from bending. What if I never get my bending back?
As Appa soared above the Earth Kingdom, my bending ability slowly returned. I can’t believe how vulnerable I was to that attack without my bending. I guess we’re all vulnerable sometimes. I’m just glad it’s back.
I wonder where we should fly to next to find an Earthbending teacher. Aand said Bumi told him to find a teacher who waits and listens.
“Hey, Aang!” cried Sokka. “Why are you taking us down?”
We are flying down for some reason. But there’s nothing down there but a big swamp. …
“I think the swamp is calling to me,” Aang said. “Bumi told me that to learn Earth- bending I would have to wait and listen. And now I’m actually hearing the Earth.”
“I don’t know, Aang. There’s something ominous about this place.”
Then, out of nowhere, a giant tornado started zooming toward us. The funnel slammed right into us, sending me tumbling to the swamp below. Aang and Sokka landed nearby. But Appa and Momo are nowhere to be found.
We looked for them, but then it got dark, and now it’s time to set up camp for the night. …
AHH! Something’s grabbing my leg! Am I still dreaming? No, whatever it is, it’s real! Swamp vines–they’re dragging me into a thick mist. Got to cut myself free with a water whip.
Phew! I’m free. But where is everyone else? “Aang! Sokka!”
Nothing. They can’t hear me. I’m lost. What if I never find them? What if we never find Appa? Wait, who’s that? There’s a woman over there. “Hello? Can you help me?”
Why won’t she answer me? I’ll just get a little closer and–no, it can’t be. How can it be her? “Mom? Mom! Is it you?” I don’t believe it. I’ve missed her so much. And now when I need her most, when I’m lost and alone she comes back to me. It will be so amazing to have her back! All the things I can ask her about now–she can come with us so I never have to leave her side again. I can ask her what it means to trust in love. She’ll definitely know! “Mom, I–”
What? How can this be? She’s gone.
It doesn’t make sense. I saw her with my own eyes. She was right there! There’s something really strange about this place. She was so real, but it was never her. It was just my imagination. And now I miss her more than ever.
After I collected myself, I went looking for Aang and Sokka. They had visions too. And it turns out that the Swamp Monster is actually just a Waterbender whose job it is to protect the swamp. Anyway, we finally found Appa and Momo, too, and now we’re back en route to finding Aang an Earthbending teacher. We’re severely behind schedule at this point, but I guess there really isn’t anything we could do to fix that. We just have to hope that we find him a teacher who waits and listens soon.
Chapter 3
We’re finally somewhere that Aang has a chance at finding an Earthbending teacher, the town of Gaoling. Aang said he overheard two guys talking about an Earthbending competition, so he went to find out where it is.
“Excuse me, but where is this Earthbending competition, exactly?” Aang asked politely.
“It’s in the town of Nunya,” one guy answered. “Nunya business.”
Sometimes boys are so … idiotic. It’s not that hard to just tell us where it is–besides, the joke wasn’t that funny. I mean, Sokka laughed at it, but that’s not saying much. Aang looks so defeated. I’ll take care of this.
“Hey, strong guys, wait up!”
Look at them–they’re so narcissistic! I bet they think I’m impressed by their muscles. Ha! What girl would be impressed by guys who get their kicks out of making fun of other people? While their arrogance keeps them distracted, I’ll just get my skin of water out and–
THWACK! Ha! Head to toe icicles– horizontal icicles, that is. “So, where’s that Earthbending competition again?”
“Hey, Aang,” I shouted out, leaving my handiwork behind and rejoining the gang. “You ready to find an Earthbending teacher? Because we’re going to Earth Rumble Six.”