Chapter 6: Omashu

Book 2 Episode 3

I have a feeling that despite our preparations, this might turn out similarly to how it would have in canon. But that's what I'm here for. I'm good at thinking on my feet.

Climbing the construction platform under cover of the heavy mist sets my mind at ease a little. Even though Aang said earlier that he has a good feeling about this, I'm glad to be surrounded by my most useful weapon. It can only help against a firebender since their style is generally to produce larger flames than there is water. But if water is everywhere, well, the princess can punch flames all she wants before she's an icicle.

Additionally, the five earthbenders beneath our feet are on the lookout for enemy soldiers and ready to defend us immediately.

We're not there for long when three figures appear on the other end of the platform. We can only see them as dark smudges against the fog, but I'm fairly confident that we're close to invisible with our light blue clothing and the masks. Except for Aang, of course. He'll be an obvious target.

The sound of a metal chain rattling fills the air, and I can feel where the fog is misplaced by the coffin's passage. Lovely.

Aang takes a few steps forward and I follow while Katara and Sokka stay behind. The child in my arms is oddly quiet, probably feeling the tension. "Hi everybody!", King Bumi exclaims and if there's ever a time that one can hear insanity, it's in this man's voice. He touches down with a muffled thump behind the three women.

"You brought my brother?", a cool voice asks, also muffled by the thickening fog. Katara must be busy behind us.

"He's here. We are ready to trade", Aang says, very seriously. His eyes, instead of cataloguing the shifts in posture from the figures in front of us, are fixed on a probably grinning Bumi.

Of course, instead of completing the trade, the princess decides it's time to attempt an arrest. "I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?"

"Of course not, Princess Azula."

Sokka draws in a slow, deliberate breath. So he's heard of her, then. Even in the Northern Watertribe I never heard much about her, but it was always made clear that she is as ruthless as she is dangerous. Which I already knew. But then again, it'll be different seeing it for myself. It always is.

"We're trading a two-year-old for a king", ah, lovely. I wonder how that makes Mai feel, but I can't make out her features. Which is good, because it means she can't see ours either, but I do wonder if some of her resentment that she held for Azula festered here. After all, while Zuko left her to run around with Team Avatar, she still went against Azula for him. "A powerful, earthbending king."

"Mmh-hm", Bumi says. Aw, man. I suppose it was too much to hope that he would have mastered patience already. Or something. I remember him saying something about waiting for the right moment to strike.

"It just doesn't seem a fair trade, does it?", well, she does have a point. And since she would hardly care if it were her own brother, she probably figures that Mai feels the same. I drift backwards and allow Katara's mist to thicken around me.

"You're right", she tells Azula and takes a few steps forward to raise her left hand, "The deal's off."

And with that, the chain can be heard rattling once more and she shadow of the coffin ascends. "Whoa! See you guys later!", Bumi shouts.

Aang is not about to let him go, "Bumi!"

He rushes forward, jumps over Azula's blue fire and launches himself into the air on his glider. The mist is thick enough around me that I can't see him anymore, but Azula seems to have no such problems, "The Avatar! My lucky day."

She probably launches herself after Aang in pursuit and I hear two pairs of footsteps coming towards us. Poor, poor non-benders. Katara manages to intercept one of them, so it falls to me to take down the other. With a shift in my stance, I take hold of the mist around me and stretch my senses. Lighter footsteps, come at me directly. Probably the circus girl, then. It's all too easy to coat the wooden planks with ice and it's even easier to use her startled skid to get behind her as she whooshes past me. I make sure to keep a good distance from her. She used to perform in a circus, I have no idea how quickly she can regain her balance or how good an actress she is.

With a twist, she is back on her way towards me, feet now steady on the ice. I make it liquid again and catch her feet before freezing them. Then I set about closing the mist tightly around her form and freezing it.

There are noises beneath my feet, a scuffle between our benders and someone else. I decide to go help and find a ladder. The fog is less thick down here, but that helps me see where I can best help. Either the firebenders aren't bending for fear of setting the wood on fire, or these are regular soldiers. They are surprisingly well-trained to work against earthbenders.

But clearly, a waterbender working with earthbenders is too much for them to handle on their own. Not, that the earthbenders are used to back-up in the form of suddenly choking soldiers who can't get their own spit out from their windpipes.

It's almost too easy. Which is why I am very, very suspicious. Maybe they've already managed to tag someone and have the means to track them, us. It seems plausible. After all, Fire Nation is usually one for frontal assaults and attacking from behind, if possible. Not sure about those tactics with Azula here, though. We'll have to take it as it comes, I suppose. With no idea of how her brain works, I can't predict anything and so, countermeasures will have to be taken within moments.

If they're going with the tracking method, they'll probably go after the kid. And me. Wonderful. I should probably stay in the city. "Hey, you", I pick one of the benders, "You and I are going to lay a false trail. The rest of you, get out of the city and go underground to the camp. If we're not back by sunrise, move on without us."

They all nod and aside from the one I wanted with me, they all disappear. Heh, most of the time you just have to tell people what to do, and if it seems plausible, they'll do it. Good thing, that. It's also a good thing that they have their commander back in camp to make sure they're not attacked. I'm not one for too much responsibility.

Carefully, I stick my head up to see what's going on with Katara and Sokka. They're both still there, thankfully. "Hey, wanna come with us, or go after Aang?", I ask, and it turns out that both of them want to leave the Avatar to his joyride with Azula. That's both good and bad. Good because Aang can have his chat with Bumi, bad because if we're all scented, or tagged, or whatever else they come up with, it'll be easy to follow both Team Avatar and me. Well, if it's scent, I can manage to wash it off with Katara's help.

We get to one of the entrances to the tunnels beneath the city. "Alright", I say, gather mist tightly around our group and we are swallowed by the ground. "Gotta wash off our scent", I say and nod to Katara. We work in tandem, she douses each one of our group and I remove the water from their skin and clothing. She even takes extra care with the baby strapped to my chest. He complains a little, but burrows back into my shirt. Seems he's tired.

There isn't much for us to do now, but wait.

"For fear of sounding like Aang, but… I'm pretty bored", Sokka announces. Of course. He needs some kind of problem to solve and keep him occupied. It's probably one of the reasons why he's such a great strategist. He also understands people, as I have been unfortunate enough to find out. I don't think I'll have to worry about him much. But then again, maybe he needs to be worried about the most. He'll be the one with the common sense. Not, that he isn't now. But he knows that I can be reasoned with, whereas his sister is an explosive powder keg on the best of days and Aang is twelve. Enough said.

Objectively, looking at my own successes and failures, I have constantly underestimated my enemy. First with Zhao, then with General Fong. Of course, those situations were partially out of my sphere of influence, but I'm hardly about to make that mistake a third time. Especially with Azula. She's a rare kind of intelligent. I could hypothesise that she's a sociopath, since that time during the solar eclipse Toph was only barely able to tell when she lied.

Although I do wonder what it is she feels for Zuko. While she has tried to kill him on multiple occasions, has tormented him throughout his childhood and manipulates him constantly, I am sure she could murder him if she really wanted to. In the fragile state he is in now, she has the upper hand in every equation that does not involve Iroh. Which leads me to wonder, what does she feel for her uncle? Some measure of fear, I'm sure. Suppressed admiration, perhaps? He is a hard man not to admire.

I'll be glad to see him again. I wonder if he and Zuko are already in Ba Sing Se.

There are few things I can know with certainty these days. My presence here alone has brought many changes, small as they might be. I think that it might be time for a larger change than I am capable of on my own.

Thankfully, I have just the person in mind.

I know where he is and roughly understand his motivations. The problem is that he isn't the kind to listen to 'Could you possibly bide your time to retake your city in an efficient and productive manner to the Avatar's cause?'. Perhaps I'll get further with 'That metal box can't be comfortable. Do you really want to have to sit in your own excrements until the time is right?'. It would persuade me.

King Bumi, as most would agree, is first and foremost insane. He is also a genius the likes of which only Toph outstrips. He clearly has values the Avatar can get behind. More importantly, he is a known leader to the people. His decision to let the Fire Nation take Omashu was designed to be the one with the least casualties. Had he surrendered to Azula, I'm sure she would not have been nearly as civil about it as Mai's father was. I also know he helped Iroh retake Ba Sing Se.

That's another change I'd like to make. If these two cities, Omashu and Ba Sing Se, were the only bastions of the Earth Kingdom's strength, why not form another more formidable one? There are plenty of earthbenders in the camp to build an entire fortress within weeks. Why not choose a strategically sound stretch of land with access to sea through either underwater tunnels or a river and build a city. A city erected entirely for the purpose of a revolution.

Now, this isn't supposed to become a delusion of grandeur. It is meant to be a symbol of hope and freedom. Fight for it if you want, be a farmer if you don't. Open a bleeding tea shop, if you're into that.

My largest obstacle to this are the resources we lack. The trade routes that would need to be established are another problem. So we start small. I have no intentions of overreaching. That could be worse than scattering the fighters.

"Does he always get this vacant expression?", the earthbender I ordered around asks, a slightly worried note in his voice.

"Kind of", Sokka replies, glancing at me with an odd glint in his eyes.

"No, definitely", Katara says. Ouch. And here I was, thinking I might be making some progress with her. "But he only looks that way to appear harmless."

Hearing that warms my heart, truly.

The earthbender shudders, "Ah, yes. I recall the way those men suddenly began choking. I'm sure he could have done much worse than that."

"He has", Katara mutters darkly.

"He also saved our lives on multiple occasions", Sokka throws in like the loyal person he is.

"He bended their spit, Sokka! Who even thinks of something like that?"

Someone creative, dear Katara. It's not like it's very tricky with the basic knowledge of anatomy that I have. That she has. Is she aware how dangerous benders are?

Because it's not only me who can do that. Aang could stop the air flowing through someone's windpipe if he were so inclined. I'm not entirely sure about this, but I think there's a possibility that firebenders could remove all body heat from someone they touch, or boil them alive. And earthbenders… the human body is carbon-based, isn't it? If a bender can manage to decompose earth at it's base, maybe they could do the same to a human body.

"Ah, but you can't deny it wasn't effective", the earthbender throws in, in an unexpected show of support. Must've been a soldier for a while, then.

I hum quietly and blink my eyes owlishly, as if awaking from a daydream. I turn to Sokka, "Sokka. What would be the most strategically sound place for a base of operations for resistance fighters? Consider trade routes, access and visibility. Don't worry about the lack of other buildings or previous inhabitants. The terrain can be altered."

Instead of questioning me he puts his thinking face on. I suppose he knows that Katara's expression means he won't have to. I sigh in her direction, shift the sleeping kid around a little and shrug. "As you know, I am travelling with you guys because it's convenient and the Avatar needs a teacher", I hold my hand up to stop any arguments, "Well, it turns out, as of tomorrow, it'll be more convenient for my plans to leave you to it. And Aang has you to teach him all the katas he was too bored with to learn. Now all you guys have to do is get creative. I, on the other hand, intend to see if I can't help out the resistance fighters here."

Her mouth snaps shut. Her eyes flicker all over my face. Then she sets her chin determinedly.

"Teach me."

I furrow my brow. "You're your own master, Katara."

"You-", she begins, cuts herself off, takes a deep breath and stares at me with determined focus, "Teach me the way you think."

"Ah", I say and smile at her without condescension. "To think like me, you would need to come to a great many conclusions about possibility."

"Possibility?", she repeats.

"Yes. What are the limits, Katara? What are the boundaries you have set yourself not to cross, and which are the boundaries society has made you believe? Where is the end to the possibilities?"

"Metalbending", the earthbender answers immediately.

I nod at him, "Yes, your fellow benders have made you believe it is impossible, and so, for you, it is. Other limits are societal ones. There are things I could do as a man that you would never even consider as a woman. Then physical laws. Aang defies gravity every day. With the right invention, you could, too."

Silence, then, "The key to creativity, Katara, is inspiration. A thought that spirals into possibility. Keep your eyes open. You might find inspiration in the most unlikely of faces."

"Faces?", she repeats again.

I smile wanly, "Or other body parts, if you're into that."

She blushes heavily.

"Or places", the earthbender adds, stonecold. He and I will be good friends.

I nod at him, "Those, too."

"Speaking of places", Sokka re-joins the conversation, "You know Full Moon Bay?"

I give a nod. Yes, the map detailed the place, but it's so close to Ba Sing Se that I'm not sure I like it. And isn't that where all the refugees cross over to the city?

"Anywhere in the area around it should be fine, so long as whatever you build is hidden from sight. And if you can tunnel through to the other side, that river that flows by the mountains of Omashu gives you easy access to the open sea. Disguised as Fire Nation it should be no problem to get past the battlements."

He's not wrong. He's actually very right. What would it take for me to make our ships look like regular patrols? What would it take to keep suspicious eyes away?

Is it possible to sway soldiers and citizens to our side even now? What is stronger than a century of propaganda? Omashu is a tricky terrain for a first start to begin with. The soldiers have just taken a city. This little incident today will show them that when they do not know to make use of their own home advantage, they will get their noses bloodied. But I'm sure they have something planned. I am fairly certain that if they haven't attacked the camp by now, they will be in position to take the resistance forces out as soon as they move.

So, why not take the city?

Why not have the resistance fighters return through the front gates?

"Sokka. Katara", I say and look at each of them, then I turn to the earthbender with a grin, "And you."

"My name is O-Ting", he introduces. I shake his hand, "Kaito." We nod at each other, both not men of many words where they are unnecessary.

I rub my hands together. I have a feeling I would look more menacing without the baby strapped to my chest. "We are going to liberate Omashu. Today."

"WHAT?", Katara shouts. I didn't stutter, did I?

O-Ting begins to laugh. Surprisingly enough, it's not disbelieving. Yes, we will be great friends. Sokka's jaw looks like it might reach the floor soon. Maybe the u-turn from a possible new hideout to retaking Omashu was too much for him. Although many things appear to be too much for him, and he still comes around. He's very adaptable. That's a very good trait to have. Sokka has many of those.

"Sokka, think of how we can best retake the city. O-Ting, think about how we can get the word to the camp and how to let them know to lay traps for the Fire Nation troops breathing down their necks. Katara, when you heard her talk, what did you think of Azula?"

"Azula?" Right, they won't have been introduced properly yet.

"The Fire Nation Princess. Zuko's younger sister. She's the one who's chasing down Aang right now", I do wonder how that fight is going. I remember Aang had enough time to speak with Bumi alone. Somehow, I'm not quite sure it's going to be the same now.

"She seemed… cruel. Isn't Tom-Tom the other girl's younger brother?"

"Yes, he is. And Azula isn't so wrong in her assessment. If we had Bumi, I don't think there's much his soldiers wouldn't be ready to do. On top of that, I'm not lugging this extra weight around with me for much longer. Which means returning him to his family."

She frowns, but nods, concedes the point. Good. If she can reason with me, and I with her, she will have a much easier time with stubborn personalities, like she and I are. "She was fast. She could identify Aang through the mist."

"Yes, she could. So aside from being cruel, intelligent and quick, we know she wants the Avatar. Be it to take that victory away from her brother, or to rise further in her father's good graces. I'm sure that, should she see Aang leave the city, she would follow without hesitation. Which would leave the city governed by a man who wants his son back. A man, who actually believed in a made-up illness. Granted, you all looked very sickly to me, but instead of quarantining you, he allowed you to leave. I'm sure Azula's arrival has changed his perspective. The question is, how much?"

Katara sits there and frowns, deep in thought.

O-Ting clears his throat, "We could borrow one of the messenger hawks. But that would make the commander suspicious. At this point, I think it would be easier to let him figure it out himself. If the gates are open, Fire Nation spilling out, the Avatar gone on his way with the Fire Nation Princess hot on his heels, the commander will send someone in to scout out the situation. If we meet that scout, it should be fine. He will decide to come back and face the Fire Nation troops within the walls of the city, I'm sure."

"Right", I decide to say as I mull over his reasoning. I suppose that this scout could find us relatively easily once the city is liberated. But what if we need more manpower? Depending on our course of action, Katara or I could use Appa as transport through the mist and make contact with the resistance. It might become necessary no matter which actions we take. The knowledge that we are working on a way to return them to their home would be very good for morale. And as everyone who has read any book, watched any film or anime knows: you've already lost if you don't have the will to fight.

"But how will they know to leave traps for the Fire Nation troops?", I ask and he thinks on that some more.

"He will be worried about losing his position as governor", Katara says carefully, "And while he will want his son returned to him, he knows trading Bumi is not on the table. He won't order the soldiers out of the city in exchange either. So what do we want that he has, that he will trade?"

That's a very good question… Oh.

I have an idea. "How about", I begin slowly, a grin stretching my mouth, "We tell him to order a free passage for the already escaped resistance fighters? He will mistake our intentions for wanting to retreat in safety if we can't have King Bumi. I don't think that even Azula would suspect us turning the other way. It could be what she might do, but since she thinks of herself as superior, she won't believe we aren't going for the straightforward approach."

O-Ting looks vaguely amazed, in a very stoic way and Katara and Sokka's faces bear mirror smiles.

"Okay", I touch my palms together softly, so I don't wake the baby. "If this works, where do the Fire Nation troops closing in on the resistance fighters go?"

"Back to the city?", Katara suggests.

I point a finger at her and nod, then turn to O-Ting. "Do you know the terrain around the city?"

"I do."

"Which routes could they take and which ones are the most likely? Do you think they would take multiple ones? Where would they hide if they decided to ambush the fighters later? What about that horde we encountered trying to get past the mountain instead of through the Lover's Cave?", oh, this is so exciting. Maybe my decision to go with the Avatar was the superior one after all. I might not even have to give up on that third Earth Kingdom stronghold. If this campaign succeeds, I will probably be in the resistance's good graces. They might decide to help me carve out that niche in Full Moon Bay.

And Bumi. That man could do his waiting-for-the-most-opportune-moment-stint somewhere he might dole out a great deal of damage to the Fire Nation while he waits. Oh, and if I manage to get something coherent out of him regarding ideas about working on the minds of Fire Nation citizens and soldiers, that would be magnificent! Changes, changes.