Fire and Aether

Chapter 6: The King of Omashu

      "Behold!" Aang said, throwing his arms out. "The Earth kingdom city of Omashu!"
      Rose giggled. "This is where Aang and I would come to visit our friend, Bumi."
      "Well, c'mon, let's go slowpokes!" 
      "Oh wait, we're gonna need disguises!" Rose said, using her power to pull a veil from the aether.
     She quickly put it on, using the longer side to cover her unusual hair. The other side consisted of a smaller strip of cloth that she used to cover her face just below her eyes.
    "What about me?" Aang asked. Rose grinned before pulling out a hat that perfectly covered the top of his head. 
    "Wait a minute!" Katara said, then using some of Appa's fur to make a fake mustache. "Perfect!"
    "You look like my grandfather!" Sokka joked. 
     "Well c'mon then whippersnappers!" Aang joked right back in his best impression of an old man.
     Rose laughed.
                           * * * * *
     As they reached the gates, they saw a man getting his cart blown off the side of the mountain as he screamed, "No! My cabbages!"
     "I'll go first. If I can get through, it'll be easier for you three."  Rose whispered. She then moved toward the group of male earthbenders. They lowered their guard as she approached and flirted with them. Finally, they simply let her in.
    "Well, that was easy." Sokka said.
    "Yea let's hope we're as lucky." Katara replied. 
    They moved forward next. Aang played the part of an old man perfectly and they seemed in the clear, following Rose. "Wait a second." They stopped, thinking they'd been caught. "You seem like a strong young man." The guard pointed at Sokka. "Show some respect for the elderly and carry your grandfather's bag."
    "What a swell idea!" Aang said in his old man voice and tossed the bag to Sokka. Rose quietly giggled.
    Three large columns of earth was opened to let the group through. Once inside, Aang started reminiscing the time that he, Rose, and Bumi used the mailing system as a super slide. Moments later, the group was sitting inside one of the things used for packages.
    While Rose and Aang cheered, the siblings screamed in fear. After a series of misadventures involving an earthbender package delivery guy, a giant vase, a lemur fighting Momo, and the cabbage guy, they finally landed, at the anger of the aforementioned cabbage guy. That's when the guards showed up.
                           * * * * *
    They were escorted straight to the palace to be judged by the king. The old man sat on his throne, his brow raised when a familiar girl and a familiar boy entered.
    "Your majesty, these juveniles were arrested for vandalism, travelling under false pretenses, seducing the guard, and malicious destruction of cabbages."
    "Off with their heads!" The cabbage guy yelled. "One for each head of cabbage!"
    "Silence! Only the king can pass down judgment! Sire?"
    The king was silent for awhile, contemplating, until he finally responded, "Throw them...a feast."
    Everyone just stood in silent shock.
                          * * * * *
    "So tell me young bald one and gypsy girl, where do you come from?"
    "The Mystic Isles." Rose said at the same time as Aang answered, "Kangaroo Island."
    "So Kangaroo Island. I hear that place is really hopping." Someone coughed. "And the Mystic Isles. How...mystical." Another cough. "Well all these good jokes are making me tired. I guess it's time to hit the hay."
    He threw a chicken leg at Aang who used his airbending to catch it. In the process, the air whipped off Rose's veil, revealing her face and fiery locks. 
    "Aha! We have an airbender in our presence." the king said. "And such unusual hair, my dear. Why, the only woman I know who looks like that would be the Avatar. So, tell me, am I correct?"  
                      * * * * * 
    "Ok you caught me." Rose said, standing. "But if you know I'm the Avatar, then you know I'm here to save the world and protect our people."
    The king said nothing. "Let us leave!" Katara shouted.
    "Katara, I don't think that'll work. He's crazy." Sokka whispered.
    "Tomorrow, the Avatar will face three deadly challenges. Take them to their chambers."
    The guard got into a conversation with the king on which one until he finally responded with the refurbished chamber that was once bad. The room was quite nice with four beds arranged in a circle with comfy green sheets.
    While Sokka and Aang argued on the best way out, Rose simply resigned herself. She had to prepare for whatever this crazy king threw at her. 
    Crazy did not even begin to cover the tests he threw at her but she managed to win them all. But when he asked her his name, she already knew. Why else had he designed tests she'd already won before?
    "Only one person has ever called me Mini. I missed you, Bumi."
    "I missed you too, Mini." He said, engulfing her in a hug.
    He set Katara, Sokka, and Aang free from the creeping crystals. Aang immediately ran to give Bumi a hug too. Then they introduced their friends.
    "I tested you for a reason, Rose. The day is coming quickly. You must master the five elements and defeat Fire Lord Ozai. And, unfortunately, he will not be as easy to defeat as my guards. You'll need to think like a mad genius."
    "Thanks." Rose said, hugging him again.