THE OTHER AIRBENDER (Book 1)

(V) Water

"Hey, Sokka," I say, as we all climb down from Appa's back. "Check this out!"

I start doing the hand movements and positions Aang taught me and attempt to make an airscooter, but I something goes terribly wrong, and instead, I accidentally create an airball that hits Sokka on the face harshly and knocks him back.

"Oops. Sorry."

"One airbender was painful enough. Why did it have to be two?" Sokka complains.

"Guys! We're here!" Aang says and we all join him to gaze at the distant walled city before us. "The Earth Kingdom city of Omashu! I used to always come here to visit my friend Bumi."

"Wow. We don't have buildings like this in the South Pole!" Katara notes immediately.

Sokka seems just as impressed. "They have buildings here that don't melt!"

"Well let's go, slow pokes. The real fun's inside the city!" Aang urges excitedly.

"Wait, Aang! It could be dangerous if people find out you're the Avatar," Katara says.

"Yeah, and we sure don't want Zuko driving us out of here, too," I add.

"You need a disguise!" Sokka notes.

"So what am I supposed to do?" Aang retorts. "Grow a mustache?"

That gives me an idea. I turn toward Appa and brush his fur with my fingers, managing to grab all the loose fuzz. Once I gather enough fur, I grab a headband from Katara's things and place it over Aang's head. "There."

"Ugh. This is so itchy," Aang complains, briefly glancing at Appa. "How do you live in this stuff?"

"Great! Now you look just like my grandfather," Sokka notes sarcastically.

"Well, technically he's 112 years old," Katara says with a shrug.

"Now let's get to skippin', young whipper-snappers. The big city awaits!" Aang says with his impression of an old man's voice.

We follow him along the path to the city. I can only hope that the disguise works, because if it doesn't... Well, we'd be in serious trouble. I try to ignore the devastating chasm on either side of the road. Being an airbender with an occasional fear of heights really stinks sometimes.

"You guys are going to love Omashu. The people here are the friendliest in the world," Aang says, as we finally arrive at the gates.

"Rotten cabbages?! What kind of slum do you think this is?!" One of the guards tells a man with a cart, before earthbending the cart and all its cabbages into the chasm next to us.

My mouth gapes open. "You said friendliest, right?"

"Just keep smiling!" Aang mutters back, as we cautiously approach the gates.

The guards scan us from head to toe. "State your business!"

"My business is my business, young man, and none of yours! I've got half a mind to bend you over my knee and paddle your backside!" Aang says, using his old man impression.

We're dead. We're about to join the cabbages.

But to my surprise, the guard seems taken aback, yet convinced. "Settle down, old timer! Just tell me who you are."

"Name's Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis, the Third, and these are my grandkids."

He just had to go and choose the silliest last name, didn't he?

"Hi. June Pippinpaddleopsicopolis. Nice to meet you," Katara chimes in quickly, before nudging my arm slightly, as if telling me to join in.

"Uh... Yeah. And I'm A..." come on, think. Any name. "April. Yeah, April Pippinpaddleopsicopolis."