Our next stop, one of the most strong Earth Kingdom cities.

Aang and I skipped to the top of a hill, the rest behind us.

"I want to know how much this place changed" I said, wonder and curiosity in my voice as I eyed the entire pyramid structured city that was Omashu.

"So, am I" Aang nodded in agreement as he turned to face the others, spreading his arms wide, smiling excitedly "The Earth Kingdom city of Omashu! We used to always come here to visit our friend Bumi"

I nodded. Ah, Bumi. That crazy earthbender kid. I always had a headache with all of his cryptic words.

"Wow" Katara said impressed, "We don't have buildings like this in the South Pole!"

Sokka looked at the city, overwhelmed. "They have buildings here that don't melt!"

I smiled excitedly, "Well, let's go, slow pokes" I began walking, Aang by my side "The real fun's inside the city!"

Aang and I leaped off the top of the hill with our airbending, landing a few meters below in the snow, starting to slide down.

"Wait, guys!" I heard Katara cry out, stopping and looking up at her, Aang doing the same "It could be dangerous if people find out you're the Avatar, Kai. And if they find out Aang is a master airbender"

Aang and I exchanged hesitant looks

"You need a disguise" Sokka told us

Aang frowned, looking up "So what are we supposed to do?" He glanced at me, slightly sarcastic "Grow a mustache?"

I crossed my arms curiously

~8~

Okay, let's never hear Aang's horrible suggestions. It can lead to really uncomfortable situations.

Aang had a patch of Appa's fur in his face, acting as a mustache with a tall wig made of Appa's fur. All that to hide his bald head and his arrow. Aang was scratching underneath the wig uncomfortably, and wiggling his nose under the fake mustache

"Ugh. This is so itchy" Aang whined. I had another wig of Appa's fur hiding my brown hair and the arrow in my forehead, Appa's fur was itchy and some stray fur fell to my eyes.

I looked at Appa, scratching my head "Ugh. How do you live in this stuff?"

Appa slowly turned his heard toward me, snorting. I gaped indignantly.

Sokka and Katara were in front of us. Sokka siting in a rock and Katara standing next to him.

Sokka had his arms crossed "Great! Now you look just like my grandparents"

Katara glanced at Sokka. "Technically, they're 112 years old"

Aang nimbly kicked up his staff, spinning it rapidly around before placing it upright on the ground to be used as a walking stick, hunching his back, leaning heavily on his staff like an old person. "Now, let's get to skippin', young whipper-snappers" he used an old man's voice "The big city awaits!"

He shuffled away, walking toward Omashu.

I looked at the siblings, leaning heavily in my staff like Aang did "Deal with it, my children" I said with a grin, using an old woman's voice before hunching, starting to follow Aang "Wait for me, my darling. I'm still not so light on my feet like we used to do, oho!"

The four of us walked down the long path to Omashu. When we arrived at the center, we looked around walking closer to the gates.

"You guys are going to love Omashu" Aang told them

I looked over my shoulder at them, smiling. "The people here are the friendliest in the world"

My eyes widened in surprise by hearing a harsh voice of the sentry. The four of us stopped walking, seeing a gate guard angrily squishing a cabbage from a cabbage merchant, knocking two other cabbages out of the merchant's hands, earthbending a rock under the cart, catapulting it high in the air, making it tumble down the chasm with all the cabbages.

The Cabbage merchant leaned over the rim of the path, waving his arms in despair "No! My cabbages!"

I blinked in stunned silence, forcing a broad smile, slightly nervous "Don't stop smiling!"

Aang and I linked arms, walking over the guards, acting as an old couple as we reached the earthbender guard who took a step forward, raising a boulder out of the ground before us, levitating it above our heads

I let out a high pitched scream, acting scared

The gate guard glared at us, "State your business!" He said aggressively

Aang unlinked his arm from mine, quickly running from underneath the boulder and toward the guard, stopping right in front of the surprised man, poking his chest "My business is my business, young man and none of yours!" Aang threateningly pointed his finger at the guard's face who looked taken back. Sokka grabbed my arms and pulled me backwards, seeing the boulder shaking and then falling thanks to the lack of concentration of the guard. "You scared my wife! She's fragile, you know?"

The guard looked toward me and I faked a whimper, shaking my hands and widening my eyes fearfully as I leaned against Sokka's shoulder. The gate guard swallowed, bowing his head in sorry. Once he looked toward Aang again, my fearful expression shifted to a smug smile, looking at Katara's and and Sokka's expression for the audacity of Aang speaking like that to the guard and my acting skills.

"This is fun" I whispered to myself, grinning

"I've got half a mind to bend you over my knee and paddle your backside!" Aang threatened

I pursed my lips, preventing myself from cackling to the guard's expression.

"Settled down, old timer" The Gate guard said in a calmer voice "Just tell me who you are"

I smiled

"Name's Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis, the Third" Aang told him. I walked closer, linking my arm with Aang's again as he introduced me "My wife, Mako Pippinpaddleopsicopolis and these are our grandkids"

Katara walked up, smiling friendly, waving at the guard "Hi. June Pippinpaddleopsicopolis. Nice to meet you"

The Gate guard rubbed his beard pensively while eying Katara and Sokka, pointing at her, "You seem like a responsible young lady. See that your grandparents stays out of trouble" he stepped aside, motioning at the city's entrance "Enjoy Omashu!"

Katara smiled lightheartedly. "We will!"

We began walking toward the gate when the guard suddenly called out, "Wait a minute!" We stopped, exchanging wide eyed looks, turning to face him calmly seeing him put a hand on Sokka's shoulder, turning him around sternly. Sokka looked scared "You're a strong young boy! Show some respect for the elderly and carry your grandfather's bag!"

Sokka's fear changed to annoyance as Aang removed his shoulder bag.

"Good idea" Aang used his old man's voice, throwing the bag at Sokka. It bounced off his head to drop into his arms.

Sokka looked at Aang annoyed

The four of us finally made our way to the gates with no more distractions.

We stopped before a big Earth Kingdom emblem on the wall. The giant earthen wall split open in the middle of the emblem, opening up to let any passengers through. The guard opened up the gate walls. As the first wall slid open, a second and third were bent aside as well.

Aang and I smiled at the awed looks of Katara and Sokka as we walked through as the walls already started to move again to close right after us

I glanced at Aang when Momo's ears popped out of his wig "I'm not gonna ask" I giggled as Momo's head popped out of his wig. "What do you think?"

Katara and Sokka were taking in the city excitedly. "Wow" they spoke at the same time.

I followed their gaze toward an intricate system of chutes. I smiled in excitement recognizing the delivery system

"This is the Omashu delivery system" Aang explained "Miles and miles of tubes and chutes. Earthbending brings the packages up, and gravity brings them down"

I looked at Aang seeing the mischievous expression in his face. Great! He was going to bring up Bumi's fun

"Great, so they get their mail on time" Sokka said unimpressed

"They do get their mail on time" Aang grinned mischievously, turning to face me. I eyed him in boredom. "But our friend Bumi found a better use for these chutes"

Right. The crazy Bum. Can't say I was glad to see him that much even if he was fun

~8~

I eyed the city before me in boredom. Kyo had taken me and Aang to visit Omashu but I wasn't having that much fun

"Someone ate something sour" I turned to face Bumi. He was a crazy kid, yet he somehow became my friend.

"I'm just bored" I said twirling a strand of my hair, using airbending to blew it slightly.

Bumi's grin grew if it was possible "Cause you have a closed mind. Come on. Do no think with your head, Ki-Ki" he pointed toward the mail system "Tell me what you see. Use your fun airhead thinking!" He knocked on my head lightly "You got to open your brain to the posibilites"

"A package sending system?" I asked without doing what he asked me to.

Bumi eyed me in bemusement, "I could see you thinking, my friend" he laughed "Open your imagination! See it as the world's greatest superslide!"

I looked back at the mail delivery system, a smile making its way to my face as I began imagining like he asked me to "Oh! I can see it!" I jumped in excitement, turning to see a crazed smiling Bumi. "Bumi, you're a mad genius!"

~8~

I chuckled in melancholy remembering how once Aang, Bumi and I challenged each other riding the 'superslide' using our bending.

Seeing Aang's expression, I knew he wanted to do the same, and a little bit of competence didn't hurt anyone, right?

Aang was sitting in a mail cart. Katara was with him.

I looked at Aang challengingly, Sokka looking uneasy from behind me in the same mail cart.

"One ride" Aang raised a finger. "One small competence between the four of us and then we're off to the North Pole"

I nodded seriously, starting to smile "Airbender's honor"

Katara looked uneasy, looking at her cart and Aang before looking at me and Sokka in the other cart. "It sounded like fun at first" she looked down at the steepness of the chute of our two lines. Aang and I paid no attention to her, starting at each other challengingly, mentally counting to three. "But now that I'm here, I'm starting to have second-" Aang and I leaned forward, tipping the balance of the boxes, sending them down the slope at a tremendous speed, making Katara scream out her last word."Th-o-o-oughts!"

I laughed happily, hearing Sokka scream in fright. I glanced at the other slope where Aang and Katara were riding. Katara was screaming in fright and Aang was shouting happily.

I glanced at Sokka, smiling brightly.

Both slopes had the same path, the competence was to see who was faster. We had a slight little trouble in the way, but nothing to stop us completely from the competence.

At one point, Aang's cart broke through the railing crossing the track, knocking over one of the supply carts, spilling a load of pumpkins all over the ground. The knocked over cart fell on the track right in front of my cart. I used airbending to avoid crashing into it as we entered to a chute.

"Cheater!" I yelled at Aang, laughing.

"Kai!" I heard Sokka call out to me. "Do something! Use your airbending"

I grinned, misunderstanding him "Yes! That way we can gain on them again" I used airbending from behind me, speeding even faster. I caught Aang's eye, winking at him as I sped past them.

I could hear Aang airbending as well to catch me. "Hey! Who's the cheater now?!"

We were now shoulder to shoulder as we sped down the chute. We passed by a restaurant, where a couple was eating together, flashing by them. There was an earthbender waiting for the arrival of a cart but I sped by him, waving.

I don't know how it happened but suddenly, Aang's cart crashed against another, catapulting him and Katara and their cart into the air, high above a lower level of the city where they crashed against a house.

"Come on! The challenge is now over" I grabbed Sokka's parka, using airbending to jump us away from the cart before it could crash and jumped from chute to chute, running toward the roofs they rode through toward where Aang and Katara fell. Once we got there, I let Sokka go to fall next to his sister while I used the head of the cabbage merchant accidentally making him drop his cabbage, landing softly to the ground.

"Waste of ride" I clicked my tongue, shaking my head in amusement while hearing the merchant shout in despair for his cabbages. I looked up at the merchant when he yelled at us angrily that we were going to pay. "Sorry!"

"Two cabbages" Aang sit up, scratching his head. He had no longer his disguise. I touched my head, not longer sensing my Appa's fur wig. "Ups" Aang said sheepishly, looking up at me.

I returned the sheepish look, chuckling

~8~

Well, this didn't turn out well...

We were now in front of the King of Omashu thanks to the disaster we caused in the city. The merchant was there, glaring at us. The King was surrounded by two guards. A watch guard was partly hiding the King from our view before he stepped aside

The four of us tried to look the more innocent possibly. I looked at the King with my head tilted aside. Somehow he looked familiar... but from where?

The King-an elderly King- looked at each one of us questionably, arching an eyebrow. His eyes stopped in Aang and I for a moment, grunting in wonder.

I held my hands behind my back, trying to look as innocent possible.

A Guard stepped forward, "Your majesty, these juveniles were arrested for vandalism, traveling under false pretenses, and malicious destruction of cabbages"

The Cabbage merchant jumped agitatedly up and down, waving his left fist in the air. "Off with their heads! One for each head of cabbage!"

"Silence!" The Guard gestured at the merchant. The merchant stopped, glaring at us. I waved at him slightly, smiling innocently "Only the king can pass down judgment. What is your judgment, sire?"

The King squinted his eyes thoughtfully.

The four of us exchanged uneasy looks. I avoided eye contact, staring at a strand of my hair which I absentmindedly blew slightly with airbending.

"Throw them..." The King began. We gasped in cautious fear "A feast!"

The guard gasped incredulously.

The merchant grasped his head with both hands in dismay upon hearing the verdict.

Sokka smiled

Katara looked at me and Aang questioningly

I exchanged with Aang a slight smile in wonder

~8~

"The people in my city have gotten fat from too many feasts" The King told us walking closer to us from behind once we sat at table for the feast. Momo was enjoying the food, chittering happily. The King leaned between Aang and I, grabbing a chicken leg that was in Aang's plate, holding it between us. "So I hope you like your chicken with no skin"

Aang and I exchanged uneasy looks

"Thanks, but we don't eat meat" Aang denied politely, gesturing between us. I nodded in agreement

The King hummed in acknowledgment, turning to face Sokka, "How about you? I bet you like meat"

The King stuffed the chicken into Sokka's mouth.

Sokka began to eat it appreciatively, walking over to his own seat.

Katara turned to us quietly, "Is it just me, or" She glanced at the King, turning a circle with her under finger beside her temple, "Is this guy's crown a little crooked?"

I watched the King curiously as he sat down, tilting my head aside

"So tell me, young bald one" The King looked at Aang, "Where are you from?"

"I'm from..." Aang looked like a fish for a few seconds, "Kamgaroo Island!"

I giggled slightly under my breath, earning a small nudge in my arm from Aang.

"Oh, Kangaroo Island, eh?" The King cackled, "I hear that place is really hopping!"

I shot my eyes upwards, lips twitching slightly in bemusement. Oh, that dry humor. Where have I heard it before?

After a few seconds, Sokka bursted out laughing but stopped when he realized no one was laughing, "What?" He asked hesitantly "It was pretty funny"

The King stretched his arms lazily "Well, all these good jokes are making me tired" He yawned "Guess it's time to hit the hay"

The King looked at us quietly for a moment, leaning to the left on his chair. Suddenly, he picked up two chicken legs, hurling them at us.

I gasped slightly, reflexively catching one of the chicken legs in a small airball to prevent it hitting Aang. Aang did the same, stopping the chicken from hitting Katara.

The guards gasped in astonishment seeing the chicken being suspended mid-air with our bending, our expressions one of shock

The King leaned back in his chair satisfied, gesturing at us "There's two airbenders in our presence, and not just any airbenders" He stood. "The Avatar and the Spiritual Guide!"

Shocked, Aang and I stopped bending, putting our hands behind our backs as the chicken legs fell back on a plate. I looked at Aang confused. Spiritual Guide?

The King sat down again, smiling in satisfaction "Now, what do you have to say for yourselves, Mr and Mrs. Pippinpaddleopsicopolis?" Aang and I stayed quiet, staring at the King in confusion. My first thought was: Did he really learn our fake names? The King chuckled, "Neither of you knew about the Spiritual Guide, I assume?" He pointed between us, "Now, which one is who" I scratched the back of my head, biting my lip. The King pointed at me "Aha! The Avatar!"

I stood up, throwing my hands in the air, "Okay, you caught us" I grabbed Aang's hand, making him stand up "We're the Avatar and the Spiritual Guide. Doing our Avatar and... Spiritual thing, keeping the world safe. Everything checks out" Aang looked underneath table, shaking his head at me, playing along "No firebenders here. So, good work, everybody!" Aang pulled up Katara and Sokka and I hugged them all briefly, "Love each other, respect all life and don't run with your spears. We'll see you next time"

I pushed them toward the exit, glancing at the King who looked dismayed and amused. But, before we could make our way out, two men crossed their spears, blocking our path.

Katara whirled around to face the King, "You can't keep us here! Let us leave!"

The rest of us turned to face the King as he picked up a lettuce leaf from his plate, waving it in the air, "Lettuce leaf?" He asked, taking a bite out of the lettuce, chewing slowly

Sokka held his hand for his mouth, whispering at us "We're in serious trouble. This guy is nuts"

"Tomorrow" The King began, looking straight at me. I gulped nervously. How did he knew I was the Avatar? "The Avatar will face three deadly challenges. But for now, the guards will show you to your chamber"

I looked down nervously, as the King and his guards discussed which chamber we were going to be at. Once we were led away, I couldn't help but avoid eye contact with my friends, anxiously.

~8~

Once we were led to the supposal once bad chamber that didn't look as bad as it sounded, the guards earthbended a door, closing it once we were inside.

I immediately began to pace anxiously while Aang tried to get Momo get help from Appa, failing as Momo was really fat of all the food he ate. My instincts to dodge and avoid the problem were kicking in. I wanted to run away. The thought made me pause. It was that same reckless thought that made me get myself and Aang in ice for one hundred years.

I sat down on one of the four beds in the chamber, not really paying attention to them, "I wonder what these challenges are gonna to be"

Aang sat next to me, bouncing his leg anxiously as well. "Well, we will figure it out tomorrow, right?" I sighed softly. Aang looked thoughtful "You know. Something the King said made me confused"

"The whole Spiritual Guide thing?" I asked knowingly, curious and confused myself.

Aang nodded, "He meant me, didn't he?"

Katana looked up, "I think that makes sense" she told us hesitantly. Aang and I looked at her curiously, "I don't understand the whole spiritual thing. But, think about it. You told us since you were told you were the Avatar, Aang has been there with you by your side since then" Aang and I exchanged a small smile, "He has supported you, and somehow kept you sane"

I looked at the ground thoughtfully, "You have always encourage me to be the Avatar. Always believed in me. You haven't let me stop believing in myself"

Aang smiled, "I've always told you you were going to be a good Avatar. Something always told me it wasn't good seeing you down and doubting yourself"

Katara clapped her hands, "That's good. Now, we can understand more about you two"

I looked at Aang, playfully "Spiritual Guide. Is there a way to get out of here?"

Aang sighed, not in the mood, anxious "There's no way. It would be if you knew earthbending"

I shrugged helplessly

Katara sighed, climbing into her bed "Well, no point arguing about it now. Get some rest, Kai. Looks like you'll need it for tomorrow"

Aang stood, walking to another bed.

I laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling nervously for a few seconds, forcing my mind to calm, breathing in and out, soon entering to the dreamworld.

~8~

The crouching sound of the earth being moved startled me awake, standing up and glancing around sleepily.

"Aang?" Seeing his bed empty got me alert, looking at the other beds. Empty as well "Sokka? Katara?" I turned toward the door, seeing a guard there "Where are my friends?"

"The king will free them if you complete your challenges" The guard answered

My heart skipped a beat in fear "And if I fail?"

"He didn't say" The Guard replied, extending his arm "Your staff, please?"

I eyed the guard for a few seconds, contemplating; If I resisted, it was probable the King wouldn't let my friends go. I dropped my shoulders in defeat, lifting my staff with my foot, grabbing it, spinning it around and placed it upright next me before I tossed it to the guard.

~8~

I was led to the throne room, flanked by two guards.

Once I entered, the King had his back to me

"First, Avatar" The King turned seriously, spreading his arms, showing off his purple outfit; lighthearted. "What do you think of my new outfit? I want your honest opinion" I stared at him blankly, not answering looking at him up and down. "I'm waiting"

I rocked on my heels, humming hesitantly "I guess it's fine"

Obviously no. The color looked weird on him. But, I wouldn't say that. It was rude.

"Excellent!" The King grinned "You passed the first test"

I widened my eyes, jumping slightly "Really?"

"Well, not one of the deadly tests" The King sing sang, waving his finger from side to side, "The real challenges are much more, uh, challenging"

I frowned angrily, dashing toward him with airbending, enhancing my running, halting in front of the King, letting the wind pass over us, my hair falling in front of my face, pushing it behind my shoulder

"I don't have time for your crazy games!" I told him aggressively "Give me my friends back! We're leaving!"

The King looked at me knowingly, "Oh, I thought you might refuse" A wall opened, Aang, Katara and Sokka being led inside, struggling in the grasp of two guards. Aang had his arms and legs encased in rock, preventing him from airbending. I turned to them worriedly. "So I will give your friends some special souvenirs"

I looked at Aang questioningly, knowing he could use his mouth to airbend but he didn't seem to want to try.

Aang gave me an encouraging look. Maybe he was taking his guide thing seriously? Believing in me to do these challenges?

I looked back at the King, frowning.

The guards slid on my friend's fingers a green ring which glowed, tightening around their fingers. They tried frantically to remove it without success. Aang now looked scared, seeming to regret not escaping.

"Those delightful rings are made of pure jennamite, also known as creeping crystal. It's a crystal that grows remarkably fast" The King explained, sinisterly "By nightfall your friends will be completely covered in it" I looked at him wide eyed. He sighed, slightly sympathetic "Terrible thing, really" He then turned serious. "I can stop it, but only if you cooperate"

The King glanced toward my friends, seeing the jennamite ring starting to expand already making me and them panic.

I took a deep breath, turning to the King seriously "I'll do what you want"

The King grinned, pleased.

I looked at my friends, praying to the spirits that I could save them

~8~

The first two challenges made me want to hit my head off repeatedly. They made me think different of how I was used to. All I planned, using airbending wasn't working really well and the King's amused comments weren't helping at all.

And I couldn't help but think the challenges were really silly. A key to open a lunch box cause he was hungry and find his pet, Flopsie? I was already thinking the King was insane. And these challenges were a waste of time, but he still had my friends so I had to do them even if they didn't make sense.

The third and finally challenge brought us to an earthbending arena. The King and I were in a balcony overlooking the arena, my friends along a guard were on adjacent balcony. They whole bodies were now encased completely, only their faces were exposed. The only one who seemed more calm, thought I could still see the fear in his eyes was Aang. The past challenges all he did was cheer on me, telling me I could do it. The encouragement worked, not wanting to let them down.

"Your final test is a duel" The King told me "And as a special treat, you may choose your opponent" Two tough-looking men came out, standing next to the King. I looked at them uncertainly. "Point and choose"

"So ..." I hesitated, looking between them "You're saying whoever I point to, that's the person I get to fight?"

"Choose wisely!" The King told me

"I choose..." I considered the options, looking at each one of them, stopping at the King, pointing at him "You"

The King grinned, "Wrong choice!" He straightened up, removing his outer robe, proving himself to be a powerfully built old man. My eyes widened in disbelief as he earthbended me off of the balcony, making me fly into the arena. The King jumped down right in front of me, laughing "You thought I was a frail old man, but I'm the most powerful earthbender you'll ever see"

I struggled to stand up, sheepish and nervously "Can I fight the guy with the axe instead?"

The King huffed, "There are no take-backsies in my kingdom. You might need this" He pointed to the guard standing near Katara, Aang and Sokka. The guard tossed me my staff.

The King bended several rocks at me.

I immediately avoided and evaded the attacks

"Typical airbender tactic" The King mused "Avoid and evade. I hoped the Avatar would be less predictable." I tried to ignore him as he continued attacking me with rocks, avoiding and evading them as well, not once attacking him "Don't you have any surprises for me? Sooner or later you'll have to strike back!"

It was true. But, I didn't want to attack. It wasn't like me to do so. I used my staff to helicopter myself into the air. The King bended a large boulder into the ceiling, raining rocks onto me, knocking me from the air. I charged at the King on foot, but a series of bending attacks left me flat atop a large rock pile

"You'll have to be a little more creative than that!" The King laughed

I frowned, knowing I would lose if I continued like this, sighing as I bended an air scooter, charging forward on it, throwing a huge air blast at King. The King threw up a stone barrier and the blast deflected to both sides of it.

"Did someone leave the windows open?" The King joked "It feels a little drafty in here. Are you hoping I'll catch a cold?" He bended more attacks at me, leading me across half of the arena. "How are you going to get me from way over there?"

I breathed deeply, charging forward on foot again, using airbending to accelerate but the King softened the arena floor, leaving me sunk to the waist. The King bended two stones to collide on the spot but I popped out at the top of them when they met.

Okay, this was no fair. I frowned angrily, bending the slab the King was standing on all the way to the back of the arena.

The King bended the largest boulder yet to come at me from behind but I did an air-assisted back flip over it. The King made more bending moves, cracking the floors and walls of the arena, tearing out a huge chunk of the wall and balcony we had been standing on.

Seeing this, I gasped, starting to run in tight circles, conjuring a tornado, catching a huge piece of rock in the tornado the King threw at me, instantly whipping it around right back at him. Before he could do anything else, I attacked from the top of the tornado, landing at the king's feet with my staff poised to strike.

The King raised arms as if surrendering but a small pebble touched my head, drawing my attention to the large boulder suspended over the both of us.

"Well done, Avatar" The King told me, tossing the boulder aside "You fight with much fire in your heart" He bended up to the balcony where my friends were almost completely encased. I joined him. "You've passed all my tests. Now, you must answer one question"

I stared at him, incredulously "That's not fair! You said you would release my friends if I finished your tests"

The King raised his eyebrows "Oh, but what's the point of tests if you don't learn anything?"

"Oh, come on!" Sooka complained

"Answer this one question and I will set your friends free" The King told me, "What ... is my name? From the looks of your friends I'd say you only have a few minutes"

The King walked away.

I looked at my friends worriedly, "How am I supposed to know his name?"

Aang shot his eyes upward, thoughtfully.

"Think about the challenges" Katara told me "Maybe it's some kind of riddle"

"I got it!" Sooka exclaimed

I looked at him hopefully, "Yeah?"

"He's an earthbender, right?" Sokka asked. I nodded "Rocky. You know, because of all the rocks"

I sighed

"We're going to keep trying" Katara said "but that is a good back-up"

Aang looked at me, an idea seeming to brew in his eyes. "Back to the challenges, Kai. You got a key from a waterfall. You saved his pet and you had a duel. What did you learn?"

I squinted my eyes, thoughtfully "Well, everything was different than I expected"

"And?" Katara urged me forward in anxiety, the jennamite growing as she talked

"Well, they weren't straight forward. To solve each test, I had to think differently than I usually would" My eyes lit up, looking straight at Aang. "Aang! We know his name"

~8~

I was now confronting the King.

"I solved the question the same way I solved the challenges" I told him "As you said a long time ago, I had to open my brain to the possibilities" The king snorted a laugh. This time I could tell why he seemed familiar. "Bumi, you're a mad genius"

I grinned excitedly, happy to see an old friend even if i didn't like him that much. I jumped to him, hugging him tightly

"Bumi!" Aang smiled widely

"Oh, Ki-Ki" Bumi laughed, hugging me back "It's good to see you and Aang. You two haven't changed a bit. Literally"

"I want a hug too!" Aang exclaimed with a pout.

I turned to face them, seeing them really uncomfortable with the crystal surrounding them

"Little help?" Katara asked

Bumi broke the crystals using earthbending, making pieces fly everywhere. He caught one of them. "Jennamite is made of rock candy" He took a bite into the crystal. "Delicious!"

Aang jumped, running toward Bumi, hugging him tightly "Bumi!"

Bumi hugged Aang back, laughing

Katara walked closer, "So this crazy king is your old friend Bumi?"

Bumi pulled away from Aang. "Who are you calling old?" We stared at him blankly "Okay, I'm old"

"Why did you do all of this instead of just telling Kai or Aang who you were?" Sokka asked

"First of all, it's pretty fun messing with people" Bumi snorted. I sighed, smiling slightly "But I do have a reason. Kai, you have a difficult task ahead. The world has changed in the hundred years that you've been gone. It's the duty of the Avatar to restore balance to the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai. You have much to learn. You must master the four elements and confront the Fire Lord. And when you do, I hope you will think like a mad genius" He told me, turning to look at Aang "Your Spiritual Guide, as I have seen with this tests won't let you fall. You're in good hands. You'll need your friends to help defeat the Fire Nation" Momo climbed up on Aang. "And you'll need Momo, too"

I bit my lip, nodding "Thank you for your wisdom" I bowed my head slightly, straightening up as I glanced at a mischievous looking Aang "But before we leave, I have a challenge for you"

Bumi tilted his head, amused.

It was good seeing an old friend even if he had changed physically, yet I could see the same Bumi who loved crazy fun. Which is why, for the sake of old times, I challenged both Aang and Bumi to ride down the mail system.

If the journey to master the four elements was hard and it was my duty to resort the balance by defeating the Fire Nation, I needed all the help I could get.