Omashu.... or is it <Omashu, Earth Kingdom>

[blindgirl]

Toph grumbled looking out the window of the carriage finding looking out the window a little redundant knowing that she couldn’t see the landscape her parents were both fawning over. If nothing else the wind against her face felt comforting. The constant grind of the wheels as well as the padding of the ostrich horse’s feet made it impossible for her to since the terrain of the surrounding area. It was like being trapped in a box where she couldn’t see a single thing. She could hear fine, and she knew where the parameters of the box were but nothing beyond it. Her Father sat opposite her next to one of his trusted earth bending advisors, next to Toph sat her mother who was chatting happily about visiting the earth kingdom capital. Stopping on the way to see Omashu the beautiful gem of the Earth Kingdom, ignoring the simple fact it was miles off track of the Earth Kingdom capital Ba Sing Se. Not like they ever listened to her anyway…. A question was pointed in her direction and she didn’t hear is focusing more on her own thoughts….

“Toph, I asked you if you’re enjoying the ride.”

Putting on a smiled Toph turned to face her mother with an obviously fake beaming face. She had no idea how she looked but the mental image she had of herself was one of sarcasm and contempt for being pulled away from her home and the places she knew to be paraded around foreign cities and take in the sights, that she couldn’t see. Family vacations were so much fun she wanted to throw up.

“Yes, the fresh air is so much better than the cramped village we live in”

This seemed to satisfy them for they went back to their previous conversation leaving the girl to sigh and glare out the window at who know what. They could be so irritating sometimes, yes, she enjoyed sitting in a big wooden box headed towards the spirits know where. She was just peachy in the pale yellow skirt that make her look adorable, so she was told with her layers tight and annoying with her hair pinned perfectly in place so that she would rip it out given half the chance.

Suddenly the cart stopped and Toph got the chance to look around pressing her feet firmly to the seat she was sitting in, because she wasn’t directly on the ground the image was a bit fuzzy but from what she could tell there were a lot of big metal machines and people about for a mile inside a large wall. It still didn’t explain why they had stopped. Her parent and the other man in the bow with her were gasping and starring out the window in shock. The advisor type was shaking lightly and the blind girl could have sworn she heard her mother sobbing, quietly yet the sound entered her ears still. None of it made much cence until her father spoke up. She didn’t need her sight to be able to tell what was going on; his voice and tone told her everything she needed to know. “Omashu has been taken over from the Fire Nation….”

[blindgirl]

“Oi oi oi, where are you from we have a carriage check around here.” A rough fire nation soldier walked over to the coach which held Toph and her family sneering in a fake amusement at their arrival. The harsh metal of his armor glinted in the sun as he tried to peer in the window, perhaps there was treasure or cargo in there that the soldiers could make off with it. His beard was untrimmed and scruffy about his face making her neat trimmed parents grimace. Though Toph sat unmoving more annoyed by the apparent stench of his breath.

The coach’s driver made a move to intercept the man but he was knocked to the ground with a swing of the soldiers arm. A group of fourteen men in all moved on to the helpless earth kingdom citizens imposing their wrath with sparks of flames they flaunted to instill fear. It worked because Toph's mother began to sob as the man who traveled with Mr. Bei Fong removed himself from the vehicle stepping up to the fire nation soldiers moving quickly into a stance. “‘I’ am a master of earth bending so I suggest you allow us to leave!” He summoned a mound of earth from the ground until he was pulled into a headlock by one of the soldiers who got him from behind.

“Heh, some bending master….”

The men had a quick laugh throwing open the carriage and going through the personal possessions. “SEEMS WE HAVE EARTH KINGDOM HERE BOYS! THE SPOILS ARE OURS!” Dragging each of the other occupants out they smirked reveling in their small accomplishment. Suddenly one man noticed the young girl starring blankly void of fear in her face.

“What’s her problem?” The man waved a hand in front of her eyes causing her mother to wail uncontrollably, clinging to her husband. The girl glared blankly her lips thinning a tight line with annoyance for this whole situation taking over. Her hand moved slightly ready to move the earth and send him crashing to the floor but her mothers weeping only got louder.

“She’s a little blind girl! Leave her alone!” Looking at one another the men laughed and moved some of the ‘commandeered’ items.

“Well! Blind? I guess we can’t sell her off either, no one wants damaged goods!” They laughed louder and some sent looks her way amused and entertained by the fact that she was probly too stupid to even dress herself. Toph grimaced but remained silent her hands fisting with anger at the accusation, readying herself for beating them down to size. Quickly the parents were tied blindfolded and gaged, by the time they moved onto the little girl she was gone from sight. The soldiers looked about but couldn’t find the delicate little blind girl.

“Where’s the brat” By the time they spotted her a pillar of rock sent three of the soldiers flying and bringing two rocks in the air they landed in the face and gut of another man. She smirked a bit. The little blind girl was fighting back

[xin]

“please let me….” Her hand pulled back quickly when the earth man got up picking up the wares he dropped running off muttering apologies. “…help….” Fire nation soldiers kept an eye on him closely while he left asking the black haired woman if she was alright. Xin simply dismissed them with a smile and walked off feeling poorly about the whole thing. Her Father and Mother were enjoying the respect they got in the town of new Ozai but the teenager could not say the same, she had not friends to call upon, the elder of her brothers enjoyed making the ‘earth scum’ quake in fear at his fire bending, the younger locked himself away reading like a mad man. That left much time to herself. The city was beautiful, at least the parts of it that weren’t being reconstructed. Conditions of living for herself and her family were beyond compare but it didn’t seem like everyone shared the luxuries. It was like in the fire nation, only it was much more apparent, even by simply looking out the window one could see the difference.

A sigh escaped her lips moving down the street with her hands folded delicately under silks resting one over the other in front of her holding her skirt, not from the dirt of the road, but from nervousness that being out gave her. It made her wish that she had brought along a guard. Not all of the Residents of the kingdom were as skittish as the man she attempted to help and almost all of them secretly held a hate for anyone hailing from the fire nation. Bender or not.

[blindgirl]

Toph dropped her head a bit not looking up at the men coming to her. Each step they made on the earth sent solid waves, the forms of their bodies, how they ran the strength of their steps, estimated weight, assuredness, and even their indecision about attacking a small girl. All of this information was transmitted to her in a matter of seconds slowed down by the rate her mind calculated it all. Steadily she inhaled feeling one more foot land on the ground coming less than a foot closer to her in what seemed like forever. The tension built in seconds they would have made another stride towards her and the waves emitted from their bodies ran through the ground like blood being seeped into the raven haired girl like a sponge.

Exhaling her hands jutted out pulling earth up from the ground while side stepping a soldier the slow motion replaced with real time leaving no room to think as three pillars of rock erected themselves from the ground sending the men scattered about their original paths utterly dumb founded. One who was unfortunate enough to not notice the bending trick was sent hurtling back feet at a time.

Shifting her feet across the ground she ripped her dainty slippers getting them dirty but she would never know about it. The firenation men were shouting of a demon with more men coming to their aid threatening to set fire off but rock walls brought their heat back to them in a smoldering mess. One little girl was holding her own in a fight against an army of grown men. They had picked the wrong helpless girl to mess with

[xin]

Xin blinked curiosity getting the better of her as soldier’s men and boys alike traveled news of trouble at the entrance to New Ozai. Something about an earth bending warrior killing and slaughtering soldiers, he was the size of a boulder with flaming eyes and bulging muscles. The closer she got to the wall the more absurd the stories she over heard became. Everything from the Earth King himself to the avatar, no one had an exact answer on who the person was. Because she was a woman and because she was fire nation few people got in her way or tried to stop her unless it was out of concern for her safety. Coming up to the wall she could feel some fear as well as some excitement in the possibility of an uprising of the earth bending citizens. Her slippered fee moved quickly through the streets taking short cuts and getting lost having to hold her skirt up from the ground to keep it from being muddied.

Brown eyes widened as she came to the wall of the city gazing out in the near distance seeing only a cart and flashes of red, being the soldiers along with the earth which moved about them knocking the men too and fro. She couldn’t see the attacker clearly from the view point she had. Determined to get a better look she set off once more, what drove her to see the fight? She was uncertain…

[blindgirl]

One by one the soldiers fell and yet they kept coming, she’d have to do something drastic now. Her hands at her sides she brought each out as far as they could go depressing the earth into a deep trench in which the soldiers fell like lambs to the slaughter. It wasn’t that deep; at most they’d have a sprained ankle from landing wrong. The poor fools should never have started with her to begin with. Just as she started to get into the swing of it a firenation man she didn’t notice came close to touching her shoulder but moving back and to the left in a strong box she was able to send a large hunk of rock into his stomach blowing him back easily.

It never really occurred to her that she was drawing so much attention but from what she could tell not far away, a large congregation of people was forming. If she shouted then her parents would know she was a bender but if she didn’t help them and get them back into the carriage then they wouldn’t be able to get out of this fire nation hell hole.

The glazed over blind eyes were hidden under black hair which had fallen out of place. Her expression was one of ease and concentration, almost as if this was child’s play and she was so high above it. They were too simple to predict, even now most of them had reservations of fighting her. Their stance and movements told it all. Thought that was a mild comfort, wondering quietly she questioned if the parade of men would ever end. But never the less they were slow and predicable. No problem for someone like her. Stomping her foot and shifting it across the dirt pushed her parents back into the carriage away from the firenation citizens, Regrettably the man who accompanied her father hit his head on the wide open door frame. Oh well.

Another well planned shift of earth sent the ostrich horses running away from the city. In all good fortune they’d untie themselves and get control quickly but then again the ostrich horses were more than likely smarter than her parents.

Across the planes the carrage ran passing under a large shadow, possibly of a cloud with screams echoing from the perplexed passengers. Only now had Mr. Bei Fong worked his blind fold off with the horse trodding along quickly to an unknown destination.

[xin]

The young lady’s styled black hair was tossed with her rough movements as she mad her way down the stairs from the main sentry wall where she resided only moments before. Already her breath was becoming hard, being a lady of court in the firenation did not automatically mean she had the best stamina. To the contrary she rarely took more than a brisk walk daily and wasn’t schooled in the arts of firebending so that did not add to her fitness. Living so far in the earth kingdom as she did now made her slimmer, but not stronger. The lady was becoming more frail and delicate than ever. Once the stress of the move, and the fretting over her siblings and family were factored in. Her pace was no where near a run but was considerably faster than her usual ladylike wanderings. The main gate was filled with people hoping to see the scene outside the walls, it seemed like there would be no chance to push through the gates to get a better view… perhaps if she were to leave the city and actually go outside its walls… It would be risky and foolish through...

Setting off the firenation lady tried to remember if she had seen any other entrances. There were a few small points that retained in her minds so checking them out first would be helpful. If her body did not become tired first.

[airnomad]

Sitting cross-legged atop the dense fur on Appa's head, Aang was enjoying the breeze of the clear high altitude air. There was a bit of a chill wgile riding that high, but he was more than used to it by now. His staff lay across his lap, secured in place by the weight of his forearms as they rested atop the weapon while the sky bison's reigns were gripped lightly in his hands. Aang had shut his eyes for a few minutes previously inorder to enter a semi-meditative state. It helped past the time a little quicker and always left him feeling recharged whenever he came out of it. However, a concerned groan from Appa sounded beneath him and shook his very body.

The Avatar's eyes snapped open and adjusted to the sudden light change. "What is it, buddy?" Aang asked, swiveling his gaze around him for something that could be wrong with Appa or his friends. It wasn't until he felt the flying bison incline his head slightly in a sort of pointing gesture that Aang looked ahead more closely. The city of Omashu towered not far in the distance. Its massive pyramidal structure seemed like just another mountain in the ranges that encircled the city. At first Aang wasn't sure what Appa was concerned with, but as they drew closer to the city and began to decend, the young Avatar's eyes widened in shock.

"This can't be happening..." he muttered, barely aaudible over the rushing wind. Red banners and flags dotted the city and a few sections near its walls were torn and littered with debris. The thick earthen bridge that once spanned the chasm and once served as the grand entrance to the city had been replaced by a metal extending bridge, obviously of Fire Nation origins. Appa continued to descend as he circled around toward the front of the city. "When did...?" Aang tried to begin, confusion wracking his mind. He had never once in his life considered the possibility that Omashu could be taken, much less with King Bumi in command of the city.

However, the thoughts of How and Why this had happened flew from Aang's mind when he suddenly noticed something going on outside the city. Before the main gate and in front of the bridge there were numerous Fire Nation soldiers engaged in combat with what could only be an earthbender. Until this point, Aang had felt a compulsion to do somehing in response to seeing this once great Earth Kingdom stronghold in the hands of the enemy, but there wasn't much to do while circling overhead. At least now he had something concrete he could do that would allow him to turn his frustrated confusion into constructive actions.

"There's some one down there under attack!" he called out, bringing Sokka and Katara's attention to the besieged bender. "He gripped his staff firmly in one hand and the reigns in the other. With a light kick of his heels and a "Yip-yip!" he signalled for Appa to dive more quicly and the sky bison streaked toward the area of combat.

[katara]

Katara's bright eyes went wide as the site of the alabaster city now scarred by scorch marks. Crimson roofs glistened agianst the duller emerald green roofs, and tattered Fire Nation flags flew from their peaks. Giant cranes encircled the city, and a scaffolding hit the statue at the peak of the city's hill. Her dark hands flew to her mouth as she gasped in shock.
"Oh no.." Omashu, one of the last strongholds in the earth kingdom had fallen. She crawled forward in the saddle, placing her hands on the horn at the base of Appa's neck, and leaning forward. The wind rushed past her ears, hair loopies traying back, and her braid whipping around behind her dangeously.
She bit her lip, once more gazing over the changes that the city had experienced in just a few months.
The waterbender didn't even notice the person being harassed by Fire Nation at Omashu's gates until Aang mentioned it. Her eyes averted, and her lips parted. An earthbender! "Aang, are you sure? We don't want the Fire Nation knowing we're here.. What about Bumi?"
Even so, Katara's thumb found the cork in her water skin, popping it off so that she could draw her water. Omashu had a limited water supply, and outside of the city, Katara couldn't draw it.
She lifted one knee, bracing herself against the saddle horn as she prepared to leap off. Her fingers spread like claws, water curling methodically under them.

[sokka]

Sokka sighed and felt a sort of saddness as he saw the crimson banners and smoke. "I've always thought Omashu was...impossible to conquer, but now...Looks like we might have to go Ba Sing Sae, I don't think Bumi is even...." Sokka caught himself before he said anything else. This was Aang's friend, he couldn't just say it out loud.

Regaining some tact and poise Sokka leaned back in the saddle and looked out and with a shake of his head he looked out until Aang mentioned something about person begin bothered at the gates.

"Really? But shouldn't we go find Bumi? I mean..." Sokka sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Off for heroics agian." He took his boomerang and machete and hopped off Appa. The water warrior steeled his courage and looked at the gates. It looks like a carriage was been over taken.
"Aang we need to think of a plan. We can't just rush in there. I say we should do an ambush wait at the right time and then strike."

[blindgirl]

Toph’s head turned to the left and the right moving the cricks out of hr neck. The attackers seemed distracted and the girl scoffed a bit stomping her foot on it’s heel and sliding it back sending waves in the earth knocking the remaining soldiers to the ground. Her appearance was no longer that of a little noble girl, her slippers and feet were dirty and torn along with the hem line of her skirt. The carefully styled hair was a mess but the child obviously didn’t seem to care how she looked. And with good reason at that. She blew her bangs out of her face her unseeing eyes widening a bit in response to the delicate arch of her eyebrows. Something had just come from nothing, a foreign strange large thing on the earth that hadn’t been there moments before. “What the-. . .” Without her parents around the earth bender held no fear of speaking.

In her fortified stance she didn’t want to move an inch incase they were enemies, trodding over like some fool would be rather unbefitting of a Bei Fong. Instead she slipped into an offensive position with her hand held at the ready to literally move the earth. Once more her dark bangs fell over her face obscuring her eyes from view. Whatever was over there was very alive, as shown by the vague movements of its breathing. Three more people, much smaller than the soldiers and a rat like thing.

[airnomad]

"Aang, are you sure? We don't want the Fire Nation knowing we're here.. What about Bumi?" Aang heard Katara shout to him as the wind rused past them in their steep descent. He could only manage to turn his head slightly and yell back over the sound of the air, "That's what we need to find out!"

Shortly thereafter he could hear Sokka's suggestion of setting up an ambush of sorts. "No time!" the Avatar called in response and pulled up on the reigns in his hands. Appa pulled up sharply not far above the ground, making Aang's stomach feel as though it sank into his pelvis for a moment, and then landed relatively lightly on the ground. The young airbender was airborne with a powerful jump on on the dirt in a heartbeat, staff at the ready. However, he quickly realized he was a bit too late.

Fire Nation soldiers and benders lay scattered around the earthbender, who was apparently a girl no older than himself! The moans of the beaten men filled the air, and for a few long seconds he was at a loss for words. Aang stood up a little straighter, planting one end of his staff in the ground at his feet as he started to take in the scope of this little girl's bending prowess. "Who.... are you?" he asked at length, trying to keep too much admiration from showing in his voice.

[katara]

Katara slid off the massive bison as he neared the earthen bridge that connected Omashu to the surrounding mountians. Her feet landed hard and she almost fell forward, but stumbled a few steps to regain her balance. In her hands she held her water skin tight to her side, a whip of water prepare and carried magically in the space between her fingers and palm of her other hand. Her dark head shot up, hair loopies flying about her face along with her braid which tore at the air behind her. As the moment settled, the Fire Nation soliders having temporary been beaten back, her hair settled and that wild, fearful look left her face. Her eyes softened and her shoulders drooped a bit as her muscles relaxed. Slowly, she approached behind Aang, a quizzical look on her face at the girl, who could be no older than Aang himself. Her feet were bare, and every patch of skin on her body was covered in dirt and grime. Obviously an earthbender.. a strange one at that. Watching her from the sky bision had been.. odd. It was as if, she didn't even need to see her enemies.

[sokka]

Sokka groaned as Aang told him that there was no time to form an ambush.

"Aang, you can't just run in there?! I mean it won't kill you to think ahead." Sokka shouted as he took out his machete and ready for his boomerang. He didn't know how many guys would be out there. Proably at least thirty thought Sokka as he ran down to the gate with the avatar and his little sister.

"We need to think ah-" He stopped talking as he saw the mess in front of him. The soldier where taken down and left in groaning, aching mess. Sokka blink stupidly for few seconds before he saw who did the work.

"A little girl? Took down these men?" Sokka asked with note of incrediously. Sokka took a closer look at the girl. It was blind little girl, with the flim over her eyes.

"OK this weird. Did you take out all these men?" Asked Sokka wanting clairfication.

[blindgirl]

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, you got a problem with that Platabear boy?!” The one kid jumped really high, higher than normal for a human, the girl, she was doing something, there was the faint slosh of water and the other guy had a metal object, most likely a sort of weapon. They were all confused that was plain enough. Toph’s hands gripped at her sides feeling offended by the boys statement and aggravated by the situation in it’s self. She was still wearing clothes of a noble daughter even with them scuffed up. Her eyes were mostly hidden behind the black hair, breaking off any impressions they could get from the majority of the space but the wind might have betrayed her.

Only so much could be accessed by her unseeing eyes, sound and touch gave her the strongest dictation of the world. Behind her a man got up groaning in a mix of pain and his wounded pride. Running forward he came with in inches of Shooting a flam straight through the pale earth master’s body. A flick of her hand and raising the sleeves arm to her side delivered a platform of rock shooting upward and sending the man flying back a few feet. “If your look’n for a fight then I’d be more than happy to wipe the ground with all of you”