Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Air.
Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.
Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation att*cked.
Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them.
But when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar an airbender named Aang.
And although his airbending skills are great.
He has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone.
But I believe Aang can save the world.
Book Two: Earth Chapter Three: Return to Omashu I can't believe it.
I know the w*r has spread far, but Omashu always seemed untouchable.
Up until now, it was.
Now Ba Sing Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left.
This is horrible, but we have to move on.
No.
I'm going in to find Bumi.
Aang, stop.
We don't even know if Bumi's still What? If he's still what? around.
I know you had your heart set on Bumi, but there are other people around who can teach you earthbending.
This isn't about finding a teacher.
This is about finding my friend.
A secret passage? Why didn't we just use this last time? Does that answer your question? That wasn't as bad as I thought.
They won't let go! Help! Stop making so much noise.
It's just a purple pentapus.
Hey! What are you kids doing out past curfew? Sorry.
We were just on our way home.
Wait! What's the matter with him? Uh he has pentapox, Sir.
Um it's highly contagious! Ahhhhh It's so awful I'm dyiiiing and deadly Wait, I think I've heard of pentapox.
Didn't your cousin Chang die of it? We'd better go wash our hands and burn our clothes! Thank you, sewer friend! When tracking your brother and uncle, traveling with a royal procession may no longer be an option.
May no longer be wise if you hope to keep the element of surprise.
You're right.
The royal procession is dead weight.
If I want to catch my prey, I must be agile nimble.
I need a small, elite team.
It's time to visit some old friends.
Let's find Bumi and get out of here.
Where would they be keeping him? Somewhere he can't earthbend.
Somewhere made of metal.
There really is no fathoming the depths of my hatred for this place.
Mai, your father was appointed governor.
We're like royalty here.
Be happy, and enjoy it.
The targets are approaching.
Take them out.
I thought my life was boring in the Fire Nation.
But this place is unbearably bleak.
Nothing ever happens.
The resistance! Ty Lee, could that possibly be you? Azula! It is so good to see you! Please, don't let me interrupt your whatever it is you were doing.
Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in places like this.
I have a proposition for you.
I'm hunting a traitor.
You remember my old fuddy duddy uncle, don't you? Oh yeah.
He was so funny.
I would be honored if you would join me on my mission.
Oh I uh would love to.
But the truth is, I'm really happy here.
I mean, my aura has never been pinker! I'll take your word for it.
Well, I wouldn't want you to give up the life you love just to please me.
Thank you, Azula.
Of course, before I leave, I'm going to catch your show.
Huh? Uh yeah sure uh of course So, is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance? Of course not! The day of the invasion, we readied ourselves for battle.
We were prepared to defend our city to fight for our lives and for our freedom.
But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered.
The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do.
He looked me in the eye and said I'm going to do nothing! It doesn't matter now.
Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom.
And freedom is worth dying for.
Actually there's another path to freedom.
You could leave Omashu.
You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation.
But you're outnumbered.
You can't win.
Now's the time to retreat, so you can live to fight another day.
You don't understand.
They've taken our home, and we have to fight them at any cost! I don't know, Ya, living to fight another day is startin' to sound pretty good to me.
Yeah, I'm with the kid! Fine.
But there's thousands of citizens that need to leave.
How're we going to get them all out? Suckers! You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox.
The marks make ya look sick, but you gotta act sick, too.
Ya gotta sell it! Now that's what I'm talkin' about.
Years of practice.
Okay everyone! Into sick formation.
Aang, what are you doing? Aren't you coming with us.
No.
I'm not leaving until I find Bumi.
Sorry Momo, I'll feed you later.
Plague! Plague! What is going on down there? I saw some kids yesterday who were sick with pentapox.
It must have spread! Pentapox! Hm, I'm pretty sure I've heard of that.
Oh, this is terrible.
What should we do? Drive them out of the city but don't touch them! We have to rid the city of this disease! Fire flakes, Dad? Oh! How awful! Flopsie! Come on, Flopsie.
You gotta help me find Bumi.
Yip Yip! Oh I guess that doesn't work with you.
Let's go! We're deeply honored to have the Fire Lord's daughter at our humble circus.
Uh tell us if there is anything we can do to make the show more enjoyable.
I will.
Incredible.
Do you think she'll fall? Of course not.
Then wouldn't it make it more interesting if you removed the net? Uh the thing is the performers You're right, you're right.
That's been done.
I know.
Set the net on fire.
Of course, Princess.
Brilliant, just brilliant! Oooo, what kind of dangerous animals do you have? Well, our circus boasts the most exotic assortment Release them all! We looked everywhere.
No Bumi.
We've got a problem.
We just did a head count.
Oh no.
Did someone get left behind? No, we have an extra.
So, the resistance has kidnapped my son.
Everything so clever, so tricky.
Just like their King Bumi.
What do you want to do, Sir? What an exquisite performance.
I can't wait to see how you'll top yourself tomorrow.
I'm sorry Azula, but unfortunately there won't be a show tomorrow.
Really? The universe has given me strong hints that it's time for a career change.
I want to join you on your mission.
No! Bad Fire Nation baby! Oh alright.
Ooo, you're so cute.
Mmmmm Sure he's cute now, but when he's older, he'll join the Fire Nation army.
You won't think he's so cute then.
He'll be a k*ller.
Does that look like the face of a k*ller to you? A messenger hawk! It's from the Fire Nation governor.
He thinks we kidnapped his son.
So he wants to make a trade.
His son for King Bumi.
You realize we're probably walking right into a trap? I don't think so.
I'm sure the Governor wants his son back as much as we want Bumi.
It's a new day.
I have a good feeling about this.
Please tell me you're here to k*ll me.
It's great to see you, Mai.
I thought you ran off and joined the circus? You said it was your calling.
Well, Azula called a little louder.
I have a mission and I need you both.
Count me in.
Anything to get me out of this place.
I apologize.
You've come to Omashu at a difficult time.
At noon we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back.
Yes, I'm so sorry to hear about your son, but really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave? My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things! Forgive me, Princess.
You stay here.
Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don't have a chance to mess it up.
And there is no more "Omashu".
I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the City of New Ozai.
Hi, everybody! You brought my brother? He's here.
We're ready to trade.
I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me.
Do you mind? Of course not, Princess Azula.
We're trading a two year old for a king.
A powerful, earthbending king? It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, does it? You're right.
The deal's off.
Whhhoa! See you all later! Bumi! The Avatar! My lucky day.
Aang, is that you? Where did you come from? Hang on! We're gonna get you out of here.
We've got to get the baby out of here! Way ahead of ya! Aang, stop your blowing for a minute.
Now hold on just a duahhh!!! Just like old times, isn't it, Bumi? Aang, I need to talk to you! It's good to see you too! How are you gonna fight without your bending? I seem to manage! There's Aang! We can catch him! Hang on, Bumi! Our ride's here! You could earthbend all along!? Well, they didn't cover my face.
I don't understand.
Why didn't you free yourself? Why did you surrender when Omashu was invaded? What's the matter with you, Bumi!? Listen to me, Aang.
There are options in fighting, called jin.
It's a choice of how you direct your energy.
I know! There's positive jin when you're attacking, and negative jin when you're retreating.
and neutral jin when you do nothing! There three jins? Well, technically there are eighty five.
But, let's just focus on the third.
Neutral jin is the key to earthbending.
It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike.
That's why you surrendered, isn't it? Yes, and it's why I can't leave now.
I guess I need to find someone else to teach me earthbending.
Your teacher will be someone who has mastered neutral jin.
You need to find someone who waits and listens before striking.
Hey, Momo! Momo's mastered a few jins himself! Goodbye, Aang.
I'll see you when the time is right.
So, we're tracking down your brother and Uncle, huh? It'll be interesting seeing Zuko again, won't it, Mai? It's not just Zuko and Iroh anymore.
We have a third target now.
Tom-Tom!