Surrender of Omashu

"fire"

- I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed...untouchable.

The Capture of Omashu was an event in which Fire Nation armies invaded the city of Omashu, the Earth Kingdom's second greatest stronghold. It ended in a decisive victory for the Fire Nation, as King Bumi surrendered the minute Omashu was attacked. The capture was a huge blow to the Earth Kingdom, leaving Ba Sing Se as the last great stronghold standing. Despite the victory, however, a group of Omashu citzens formed a resistance group, led by Captain Yung.

The capture resulted in Mai's father being appointed governor of the newly conquered city. A few weeks later, Princess Azula would come seeking her old friends, Mai and Ty Lee, to help her capture her brother and uncle. Avatar Aang and his friends would also return to begin Aang's training with Bumi.

The Avatar and his friends successfully freed the citzens of Omashu after their arrival. They were not successful, however, in gaining Aang an Earthbending teacher, and were forced to flee the city without Bumi.

History
After 100 years of war, the Fire Nation was able to successfully conquer many Earth Kingdom cities and provinces. Eventually only Ba Sing Se and Omashu remained as the last great Earth Kingdom strongholds.

Capture
Sometime during the late winter season, Omashu was besieged by Fire Nation forces. According to Captain Yung, the soldiers of Omashu were ready yo fight for Omashu's freedom. However, when Yung asked Bumi what they should do, Bumi looked him in the eyes and said, "I'm going to do...nothing!".

With that, Bumi surrendered Omashu to the Fire Nation, preventing any fatal casualties, yet getting himself captured. Many citzens and soldiers were able to escape, and formed a resistance group. The Fire Nation forces soon occupied the city, and claimed the city in the name of Fire Lord Ozai.

With Omashu captured, Ozai appointed Mai's father to govern the city.

Immeadiate
Despite the victory, the rebellions formed in the city still posed a threat to the Fire Nation. despite this, the city was in firm control, and fighting back seemed to be a lost cause. Things changed, however, with the arrival of Team Avatar, who was searching for Bumi. Princess Azula also arrived to enlist the help of her friends, Mai and Ty lee.

While in Omashu, the Avatar and his friends devised a plan to free the citzens of Omashu by pretending that they were all plauged with a deadly sickness. The Governor fell for the scheme, and allowed the citzens to leave. His 2 year old son, Tom-Tom, however, ended up following the citzens out of Omashu.

Thinking the resistance kidnapped his son, the Governor offered King Bumi for the return of his son. After hearing of this, Azula angerly deemed the Governor a poor ruler, and decided that Mai will carry out the hostage exchange with the help of her and Ty Lee. Azula then renames Omashu "New Ozai" in honor of her father, and leaves.

Team Avatar and Azula and her friends then meet on top of the city's construction sight to trade hostages. Azula then brings up the fact that it would be foolish to trade a powerful Earthbending king for a boy. Mai agrees, and orders that the deal is off. Aang chases after Bumi, and in the process accidently reveals his identity as the Avatar.

A fight then breaks out between the six of them. Aang slides down the mail shoot with Bumi, only to find out they are being pursued by Azula. Meanwhile, Katara battles Ty Lee and Mai while Sokka brings Tom-Tom to safety. Ty Lee soon blocks Katara's chi, preventing her from bending. Right before Mai can kill Katara, however, Appa smacks her and Ty Lee of the building.

Katara and Sokka then attempt to rescue Aang and Bumi. Azula, however, prevents the two from rescuing Aang and Bumi. The fight continues until Bumi uses his head to create a large boulder, destroying the cart Azula used to pursue them in.

Now brought to safety, Aang questions Bumi on why he surrenderd, and Bumi tells him that he is waiting for the right moment to strike back, which is why he can't leave. He then tells Aang that he needs to find an Earthbender who waits and listens before striking, and that it can not be him. he then bids Aang farewell, and leaves.

After the engagement, Azula, while leaving Omashu with her friends, decides that she is going to add the Avatar to her list of targets. Meanwhile, Aang returns Tom-Tom back to the Governor and his wife.

Later
Aang, after taking Bumi's advise, decided to have Toph, a blind Earthbending master, become his Earthbending teacher, giving Team Avatar a new member.

Omashu would not see freedom again until The Day of Black Sun, which occured many months later. During that day, Bumi single handedly liberated all of Omashu, taking advantage of Fire Nation soldier's loss of Firebending.

Appearances and References

 * The Cave of Two Lovers
 * Return to Omashu
 * Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters