Chapter 8
Mad King Bumi
A/N: I am so sorry that this chapter has taken so long. My weekend, which is when I do my best writing and editing(as well as my posting) was disrupted by my house being evacuated by the RCMP which was terrifying in itself, then my boyfriend invited me out to dinner. He's going to college in two weeks in another province and I just couldn't say no to him. Then yesterday I was scheduled for a long day at work. Well now that is all over so I'm posting this chapter. I'm sorry but life happens, anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's not very exciting but it does have some nice character development.
Princess Kassie Out.
Omashu. It was a beautiful view from the cliff we stood upon to to huge cone shaped city. At the top was a brilliant green palace which housed King Bumi, Aang's old friend. I wondered for a moment how Bumi became the king of Omashu. It was in the earth kingdom, therefore under the rule of the Earth King. Unless it was it's own city-state Bumi shouldn't be calling himself King at all. I glanced at Aang, who was grinning excitedly and at Sokka who was staring at the small city in awe. For him it was beyond impressive. Buildings made out of stone, wood and brick would last a great deal longer then the tents of animal hide and igloos that the southern water tribe used as their homes. They were also more durable then the all wooden houses of Kyoshi island. Katara looked just as impressed as her brother, staring at the city with wide eyes. I too was impressed, it was one thing to see a city like this on TV but it was totally different to see it in real life.
"Come on, I have so much to show you guys." Aang cried, his face alight. He took three a steps before realizing the rest of is weren't following him.
"What's wrong?" He asked, using airbending to spin himself back to face us.
"Well… back on Kyoshi island, remember how Zuko found us?" Katara asked. Aang nodded. Katara had spilt the beans so now the entire group knew that the 'crazy stalker guy' was Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. Aang had gotten confused as to how I knew his name so I fibbed and said I had heard the prince's uncle call him Prince Zuko. That had made Katara look at me strangely until I added that it was common knowledge that the prince had been banished. It had been a close call and it had really caused me to wonder when I was going to tell my friends about my knowledge. For now I was just going with the flow but sooner or later I would have to fess up and tell my friends that I had known their future even before I had met them. I wasn't looking forward to that conversation so for now I was avoiding it as best I could.
"Yeah," Aang replied, "so?"
"Well Sokka and I were thinking… it might be better for you to be disguised so he won't find us. We don't want him to come storming into Omashu." Katara shuffled her feet, looking away from Aang. I could tell she didn't want to order him about, but she did feel that she was protecting us, and to Katara there was nothing more important. Aang frowned but seemed to understand the reasoning behind it.
I stared blankly at the box we were 'borrowing' and quickly decided I did not want to be part of this roller coaster ride. Aang bounced in then, Sokka and lastly Katara. I stayed out. That caught Aang's attention.
"Maddi? Aren't you coming?" I shook my head.
"Sorry Aang, I really am not interested." The young avatar though, wouldn't take no for an answer he gave me the biggest pair of puppy eyes I had ever seen. The big grey orbs were unnaturally cute. I groaned, knowing full well I was going to regret this division, and clambered in behind Katara.
The ride was crazy. I couldn't keep up with everything that was happening. One second we were being chased by a rack of spears, the next we were crashing through apartment buildings. It all seemed to happen so quickly then, just as quickly we landed on the cabbage merchant's stall. Destroying his cabbages for a second time that day.
Then, just as quickly we were marched up to Bumi's castle. Aang, Sokka, Katara and I were shoved down onto our knees in front of the badly dressed royal figure. Bumi looked ancient, his skin covered in moles, pockmarks and wrinkles. His back was deformed, but I knew that to be not from an actual hunchback but from the way he hid his muscular body.
"Off with their heads! One for every piece of mutilated cabbage!"
"I don't think there are enough heads here." I felt no sorrow for teasing the guy who wanted my friends and I killed, even if we did ruin his livelihood. He had proved that they were easily replaced.
"Silence. Only the king can give them their sentence." I looked at my friends. Katara was giving her best, innocent little girl look, Sokka was pleading mentally and Aang… seemed uninterested. Bumi caught my eye and I noticed he was looking at me. Curious I met his gaze, a single eyebrow raised.
"Throw them…" Bumi started, causing the entire area to fall quiet. Everyone was completely focused on Bumi.
"A feast!" I snorted, classic Bumi. I turned when I heard a thud, the cabbage merchant had fainted.
The feast was prepared surprisingly quickly. Knowing Bumi this was probably common. Either way we ended up sitting across from the king, Aang and Katara in the middle of the table and Sokka and I on the edges.
"You must forgive me but my people have become fat from multiple feasts. So I hope you like your chicken without any skin." Sokka wasn't able to answer, his mouth stuffed full. While I agreed it was nice to eat meat again, I had to admit he was overdoing it.
"It's fine, thank you." I replied quickly which Katara and Aang were exchanging looks.
"How about you, bald kid in the middle?" Aang was looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"Ah, no thanks. I don't eat meat."
"Oh? Pity, you're missing out on quite a good fare." Aang shrugged. I was paying more attention to Bumi then my friends, which was the only reason why I saw the elderly earthbender take a leg of chicken out of his sleeve and throw it at Aang. To Aang and the others it seemed that the leg of chicken practically appeared out of nowhere. Aang caught the chicken with a gust of air, causing it to look like it was spinning between his hands like magic. I had to admit I was impressed. I still loved seeing bending at work. Briefly I wondered what it would be like to bend, to control all that power. I pushed the thoughts aside. I didn't have time to wonder about that right now.
"We have an Airbender in our midst!" Bumi called to his guards.
"And not just any Airbender, the avatar." Alarm filled Aang's expression. He dropped the chicken leg, shoving his hands behind his back as if to hide the deed. Then again, this was Bumi the crazy king, what more did I expect?
The 'Newly Refurbished Chamber that was Once Bad' was actually surprisingly nice. Also there was an extra bed in it so instead of three there were four. I wondered briefly if upon seeing me Bumi had ordered in an extra bed. I decided not to question it to much and instead flopped onto one of the green beds. It was so nice and surprisingly comfortable. I heard my friends talking but I was to exhausted to care. The bed was soft and comfortable and while the gems in. The walls did give off light, the glow was soft enough that sleep wouldn't be hard to come by.
I must have fallen asleep sooner then I thought for the nest thing I knew I was waking up with a hand pressed over my mouth. I yelped in shock but the sound was muffled. I noticed Katara and Sokka fighting their own captors. Despite our struggles we were dragged out of the chamber and into a earthen corridor. It was only after we were sealed away from Aang that the guards let go of our mouths. Katara started calling for Aang, Sokka started making threats but I remained quiet. I was thinking, hard. Finally I spoke.
"I demand to see king-" I caught myself from saying Bumi's name and corrected my sentence.
"I demand to see the king." The guard holding my arms chuckled.
"Sorry but no one sees the king unless the king wants to see them." There was the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor at a breakneck pace. It was a thin man who was looking rather desperate. Panting he stopped upon coming up to us.
"Forgive me for intruding," he gasped, wiping a sheen of sweat off his brow, "but the king has demanded to see the one called Madison." I blinked in surprise. Well, that had worked out well.
"That's me."
I was escorted down to see King Bumi in the same chamber that he would be seeing Aang in later. Much to my horror he was wearing the purple garment that he had faced Aang in. I grimaced, if I had thought it looked bad in cartoon that was nothing compared to this. If there's one thing I could say about Bumi though, it was that he never felt shy to state exactly what he was thinking. Which is why as soon as the guards left he came straight up to me then stated at point blank.
"So Madison how are you enjoying our world?" I gaped at Bumi in utter shock. How on earth had he figured it out that didn't come from this world? How on earth did he know?
"What are you, omnipotent?" I blurted out. Bumi laughed, but didn't answer, instead he asked with a loud cackle.
"What do you think of my outfit?"
"I'm not the one wearing it, you are." Was my quick response. Honestly I thought the outfit was horrific and worthy of being burned but I didn't want to offend Bumi, the life of my friends were possibly on the line. I doubted that but better safe then sorry.
"Humm," Bumi replied.
"So what did you want me here for?" I asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Why did you ask for me?" He retorted. I grimaced, well I might as well put my cards down, Bumi wouldn't let me keep them hidden anyways.
"As you know I'm from another world. Well I also know the path this world is going to take-"
"Is or was?" Bumi chuckled. I stopped, feeling slightly unnerved. Coughing uncomfortably I continued.
"I'm… not sure yet." I admitted before continuing on. Bumi leaned back on a chair he must have bended into creation for I was sure it hadn't been there before.
"Well, I know that you were going to use creeping crystal on our fingers so instead… take me prisoner." I was beginning to feel really uncomfortable, Bumi's knowing stare seemed to pierce through my logic and sharp wit to see something soft and venerable inside.
"And why should I do that? For all I know they'll leave you behind."
"They would never do that!" I cried. Aang, Sokka and Katara were my friends even if they were younger then me, they would never leave me behind and I would never leave them behind.
"Even if you could go home?" My heart slipped a beat. I was suddenly aware of everything going on around me. I wanted to go home but… I felt a pang in my heart. Sokka, Katara, all the people from the water tribe and even Aang had become close to me. They had befriended me and even more, become a second family. I had become so close to them in such a short time… how painful would the thought of leaving be after Ozai was defeated. And yet I still wanted to see my family, at least say a proper goodbye, tell them how wonderful it was here, joke with my sister how much she reminded me of Toph or how cute Sokka, her Avatar crush was. Then I'd give them every little detail I could remember, everything I could think of.
I couldn't answer. It seemed like I stood there forever. I was stuck. Going home I would be able to see my family again, assure them that I was safe and happy. But I knew that they would never believe my story, they would think I convinced myself that my adventures in the avatar world were hiding some hidden hurt. Two months ago I would have thought the same thing. Never going back I would get a new family, new friends, a new life without the mistakes of my past but my birth family would go on believing I was dead and I would never know if they were okay as well. That was another danger of returning, to go home and find out that I was the only survivor.
"Deal." I jumped from my thoughts to look at Bumi in surprise.
"Escort miss Madison back to the newly refurbished chamber and make sure she is comfortable." Bumi ordered his guards. I hadn't noticed them coming in, still shell shocked from his question. The guards were firm with their hold on me as they guided me away from Bumi's throne room and back to the chamber. I barely paid any attention, my mind focused on other things of which there belonged no right answers.
I was awoken from the slumber I had fallen into out of boredom by one of the guards. I blinked and flipped over.
"The avatar has passed all of the king's tests, you are free to go." I jumped up, beaming in excitement. Aang had passed, like I had known he would. I all but sprinted out of the doorway the guard had been kind enough to bend open for me and down the hallway. I slowed as I approached the throne room, entering just in time to see Aang hug Bumi.
"Aang, you haven't changed a bit. Literally!" Bumi exclaimed.
"Thanks, um, Bumi can you let Maddi go now?"
"Already done," I called, grinning at the dramatic entrance. There was a yell and suddenly I was being squished by three sets of bodies all coming in for hugs. I yelped and faked suffocation.
"Guys… can't … breathe." I was feeling so much better then I had started this morning. Maybe it was the good sleep or maybe it was the fact that my friends would never leave me, no merger what I did. I felt a stab in my heart. I shoved the feeling inside, I had no good reason to suddenly lose my good mood.
"So what happened?" I asked my friends. Katara was the one who replied.
"Bumi said that he was going to hold you prisoner and let us go, we couldn't allow that so Aang did his three tests." I smiled and hugged them again.
"I was testing your companions Aang, to see how loyal they were," Bumi explained, "you've got good friends Aang, and you'll need them if you want to succeed in your quest." Momo chattered and flew to Bumi's shoulder.
"And don't forget Momo, he'll be very useful." I looked around. Where on earth had Momo come from anyway?
"Bumi," Aang said, catching everyone's attention, "I have a challenge for you." The young avatar grinned and whispered in his old friend's ear. Bumi beamed and nodded. I stared in shock as the two raced each other out of the door like they were both still kids.
I turned and shared an exasperated expression with Katara and Sokka. Aang was such a child but I was willing to let him have his childish moments, all to soon he would be expected to grow up. A guard walked in and noticing something missing asked, "where is the king?"
"Out using the mail delivery system as a super slide." The guard groaned from under his huge metal hat before turning and walking away, shaking his head muttering.
"I always knew there was a reason they called him mad king Bumi." I giggled, the title fit so well. It seemed like I was not the only one to find it funny either a few seconds later Sokka and Katara joined me in laughter.
Bumi saw us off with that giant smile of his and a money pouch to help us along our way. Aang and the crazy king said a heartfelt goodbye before we left. Just as we were walking out the door Bumi grabbed my shoulder.
"No one knows what the future holds," he stated firmly, a serious expression in his crazy eyes.
"And no one, even if they know, can predict it." I stared at Bumi for the longest time. Just how much about my situation did this crazy guy know? And how crazy was he really?
While we rode Appa away I tried to figure out what he meant. No one knows the future even if they know the future? What did he mean? What did he see that I didn't? I couldn't understand, I couldn't ever guess at what Bumi was aware of. All I new was that I had to make my choices and hope for the best. I couldn't stop trying to make a difference I couldn't sit idly by and just watch things happen. I needed to feel useful, like I was doing something good.
