Aang: Okay! You caught me. I'm the Avatar, doing my Avatar thing, keeping the world safe. Everything checks out (looks under the table), no firebenders here. So, good work everybody. (Puts his arms around his companions and together they stand.) Love each other, respect all life and don't run with your spears. We'll see you next time!
Umi started giggling to herself knowing what King Bumi was doing. She watch as her friends were walking towards the door. The guards stopped them.
Katara: You can’t keep us here. Let us leave.
King Bumi: Lettuce leaf?
Umi couldn’t help but laugh as King Bumi picked up a lettuce leaf from the plate in front of him and take a bite. Her friends glared at her. Umi got up and walked over to them. Sokka grabbed her and held her around the waist. Sokka then leaned into the group.
Sokka: We’re in serious trouble. This guy is a nut.
Umi: You would be surprised in what he has to teach.
King Bumi: (Seriously) Tomorrow the Avatar will face three deadly challenges. The same I put Umi threw when she was my student. But for now, the guards will show you to your chamber.
Guard: My liege, do you mean the good chamber, or the bad chamber?
King Bumi: The newly refurbished chamber.
Guard: Wait, which one are we talking about?
King Bumi: The one that used to be the bad chamber, until the recent refurbishing that is. Of course, we've been calling it the new chamber, but we really should number them. Uh, take them to the refurbished chamber that was once bad! Umi must stay with me.
Umi was torn from Sokka’s arms as they were led out by the guards. King Bui was looking mad again while chomping on his lettuce. Umi was taken to his side.
Umi: What will you do with Sokka and Katara tomorrow?
King Bumi: Use the genemite. Do you remember those?
Umi: Of course I do. Very tasty. So can Katara and Sokka be kept in my room. I really want to talk to them.
King Bumi: I’m sorry but they can’t. I will be putting the rings on them near the time we wake up Aang.
Umi: Are you happy you get to see him again. You use to talk about him all the time.
King Bumi: Of course I am. Now off to bed with you. I will have the guards escort you. Have a wonderful night.
Two guards came and stood on either side of her leading her to her room. Umi sighed knowing what Aang was going to be doing tomorrow. She soon was at her room and was earthbended in. She sighed as she climbed into bed.
She woke up the morning to noise outside of her chamber. It sounded like knocking. She walked over to her door stomping it to open. Two guards were standing there. She smiled knowing where they were taking her. She walked in just as Aang was being escorted. She went and sat next to King Bumi. King Bumi was wearing a horrible blue, purple, and light green robe.
King Bumi: First, Avatar, what do you think of my new outfit? I want your honest opinion.
Aang sat there with a blank expression.
King Bumi: I'm waiting.
Aang: I guess it’s fine.
King Bumi: Excellent! You passed the first test.
Aang: Really?
King Bumi (thinking): Well, not one of the deadly tests. The real challenges are much more challenging.
Aang's became angry as he airbended his feet to run in an instant up to King Bumi.
Aang: I don't have time for your crazy games! Gimme my friends back! We're leaving and taking Umi with us!
King Bumi: Ohh, I thought you might refuse
At this moment a door is opened by guards holding Katara and Sokka in the corridor beyond. The guards place small rings on one of their fingers which contract to fit snugly as soon as they are worn. Sokka and Katara struggle to take off the rings, but they couldn't.
King Bumi: So I will give your friends some special souvenirs. Those delightful rings are made of pure genemite, also known as creeping crystal. It's crystal that grows remarkably fast. By nightfall your friends will be completely covered in it. Terrible fate, really but I can stop it, but only if you cooperate.
All of a sudden King Bumi slipped one on Umi’s finger. It then started growing on all three of them
Sokka: Ah! It's already creeping!
Aang (to King Bumi): I'll do as you want.
King Bumi (grinning evilly): Mmm!
They were all then led to a cavern. Aang was standing on a small stone parapet with a waterfall in the background. The cavern floor is covered in stalagmites. King Bumi, the guards and the prisoners stood on a balcony. Crystal already covers the forearms of all. King Bumi laughed.
King Bumi: It seems I've lost my lunch box key and I'm hungry.
A key was hanging by a long chain in the middle of the waterfall. A ladder reached up from the ground of the cavern to about where the key dangled.
King Bumi: Ooo, there it is. Would you mind fetching it for me?
Aang jumped into action. Using his airbending skills he bounced from stalagmite to stalagmite. He charges into the waterfall, holding his breath, and begins to climb the ladder. The force of the water stopped him from making progress.
King Bumi: Ooo, climbing the ladder. No one's thought of that before.
Aang loosed his grip and was shot out of the waterfall. He was about to get impaled when he recovers and slides between two stalagmites, one foot on the side of each. He breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at his friends and regains his determination. This time he flies up to the stalactites on the ceiling and was soon looking down at the key. He concentrated, jumped into the waterfall, and was shot right back out, managing to grab onto a stalagmite. Aang looked at his friends seeing the crystal was now covering them up to the shoulder.
King Bumi: That's right. Keep diving head in, I'm sure it'll work eventually.
Aang suddenly got an idea. He broke off the top of the stalagmite he was holding and throws it at the chain holding the key. Using his airbending skills he made sure it broke the chain and carried the bottom part of it along with the key up to the balcony. The tip of the stalagmite embeds itself like a spearhead into the top of the doorway. The key now dangled just over the surprised King's head.
Aang: There, enjoy your lunch! I want my friends back, now!
King Bumi: Uh, not yet. I need help with another matter. It seems I've lost my pet Flopsy.
Umi: I love Flopsy!
Everyone sighed as they were led to a pit. Inside was a fluffy bunny sitting on a rock. Aang landed in the pit.
Aang: Okay, found him!
Aang and the bunny were in the middle of a shallow arena. King Bumi and the prisoners are at the railing around the top of the arena.
King Bumi: Bring him to me! Daddy wants a kiss from Flopsy!
Behind Aang a huge monster is landed with no sound.
Aang: Come here, Flopsy!
Aang turned around to face the monster while the bunny squeaks and ran off. The monster crushed a huge boulder in front of Aang. He flipped backwards and landed as the bunny ran by him, squealing in terror.
Aang: Flopsy, wait! Flopsy! Flopsy!
Aang chased the bunny while the monster chased him. King Bumi was cackling maniacally as Umi tried not to laugh. The bunny ran into a hole in the wall of the arena. Aang slid up next to it and stuck his hand into the hole. He rummaged around, but found nothing. Meanwhile, the monster closed in on him. Aang has another idea. He stood up and faced the monster just as it arrives.
Aang (to monster): Flopsy?
The monster stopped instantly and waged its tail. Flopsy picked Aang up tenderly, making gentle noises. Aang was surprised and started screaming. He stopped when Flopsy licked him. Umi laughed knowing it was Flopsy then entire time.
Aang: Flopsy!
He rubbed Flopsy's head. Flopsy dropped Aang and scaled the arena wall in response to King Bumi's whistling and kissing noises. He flopped on his back in front of King Bumi.
King Bumi: Awww, that's a good boy! Yes, who has a soft belly?
He began to rub Flopsy's belly. Flopsy's left leg pawed the ground in pleasure. Aang then jumped up onto the railing of the arena. Katara was now covered from head to ankle in crystal.
Aang: Guys, are you ok?
Katara: Other than the crystal slowly encasing my entire body, doing great.
Umi: Don’t worry Aang we’ll be fine just worry about you next task. It is the last and hardest.
A new length of crystal then grew on the left side of Sokka's head. He then lost his balance and keels over. King Bumi rubbing Flopsy's belly as Umi earth bending him back up.
King Bumi: Awww, yes.
Aang (looking severe): Come on. I'm ready for the next challenge.
King Bumi: Ahh! Hahaha!
King Bumi laughed maniacally the entire way to the last challenge. They were now at an earthbending arena. It was ill-lit and largely featureless except the dirt floor. Aang and King Bumi were on one of the two balconies while the prisoners, now encased in crystal except for their faces and feet, were on the second one.
King Bumi: Your final test is a duel and as a special treat you may choose your opponent. Point and choose.
Two enormous gladiator type characters showed up to flank King Bumi. The champion on the left is a muscular man with a nasty smile and a huge axe. The champion on the right is a mammoth fighter who looked like he relied upon brute strength. Aang was terrified.
Aang (thinking): So, you're saying whoever I point to, that's the person
I get to fight?
King Bumi: Choose wisely.
Aang: I choose you! (He is pointing at King Bumi.)
King Bumi: Haha! Wrong choice!
King Bumi, with some effort, corrected his lumped posture. He dumped his robes to reveal a surprisingly muscular physique for such an old man. He was clearly formidable and Aang recoils, realizing his mistake. The King was also apparently a master earthbender, for he immediately stomped the ground, blowing Aang far out into the arena. He landed in the dust. King Bumi launched himself off the balcony and landed close to Aang. He laughed evilly as Umi sighed.
King Bumi: You thought I was a frail old man, but I'm the most powerful earthbender you'll ever see. Umi made the same mistake as you.
Aang: Can I fight the guy with the axe instead?
King Bumi: There are no take-back-sees' in my kingdom. You might need this!
King Bumi motions to a guard who threw Aang his staff. King Bumi immediately launched several boulders at him which Aang dodged.
King Bumi: Typical airbender tactic: avoid and evade. I'd hoped the Avatar would be less predictable.
He launched another boulder at Aang, who dodged and launched himself into the air.
King Bumi: Don't you have any surprises for me? Sooner or later, you'll have to strike back.
The King launched another stone at Aang which missed, but explodes upon impacting the ceiling of the arena. The debris knocked Aang to the ground and he lost his staff as he fell. Aang got back up as King Bumi began walking around. With each turn he made a huge pillar of rock block Aang's path. One of them caught Aang in the gut as it rose into the air.
King Bumi: Oh, you'll have to be a little more creative than that!
Aang jumped off the pillar, riding one of his famous airballs. He rode the wall of the arena and approached the King from his right. He launched a huge gale at his opponent, who blocked it with a sheet of stone raised from the floor of the arena. The King emerged from behind the stone shield, a smile on his face.
King Bumi: Did someone leave the windows open? It feels a little drafty in here! (The King dropped his smile.) Are you hoping I'll catch a cold?
Aang dropped off his airball and a quickly looked back to the King, who kicked over the stone sheet and began to raise it on earth dug out of the arena's surface. He shot the earth underneath the stone sheet at Aang which knocked him over. The King struck the ground with his fist, sending a shock wave through the arena surface right at Aang. The Aang flipped backward to avoid the shock wave, but now was close to the rear wall of the arena.
King Bumi: How are you going to going to get me from way over there?
Aang looked determined and began to run to at his opponent. King Bumi used the side of his foot to dash the earth. The ground around Aang becomes quicksand and he fell in. The King raised two boulders and sent them to smash the struggling Aang. He escaped just in time as the rocks smash together. Aang jumped straight at his opponent, unleashing a blast of wind that knocked him and the stone sheet he stood upon back against the wall of the arena. The King raised one of the boulders from where he had just failed to crush Aang and pulled it back towards him at frightening speed. Aang saw it just in time and did a back flip that barely allowed him to get up and over the flying boulder. The boulder of course moved on to almost crush the King, but he broke it into many pieces as it reached him. With tremendous effort, King Bumi tore the entire gate area of the arena out of the ground and held it over his head. Aang screamed in terror and began to run in circles, creating a tornado. The King threw the massive earth mound, but the tornado grabbed it and threw it back at him. As it reached King Bumi he bisects it neatly in two. Aang appeared between the rock pieces and pinned the King with his staff. The King smiled and looked up. Aang also looked up as a little piece of rock bounced off his head. Overhead hovered one of the two halves of rock, ready to crush them both.
King Bumi: Hehe! Well done, Avatar. You fight with much fire in your heart.
The King threw the rock to the side of the arena. He then fell backward into the floor, disappearing and leaving a Bumi shaped hole. Aang was completely confused.
Aang: Huh?
A hole opened up in the floor of the balcony and the King emerged, the hole closed up instantly beneath him. Aang, using his staff as a helicopter blade, landed on the balcony.
King Bumi: You've passed all my tests. Now, you must answer one question.
Aang: That's not fair! You said you would release my friends if I finished your tests.
King Bumi: Oh, but what's the point of tests if you don't learn anything?
Sokka: Oh come on!
Umi: Sokka, calm down. We will be fine. Besides it’s an easy test. Aang should know the answer.
King Bumi: Answer this one question and I will set your friends free. What is my name? From the looks of your friends, I'd say you only have a few minutes.
King Bumi then left giving a small smile to Umi.
Aang: How am I supposed to know his name?
Katara: Think about the challenges, maybe it's some kind of riddle.
Umi: She is right you know.
Sokka: I got it!
Aang: Yea?
Sokka: He's an earthbender, right? Rocky! (Silence, followed by a cough in the background) You know, because of all the rocks?
Katara: We're gonna keep trying, but that is a good backup.
Aang: Okay, so back to the challenges. I got a key from the waterfall. I saved his pet and I had a duel.
Katara: And what did you learn?
Aang: Well, everything was different than I expected.
Katara (a piece of crystal growing into her cheek): And?
Aang: Well, they weren't straightforward. To solve each test, I had to think differently than I usually would. (Realization sweeping his features) I know his name!
Umi: I knew you would get it.
Now in the throne room Aang and the King stand opposite of each other. King Bumi was once again hunched over and in his regular green robes.
Aang: I solved the question the same way I solved the challenges. As you said a long time ago, I had to open my brain to the possibilities. (As King Bumi is laughing and snorting) Bumi, you're a mad genius! (He runs and hugs the old King.)
King Bumi: Oh, Aang. It's good to see you. You haven't changed a bit, literally.
Aang's old friend rubbed Aang's head. Katara, Umi, and Sokka approached from them still encased in crystal. Katara's face was now all that was visible.
Katara: Uh, over here!
Sokka's mouth was all that was visible of him.
Sokka: Little help?
The King formed a fist pulling it back and shattering the crystal from around both water tribe members as Umi shattered her own. Crystals flew all over and King Bumi caught a piece.
King Bumi: Genemite is made of rock candy. (He takes a bite). Delicious!
Katara: So this crazy king is your old friend, Bumi?
King Bumi (annoyed): Who you calling old? (Pause.) Okay. I'm old.
Sokka: Why did you do all this instead of just telling Aang who you were?
King Bumi: First of all, it's pretty fun messing with people, hehe (snort! snort!), but I do have a reason. (Turning to Aang). Aang, you have a difficult task ahead. The world has changed in the hundred years 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!
Aang smiled, while he clasped his hands together in thanks, and bows.
King Bumi: And it looks like you're in good hands. You'll need your friends to help defeat the Fire Nation. (Momo jumps onto Aang's shoulder.) And you'll need Momo too. Umi here can start teaching you what you need to know. She isn’t letting you on in all of her knowledge.
Aang: Thank you for your wisdom. But before we leave, I have a challenge for you!
Everyone waited outside waiting to see what Aang had challenged King Bumi to. Sokka was holding Umi afraid to let her get lost again as she smiled. A moment later a delivery bin flies by, King Bumi at the front, Aang in the back. Both are having a blast as the air rushes by them. They flew off the track then everyone heard a loud bang,
Cabbage Merchant (in anguish): My cabbages!
Everyone laughed the carried on in what they were doing.
