In the throne room of the King...
"I solved the question the same way that I solved the challenges, with a little help from my friends." said the Avatar looking at Cologne who just gave a smile. He continued to say, "As you said long time ago, you have to open your mind to the possibilities." The king giggled and snorted as he heard the air nomad's words.
"Bumi, you're a mad genius!" Aang said as he ran to over to his hundred year old friend, with a look of joy on his face as he found a piece of his past returned to him. Ranma couldn't believe that the old mad king was the same crazy friend that Aang had told them about. But it made sense when he thought of the challenges and the inventive use of the delivery chutes, which showed off the strange mind of Bumi. Cologne had agreed with the Avatar's opinion of who the King was as well once they had been told.
"Oh Aang, it's good to see you again. You haven't changed a bit. Literally." The King seemed to enjoy seeing his friend after all of this time and the rumors of his vanishing for a hundred years. Ranma could tell that they were bonding after a long time. Bumi rubbed the head of his shorter friend.
Ranma looked over his shoulder as Cologne was looking over the crystals that were holding their two other friends prisoner, before she made a quick stab with each finger like the Breaking Point move. The crystal instead of exploding with the regular breaking point merely shattered and fell to the ground. Ranma looked surprised at that action as all of the breaking points that he had seen Ryoga perform had created explosions of earth and stone that explained the need of the thick skin the technique created. Cologne turned and looked at him, "You're not the only one that could take a technique and revise it into something else Son-in-law."
Bumi turned and looked at the elder Amazon, "Are you an earthbender cutie?" He looked at Cologne with a look of desire that shocked Ranma and those assembled. (Sorry but the thought of the girls blushing in this part just really made me a bit queasy. I’m all for finding happiness where you can find it but that’s just so wrong.)
"No, I was just using a technique of my tribe that only resembles earthbending. Thanks for the compliment though, handsome. I might be tempted to spend some time with you if it wasn't for the fact that we need to get Aang to the North Pole as well as look for a way for Ranma, my great granddaughter, and myself to get home to our own world." Cologne said smiling at the male attention that she was getting from the king. Ranma was turning a little green at the aspect of thinking about Cologne sexually.
Bumi picked up a piece of the crystal that had been holding the brother and sister and took a bit out of it. "Genemite is made of rock candy, delicious." The King took a second bite before offering it to everyone gathered. They all rejected it except for Cologne who mentioned that she could go for something sweet.
"So this crazy old guy is your old friend Aang?" Ranma asked, not paying attention to the fact that he was being rather blunt to a man that controlled an army.
Bumi was annoyed at the way that Ranma had said it when he replied, "Who are you calling old?" Bumi paused for a moment before continuing, "Okay, I'm old."
"Don't worry, Son-in-law tends to lack the tact that most people have. Beside being old doesn't mean that you can kick these youngster's butts." Cologne told the king as both lit up at the knowledge of their skills in combat.
Sokka seemed unable to hold back his confusion as he asked, "Why go to all of this trouble instead of just telling Aang who you are?" The rest of the youngsters looked at the old man with the same look of questioning as the Water Tribesman. Bumi smiled and giggle-snorted before he answered their question.
"First of all, it's pretty fun messing with people." Bumi giggle-snorted again at his joke before he became more serious and turned towards his old friend. "But I do have a reason. Aang you have a difficult task ahead of you. The world has changed in the hundred years since you were gone. It's the duty of the Avatar to return balance to the world by defeating the Fire Lord Ozai. You have much to learn, you must learn the four elements and confront the Fire Lord, and when you do I hope that you think like a mad genius."
Aang smiled, clasped his hands together in thanks and bowed before the king. Bumi continued, "You're in good hands. You will need your friends if you are going to defeat the Fire Lord." It was then that Momo leapt on the shoulders of the Avatar.
"You'll need Momo's help too. Plus the beautiful Cologne might be able to show you a few clever tricks, especially if that shattering trick is something other than earthbending." Bumi said with a smile as he advised the Avatar.
"Thank you for you wisdom. But before we leave, I have a challenge for you!" Aang said with a devilish smiled, which caused everyone else look at him.
Moments later...
Ranma couldn't believe that Aang had talked the king into riding the chutes like a super slide, doing it like they did when they were young. Ranma had just taken a ride down one of the chutes and had to admit that it was a wild ride that easily resembled one of the chases that occurred back home. It was also interesting to learn that Shampoo was apparently scared silly of high speeds. The Amazon rider of the bike of doom hung on to him screaming as if it would help protect her from any crashes that might occur. Ranma also heard from Cologne that she had asked a favor of the King to repay the master that she had stolen the techniques she taught Shampoo. She mentioned something about trying to keep good karma in this world for as long as possible, hoping that good karma might help them make it home in one piece.
The fact that the elder woman was in the chute with Bumi and Aang; holding on to the king with the same kind of grip that Shampoo had on him when they rode the super slide was something that Ranma had not expected. It was a few seconds later that the sounds of crashing and the cry of "My cabbages!" echoed through out the city. Ranma could only grin at the childish fun that was occurring.
(Posted Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:38)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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