Balance | Old Version

Chapter 14

Third Person POV.

Everyone stands in a cavern, the floor is covered in stalagmites and it was dimly lit.
"It seems I've lost my lunch box key and I'm hungry," Bumi tells Aang. There's a key hanging from a long chain in the middle of a waterfall. A ladder reaches up from the ground of the cavern to about where the key dangles.
"Ooh, there it is. Would you mind fetching it for me?" Bumi asks Aang. Aang jumps into action.

Using his airbending skills he bounces from stalagmite to stalagmite. He charges into the waterfall and begins to climb the ladder. The force of the water stops him from making progress, though.
"Ooo, climbing the ladder. No one's thought of that before." Bumi says sarcastically. Aang loses his grip and is shot out of the waterfall. He is about to get impaled when he recovers and slides between two stalagmites, one foot on the side of each. He looks up at Katara, Sokka, and Elua and regains his determination.

This time he flies up to the stalactites on the ceiling and is soon looking down at the key. He concentrates, jumps into the waterfall, and is shot right back out, managing to grab onto a stalagmite.
"That's right. Keep diving head in, I'm sure it'll work eventually." Bumi states. Aang breaks off the top of the stalagmite he is holding and throws it at the chain holding the key. Using his airbending skills he makes sure it breaks the chain and carries 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 dangles just over Bumi's head.
"There, enjoy your lunch! I want my friends back, now!" Aang shouts.
"Uh, not yet. I need help with another matter. It seems I've lost my pet Flopsy." Bumi says sadly. They move to another room. Aang finds a bunny sitting on a rock.
"Okay, found him!" Aang shouts as he slowly walks over to it.
"Bring him to me! Daddy wants a kiss from Flopsy!" Bumi says.
"Come here, Flopsy!" Aang says. A huge creature lands behind Aang.

Aang turns around to face the creature while the bunny squeaks and runs off. The monster crushes a huge boulder in front of Aang. He flips backward and lands as the bunny runs by him, squealing in terror.
"Flopsy, wait! Flopsy! Flopsy!" Aang says as he runs after the bunny. Aang chases the bunny while the monster chases Aang. Bumi is cackling maniacally. The bunny runs into a rabbit hole in the wall of the arena. Aang slides up next to it and sticks his hand in the hole. He rummages around but finds nothing.

Meanwhile, the monster closes in. Aang has another idea. He stands up and faces the monster just as it arrives.
"Flopsy?" Aang asks the creature. The monster stops instantly and wags its tail. Flopsy picks Aang up tenderly, making gentle noises. Aang is surprised and starts screaming. He stops when Flopsy gives him a huge lick.
"Flopsy!" Aang says happily. Flopsy's drops Aang and scales the arena wall in response to King Bumi's whistling and kissing noises. He flops on back in front of King Bumi.

"Awww, that's a good boy! Yes, who has a soft belly?" Bumi says as he begins to rub Flopsy's belly. Aang jumps up onto the railing of the arena. Katara is in the foreground, covered from head to ankle in Crystal.
"Guys, are you ok?" Aang asks them worriedly
"Other than the crystal slowly encasing my entire body, doing great," Katara says. A new length of crystal grows on the left side of Sokka's head. He loses his balance and keels over.
"Why didn't you get a magic ring!?" Sokka asks Elua, She shrugs.
"Come on. I'm ready for the next challenge." Aang tells Bumi.

"Ahh! Hahaha!" Bumi laughs. They move into an Earthbending arena, Bumi still laughing maniacally.
"Your final test is a duel and as a special treat, you may choose your opponent. Point and choose." Bumi says as two enormous gladiator type characters show up to flank King Bumi. The champion on the left is a muscular man with a nasty smile and a huge ax. The champion on the right is a mammoth fighter who looks like he relies upon brute strength.
"So, you're saying whoever I point to, that's the person I get to fight?" Aang asks.