As the race began, Pakku took an early lead as gravity aided his liquid descent, allowing him to pull a good distance ahead of everyone else...until he saw what Bumi had done to the mail system for this event. The channels no longer went straight down the mountain interconnecting and dividing as they went. Instead, they now performed occasional loop-de-loops, crisscrossed all over the city, and only came together at the very bottom of the city where the finish line was. They were as much a maze as a race track, and Bumi was the only one who knew the proper courses.
After that, it looked like Bumi would take the lead, but he wound up being spilled out of his own track as Aang and Zuko leapt tracks, quickly taking the lead as the spinning of their Bending rides allowed them to take the loops without slowing down...although it was somewhat amusing for Aang as he passed Zuko in a loop to hear him mumbling, "Don't look up, don't look up, don't look up..."
"Actually, that's down," Aang pointed out as he zipped by.
"Not helping!" Zuko snapped as he struggled to keep up.
Past the loops, the trio still in the race began to strike out at each other in order to gain more of a lead. A major difference between Zuko's Fire Skates and Aang's Vacuum Sphere/Air Scooter quickly became apparent as they began the attempts at damaging each others' tracks. While the Air Scooter required much less physical energy to use and maintain, it required a great deal more focus and balance. Trying to lash out with Bending while riding could easily cause Aang to overbalance, resulting in spilling himself from the sphere. While Zuko's Fire Skates were much more physically taxing as he had to constantly race forward, his arms were free to attack while he moved, making them more versatile.
Throughout the city, groups of spectators cheered for their preferred competitor, and excitement ran rampant as the three raced down the mountain, leaping from channel to channel to gain more momentum towards the finish line.
Up near the top, Bumi frowned as he got up from his crash. "They think they can beat me in a race through my own city on a course I designed? I'll show them!" Leaping up, he set his mail trolley on its side and leapt onto it, rolling it forward with his feet and gathering more earth to it as it rolled down the mountainside. "Na...na na nah na na nah!" he sang out for no apparent reason as an entire side of his city became rolled up in the giant ball of earth.
It wasn't long after that when Bumi crossed the finish line. "I am victorious!" he proclaimed proudly, only to glance around. "Where are the other competitors? And the spectators?"
Swooping down, Momo started chittering at him angrily.
"Oh, there you are, Momo!" Bumi replied happily. "Impressive victory, wasn't-what do you mean it's a draw?!" Following Momo's angry gestures, he unrolled the ball of earth slowly, revealing where the vast majority of the competitors and spectators had been trapped - immobilized but otherwise unhurt - within the massive sphere. "Oopsies?" Bumi offered apologetically.
"...are you sure he's not just mad?" Zuko grunted at Aang.
"...I used to be?" Aang offered worriedly.
After the race fiasco, it was decided that direct physical competitions were not a good idea for diplomatic events. Instead, Bumi instituted an endless series of parties...and party games, which were arguably more strenuous than the race had been.
At one point, Zuko, Aang, Kuei, Pakku, and Cadence were all collapsed together between one game and the next, struggling to catch their breaths. "I swear that maniac's going to work us to death," Pakku groaned as he struggled to breathe.
"I can't remember...the last time...I exerted myself so much!" Kuei gasped out. "I'd feel so alive...if I didn't feel like I was about to die..."
"At this rate...nobody's going to have any energy...for the diplomacy when it comes up..." Aang managed between lungfuls of air.
"Then let's see...what we can cover...while we can still breathe..." Zuko suggested. "What are...the big sticking points...to peace?"
"C...colonies..." Kuei managed as he took a drink of water Pakku offered him. "Thanks. The Colonies can't stay Fire Nation territory."
"Wouldn't be fair to the governors and colonists who've lived there for three or more generations to kick them out," Cadence pointed out as she fanned herself and the others with her wings.
"Then give them to Aang as new Air Nomad settlements," Pakku suggested facetiously. "Nobody wins, but nobody loses."
"Maybe we should ask them before making arbitrary decisions about them?" Aang suggested. "Before anyone starts revolting or something?"
"That works," Zuko grunted as he pushed himself to his feet. "What else?"
"I...heard something about Sozin's dream?" Kuei asked nervously as he got to his feet.
"That's a long story," Zuko replied. "Long story short, Fire Nation metalwork and technological advancement plus Earth Kingdom resources equals technological revolution improving the lives of everyone on the planet."
"...I can get behind that," Kuei agreed.
"No arguments here," Pakku added.
"I'd like to hear more," Aang confirmed.
"What are you all doing lazing about?" Bumi called out as he bounced over. "The day's not even half over and you've yet to pin the crown on the king!" He then laughed madly, snorted, and dashed off.
"...move to hogtie King Bumi so we can settle the rest of the Peace Conference in a relaxed setting?" Kuei brought up.
"Seconded," Pakku agreed rapidly.
"Make it unanimous?" Zuko asked Aang.
"Motion carried," Aang confirmed.
Bumi hung upside down from the top of his city, a mask completely covering his face with only just enough room to breathe, and his entire body wrapped up to the point that he couldn't move, let alone bend. Oddly enough, he was happy about this, as it meant that the various leaders of this peace delegation had joined together as comrades to accomplish something, and that energy would be the driving force of settling the actual peace treaty since his other activities had already drained them of all other energy so that they were too pooped to fight over inconsequential matters.
Success! Bumi cackled happily to himself as he swung back and forth. A thought then occurred to him. "...I have to go to the bathroom..." he called out through the mask.
But nobody came.
"...I think I may have overlooked a couple of details..." he muttered to himself.
Ah, Bumi, finding perfect ideas to create an agreeable environment in the most convoluted and ridiculous ways possible. Always stay the mad genius.
*sniff* Oh, Tatsurou, you really DO care!
AND you also got the point about Roku sort of making a mistake in his strive for balance; genius!
(Come on, I've got to think of a good Undertale quote to use. "You're gonna have a b-" nah, that's too overused... "Don't you have anything better to-" Nah, not everyone would get that reference... *snaps* GOT IT!) Bumi suplexes an eighth of the city, just because he can!! (Yeah, that'll do it.)
The Pitfalls of Mad Genius.
6964484 And, like all mad geniuses, forgets about biological needs.
loses
Ah, Bumi. You never change, and we love you for it.
I just love that it's kuei who suggested it first
Bumi... why did you cut the most awesome race ever short?????
I was wondering how long it would take.
Nice peace talks, can't wait to see the results. I do like how they agreed to the advancement of technology part, very nice.
Oh my Balaur and Caela he really is a genius.
"You know they're not going to understand who you're swearing to, right?"
Yes, and I don't care.
"Well alright then."
6964508 Tell me you're not even slightly mad at him. Seriously.
6964618 HER!
6964618
I'm the one who said end the discussion and take it elsewhere.
I wonder if Bumi is secretly a chaos spirit...
Woo, parliament!
That's a mighty big detail to overlook.
Can't resist:
6964727 and they say that Congress is the opposite of Progress.
Oh my god this IS going to be Wacky Races!
There is absolutely nothing I can say that can make this better. This is simple and utter absolute genius. You win.
Both have their advantages.
He IS mad.
Ever thoughts that living over 100 years or at least near that amount of time might make him somewhat senile?
Loses. Also, it could work.
Good idea.
That could actually work.
Best part about this is that it's Kuei's idea.
Bumi you MAD GENIUS!
Ya think?
The first part flooded me with childhood.
Bumi really knows how to hold his peace conferences
Nice Undertale reference at the end.
Pakku groaned as he struggled to breath
1. Breathe.
At least Bumi didn't... Drop the ball at the end.
The city sure does... Get around.
At least by the end of it all no one ended... Going postal.
Bumi really tied his plans together well eh? Too bad he was too.
6964683 Eh.
6964693 I'm aware. I'm waiting for him to get mad enough to message me.
6965102
Then do so on their profile, not my stories.
6965106 I know I said this before, but now it's true-
Yes sir!
6965102 Why is this still a thing? If you want to continue bickering like an old, married couple, send HER the message first. Dont drag it on here where its NOT WANTED. Try to convert each other in private or just shut up.
6965122 Are you hating on me?
6965124 Try to convert each other in messages, not here.
There is method to his madness after all. Unfortunately he lacks some foresight in some regards..... meh someone will mop that up.
6965179 What... Does that even mean?
Bumi you're a mad genius! Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
So, who won the bet?
Democracy CAN work after all!
So many have been changed, while so much as stayed the same. I gotta hand it to you, this isn't just some retread of the source material featuring cadence. Rather, its a result of outside forces not involved in the original material and how their actions affect the overall story.
I'm curious as to see how turns out and what other changes you will make in the future.
Bumi a genius so genius he outsmarts himself.
6966722 True, very true.
Just like me!
Shut up
Your still in trouble for summoning an elderich abomination
*The screams of an elderich abomination followed by explosions
6967335 eldritch
6967489 *user disconnected due to nuke.
hilarious!
6965283 You and Voldine have been arguing with each other, then you commented saying you are trying to anger her enough for her to pm you. So im just saying to send the PM first, this debate over nonsense has no place in this story. The faster you both realize that, the better off everyone will be.
6968262 I already did that.
I'm not trying to anger her.
Ok, I am, but that's because she sucks.
6968262 Let me just point out that the only thing I've said since mentioning that I had already blocked him and had no intention of further discourse regarding the matter was to correct the pronouns being used for the third time.
As far as I am concerned there is nothing to discuss. I have been the one doing the mature thing by adhering to the request of the author and ceasing further discussion here on the story.
ya think?
My favorite part of the chapter. Best part is that everyone agrees to do something involving a tiny bit of violence at a peace treaty summit.
6968579 Keep him blocked then and ill just ignore him. Conflict done.
6964536 Yup. In fact, I can give you another example from another Nickelodeon cartoon, Jimmy Neutron; in which Professor Calamitous is ultimately unable to defeat Jimmy because he failed in install a bathroom in his power suit.
I think Bumi might wind up the first mud bender coming from the other way. Then again, I pictured him being hung by the locks on his legs. Don't know if that makes me worse or better at locking up a potential earthbender. Also, water benders would probably wind up handling transport and storage, while Aang and the new air nomads would handle messaging and similar small package transport.
and the madness continues
Yep, making the leaders too tired to argue needlessly, only a madman like Bumi can come up with a genius plan like that.
Bumi's gonna need a lot of determination to get out of this.
6975165
...
i think he's gonna need an exorcist first
Hahahahahah XD that ending, perfection~
NIcely done Tat, nicely done!
*looks down below*
Pfffft, marriage desputes