Avatar Zero
Chapter 9: Fire Fight
"Any way we look at it," Kunju stated as he looked over a map, "we just need to get more soldiers to the battle front."
"But we need the soldiers here to protect Sanyun City," one of the men sitting around the table argued. "We can't risk sending anymore soldiers or we could leave our city defenseless."
"The fire nation has not come to Sanyun City yet," Kunju reminded them. "Our walls will keep them away. But they are getting closer with every passing day. We need to send more troops out to aid the armies so that we can stop them before they get this far."
"Sending them out could leave us vulnerable," another man from the table said. "We simply cannot afford the risk."
The men continued arguing about this for a while. Morsung was sitting at the head of the table, looking into space thoughtfully.
"Sir Morsung," one of the men said finally, "what do you think about this?"
"Yes," another man said, looking at their leader, "do you think we should send troops out to aid the other armies or not?"
All eyes fell on Morsung. Morsung sat there quietly for a moment, as though he hadn't heard them.
"The firebender boy," he said finally, "Sukuso. How long has he been here now?"
The men all looked surprised. Kunju thought for a moment.
"Going on three weeks now," Kunju said.
"Hm," was all Morsung said in response.
"This is hardly the time to be worrying about that boy, Sir Morsung," one of the men stated.
"No," Kunju insisted, shaking his head, "this is a very good time. When are you going to lock that fire nation spy up?"
"I'm not convinced that he is a spy, Kunju," Morsung said, looking at him.
"He's a fire bender!" Kunju spat. "What more proof do you need?"
"His father was a firebender, yes," he agreed, "but his mother was from the earth kingdom like the rest of us. How can you be so sure that's not where his loyalties lie? He was, after all, raised in an earth kingdom village."
"You honestly believe that story?" one of the men from the table chuckled. "Who could possibly believe that an earthbender could fall in love with a firebender?"
The men around the table laughed. Morsung sat there quietly, remembering his own past.
"If you won't lock the boy up," Kunju said, "at least send him out of the city. It's dangerous to keep him hear."
"It would be dangerous to get rid of him," one of the other men returned. "How do we know he isn't planning to meet the fire nation army as soon as he's released?"
"He hasn't had the chance to gather any information," someone else pointed out. "Sir Morsung has kept him very busy."
"Busy or not," another said, "I'm sure he's gotten something. Firebenders are sneaky."
"You are all acting like Sukuso is the entire fire nation army!" Morsung said. "He's only a boy, barely fifteen-years-old. Half of his blood is our own."
"That half of him is fine," one of the men muttered. "It's the other half we don't like."
The other men sitting around the table nodded in agreement. Morsung stood up.
"I see your opinion of the boy was made before you even knew he existed," he said. "I feel sorry for Sukuso. Out of all the cities he could have wandered to, and he ended up here."
Morsung turned and headed for the door. Two guards opened it as he approached.
"I just hope the next city he ends up in has a much warmer welcome than all of you have given him," he sighed.
With that, Morsung left the room. Kunju and the other advisors sat there at the table, looking stunned and confused.
Morsung headed through the hallway. He spotted Sukuso walking in a different direction, carrying a stack of sheets. As usual, two guards were following him.
"Oh, Sukuso!" he called.
Sukuso stopped and looked at him.
"Hello, Mister Morsung," he greeted.
"Still working hard?" he asked.
"Yes," Sukuso smiled, nodding.
"Well," he puffed, "seems all of my advisors are convinced you're going to be the downfall of the earth kingdom. Sorry to say it doesn't look like you'll be going anywhere anytime soon."
"That's all right," Sukuso sighed. "I'm getting pretty used to it here."
"Just wish I wasn't your only ally in this whole palace," he complained. He looked at the two guards. "What do you two think? Is Sukuso a spy?"
The two guards seemed surprised. One of them shrugged.
"If he is," he said, "he hasn't been doing a very good job."
"We made sure of that," the other said.
Morsung chuckled.
"That's good to hear," he said.
The sound of footsteps approaching them could be heard down the hallway. Morsung turned to see a soldier walking towards them. He bowed quickly to Morsung.
"Sir Morsung," he said, "a ship has been spotted approaching the city. We believe it is your son, finally returning home."
"Oh, Morfu," Morsung stated. "I was wondering when he'd get back. Give the order to open the gate. Thank you."
The soldier nodded and then left. Sukuso looked confused.
"Morfu?" he asked.
"My youngest son," Morsung said, looking at him. "You haven't met any of my children yet, have you."
"I didn't even know you had kids," Sukuso said. "Where have they been all this time?"
"I have five children," Morsung said. "My two daughters are studying on an island called Kyoshi. My eldest son is leading a band of soldiers against the fire nation, and then my second son is training new soldiers in earth bending. Morfu is too young to fight just yet, and is still training in earthbending, so he has been monitoring fire nation progress for us. It'll be good to get a report so we can decide what to do next. But first . . . "
Morsung took the sheets from Sukuso.
"I want you to meet him," he finished. He handed the sheets to one of the guards. "Go put those away. I'll watch Sukuso for a while." Morsung put an arm around Sukuso's shoulders and lead him away. "This way, Sukuso!"
Sukuso stumbled a little as Morsung hurried him down the hall. Sukuso wasn't sure why Morsung was in such a rush to introduce him to his son, but went with him without resisting. It was at least something different to do instead of work.
The two soldiers were left standing there in the hall. One of them holding the sheets, the other just standing there blankly. Both of them looked at the sheets for a moment, then at each other.
"You heard the man," the one without the sheets said. "Go put those away."
The guard walked away leaving the other completely alone. He looked a little frustrated.
"I don't know where they go!"
The ocean wall opened, allowing the ship to come into the bay. The walls closed behind it as it sailed towards the dock. As it neared, a young boy about Sukuso's age with brown hair and green eyes ran to the front of the ship.
Morsung, Sukuso, and some soldiers were waiting on the shore. Morsung spotted the boy.
"Morfu!" he shouted excitedly.
The boy started to wave to him.
"Father!" he cried. "I'm home!"
"Yes!" Morsung shouted. "Welcome!"
The ship reached the dock. They lowered a piece of wood for a ramp. Morfu was the first off the ship. He ran towards the shore. He and Morsung embraced as they reached each other.
"I missed you, Morfu," Morsung stated.
"I missed you too, Father," Morfu said. "I have so much to tell you."
"There will be time for that," Morsung said, releasing him.
Kunju came walking up to them with a few soldiers. Morsung turned to him.
"You remember Kunju," Morsung stated.
"Of course," Morfu nodded.
"Welcome home, Morfu," Kunju said, bowing a little.
"And this," Morsung said, holding an arm to Sukuso, "is our local fire nation spy. Meet Sukuso."
Morfu looked at Sukuso, confused. Sukuso waved slightly.
"Hi," he greeted uncomfortably, "nice to meet you."
"Fire nation spy?" Morfu repeated, puzzled.
"This boy was caught in Sanyun," Kunju spat, "firebending. We believe he is working for the fire nation."
"Maybe you do, Kunju," Morsung corrected.
"He's a firebender?" Morfu asked slowly. Then he seemed to become angry. "And you're letting him go free?"
"Not completely," Morsung explained. "Sukuso has been working here in the palace. They won't let me let them go until their convinced he's not a spy."
"But this is exactly where a fire nation spy would want to be!" Morfu stated. "You can't let him go around the palace gathering information! Letting him stay here is just what he wants!"
"My, my," Morsung said innocently. "I didn't think of that."
"Father!" Morfu snapped.
"I'm joking, Morfu," Morsung assured him. "Only joking. I do not believe Sukuso is a spy."
"I'm not," Sukuso agreed.
"Like we could trust your opinion!" Morfu shouted.
Morfu lifted a hand towards him. The ground in front of Sukuso lifted up and moved towards him. It knocked him off his feet and threw him to the ground a few meters away.
Sukuso grunted and sat up.
"Hey!" he shouted.
"You can't trust a firebender!" Morfu snarled. "They're all evil!"
"Morfu . . . " Morsung started.
"No!" Morfu interrupted. "Let me handle this! I'll get rid of this fire nation spy!"
"I'm not a spy!" Sukuso insisted, getting to his feet. "My mother was an earthbender! I was raised in the earth kingdom! The only connection I have to the fire nation is my father and all I know about him is that his name was Uku!"
Kunju gasped.
"Uku . . .?" he repeated.
"Liar!" Morfu shouted, motioning towards him again.
More earth raised up and moved towards Sukuso. Sukuso jumped out of the way. Morfu ran after him.
"Did he say . . . his father's name was Uku?" Kunju gasped.
"Do you know of this firebender?" Morsung asked.
"Only by reputation," Kunju stated, looking angry again. "He was a very powerful firebender and even though he was very young . . . he became one of the most decorated generals in fire nation history."
"Yes," Morsung said slowly. "I think I know who you are talking about. General Uku of the fire nation. He was supposedly a genius strategist who lead many attacks against the earth kingdom. I know of many cities that fell to him."
"So this boy . . ." Kunju said slowly, "is General Uku's son." His eyes narrowed. "Surely he is a spy."
Morfu lifted a large rock into the air. He motioned towards Sukuso and it flew towards him. Sukuso jumped out of the way again as it hit the ground. He landed on top of it.
"I'm telling you!" Sukuso shouted. "I'm not a spy! I would never tell the fire nation anything! I really don't want to fight you!"
"Because you know you'll lose!" Morfu said.
Morfu shot his arms out to his sides. The rock split beneath Sukuso, making him lose his balance. He fell to the ground.
"You won't get away with making a fool of my father!" Morfu shouted. Lifting the two pieces of the rock back into the air.
Sukuso jumped to his feet and ran out of the way as the two pieces flew towards him. Morfu kept motioning his hands, keeping the rocks on his trail.
The rocks moved above Sukuso's head and then Morfu threw them into a dive. Sukuso dove out of the way as they hit the ground where he had been.
Sukuso landed near Kunju and Morsung. He looked up at them.
"Wouldn't it be easier to fight him with some firebending?" Morsung asked.
"I don't want to hurt him, Mister Morsung," Sukuso objected.
"He obviously wants to hurt you!" Kunju pointed out.
"Now, Sukuso," Morsung stated, "do not worry about hurting my son. He is in training to fight against the fire nation. It would be a lot easier to practice with an actual firebender." He smiled. "Besides, didn't we talk about how not bending anything wouldn't help you?"
Sukuso stared at him for a moment, and suddenly the ground beneath him started to raise up. It threw him into the air again.
Kunju looked at Morsung.
"What talk?" he asked.
Morsung just smiled.
Sukuso fell back towards the ground. Morsung lifted a block of earth from the ground and kicked it up towards him. Sukuso fell towards the rock while the rock flew towards him.
Sukuso flipped around and landed on the rock as it flew in the air. He grunted as the force jerked him upward again. He was pushed to his knees as the rock flew straight up.
Sukuso held up a hand. He concentrated and created a ball of fire. He hurled it back down towards the earth, towards Morfu.
Morfu jumped back as the fire hit the ground. The loss of concentration sent the rock falling back down. Sukuso held onto it as it fell. A few meters before it hit, Sukuso released it, grabbing onto a nearby tree branch.
The rock crashed into the ground without Sukuso. Morfu ran up to the tree where Sukuso was hanging.
"Come down here and fight me like a man!" he ordered.
Sukuso instead hoisted himself up onto the branch and sat down, looking down at him.
"Can't we just talk?" he asked.
"No!" he bellowed. "I will never speak to a firebender!"
"So you'd rather just yell at them," he observed.
Morfu growled. He stomped his foot, making the ground shake around him.
"Get down here you filthy firebender!" he shouted.
Sukuso twitched. He glared down at him.
"Don't call me that!" he roared.
Sukuso shot more flames down at Morfu. Morfu jumped backwards to get out of the way. Sukuso jumped down from the tree and threw more flames at him. Morfu lifted a stone wall in front of him, protecting himself.
Sukuso ran towards him. Morfu punched the wall, breaking it into pieces. He lifted them into the air around him.
"I hope they don't hurt themselves too much," Morsung stated, still smiling away. Kunju just sighed.
Sukuso kicked his right leg into the air, sending a flame towards Morfu. Morfu threw one of his rocks back towards Sukuso. It burst through the flame and headed towards its target. Sukuso jumped and kicked his left leg towards the rock while standing on his right leg. He kicked the rock, breaking it and sending it back to the ground harmlessly.
Morfu and Sukuso ran towards each other, each waving a hand. Several of the rocks around Morfu flew towards Sukuso, while newly created flames went towards Morfu. The rocks crashed through Sukuso's flames and continued towards Sukuso. Sukuso's flame went towards Morfu, not slowed by the rocks.
Sukuso ran out of the way of the rocks. Morfu created another wall to block the flames. They raged past him a few meters and disappeared. Morfu smiled.
"There's no way this fire nation spy is going to beat me," he chuckled.
Sukuso suddenly appeared at his side, having run behind the wall. He shot another flame towards him. Morfu leaned back to dodge, and fell to the ground. Sukuso leapt onto him and pinned his arms down with his knees.
Sukuso glared down at him.
"Don't you ever call me a 'filthy firebender,'" he growled. "Just because I can bend fire, it does not make me just like them!"
Morfu glared right back up at him.
"Morfu!" Morsung interrupted. "Sukuso! That's enough!"
The two boys looked up at him. Morsung was walking towards them.
"I knew Morfu would start a fight when you two met," Morsung said, "but that doesn't mean I want you to kill each other. To your feet, boys. To your feet."
The two boys stood up angrily, trying not to look at each other.
"Morfu," Morsung said, "we have been keeping a very close eye on Sukuso. He is under constant guard. He hasn't had the chance to spy."
"See?" Sukuso snapped. "If you would have just listened . . ."
"Be quiet!" Morfu barked.
"Sukuso," Morsung said.
Sukuso looked at him.
"I knew once Morfu found out you were a firebender," he said, "he'd start up a fight with you. I probably should have told you that before we came out here." He smiled. "But I thought you might like the surprise."
"You wanted us to fight?" Morfu asked him. "Why?"
"I've spent a lot of time around firebenders," he explained. "I've observed their techniques and movements countless time." He laughed and patted Sukuso on the shoulder. "I have to say that Sukuso here has the worst firebending form I have ever witnessed."
Sukuso pouted a little while Morfu sneered at him.
"But that's a good thing," Morsung said, turning to look at Kunju and the others that were standing on form. "With your audience watching the fight, I'm sure they've picked up on Sukuso's inexperience as well. The fire nation would never send someone so poorly trained to spy for them. Hopefully, seeing how Sukuso has never trained with another firebender, we will have some more proof that you are not from the fire nation."
"You used me to try to prove this spy's innocence?" Morfu asked angrily.
"Don't look at it like that, Morfu," Morsung said, looking at him. "After all, you are always telling me how you want to fight a real firebender. I would think this was your chance."
Morsung walked away. Sukuso and Morfu watched him for a moment. They glanced at each other, but then quickly looked away.
What a jerk, they both thought.
