Avatar Zero

Chapter 11: Joyless Journey

Kunju walked below deck on their fire nation ship. He was smiling slyly as walked through a narrow hallway. Their metal ship was small compared to some of the others in the navy, but it was built mostly for speed rather than power.

His mission over, Kunju was able to change out of the earth kingdom clothes and into fire nation garb. He was wearing a red jacket with gold thread and black pants.

Kunju went up to a door and opened it. Inside, it was dark with only a single candle lighting it. In the middle of the room were several plates with food still on them. Over in the corner, curled up, was Sukuso. Sukuso looked up at Kunju as he opened the door, and instantly glared at him.

"Oh dear," Kunju mocked, "you're still not upset about the whole kidnapping thing, are you?"

Kunju entered the room, looking down at the food.

"And you still haven't eaten all this nice food we've made just for you," he noted. "Why not? You don't seriously believe that we'd poison one of our own."

"I am not one of you!" Sukuso shouted angrily, getting to his feet. He had to lean against the wall for support, being weak from the lack of food.

"Your bloodline says otherwise," Kunju returned.

Kunju sat on the floor in front of the food.

"Still," he said, "shame to let it all go to waste."

He picked up a plate and then put a hand above it. A small flame appeared. He held it there for a moment until the food was warm again. The flame disappeared and he started to eat it.

"Mm . . . mm . . ." he said with his mouth full. "Our cook is simply the best! You have no idea how much I missed authentic fire nation food."

Sukuso growled, not as mad about his comment about the food as he was for Kunju eating in front of him.

"So what is your plan, boy?" Kunju asked between chews. "Sukuso, am I right? Anyway, whatever you name is, what are you planning to do? This ship is one of the fastest in the fire nation's navy. No earth kingdom ship could ever hope to catch it. Not to mention that we've been out here for four days without any sign of another ship. No way they will catch up to us."

Kunju stopped eating and looked at him.

"More to the point," he said, "how far do you think they'd go to save one boy who they believe to be a fire nation spy?"

"M-Morsung knows I'm not," Sukuso reminded him.

"I know," Kunju smiled, "but he doesn't hold absolute power you know. I've turned the other counselors so far against you that they probably believe the whole thing was planned from the beginning. Do you really expect Morsung could turn their hearts quickly enough to be any help at all to you? The earth kingdom doesn't have a very good image of us firebenders."

"Don't put me into a group with you," Sukuso growled.

Kunju shrugged.

"You just try to be nice to a guy," he said. He went back to eating. "You might as well just get comfortable. It'll be another week before we reach the fire kingdom, and you don't have anyway off of this boat."

Sukuso paused.

"Why are you taking me to the fire nation?" he asked. "Why am I so important to you?"

"You are General Uku's son," he told him. "The fire nation is your rightful place."

"You wouldn't say that if I was an earthbender like my mother," Sukuso pointed out.

"Actually," Kunju corrected, "I would." He put the plate down and stood up. He smiled over at him. "And once we reach the fire nation, you'll find out why."

He turned and headed out the door.

"You might as well eat something in the meantime," he said. Then he closed the door behind him.

Sukuso stared at the door angrily, and then looked down at the plates of food they kept giving him. He turned his face away.

The next day, the fire nation soldiers finally let Sukuso out of the room they were keeping him in. They took him up onto the deck. Sukuso still hadn't eaten, and was looking pale and weak.

Sukuso looked around. All he could see in every direction was endless blue. There was no sign of land or other ships. Just blue.

Sukuso went to the edge of the ship and looked down at the water. The ship did seem to be moving pretty fast, at least compared to what Sukuso knew about ships. They were obviously in a hurry.

Sukuso sighed and leaned against the railing.

This isn't fair, he thought. I finally get a chance to see my friends and family, and I get kidnapped by the fire nation! Zuki Village might be in Sanyun City by now. I could have spoken to Tay and found out how she felt . . . then the fire nation ruins everything!

Sukuso's eyes narrowed as he glared down at the water.

This is all my stupid father's fault! He thought. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be in this mess.

Then Sukuso frowned, thinking about that.

Then again, he thought, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't exist. I wouldn't be a bender.

Sukuso sighed and put his chin down on his arms.

I just have to make due with what I have, he thought. Even if I'm not happy with it. There's got to be a way to get back to Sanyun City. There has to be!

Sukuso heard footsteps behind him. Kunju walked up to his side. Sukuso turned his face away from him.

"Enjoying the sun, Sukuso?" Kunju asked, leaning on the railing next to him.

Sukuso didn't reply. Instead, he scooted over a few feet to get away from him. Kunju laughed.

"And here I thought some fresh air would help your attitude," he said.

Kunju looked out over the ocean. They stood in silence for a moment.

"I just got done speaking to the ship's captain," Kunju stated. "We're right on schedule. We will be reaching the city of Shinglo very soon."

"Shinglo?" Sukuso repeated, finding the name familiar.

"That's right," Kunju nodded.

Sukuso paused.

Wasn't that the city where Mister Morsung was sent to spy? He wondered.

"Finally, after all these years," Kunju continued, "you'll be where you belong."

Sukuso stood up straight and turned to him angrily.

"Stop saying that!" he snapped. "I do not belong with you! My father may have been your general, but so what? My mother was an earthbender. Half of my blood is theirs. I was raised there. That is where I belong!"

"In the earth kingdom?" he asked, turning to him as well. "You may be half earthbender, but it's your firebender blood that is dominant. You have the firebending gift, just as your father. It is because of that gift that the earth nation rejects you."

"They didn't reject me!" Sukuso insisted.

"Oh?" Kunju asked. "Weren't you in Sanyun City in the first place because you were banished from your home? If you had been an earthbender instead of a firebender, that wouldn't have happened. They would have ignored your fire nation blood because you were like them. But instead, you were born with the gifts of the fire nation. Because of that, you were different. They sent you away."

"That's not true!" Sukuso defended. Then he added in a lower tone, "At least not exactly . . ."

"Each time you used your firebending abilities," Kunju went on, "you got into some sort of trouble with the earthbenders. First you were banished, then arrested. Then you even got into a fight with Morsung's son who didn't want to accept your innocence based solely on your ability to bend fire. The earthbenders would not and could not allow you to live in peace just because you are a firebender. You want to tell me that you belong there? If we turn this ship around right now and return you to the earth kingdom, you would continue to be persecuted. No matter what you do there, it will not stop."

Sukuso growled softly. Kunju went up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"The only way to escape such a fate is to go to the fire kingdom," he told him. "You will belong there. You won't be hunted because of your bending abilities. It is the only place you can be happy."

Sukuso pushed his arm away and backed away from him.

"I will never be happy there," he declared.

Kunju shrugged.

"Suit yourself," he said. "In time, you'll realize the truth."

Kunju turned and walked away, leaving Sukuso alone with his thoughts. Sukuso went back to the railing and looked down at the water again. He sighed.

Maybe . . . he's right . . . he thought. Then he shook his head. No! I can't think like that. The fire nation has done horrible things. I will not be happy there. I have to find a way back to the earth kingdom. I have to find a way back so that I can finally talk to Tay. I have to . . .

He sighed deeply.

Tay, he wondered, where are you now?

Later that night . . .

Sukuso's door opened. Sukuso looked up from the back of the room. It was the ship's chef again, bringing yet another plate of food. The plates still sat in the center of the floor.

The chef looked at them, and sighed.

"Still haven't eaten anything," he puffed. "Maybe something fresh will suit you better."

The chef placed the new plate on the floor and then stacked the old plates on top of each other. After he gathered them all, he left the room again.

Sukuso stared at the plate. The contents were steaming. He could smell the food from where he was sitting.

Sukuso's stomach growled hungrily. He hadn't eaten anything in days, and was extremely hungry. He looked away from the food and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the smell.

I don't want to accept food from them, he thought, determined. I don't want their help. These people . . . they started a war. They tricked Morsung and betrayed his trust just so they could spy. They even took me away from my home . . . Uncle Bojin . . . and Tay . . . I don't want anything to do with them.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop smelling the food. He couldn't stop his stomach from growling. Sukuso was feeling very weak from not eating. It seemed like he was getting worse by the minute.

Sukuso slowly looked at the food again. It was almost similar to some of the food Morsung had served him. That creature called a fish next to some sort of sliced vegetable and a small loaf of bread.

Sukuso found himself scooting towards it without even thinking about it. He sat in front of the plate, looking at it weakly.

Still . . . he thought, I don't think it's dangerous. They wouldn't do anything to it. They seem to think I'm important somehow . . . I can't just stop eating for no reason. I need to keep up my strength if I'm going to get back home.

Sukuso's hand started to reach for it. He pulled it away.

But . . . it's still from the fire nation, he remembered.

Sukuso continued to stare at the food, then he looked at his hands.

My father was from the fire nation, he thought. I'm a firebender. I'm still half earthbender but . . . part of me is from the fire nation too. In a way . . . they're my people too. I just have to . . . live with that.

Sukuso looked back at the food.

I may not like it, he thought, but I can't change it. All I can do now is keep my energy up so that when I have a chance to get back home, I can take it.

Sukuso reached down towards the plate. He slowly picked it up and held it closer to his face. He greedily started eating the contents.

A few hours later . . .

Sukuso was sleeping soundly in the corner of the room. They hadn't given him any sort of bed to sleep on. All he had was a blanket and a pillow. But the journey and stress had made him very tired. He found he was able to get to sleep easily.

He wasn't sure if it had something to do with being on the boat, or the change in environment, but he was having strange dreams. He would be walking around a dark plain. A purple mist hung in the air around him. He would just keep walking. He never saw or heard anything in this dream. Just black, purple, and more walking.

"Sukuso," a voice suddenly said in his head.

Sukuso looked around, seeing no one. This was the first thing that had ever interrupted this strange dream.

"Sukuso," the voice called again. "I have something I have to tell you."

Sukuso stopped walking finally. He continued to look around, but no one was around.

"It's very important," the voice said. "You must listen."

Sukuso turned. There was a man standing behind him. He was tall and wearing red, fire nation clothing. He had black hair pulled into a short pony tail, and amber eyes. He was very tall, standing a few inches above six feet. He was muscular and stood proudly.

The man smiled warmly at him.

"Sukuso," he said again. "My son."

Sukuso awoke from the dream. He glanced around at the dark room. His candle had gone out. He sat up, and put a hand on his head.

Was that . . . he wondered, . . . my father?

Next morning . . .

When the chef brought Sukuso breakfast that morning, Sukuso found he couldn't eat again, but for a different reason. He was busy thinking about the dream he had had and wondered what it meant.

Was that really my father? He thought. Is he trying to tell me something? What?

Sukuso sat there in silence for a long time, going over the dream again and again. He wished he hadn't woken up when he had. If this dream did have something to tell him, he wanted to know what it was. Waking up had interrupted everything.

The door opened sometime later and Kunju entered the room again. He looked at Sukuso and then at the plate.

"You aren't eating again?" he complained. "The chef said you ate last night! Don't tell me you're still mad. You have to be healthy when we get to Shinglo!"

Sukuso didn't say anything for a moment.

"Kunju," he said finally without looking at him, "did you know my father?"

Kunju looked surprised, mostly because this was the first time Sukuso hadn't glared at him since they had first met.

"No," he answered, stepping further into the room, "I didn't have the pleasure of meeting General Uku."

"Oh," was all Sukuso said.

Kunju stared at him, still confused.

"Why do you ask?" he asked.

"Just . . . wondering," Sukuso stated.

Kunju paused, and then shrugged.

"Listen," he said, "about this room . . . we weren't exactly planning on you coming with us when we first planned everything, but then we had orders to bring you with us. We just emptied a supply closet for you but . . . we think we finally found something suitable for you to sleep on. Sorry it took so long but . . . "

"That's okay," Sukuso interrupted. "Just do whatever."

Kunju stared at him again.

"Oh . . . okay then," he uttered. "We'll bring it by later."

Kunju turned around and left the room, surprised that had gone as well as it had. Sukuso continued to watch the floor.

My father, he thought. General for the fire nation, yet he married my mother, an earthbender. Why? If he loved her . . . why did he return to the fire nation to be killed in battle? It doesn't make sense. If he really loved my mother, why would he return to a war against her people?

Sukuso let out a soft sigh.

If that was my father in my dream, he said, what was it he was trying to tell me? Will he come back again?

Sukuso closed his eyes.

I hope so . . .