Ch 11 Reviews:
Shades of X: That's something I've been thinking about. I still got several episodes before I'm actually going to start the actual show, but that is something undecided about. I've seen Zhou and Iroh both be used as substitutes, but I'm not sure what I'll do. It's up in the air. The sunken ship is going to be an interesting chapter that's all I'm going to say. I'm glad you liked the story though!
Spring Flower: Food is a good option. But you'll have to wait and see ;)
Luna Eevee: I love reading your comments. They seem to always make me smile and laugh a little. I think for now cannon and sibling relationships are what I'm going for. I'm honestly terrible at writing romance. Thank you for being such a patiently eevee.
KelseyAlicia: I have no plans on abandoning this story! Don't worry! Things are just slow with me cuz i'm a lazy ass procrastinator.
Nozomi Higurashi: Thanks for the advice! This is the second time I've had this happen but this has been much worse than the first time. I'm taking prilosec twice a day and it helps. I should be off of it after about two months according to my doctor. Thank you again it's hard to remember what I'm supposed to avoid sometimes. I'm glad you found the duct tape for your heart!
TearsForTheDead: I try to make my chapters long, but sometimes I just run out of ideas or I find a good stopping place. I think they'll get much longer once I start on the actual series as then I'll be adding a full episode to one chapter.
C'Riverblade: Thanks. It's good to hear that as I'm always questioning if they're too ooc
KnightOwl247: #giveZukoafamily I support this
JakeKatie4ever: Wow I was not expecting this to be honest. I knew some people would get mad at Sokka, but just wow… Yeah Sokka needs to be put in his place on occasion.
Blackthorn Ashe: Thanks for catching that! I guess my computer auto corrected it maybe? I don't know how that happened. I'm not sure why Tulok sounds familiar unless there's a character in like Korra or something (I haven't seen much of it) Zuko has a lot of struggles to overcome, but he'll get through it.
Inuchara2511: Sokka he done messed up -_-
Heart of the Demons: Wow thanks so much! I really appreciate comments like yours as they make me feel like I'm doing a good job. I try my hardest with writing and this is a lot of fun for me as well as a great way for me to practice my skills. Capturing characters always seems hard for me so to hear I'm doing a good job makes me really happy.
KaliAnn: oh wow really? I honestly try my hardest with this and I'm glad I'm conveying this well. PTSD is a terrible thing and with Zuko, he would obviously have it with what he's been through.
Doctor Dave: not your heartstrings!
I want to say a big thanks to those who sent their support and get well wishes to me! I really appreciate it all you guys! I have medicine I'm taking now and my doctor upped my dosage amount and it's working great! I got my laptop back (though I'm screaming at Microsoft word for not working). School will be starting later this month for me, but I will still update monthly.
Ch 12 Sokka's Punishment
Sokka knew he'd messed up. He knew that the moment his father came rushing over and pried him away from that stupid Fire Nation boy. Sokka couldn't help but feel the disappointment rolling off his father as he was dragged to their tent. Hakoda hadn't said a word since he had shouted at Sokka to stop and ordered him to follow him.
Hakoda was not only disappointed in his own son, he was also filled with rage at what his son, his nine year old child had just attempted to strangle another child. Zuko had wormed his way into Hakoda's heart. He knew looking after Zuko wasn't going to be an easy task. He knew the village was going to hold some prejudice against the small boy, but he didn't expect his own son to hold so much hate.
Hakoda felt like smacking himself. Of course Sokka didn't like the Fire Nation. All the elders talking about how terrible the whole Fire Nation was, and after the raid and the lost of his wife just added to the burning hate. Of course Sokka was going to think that everyone, no matter their age, if from the Fire Nation were going to be terrible people bent on destroying the world. Looking down at the child he held by the arm, Hakoda knew he had to change that. He couldn't let Sokka keep that mind set while Zuko was here. The world wasn't black and white.
Once he reached the tent, Hakoda pulled Sokka inside and bend down to his height.
"Sokka," he said sternly. Sokka flinched at the tone and tried to bravely look at his father. "Do you know why I dragged you in here?"
Sokka muttered something along the lines of Fire Nation, scum, boy, and necklace. Hakoda took a deep breath to calm himself. It was never good to take his anger out on his child even if they had messed up as bad as Sokka had.
"I dragged you in here because you hurt Zuko," Hakoda told him. "You were pulling on his necklace so hard that you were choking him, Sokka."
Sokka bent his head down. He didn't realize he was choking the Fire Nation boy. He just wanted the stupid necklace Nanuq gave him. Someone of the Fire Nation didn't deserve to wear his tribes symbol.
"Sokka," Hakoda said to get Sokka to focus. "You could have seriously hurt Zuko, or maybe even killed him if you had pulled too hard or too long. I'm not even sure if he's okay right now."
"K-killed?" Sokka repeated nervously. He knew all warriors killed the enemy at some point, but he didn't think he would have to face that until he reached of age. He was only nine for crying out loud and the thought of killing someone, even if it was Fire Nation scum such as Zuko didn't sit well in Sokka's stomach.
Hakoda knew he hit a rough spot with Sokka. As much as Sokka wanted to be a warrior and fight for his tribe, Hakoda knew his son wasn't ready to face death at his hands. His son was nine and still innocent to the world around him. Hakoda wished to keep him protected as long as possible, but knew his son would face the truth sooner or later. And by the spirits he hoped it would be later.
Speaking calmly, Hakoda told him, "Yes Sokka. You're too young to have that kind of thing on your conscious and Zuko hasn't done anything to you to cause you to have to resort to violence."
"But he's Fire Nation!" Sokka blurted out just as the tent flap opened up.
Sokka whipped around to see and furious Nanuq and his father, Tulok. Sokka went red realizing the two men heard what he just said and one was close with said Fire Nation boy.
"So it's because he's Fire Nation?" Nanuq spoke in a dangerously low voice. "Zuko is your age, Sokka! He is a child! A boy like yourself who hasn't done anything! Not to you nor to this tribe!"
"But the FIre Nation is evil! They want to destroy everything and everyone! That's what you guys always said!" Sokka tried to defend himself, but he knew it was a losing battle.
Hakoda sent a look over to the two men who came in. Sokka knew Hakoda's stance on the Fire Nation and Zuko. Perhaps if Sokka heard it from more than one adult he'd have a better time believing what they said. Tulok caught his look and went over to Sokka.
"Sokka, not everyone in the Fire Nation wants to hurt others," Tulok said gently bending to Sokka's height. "There are many bad people in the world not just in the Fire Nation, but also the Earth Kingdom as well as the Water Tribes. We're not perfect. There is more to it then just black and white. The world is full of grays of all shades."
"But-" Sokka was cut off by his own father this time.
"Sokka, do you remember what I said when I first introduced Zuko to you?" he asked seriously. Sokka shaked his head. He didn't recall as he didn't think it was important and had only glared at the offending boy. "Zuko is here because he was hurt. Badly by his own nation. His father burnt his eye and the crew that was supposed to take care him away from home tried to kill him. They beat him and broke some bones."
Sokka kept his head down going over what he was hearing. "Even his own nation didn't want him. So why are we stuck with him?"
Nanuq took charge this time. Sokka looked up to the young warrior and listened quietly. "His nation didn't want him because he stuck up for men who were being sent to their deaths. He and most likely others who try and stand up for what's right are either imprisoned, killed, or exiled. Zuko is a good boy and only wants some place where he won't have to fear of being hurt."
"So he was trying to save people… not kill them?" Sokka's mind almost couldn't wrap around the fact that that Fire Nation boy, the one who seemed to always attract almost everyone's hate had tried to help someone.
"Yes," Hakoda said nodding. He was happy it was finally sinking into his stubborn son. By the Spirits he could almost be as hard headed as an earth bender. "And I'm trying to give him a second chance. I can't do that when you try and pull a stunt like you did earlier."
Sokka looked to the ground shamefully. He regretted what he did. The hate he felt drained out of him when he heard how the fi- Zuko had tried to save a group of people, not kill them. He guessed someone who would stand up against the terrible Fire Nation could be good. Even if they were FIre Nation themself.
"Sokka," Hakoda said to get his attention again. "I want you to apologize to Zuko, sincerely. And you're grounded for an undetermined amount of time. You won't go on hunting trips or with the men. You'll stay and help your gran gran with chores around here. You'll be ungrounded once I see you've learned your lesson and are treating Zuko kinder."
Nodding his head, Sokka agreed. He was disappointed. He was supposed to join a big hunt in four days time, but now that wasn't going to happen. He wanted to blame Zuko for it. It was the easiest thing to do, but thinking about what his father, Nanuq and Tulok had said, he knew it was his own fault.
"I'm going to check on Zuko with Nanuq and Tulok, you are to stay here until I return, alright?" Hakoda told Sokka.
Nodding once again, Sokka went over to his coat lying down on the blankets. A few tears did escape his closed eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. Warriors and men didn't cry, but he couldn't help the hurt and shameful feeling welling up inside him wanting to escape.
Hakoda sighed. He hated to punish his son, but knew this was what was needed. He had gotten through to Sokka with the help of Nanuq and Tulok. Maybe his son could be kind and maybe even friendly to Zuko. He could only hope Zuko wouldn't be terrified of Sokka now. Sighing once more he left the tent with the other two men.