I know I should pick up the pace, but this story's getting harder and harder with each chapter. (sigh) but, I AM going to finish this story.
At one point or another.
halfatheory357- … kay… I got to "Your translations make much more sense than the ones I was getting" before you lost me. But thanks anyway! In all truth, I cheated. I have no idea how to speak French, but putting the chant in English would sound really corny, so I used Google Translate (which I don't own) If it's messed up, I guess you blame those guys.
CHAPTER 10- Enemies, Friends, and A New Nickname
It was uncomfortably quiet as Appa flew in what seemed to be a circle, but who could tell up here. Aang seemed certain they were heading out of the Fire Nation, so they just went with it. But the question hanging over everyone's head was the same:
"Who will turn traitor first?"
The two sides didn't trust each other. Tsuyosa and Zuko wondered if, since the demon was gone, they would be thrown overboard. Katara and Sokka wondered if the other two were just waiting for the right moment to attack. Aang, though, seemed calm. He didn't feel any hostility towards him or his friends coming from the firebenders, only worry mixed with anxiousness. Especially Zuko.
The airbender wondered if the prince still thought of their encounter at Zhao's fortress, and if he had come up with an answer for his question. Aang had hoped ever since he and Zuko met that they could become friends, and the fact the teen had made a friend with Tsuyosa gave him hope. It told him Zuko had changed at least a bit.
Now, Aang had convince his friends of that.
"Hey, Zuko?" he asked, breaking the silence. The prince looked up from his spot near the back of the saddle.
"What?" he asked, a bit harsher then he intended. Sokka gave him a small glare.
"I was wondering… if this all meant… we were friends." The airbender said with a smile. Zukos eye widened a bit, not expecting the question.
"Um…" he staled. Friends? He never actually thought about it, but why shouldn't he be. He was now on the same side as the Avatar, and with only Tsuyosa on his side; it would be smart to make more allies before he dare fight his father.
What could it hurt?
"O…kay… Sure." He said slowly, looking for signs the child was joking before he said anything.
Wow, the Avatar was really fast.
"YAAAAAYY!" Aang yelled, flying over and actually hugging the prince. Tsuyosa began laughing at the teens face.
"THIS WILL BE SO COOL! WE'RE GOING TO BA-SEN-SE NEXT AND YOU'LL LOVE IT! THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST HOG-MONKEYS ANYWHERE!" Aang said, bouncing around the saddle. Katara and Sokka were a bit shocked.
"What'da'ya mean he's coming with us?" Sokka exclaimed.
"Ba-Sen-Se? What do you mean?" Zuko yelled.
"AND AFTER THAT, YOU AND I CAN PRATICE FIREBENDING AND-"
"AANG!" the airbender stopped at the two's outburst.
"ZUKO CAN'T COME WITH US!"
"I CAN'T GO TO THE EARTH KINGDOM'S CAPITAL!"
"HE'S FIRE NATION! HE'S BEEN TRYING TO CAPTURE US FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG!"
"MY UNCLE LED THE ATTACK ON BA-SEN-SE! NOT TO MENTION THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW A FIREBENDER NEAR THAT PLACE!"
"THE HEARTLESS CREEP!"
"WHAT DID YOU- I JUST SAVED YOUR SORRY ASSES!"
"NO YOU DIDN'T! YOUR GIRLFRIEND DID!"
"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Words and insults blended together and it wasn't long before Sokka and Zuko were punching each other. Katara and Aang tried to calm the two, but it was Tsuyosa who finally lit a flame between them, nearly burning their faces.
"SHUT UP YOU SELFISH IDIOTS!" she bellowed, and the two froze. The dragon sighed.
"Let's try to settle this like humans, now, shall we?" With a final glare at one another, the teens sat at opposite ends of the saddle, arms crossed. For apparent enemies, they were exactly alike.
"Aang, I know you're excited, but maybe you didn't notice; there's been a war going on. Ba-Sen-Se is the capitol of the Earth Kingdom, and it's highly unlikely they'll let two firebenders in. Especially when one of them is Fire Nation royalty." Tsuyosa explained. Sadly, Aang nodded.
"Yeah, but, you're with us now. They have to let you in if you're with the Avatar!" The dragon stopped for a moment. She hadn't thought of that. They WERE trying to help the Avatar, and they were also trying to dethrone the Fire Lord. If nothing else, it might get them inside.
"But then we'd be labeled as traitors to the Fire Nation and have a tough time getting back in." Zuko pointed out. Katara tilted her head.
"But…You would be traitors."
"True… But now at least Tsuyosa can go back. If we got into Ba-Sen-Se, it would get out and they might even hunt us down. Word travels fast in the Earth Kingdom, its how I found you guys on Kyoshi Island."
"That's true…" Aang said sadly, but Katara caught onto something.
"What do you mean, 'at least Tsuyosa can go back'? You're supposed to be Fire Nation royalty." Zuko flinched a little.
"Hey, that's right! Why are you even out here? Shouldn't you be at some palace?" Sokka asked. The prince didn't like the conversation, Tsuyosa and Aang could tell.
"Maybe we should-"
"How does a prince get a scar like that, anyway?" Sokka continued, cutting Aang off. Katara had seemed to catch on to the prince's discomfort and stopped, but her brother was a different story. He knew, but was still curious.
"You really must be hated by your followers."
"Sokka, please st-"
"Or do you even have followers? Did you turn traitor or something?" Zuko was getting angry, this was dragging up memories better forgotten. They were surprised Sokka hadn't been turned to ash by now.
"I didn't-"
"Or did you do something to insult Daddy?" That did it.
"All I Did Was Save An Entire Division! It's That Bastards Fault! He Isn't Fit To Rule The Fire Nation! And If You Ever Call Him My Dad, Or Say I Was The Traitor, I Swear I'll Give You A Scar To Match, You Sorry Excuse For A Warrior!" he yelled at the water tribesman. All of them froze, staring at the flames engulfing the firebenders hands.
01:38 minutes since Zuko's outburst
All was quiet as they flew through the clouds. Zuko was asleep next to Tsuyosa after the dragon had mixed some sort of sleeping berry into the handful of leechy nuts they had earlier, and was now worriedly watching him. Sokka was glaring at the the other teen, and Katara and Aang were trying to understand why he was so mad. Sokka brought the obviously painful memories up, why was he blaming Zuko?
"I don't trust him." He said finally. Tsuyosa looked up, a bit angry with the water boy.
"You should have kept your mouth shut. I've never seen Zuko so happy, and then you go and bring up that damn scar!" she hissed.
"Don't yell at him! Just because my brother's an idiot doesn't mean he meant to hurt Zuko!" Katara defended.
"Gee, Katara, thanks."
"It's just a bit hard for us to trust Zuko. We've grown up being told Firebenders were evil. And now we're supposed to take one persons word that he's changed?" the waterbender/dragon explained.
"I trust Zuko. He's saved my life before, and it's not like he wants to kill anyone." Aang spoke up. Katara and Sokka stared at him strangely.
"Aang, what are you talking about?" Sokka asked.
"Well, back when you and Katara had those bad colds, I went out to find some medicine, but before I got back, Zhao and some archers ambushed me and brought me to this huge fortress." He began, spreading his arms to emphasize the size of the fortress.
"After that, I thought no one would save me, but then this guy in a blue oni mask showed up and freed me. We worked together and got out of there by the ninja threatening to kill me, but he wouldn't have, it was just a bluff. Only, when we were almost in the clear, the ninja got shot with an arrow! Luckily, it hit his mask, so he was only knocked out, but when that happened, I saw this huge red scar from under the mask, and when I checked, it was Zuko…." Sokka and Katara's jaws dropped.
"So, Zuko actually saved you?"
"Yeah. Heh, he looks kinda funny with his hair down." Aang laughed. Katara couldn't help it, either, and giggled a bit.
"So, does this mean we can stay?" Tsuyosa asked. Sokka glared a little, and sighing, he nodded.
"But it's your fault if he turns traitor!" the dragon smiled innocently.
"Of course, Socky."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST-?"
And that's 10! Yay! We have entered the double digits! And I got to give Sokka a new nickname. But it kinda sucks, so if you can come up with a better one, please tell me!