Vaatu has his sharp razor tail against my neck. I can feel my life flash before my eyes. It's the second time that I've feared for my life. The first time was back when the northern water tribe soldiers killed my father in cold blood right in front of me. Afterward, they told me they murdered my father just because it was fun. What I sensed from those soldiers was total darkness and disregard for human life. As I looked at Vaatu I could sense the same darkness radiating from him. At that moment I realized that all my fear was replaced by anger. It was as if a light was radiating light from my red eyes. I stared at him and spoke.
"Why do you hate us so much? " I ask him.
He seems shocked and amused at my question all at the same time and after a moment to think he slowly lets down his razor tail of his from my neck. "Hm…and here I thought I was asking questions." He says with a little chuckle. "I think I'm starting to like you kid." As he says that I start to smile a little. When I do this, he swipes his tail across my face and cuts a piece of my brown hair off. "I may like you, but always know your place mortal! Do I make myself clear?" As he says this I start to nod my head nervously. "Good," He says." Now to your question, no I don't hate your kind, I just don't like being trapped in a tree for 10,000 years for trying to keep the balance of things" He says. " In my eyes, the Avatar and Raava are the ones making the world unbalanced, so if that makes me evil, then so be it." As he says this he looks at me. " From the look on your face, it looks like you hate the Avatar just as much as me." He says to me. "What is it she did to you, mortal?" He asked me.
"She allowed the northern water tribe to invade our land and their soldiers killed my father," I said. "But when I went to the chief of our village and he told me there was nothing he could do to them since the Avatar allowed them on our land. Because of the Avatar my father had to die." As I say this Vaatu goes to the other side of the room and starts to think. After a second he comes back.
"Well, it looks like we have common enemy, so I have a proposition for you, if you help me get to the southern water tribe and into the Southern spirit portal, I will give you the power to get revenge on the men that killed your father and to kill the avatar and become the new avatar. Do we have a deal?" As he says this he sticks out his tail. After a moment to about think about It I shake his tail. "We have a deal," I say to him.
"Very good, now that we have an alliance where am I?"
"You are in a boat off the coast of the southern water tribe."
"Hm… Well, then we have t-" as he says that I hear a sound of someone come down to the bottom deck and I motion Vaatu to hid in one of the barrels as the sound start to get louder I start to hear Sins voice.
"Hey, Neki you down here?"
"Yes, sorry I was just taking a break because I couldn't catch a fish," I say with a nervous laugh.
"I understand just make sure to come back up when you're ready."
"Yeah, I will be right up as soon as possible."
"Oh, pops told me to tell you that it's almost dark, so we will be heading back soon and he wanted to know if you wanted to stay at our place for dinner?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I have other plans that I have to attend to," I say as I quickly look at the barrel that Vaatu is in.
"Well, that's a shame, I'll tell pops" as he says that he starts to head up to the top deck. Vaatu comes out of the barrel that he was hiding in and starts to speak.
"So, What's the plan on getting me out of here without getting caught?"
"I have no idea, just wait here until I figure something out" I walk up to the top deck where Lu and his children are. It looks like they have been waiting for me. "Um... is something wrong?" I ask them with a confused look on my face.
"I have something to give you" after he says this he pulls out 200 yuan out of his pocket. "Even though you didn't catch any fish today my son has decided to give you his earning for the fish that he caught. Because he felt that you could use the money more. "He puts his hand out in front of me. After a second to think I open my mouth.
"No...I couldn't take your money." as I say this Sin jumps in.
"No, you do deserve it. I watched you work so hard to catch a fish if you don't take this money I will have to force you."As Sin says this I can sense the sincerity coming from him.
"Ok, I will take not for myself, but for you.." I say as I grab the two hundred yuan of Lu's hand. "I promise I will try twice as hard to tomorrow Sin."
"You better" Sin says to me.
"Oh, and another thing can you take Sin's barrel down to the bottom deck?" Lu asks me.
"Oh right, I will do it right now." As I as say this I rush to the barrel and take down to the bottom deck. While I start carrying the barrel I start to think to me myself. "How could I be stupid! I can have Vaatu hid in one of these barrels" I say to myself as I put the barrel next to the rest "Hey, Vaatu you can come out now." as I say this Vaatu comes out of one of the barrels.
"Do you have a plan mortal?" He says to me.
"You really need to stop calling me that." Vaatu starts to grow a little red as if he is angry at me.
"Very well, but I am only doing this because we have an equal understanding."
"Whatever you say, but I think I know how I can sneak you out of here without anyone noticing."
"Hm...Well, spit it out then."
"Oh, right the plan is this. You hid in one of these barrels and I ask Lu if I can borrow one of the barrels in order to practice." as I say this I wait to see if Vaatu likes my plan.
"Not a bad a idea for a mortal."
"Hey! You know what, never mind, let's just get on with the plan."
"Fine by me as long as I get to the southern spirit portal."
"Don't you mean we?"
"Yeah, we."
"Alright then you hid in one of these barrels and I'll go talk to Lu."
"Alright," Vaatu says as he heads to one of the barrels. I walk up to the top deck where I see Lu steering the boat back to the dock. I slowly walk up to him and see him look at the blue night sky.
"It's a beautiful night is not?" Lu says to me.
"Yeah guess it."
"You know Neki I have been sailing these seas since I was twenty years old and I never get tired of looking at the stars, you know why?" I look at him.
"I have no idea why."
"Because with every night comes a new day, so Neki don't be upset at yourself because you didn't catch anything today because with every day comes a new obstacle to overcome. "
"Don't worry Lu I will try even harder tomorrow"
"You better or I might have to get a new fisherman," he says with a little laugh.
"Um… about that I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?"
"Sure what's on your mind?"
"I was wondering if I could borrow one of the barrels to practice."
"Sure, but make sure nothing happens to it."
"I promise I will bring it back safe and sound" I go back to the bottom deck to let Vaatu know what happen.
"Vaatu you can come out now!"
"So, did you get it done mortal?"
"I wish you would stop calling me that, but yes I did get it done, so just get in one of these barrels." when I say this Vaatu gets in one of the barrels while I put the lid on. "Make sure not to make any noise, ok Vaatu?" after a moment of silence "Um...Vaatu did you hear me?"
" You told me not to make any noise"
"I'm starting to rethink our alliance!" I take Vaatu to the top deck where I notice that we have reached the deck. I take Vaatu to my house as I open the door I see my mother sitting in the front of me at the kitchen table.
"Hello, Neki how was your first day at work?"
"Um… it was good."
"Well...did anything interesting happen?"
"Yeah, I...um caught a fish."
"Just one?"
"Yeah, but it was a big one, so I got paid a lot."
"What's in the barrel Neki?"
"Oh, this is just for training, so I catch more fish." when I say this she begins to smile.
"I know it's been hard you since your father died, but I am glad that you are beginning to have a normal life again."
"Yeah...I...I just wish I could have done something when those people killed him." My mother runs to give me a hug. Her arms wrap around tightly I can feel her tears begin to soak onto my shoulder she pulls away, she can clearly see the tears rolling down my face.
"I want you to know something Neki there was nothing you could have done to save your father." she wipes them from her face and mine.
"I know. mother and that's what makes me the angriest knowing that I was powerless to stop them." I look at my hand and I get ferrous. "Even now I am powerless to stop them." I pull out the Yuan I was given and given and give to my mother.
"What's this for?" she says.
"It's for you."
"But why you giving this to me?"
"Where I am going I don't need."
"I don't understand where are you going?"
"I can't tell you." she drops the Yuan and grabs my shoulders, then begins to cry.
"Please promise me you won't do anything stupid."
"If I told you that then I would be telling you a lie" she looks at me with a face of shock and collapses to the ground, she begins to sob uncontrollably. I take the barrel to my room then I begin to pack my bags for my long journey into the spirit world. I let Vaatu out.
"Get in my bag."
"Who do yo-"
"Shut up and get in the bag!" Vaatu gets into my bag. I walk back to the door and pass by to see my mother still on the ground sobbing. I open the door and then turn back towards my mother.
"I promise I will be back mother with enough power to protect you from anyone that tries to hurt you." She begins to stop sobbing and I close the door.
To be continued.