Chapter 3: Traveling to Ba Sing Se part 2

Sokka and Suki were on their way to Ba Sing Se. The couple has stayed the night in Chin Village, and will hopefully make it to Omashu to meet King Bumi. After they stay the night in the palace, they will continue on to Senlin Village.

Suki sat straight up in bed; the moon was casting a light through the window onto the bed. She started violently coughing, and accidentally woke Sokka up.

"Is everything ok?" Sokka said drowsily.

Between coughs, Suki was dishonest, "Yes Sokka. Everything's fine. Go back to sleep."

"Ok whatever you say." Sokka mumbled as he rolled back over.

Suki got out of bed to get a drink of water. She stepped lightly across the creaky hardwood floor. There was a table in the corner of the small room with an empty basin, a pitcher of water, and two cups turned upside down. Suki grabbed one of the cups and filled it with water. She sighed happily when she felt the cool liquid relieve the irritation in her throat. Suki set the cup down on the table, and went back to sleep.

XXX

Sokka woke up to a tense girlfriend sleeping next to him. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her face looked scared. Her shoulders were raised and her back arched. Suki was gripping the edge of the blanket so hard, her knuckles were white. Sokka was concerned for his girlfriend, because he had never seen her like this before. Sokka gently shook Suki's shoulder and she gasped, shooting straight upright.

"Suki? What's the matter? Are you feeling ok?" He said with a worried tone in his voice. Sokka wiped the cold sweat off of her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Um, yeah. I just had a really bad dream. I'll be ok." She replied. What she said was true: it was only a bad dream.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sokka asked, caressing her cheek. He was genuinely concerned for his beloved. It was in his nature to be protective of his family and friends.

Suki pushed his hand away and replied, "No not right now. Maybe later." She stood up and walked over to the table with the basin. She poured some of the water into it and splashed some her face.

It was only a dream. She thought to herself. Fire Lord Ozai is in jail. In the fire nation! He can't get you, or anybody. Just breathe Suki. It's alright. Suki took a deep breath and faked a smile at Sokka. She got back onto the bed and sat next to the water tribe warrior.

"You would tell me if there was anything wrong, right Suki?" Sokka said, looking into Suki's big blue-green eyes.

"Of course Sokka. It was just a bad dream. It couldn't even happen. I promise." Suki replied warmly. She had calmed herself down, and everything was ok this time. She didn't need to lie to keep Sokka's mind at rest.

"Good. Well I'm hungry, so I am going to go retrieve something to eat." Sokka replied, patting his empty stomach.

"I'll come with you. Just let me grab my shoes and some money." Suki said.

Sokka put on his shirt and pants, and then his shoes. Suki put on her shoes and had some copper pieces in her hand. Sokka opened the door for her and they walked downstairs into the hotel lobby. The woman behind the desk greeted them and recommended that they should try the breakfast dumplings at the restaurant they ate at yesterday.

Neither of the happy couple had any other ideas for food, so they walked over to the dumpling place. Suki thought to herself Why did I have a bad dream? What's going on with me? I never get bad dreams. Only when I was little and I had a fever, did I ever have bad dreams. I don't have a fever, do I? No. Stop being ridiculous Suki. Suck it up, you're a warrior!

The two walked into the dumpling restaurant. It smelled sweet, which was odd. The breakfast dumplings were sort of like crepes; they were filled with fruit and were sweet.

"Hello, how may I help you today?" The woman asked.

"Good morning" Sokka replied cheerfully. "Suki and I would like to try some of those breakfast dumplings please."

"Same number as last time?" Asked the employee.

"Yes ma'am." Sokka replied.

"3 copper pieces please." The woman said.

Sokka searched his pockets for money. He freaked out in an ever so Sokka-like manner.

"Where's our money?" He yelled.

Suki laughed as she put 3 copper pieces down on the counter. "Needlessly freaking out this morning, aren't we?" Suki chuckled. She was right; Sokka was more jittery and spazzy than normal. He just wanted everything to work out as planned. It caused him a great deal of stress to have the thought of everything falling to pieces hanging in his mind all day.

Sokka got the dumplings and met Suki outside with Appa. He had had his fill of hay. Suki sat on his back waiting for Sokka.

Sokka carefully walked up Appa's tail and sat down next to Suki. He picked up one of the dumplings with a chopstick and put it in Suki's mouth. Suki returned the favor to Sokka. They took turns feeding each other until the dumplings were gone.

"That was delicious!" Sokka exclaimed.

"You can say that again." Suki smiled at her boyfriend.

"Well we need to get going Suki. We have to make it all the way to Omashu today, and I don't want King Bumi to encase me in Jennomite again." Sokka said, shivering at the thought of the ordeal. Suki laughed slightly and nodded. The two stood up and walked across the plaza back to the hotel. They walked upstairs to their room and began packing.

They hadn't had much time to unpack their belongings, so packing only took a few minutes. Suki grabbed a change of clothes and went behind the opaque screen intended to change behind. She put on a skirt and a shirt not unlike the ones in the fire nation prisons. The only difference was it was green, and not red. She stepped out from behind the screen to discover Sokka changing his pants.

"Suki!" He shrieked.

"Calm down Sokka! It's not that big of a deal." Suki laughed, and shielded her eyes to make her boyfriend feel better. "Feeling self-conscious are we? I mean it's not like I've never seen you naked before." She winked at Sokka and put her dirty clothes in her bag.

"This is true," Sokka replied, suddenly much calmer. "Let me just put my dirty clothes in my bag and I'll be ready to go."

Suki nodded and picked up her bag as she headed for the door. Sokka followed a few moments later. The two walked down the narrow stairs, dragging their things behind them. When they got to the bottom Suki paused. She looked over towards the clerk and said:

"Thanks for your hospitality! It is very much appreciated." She smiled and headed out the door towards Appa. Sokka waved as he shut the door behind them.

Appa was lying nonchalantly in the middle of the plaza. Some of the local children were petting him and feeding him treats. Appa was a patient and tolerant creature, and of course he was willing to put up with a lot to get a treat.

Sokka and Suki put their bags up on top of Appa's saddle. Mayor Tong walked out to bid them farewell.

"Goodbye friends of the Avatar." He said, in his annoying voice.

Sokka and Suki replied at the same time, "Goodbye! Thank you!"

A few moments later they were up in the air, Chine Village was quickly disappearing behind the clouds as the happy couple was on their way to Omashu.

Thus concludes Chapter 3. I hope you are enjoying it, and picking up on my *subtle* foreshadowing haha. This chapter was a bit short, but the next one will surely be much longer. Like twice as long. Please review as I do like to hear what people think of my writing. Thanks a bunch!