The Best Romances

Deserve Second Chances

Chapter 10

"The Calm"

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"It's about a twelve hour sail from where we are to Black Ash Island."

"Right, so I'll start cooking." Toph said sarcastically.

"Zuko can I count on you to navigate?" Sokka asked.

"I guess, I mean isn't that the captain's job?"

"It is, but today I have to familiarize myself with this ship, after I do that, I'll steer. Of course I still have to depend on you to help me during the night, it will get lonely up here."

"Sounds good." Zuko responded.

Toph walked herself out and headed towards the kitchen to find food. Zuko stayed in the bridge and manned the helm, and after receiving a crash course in steering from Sokka, Zuko began to keep to the ship on course. Sokka explored the ship. The ship had an intercom network, which allowed instant communication between decks. Sokka then checked the cargo hold, and by keeping the door open he could see inside the bleak room. He found everyone's camping gear and their belongings. Sokka set them aside from the rest of the crates, which were filled with weapons: swords, spears, battle armor, helmets, lances, maces, and all other weapons of war. What worried Sokka was the vast quantity of the weapons. There was enough to fully equip two hundred men, and Sokka mentally noted to bring this up with Zuko. Sokka went to the engine room, and saw the two massive engines that gave the ship life. They were both at half speed, and Sokka checked the gauges for pressure, coal, and things that only a nautical captain like Sokka would understand properly. Sokka's last stop was the kitchen to check up on Toph.

"Yeah, leave the blind girl alone to find food. Smart thinking Captain Sokka." Toph said to herself, and she sensed Sokka standing at the doorway a little late.

"Am I hearing mutiny? I can throw you overboard."

"I might have better chances at finding food in the ocean than this dump."

"Don't worry about dinner, I found our provisions in the cargo hold."

"Good, at Black Ash Island we'll have to stock up on supplies."

"Good idea."

"You said in the cargo hold right?"

"Yes, on the left side."

"Thanks."

Toph stormed out of the kitchen, leaving all of her frustrations in the room. Sokka checked the stoves, ovens, and he checked for cracks and leaks. If saltwater were to enter the kitchen it would render all the food in it useless, so for Sokka's stomach sake, he made sure there weren't any leaks. Sokka glanced over a map that focused on the islands of the Fire Nation. He found Black Ash Island, or islands as Sokka noticed. The name 'Black Ash Island' was the cumulative name for the archipelago. The archipelago is named after the biggest island in the chain, Black Ash, and Sokka hoped that he didn't have to go island-to-island in search for the Harman. Sokka then moved onto other islands, and again he noticed that starting from Black Ash Island to Whale Tail Island were more chains of islands. Fire Atoll, Volcanic Reef, Lava Isle, and The Red Gulf. Sokka took another mental note to ask Zuko about these islands. Toph walked back into the kitchen her arms carrying provisions.

"Dinner is ready. Go get Zuko."

Sokka grabbed a horn and spoke into it,

"Zuko, dinner is ready."

"..."

"Zuko?"

"Yeah, I heard." Zuko's voice came loud and clear back through the end Sokka spoke into.

"That's neat."

"Yeah, it is. What's for dinner?"

"Wait for Zuko."

Zuko walked into the kitchen a couple of minutes later.

"I dropped anchor because no one would be driving the ship, and I didn't want it to crash."

"Good thinking Zuko. Now, Toph what's for dinner?"

"It's a potluck. From Zuko, fire flakes. Sokka, jerky. Lastly, me, and I brought tea for Sokka to make."

"Why Sokka?" Zuko asked as he bit into a piece of jerky.

"He makes a good tea. I know from Ember Island." Toph said.

The three of them enjoyed their potluck, and Sokka remembered to ask Zuko questions.

"Zuko. What do the islands: Fire Atoll, Volcanic Reef, Lava Isle, and The Red Gulf mean to you?"

"A lot. They are called the Fire Lord's Archipelago. Legend goes that Sozin created the islands out of underwater magma flows as a wedding present for Avatar Roku. And after Sozin's betrayal against Roku, there have been reports of Sozin's spirit wondering the islands, still in grief from his betrayal. Whenever Azulon or my father, Ozai, would visit these islands while they were Fire Lords, they would become incredibly ill."

"Why would they become sick?" Toph wondered.

"No one knows, but once we left the islands, they would return to perfect health within a day from being on the verge of death."

"That's weird." Sokka pondered.

"Why do you need to know this?"

"I have a feeling we'll be visiting these islands." Sokka said.

"I need to go to my room... by the way what rooms do we get?" Zuko asked.

"I get the captains room, Zuko probably should get the first mate's room, while Toph gets the cook's room."

"The cook's room, where it that?"

"I'll take you to it. Zuko, I'm relieving you from navigation duty. You look tired, you should catch some sleep." and Sokka lead Toph to her room.

Zuko rose from his chair and went to his room. On the way to his room he made a quick detour to pick up his belongings in the cargo hold. He set his pack on the floor, and he fell into his mattress. His thoughts trailed off. He thought about Inu, and what she said to him,

'If you ever get lonely, or you don't want to talk to that couple. You can write to me.'

He looked around his room and he noticed the writing desk in a corner, which reminded him of Inu. He dug out parchment and a stylus, and he began to write a letter to her.

[[]]

"This is my room?"

"Yep, kinda quaint."

"Sokka, it's no bigger than a broom closet!"

"A perfect size for you."

"I'm never sleeping in there."

"Well, you could always sleep in my room." Sokka seduced.

"You know Sokka, I think I would really like that."

"Let me carry your bags to my room."

Sokka picked up her bags, and lead her past Zuko's room to the neighboring room. He set down her bags by the foot of the bed, and Sokka stood there.

"Well, now what?" he asked.

"I think I have something in made, Captain."

She pushed Sokka down on to the bed, and crawled over him. Her face hovered over his, and they shared a romantic moment.

[[]]

Zuko kept hearing Toph giggling from Sokka's room, and it was disturbing his writing process. Finally, he was fed up with their fooling around.

"SOKKA DON'T YOU HAVE A SHIP TO STEER?" Zuko yelled through the metal walls along with banging his fist into the wall.

He heard a muffled, "Shit! Sorry, Toph." and a stumbling Sokka scrambling for the door. After the door slammed shut, Zuko heard Toph pout.

"Thanks, Zuko."

"Next time, be more discreet."

"You are so lucky I don't metal bend your ass off this ship."

"Wait, can you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It's...it's the sound OF NO ONE CARING!"

"Screw you, Zuko."

"Whatever."

Zuko now returned to his letter to Inu.

'Dear Inu,

I hope you get this letter in good health. Let me update you with our journey. This morning we were attacked by a band of men, under the leadership of a man named, Robinn. It was a tough fight, but we managed to defeat the men, and interrogate Robinn. He told us that his master, named Bobo, would know who hired him. He was shot dead by his master from afar by an arrow. We followed the path of the arrow, and the girl and I talked about how she was worried about her boyfriend, who was far ahead of us (Their names are Toph and Sokka respectively). Sokka rounded a corner, and when we turned the same corner, he was nowhere to be seen! It turns out he stepped into a trap and was sent high into the tree tops. I went to untie the rope that held him there, but an arrow impeded my progress. It was the design as the arrow that killed Robinn, and I called out to Sokka to look for Bobo, as Bobo was in the trees and Sokka had a higher vantage point. I called out for Bobo, and it was received with a reply. I asked the voice to come out, and an older looking man stepped out of the brush with his hunting dog. He claimed to know about Azula escaping, and Harley, and I charged the man asking for his name. It turns out he was Bobo, and he still had another trick up his sleeve... Late that afternoon, now all three of us in a trap, we were put into a Nimitz class Frigate. Luckily, Toph can bend metal, and she set us free, and Sokka and I formed a plan to take over the ship... Now we are caught up with the present.

That couple can't keep their grimy paws off each other. I just had to separate them each other as Toph's giggling was bothering me. But their relationship reminds me of Mai, and how we started out. But thinking about her makes me think about Harley. I really hate this Harley person. I don't know why she is trying to have me killed, and I fear for everyone that I hold close to my heart. That includes you too Inu. I'm lonely out here, and all I have is my brief encounter with you to think of. I think it's been long enough from Mai's funeral for me to start thinking about women. I feel like I can trust you Inu. I haven't told anyone this, but Ozai has escaped from prison. Before I left, I talked to the Royal Prison Warden and ordered him to tell no one about Ozai. What gets me is that I was there when he broke out. Since he can't bend anymore he needed Azula's help to get out of his cell. I was there, I saw Azula, and she is still as crazy as ever. I think she is developing self-control, as she knocked me down, and could have easily killed me right there, but she didn't. I trust you to never tell anyone about Ozai, as the news would truly throw the Nation into a frenzy.

Sokka thinks we are going to have to travel through the Fire Lord Archipelago. I know you have heard of the stories and reports. I seriously hope I don't become ill, as it hinder our journey. I have an inkling that this journey will take me on a quest, that will forever shape me and the world.

Thinking About You,

-Zuko'

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Aww, Zuko! I'm obsessed with letters all of a sudden! So we have some more back story with Roku and Sozin. I suggest you guys do your homework on Roku and Sozin, and maybe Zuko, as they will be an important figures in the story. I know there isn't a lot of Tokka, but they did make out, plus Toph is 'sleeping' in Sokka's room, so if that isn't enough I don't know what is... This is a cool down, and recap chapter. I had a hard time naming this chapter, but it should become clear as to why I named it 'The Calm' in the next chapter. Thanks for Reading!

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