Chapter 7: Chapter 6 The Southern Water tribe
He look towards the ocean before spotting the Lady Daisy, on the horizon, circling the island.
"Lets go, uncle. Adventure awaits us."
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It had taken 4 weeks, since Gao Ling, for Zuko to find the compass. They had started to cut short of provision, so choosing to head to the nearest trade hub, the Southern Water tribe, to stock up on food and supplies. Zuko had been to the Southern Water Tribe once before, but that was when he was hunting the avatar and after his banishment they were even less welcoming of him. While the rest of the crew busied themselves in search of provisions, Zuko was content to wander around and take in the sights; from the intricately carved boats bobbing on the shoreline to the sweeping architecture that dotted its landscape.
As they walked through the bustling market, Zuko couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight of the massive ice walls surrounding the tribe. 'How had I miss that previously', he asked himself while admiring the massive statue.
Iroh, noticing his nephew's curiosity, smiled knowingly. "The world is a vast and beautiful place, my dear Zuko. There is so much to explore and discover. It is up to us to embrace all the different cultures and learn from them."
Zuko nodded. He had seen a lot of beautiful sights in his previous life. After all the world was always will with mysteries and untouched views. As they continued to explore the market, Zuko's attention was drawn to a small tent at the edge of the village.
The tent was adorned with various trinkets and treasures, and Zuko was immediately drawn to the display of intricately crafted swords. He approached the tent, admiring the swords with an expert eye. The merchant, an older man with a kind face, noticed Zuko's interest and approached him.
"Ah, a connoisseur of swords, I see," the merchant said with a smile. "I have some of the finest blades in the tribe. Would you like to take a closer look?"
Zuko nodded eagerly, his eyes scanning over the collection. As he picked up a sword, he could feel the balance and weight of the blade, and he knew immediately that it was crafted by a master swordsmith.
"This is a beautiful blade," Zuko said, admiring the intricate design on the hilt. "Who crafted it?"
The merchant smiled. "That, my friend, is a secret. But I can tell you that it was passed down through generations of Water Tribe warriors. It has seen many battles and always emerged victorious."
Zuko nodded before placing the blade back on its stand. His twin oxtail sabres hung from his belt, and he ran his fingers over them reassuringly before glancing around the tent.
His gaze caught on a map, printed on rough parchment and painted with intricate detail. Symbols and markings that were foreign to him were scattered across the map, and he stepped closer to examine it.
"What is this map?" he asked the merchant, gesturing towards it.
The merchant smiled widely. "Ah, that map is quite special. It was made by a renowned non-bender swordsman who travelled the world in search of new techniques and styles of combat." Zuko leaned forward in interest as the merchant continued. "This one specifically details a pair of crystal steel sabres that he used during his travels. They're said to be incredibly valuable."
Zuko's interest and curiosity grew as the merchant spoke. His gaze was transfixed upon the intricate lines and symbols that adorned the map in front of him. He wanted nothing more than to have it in his possession, to be able to explore its secrets and uncover its hidden knowledge.
Yet when the merchant named a price, Zuko's heart sank. The cost was far beyond what he could afford, even with the Fire Nation Treasury at his disposal. With a sigh of disappointment, Zuko looked down at his hands - only to notice something else. His compass.
The merchant had been vague in their description about the twin sabres, but it had been enough for Zuko to know some information about its origin. There was only one limitation while utilising the compass – one had to have seen or know something about their item of interest before they could use it correctly.
This gave him hope – he knew if he used the compass correctly, maybe just maybe he would be able to find the twin sabres.
He quickly bid farewell to the merchant before turning to leave just as a cold breeze blew through the city. He tightened his sack of belongings around him and inhaled the scent of the growing season. Suddenly, he heard his name being called out from a distance. He turned to see Master Pakku and his uncle side by side looking towards him.
"Prince Zuko," Master Pakku greeted him with a nod. "It's nice to meet you. I heard your uncle was in town, so I assumed you would be with him."
Zuko nodded back. "Yes, we came to restock our supplies. It is a pleasure to meet you as well."
Master Pakku smiled. "I heard you unlocked your first chakra. It takes great courage to overcome one's fears. Congratulations, Prince Zuko." Zuko was not surprised the old man new about chakras. It seemed like all of his uncle's acquaintances were very knowledgeable.
"Anyway," Master Pakku said. "I was just on my way to meet with Chief Arnook about some important Water Tribe matters. Would you care to join me?"
Zuko and Iroh exchanged a look before Zuko answered. "I am not. We came here just to restock, and I hope to avoid any type of politics for a while."
"I know. You did a brave thing. Relinquishing your seat to the throne as the heir must have been a hard decision." He nodded in respect. "I won't be taking any more of your time then. Iroh, can I talk to you quickly?"
Zuko nodded before watching as Master Pakku and his uncle walked away. His gaze drifted towards the Lady Daisy, still docked on the shoreline, and he felt a twinge of impatience. He wanted to set sail again, to continue their journey and get the next item on his list.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his uncle studying him with a concerned expression.
"Is everything alright, nephew?" Iroh asked.
Zuko nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just eager to keep moving forward."
Iroh smiled. "I understand. But remember, patience is important on any journey. We must take the time to appreciate the world around us and all its wonders."
Zuko nodded, feeling his uncle's words sink in. He knew that his journey wasn't just about finding these items on the list; it was about discovering himself, and how he fit, in this world.
As the ship sailed away from the icy shores of the tribe, Zuko stood at the helm, feeling the wind in his hair and the salt spray on his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling content and at peace.
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A few weeks had passed since they had restocked in the Southern Water Tribe, and while sailing north towards the earth Kingdom, Zuko felt a familiar prickle of unease. He stepped out onto the deck and surveyed the horizon, squinting to make out the shape of dark clouds gathering at the edge of his vision.
He turned to one of the crew members who was busy checking the knots. "Is that what I think it is?" he said, pointing towards the rolling thunderclouds. The crew member spun around and followed Zuko's gaze.
His eyes widened and he dashed off at once without saying a word. Zuko followed close behind him until they reached the captain's cabin, where his uncle Iroh was already waiting for him.
"I was just about to send for you, Prince Zuko," Iroh said gravely. "We're in for a storm, and it's not going to be small."
The realization hit Zuko like a wave and he felt a knot form in his stomach. He had been on the sea long enough to know that storms were never to be taken lightly. "What should we do?" he asked, steeling himself for whatever came next.
Iroh looked at him sternly before replying. "We need to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worst. This storm has the potential to overtake us, so we need to be ready for anything."
Zuko nodded, watching the wind whip through the rigging. It would be a long night and he had not even begun to prepare for the storm. The sails billowed and pulled taut against their moorings as the first gusts of wind struck against them. Zuko glanced up at the sky; the clouds there were starting to darken and become ominous, streaked with white flashes that he recognized as lightning.
As he watched, a flash arced through the clouds, striking one of their sails and setting it alight. He took a deep breath in, calming himself, before slowly calming the fire, effectively killing it.
As the storm raged on, Zuko stood rigidly on deck. His eyes were fixed intently on the horizon, watching as a single sheet of lightning illuminated the night sky like an electric blanket.
It was only mere feet away from him and he felt every nerve in his body stand to attention in that moment. He knew what could have happened if it had been just one second closer.
Zuko clenched his teeth and braced himself against the railing as another swell slammed into the ship. Lightning crackled overhead, illuminating the chaos of the storm. The deck pitched and heaved, throwing crew members to their knees.
Just as Zuko thought it couldn't get any worse, a man screamed from overboard. The crew scrambled to grab ropes, but in the darkness of ocean and chaos of the night, it was almost impossible to see where the man had disappeared beneath the waves.
As they searched frantically for their lost sailor, Zuko glanced up at the sky. He could have sworn he saw a figure standing on the clouds – no, not standing…dancing. A bolt of lightning lit up the stranger's face, revealing an expression that chilled Zuko to his very bones: gleeful malevolence.
It was horrifying to look at, yet Zuko did not avert his gaze.
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