Capítulo 57: Book I, Act IX: Burning Bridges, Chapter IV
Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose
Book I, Imbalance
Act IX: Burning Bridges
Music: Equivalent Exchange - FMA OST -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8cqE0kJBQ&list=PLy-2JXNlPJybAN_VkekZRQJZNOtvUjYSZ&index=2
I will - Ao Haru OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7WThhcO9Us
Chapter IV
Sokka ran up towards the blue sails peeking atop the crowds, trying not to lose sight of them. Even though the ships were coasting in a line, they moved so fast one could have easily assumed they were sailing normally. Trying to dodge fishing rods and pointy harpoons, net menders and buckets, he had to crawl under the passerby to even get near the ships. Standing before the pools, he found the constant move of workers the main obstacle, shouting their curses as he bumped into them.
He waved his arms frantically at them. "Hey, guys! Over here! Stop!"
The men on the ship and bystanders gave him estranged looks and ignored Sokka for a moment until they realized he wouldn't stop chasing them. So, they raised their sails, slowing their pace.
Visibly annoyed, a white-haired man with a blue bandana leaned over the railing. "Are you crazy, kid! What are you doing?!"
He stopped, bending over to catch his breath, and held up a hand. "I– Just– Wanted to…"
He hadn't noticed, but most of the crew was leaning over the side to see him. A young man stood next to the old man, squinting his eyes at Sokka. "Hey, do I know you?"
"Son, get back there." The old man tried to push him away.
"No, dad, wait! He was with the Avatar."
Sokka smiled smugly. "Yeah, I'm Sokka, from the Southern Tribe." They tossed down a net ladder, waving him to come up. As he clambered onto the deck, all eyes were on him.
The old man walked over to him and shook his hand. "What's a fellow countryman doing so far up north?"
"Actually wanted to ask the same to you. Well, not the same, but why are you here exactly?"
The old man shrugged. "They offer a good price for these beasts." He sounded like it wasn't a big deal.
"I'm surprised it didn't destroy your ship in the process."
"We may not have the fancy tools those ashmakers have, but we're waterbenders–we don't need much."
"Interesting… Still, I thought you guys would never trade with the Fire Nation."
He rested his hands on his hips. "Can't say we like them, but we need the money. Besides, the war's been over for a year now."
"How's everyone? After all that happened…"
"Well, Chief Arnook still hasn't gotten over the princess; his council has been ruling for now." The sailor looked down onto the blood-stained deck. "The moment we heard the war was over, they decided to open up. At first, I thought they were crazy, or that it was some kind of bluff and they'd attack the other day. But instead, it was merchant ships that came." He shook his head, looking at Sokka, disdain and disgust emanating from his salt hardened features. "Lots of ashmakers set up shop in the north. They've brought their stinking food and noisy machines with them.
"I'd say the council spat on the Princess's memory by letting them stay; they're even taking our young to their cities." The other men from behind gave nods of approval. "I didn't let them take my son though. It's better just to be at sea than the city nowadays. At least, there I don't have to see them; they just pay, and I go my own way."
The news hit him like a punch in the gut. In the end, the Fire Nation had its way. "I didn't know…"
The man put a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, you'll feel better about it tomorrow. How about the south? How's everyone faring down there?"
"I wouldn't know; been traveling with the Avatar. Things must be calm though. The Fire Nation destroyed most of the South during the war; it's going to take time to rebuild."
"By the moon spirit, I didn't know things were that bad. Thankfully, the war is over. I'm sure the council will send help; we don't leave our own to dry."
"Yeah, I bet…" Sokka looked down.
The man placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, what do you say you stay with us for dinner? We had a nice haul, and Taqluq here makes a mean five flavor soup."
"I'd love that, but I have to get back; my friends must be waiting for me."
"You can invite them too. We'll be staying in port for the night, and we set sail tomorrow morning."
A tad excited and already thinking about their dinner, Sokka nodded, and the man showed him where they could find them. He went back to the mansion, waking up Aang and Katara, excitedly telling them about the people he met. They scrounged their faces, still in stupor, having just been awakened. When they both finally understood, they agreed to go, right after their meeting with the mayor.
Sokka went to the meeting, but his mind wasn't fully in it. Just for one day, he wanted to have some time off, some good food, then rest. They could take care of everything tomorrow. One day couldn't be that much. Katara at least didn't scold him, a gesture he took as her acceptance of their situation. Wandering outside the meeting room, he found Jasmine, who unlike last time, approached him, asking about his day. One thing led to another, and they ended up inviting her to dinner too. After all, she was around their age.
Aang found it sad that she used to spend each day around the house, barely going anywhere. And Katara thought it would be good for some Fire Nation people to get a different picture of people from the Water Tribes. The girl wasn't decisive to accept the offer, glancing repeatedly at her mother for approval, but ended up accepting on her own.
"We agreed with the mayor that you could start in Chihong district. We'll organize the departure of the colonists from the ports too, and take the space of the fisheries once they are clear, then–"
"Yeah, yeah. Katara, I get it; my hearing is just fine. How about you stop thinking about that? I've found these guys out of pure luck, and there's even one of your classmates from Pakku's school. I'm sure you can reminisce about the good old days together."
"...I'll let you have this night, Sokka; I know you weren't paying attention… We can't forget our promise."
"I know… Thanks sister."
Katara walked towards the group of men surrounding Aang. They were sitting on barrels, illuminated by candlelight. The Avatar rested against the ship's railing, looking at them.
"Well, we've all heard the stories. Some say it's just an exaggeration, but I need to hear it from the Avatar himself. Tell us, how was it that you could defeat the Fire Lord?"
Aang smiled and took a deep breath. "Well, it all started…"
Sokka had heard the story a thousand times, but he stood by as the men cheered and kept asking, what happened next? They all were biting their nails during the climax, the final battle; and they gave one last cheer at the end, gaining the curses of all the ships anchored nearby, whose crews only wanted to sleep. They ate together and laughed, the sailors telling their stories themselves, some romantic, others tragic. It was funny to see how fate pulled all those men to gather at that spot.
Sokka guessed that could also be said about them, for their situation was even more peculiar. Who would have believed a story about finding a frozen kid in the heart of a glacier thanks to a sister's temper tantrums? He laughed to himself and walked towards the prow, staring into the dark sky filled with stars. Shining brightest of them all was Yue.
He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Jasmine, her long black hair illuminated by the pale light of the moon. "Hey, why are you here on your own? You're missing out."
"Nah, already know the story; and I just needed some time."
Holding her hands together shyly, she didn't look him in the eyes. "Would you mind if I stayed?" He nodded, and they both looked towards the sky.
After a moment of silence, she spoke. "So…You really did all that the Ava—I mean, Aang–told us? That was very brave of you. With no bending, I can't imagine."
"Figured that you really don't need that. I may have no magic powers, but I've got other talents to provide; everybody does."
"And all the places you've been to? You left your home, your family…"
His voice was raspy. "Wasn't like the home I knew before, after the Fire Nation raids… Most people left… But it was hard anyway. At first, we were excited to just go out and explore the world since we didn't really get to know much other than a few icy islands. But then… then it hits you… Like a hole in your heart you can't explain. You just start to miss them; start noticing more and more things that remind you of home."
"I've never left the city. I've always wondered what's out there–tried to imagine it–but it can't be anything like the real thing. Even being here feels surreal… Mother doesn't even let me go to the docks unguarded… She thinks I can't take care of myself… But this… All in all, it feels nice, freeing even."
"I've a friend who was in a similar place once, but she made it out… with a bit of our help."
"Oh, she must be Toph, right? What happened to her; why isn't she here?"
Sokka smiled. "Toph's never been one to follow orders; she's always done her own thing. Said she'd become a teacher in Yu Dao, and apparently she made it. Heard she set up her own school… "
"You miss her, don't you? …You two had any–"
"Wha– No, nothing like that; she's just a friend."
"So… you don't have anyone special?"
"I do." He saw her smile deflate. "It's been so long since I've seen her. Sometimes, I write to her, but letters don't cut it anymore, you know? I miss her so much."
"...She's lucky to have you, I'm sure she misses you too. Well… It's already quite late… See you later at the house?"
"Sure… Goodnight, Jasmine."
His eyes followed the waves as they washed over the docks. They had been hard at work for the past month, and it was showing.
"Something wrong, Aang?" Startled, he looked at Katara.
"No, I was– Everything looks so calm, doesn't it?"
"Yeah… It's always hard to get used to it." Katara sat down next to him.
"It's so hard to tell these people to go; they're so stubborn, even with everything that Zuko will give them once they arrive at their new homes… Roku says that's just how Fire Nation people are."
Katara looked away. "I don't know, Aang… I think they just don't like to leave their home… Don't think anyone would like that."
"But you know this land isn't rightfully theirs. How can they stay here with a clean conscience? They don't belong here; it's not what it's meant to be… It can't be."
"Is that you or Roku talking? Maybe you're listening too much to him, Sweetie. I know that they aren't meant to be here, but most didn't choose to be born here. To them, I think they believe this land is theirs."
"I'm sorry… He lived through it, before all this happened. He knows what's best. The world cannot be in balance unless things return to the way they were."
Katara sighed. "...Aang, look around you. Things will never return to the way they were. The war changed the world… So many died…"
"We've talked about this before. You know this is the only way their sacrifices are not in vain. Even if things can't go back exactly the way they were, we can try."
"I hope you're right; I really do. I'll see you later, okay? I told Jasmine I'd go with her to the market."
"Didn't think she was your friend now."
She shrugged. "Well, she's nice. It's good to have another girl around. She's different from Toph, but she's alright, not as friendly with me as she is with Sokka though."
"Sokka? Oh… Uh…"
"Aang,, she's just a friend, nothing more. He wouldn't do that to Suki."
"Hey, you're the one who mentioned it!"
Katara kissed him farewell, and he was there alone, taking in the sights. It was hard to recognize the docks now, for the hooks and cranes dangled in the wind. The wooden planks were slowly regaining their whitish-brown, sun-bleached color after the tides washed away the blood. Only a few fishermen sat idly with their rods. It felt like they were at a different place. It was hard to believe that two months ago, ships came and went.
The animals… He didn't want to remember that part.
The decolonization…It just felt like the right thing to do. Now there wasn't much left before he had to take the mayor herself back to the Fire Nation. He could feel Roku was pleased, but… he couldn't feel the same way. Somewhere inside of him, he thought Katara was right in a way; and another part of him agreed. Even though the process was hard to witness, he had to think about all the Earth Kingdom people that had lost their homes; that had been abused by the Fire Nation over the years; and even his own people, displaced and hunted down to make way for 'progress', whatever that meant.
Everywhere they had gone, they destroyed the land, polluted it until they became sick themselves, not unlike that fishing village they had cleaned. If destruction and illness had to be ignored in order to make factories and achieve progress, then he knew they were dead wrong. It had to be stopped.
Aang was certain everything would turn out fine; that his friends would help… But he couldn't be as certain with Zuko, who he knew hadn't remained untouched by it. He was sad, afraid, a stark difference from the old Zuko he knew, who had regained his confidence and was sure of himself. He hoped it was temporary; that it was because the pressures of his work were pushing him to the limit; that once their deed was done, he would be able to get a breather.
Yet, it was clear to him that his friend's own people didn't like his decisions or, most likely, couldn't understand them. And how could they? All they knew was that the Fire Nation was good and everyone else was bad. Most were ignorant about the atrocities their country had committed, still in denial. He knew Zuko would remain strong, undeterred when choosing the right thing… Doubt crept on his mind. Was he always that way?...
No, he stopped himself before he could dwell on it further; he believed in his friend. He stood, giving one last glance to the horizon as the sun set. Two days from then, Jingyugang would be no more. Their next stop would be Yu Dao.
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