A Joke
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🕑 Added 2021-12-03 23:58:20 +0000 UTCChapter 69: Generational Fight
***
Sokka knew that sooner or later, this side of him would eventually be revealed to his sister. So it was better to show such a thing in a controlled environment, or else it would create needless drama in their lives.
Since this was a time of war, Sokka understood that killing people would eventually become inevitable. He would rather have Katara get used to him now, than later.
Having her brother suddenly start killing people without remorse would come as a shock. It might even create a sense of bewilderment. If he had this side of him, did she even know her brother?
They were family, so Sokka was sure she would accept him. But he still knew that there was a possibility Katara could have acted differently or distanced herself.
"Did you tell anyone here what the dark snow means?" He inquired curiously because if no one knew, he wasn't planning to tell them.
"Yes," Katara nodded. "I told my teacher, and she probably spread the news, even Chieftain probably knows by now."
Sokka wanted the Fire Nation attack to come as more of a surprise since it would create panic amongst everyone. But this plan was a faulty one, to begin with, so it would have been better if Katara hadn't said anything. He knew that he had to play with people's feelings a little.
What was the best and fastest way to get yourself in a high position of political power? First and foremost, there must be an enemy, if there isn't, make up one. Second, incite panic against that real or fake enemy. Make them a hundred times worse.
That was a strategy that Sokka was confident would be successful, even in times of peace. But since the world was at war, he also needed to show another quality.
Power, both in mind and body. Someone you wanted on your side during the war.
"Wanna know how I will have Pakku teach you waterbending?" Sokka asked with an amused look on his face. He felt a little bad for manipulating Katara like this, but it was better than having her die.
Katara raised a questioning brow, but she was curious. Her brother could always come up with some crazy plans. So if she said that she wasn't a little intrigued, and excited to hear it, it would be a lie.
"The plan is... violence," Sokka stated while smiling as if he was talking about the weather.
"Violence? That doesn't sound like a good idea," they were in the middle of the Northern Water Tribe, where the strongest waterbenders in the world stood. The place was surrounded by ice and water, and they were outnumbered. "You are my brother, and I love you, Sokka. But that's the stupidest thing you have ever said, and that means a lot more than you think."
He ignored the insults, and like a wise teacher, he pointed at the sky smugly. "If violence isn't enough, then you just haven't used enough of it."
"In this case, violence isn't the answer."
"No, violence isn't the answer, I agree on that," he nodded. "Violence is a question, and the answer is yes."
In the end, Katara expected some kind of answer to his plans. But she forgot that Sokka was someone whose 99% of his daily enjoyment came from annoying her.
The smirk on his face as he intently looked at her was a clear indicator of his mood. Sokka was extremely amused.
***
In front of the palace, Aang was practicing waterbending with Pakku. The elderly man stared at the avatar intently and pointed out any small mistakes that he made.
'As expected from the Avatar. His mistakes are minuscule and he doesn't make the same mistake twice. He is learning quite quickly too.'
As the water moved above him like a giant serpent, Pakku kept staring at it with a nonchalant expression. Making sure to not show anything on his face.
The people were also observing the avatar waterbending, this put them at ease as news of the Fire Nation attacking had spread out too.
"Heyo~ excuse me? Are you the teacher who refused to teach my poor sister," Sokka's voice rang through as he walked to the waterbending training field as if he owned the place, with hands in his pockets. "Pakku, right?"
"Are you here to fight for your sister?" Pakku said someone at his age knew the recklessness of youth and what it made people do. "The Northern Water Tribe has their traditions, and it's been so since the beginning. We aren't going to change our traditions and way of life for an outsider."
Sokka didn't answer him at first and shrugged. "Jeez, old man, you like making assumptions," he grumbled, his long drawn words annoying the waterbending master. "Who knows what I am fighting for, life sometimes can be a confusing riddle. If you don't know what someone's goal is, then you won't know what they will do either. Also who even said I was here to fight you?"
"For a youngster, you know how to hide your emotions quite well," Pakku praised him with a small smirk. "But your aura screams of rage and anger. You feel more like a mad beast than man."
"Hahahaha~ c'mon now, don't joke around like that," Sokka dismissed Pakku's words with a casual hand wave. "We will just have a small spar, and bet. If you win, I will do whatever you want for a whole year. If I win, you will teach Katara waterbending."
Pakku snorted. "I see no reason in fighting you. So what if I had you following me around for a whole year. It would be useless."
Unlike the others among the spectators, who were a little annoyed at Sokka's antics and how disrespectful he was to Pakku. But the latter, the old man, could see through the provocation and wouldn't take Sokka's bait so easily.
"Then how about I give you something very important that you will like?" Sokka kept a smile on his face throughout the deal, but in his mind;
'This bitchy old man. You think I can not see that you're trying to get a better deal out of this?'
Unlike most others, Sokka knew how old men like Pakku worked. They were very shrewd and would rip you off a hand and a leg. While old people could be sweet and nice, the ones that had dealt with politics usually were very demanding. Always looking to earn something out of a deal.
Comparing Pakku to such old men might be a little of a stretch, as he didn't intend to harm them. But it wasn't necessarily wrong either, as a master waterbender like him had to learn how to deal with politics.
'Why do things have to always be so complicated?'
Sokka's mind worked at top speeds, trying to see if there was any hole in his plans.
The old master sighed, and in the end, accepted Sokka's wager. "Okay, okay, you stupid brat. I will take care of you."
"Hahaha, you're right. I am quite stupid. But be careful of stupid people old man, they are reckless and don't think of the consequences."
***
On a Fire Nation ship, Azula had a spyglass and was able to catch sight of the Northern Water Tribe's walls. An excited smile adorned her lips as she chuckled. "Hello~ little kitty~ seems like I caught something interesting."
"Wow, that's an evil smile," Ty Lee whispered to Mai, who only nodded and walked away, not wanting to get into the way of Azula's wrath.
Ty Lee has been speaking a lot lately. Maybe it was Kuzon's influence, but Azula didn't seem to mind the jokes… sometimes. But it was always 50/50 and no one else, other than a carless Ty Lee, would do anything with such odds. That was like betting your life on a coin flip.
"When will we start the attack?" Mai asked, wanting to know when the battle would start.
"Attack? Immediately, of course," Azula's smile widened. "We can't let the enemy prepare."
"But it will be a full moon soon."
"Trust me, even if there were two moons in the sky. It won't help them with what's going to happen."
***
A/N: What is Azula's plan, and what is Sokka's scheme?! Find out, in the next chapter of DB-... I mean Avatar: Awakened Gamer.
