VOID - The Fifth Element (Zuko)

5. The trip

✹ Zuko's p.o.v. ✹

"You want to find a... what?" Aang, Katara, and Sokka asked me at the same time. 

"None of you have ever heard of a void bender? Aang come on, nobody taught you about people who can bend everything?" I asked getting frustrated. A very confused Aang stared back at me. 

"Sorry Zuko, I have never heard of someone who can bend everything... Are you sure they exist?" He asked me seriously while looking at me with worried eyes. "Why are you even looking for a void bender?" I started telling them about wanting to find my mother and everything my uncle told me. The three of them stay quiet while I talk, nodding their head from time to time. 

"Well, what are we waiting for!" Katara exclaimed enthusiastically, startling the others. "Let's go and look for your mother, Zuko!" 

"That's the problem Katara, I don't know where to start looking for her. Going from town to town will take years, especially in an unknown land." I sighed, losing hope. 

"Well someone must have heard of a void bender." I looked at Sokka, waiting for him to continue. "Where did your uncle hear about them?"

"I don't know, Sokka. He's keeping something from me but I don't know what. He didn't tell me much." 

"Do you think he found a void bender?" Aang asked suddenly.

"I think he did. There were so many details about void benders in his secret study; books, notes, and so on." I told them, trying to remember the details of my uncle's study. There were so many books and notes scattered on his desk and floor, there were even writings on the wall. "I think he's trying to protect someone, I just don't know why...yet."

"Where do you want to start looking tomorrow?" Katara asked seriously while scanning the map my uncle gave me. "You guys want to help me?" I asked surprised. 

"Of course!" Aang exclaimed, all three of them nodding their heads at me. 

"What if we start looking on Taiyodal, the land of the light benders?" I asked, noticing it's the closest to where we are now. I see Sokka frowning at the map. "What's wrong Sokka?"

"Well... there are 3 pieces of land. Lightbenders live on Taiyodal, benders of the darkness live on Sinbidum, and spirit benders live on Misuti..." Sokka started explaining.

"What are you trying to say Sokka?" Katara asked curiously.

"I have never heard of these lands. Why would your mother even go to any of these places? How did she even know they existed?" Sokka asked, staring directly into my eyes. He's making a point. How did she know? Did my uncle tell her... or did she know someone who lived there? I was deep in thoughts until I noticed Sokka staring at me, waiting for an answer. 

"I don't know Sokka, that's why I need to find a void bender. I need to know what happened to my mother and where she is... or where she was.  To be honest, I don't even know if my mother is still alive." I said with a shaky voice. 

"So the plan is to find a void bender first and hope that he or she can lead you to your mother?" Aang asked. I started nodding. 

"Well, then it's settled. Let's try to catch some sleep first, it's getting late." Katara said before getting up from the ground. I looked up and noticed that the sun started setting. "We're leaving in the early morning!" 

We all followed Katara and stood up from the ground where we were sitting. I folded the map and carefully put it in my bag. Sokka's words kept repeating themselves in my head. Why would your mother even go to any of these places? How did she even know they existed? 

 I started thinking back to everyone my mother talked to when I was little. But everyone I could think of were fire benders. Then I realized that my uncle told me that void benders could bend everything... does that mean they can also be a fire bender?  

I laid down on the grass next to the others and with these thoughts, I fell asleep.