The History of Renko: Book 1 Emotions (Avatar, boyxboy)

Chapter 29: Passing the Time

After countless hours of pushing the train car through twist and turns of the mountains, Renko had had enough. The sun had long set and only the light of the stars guided his way. Renko could feel himself collapse with exhaustion. Kuzo hopped down and caught him.

"Are we there yet?" Renko asked. His head rolled to the side and Kuzo moved to cradle it.

"Almost," Kuzo replied in a tender voice. "You got us very close. Look, do you see those lights just over the hill?" He pointed north. Sure enough, a gentle glow came from the top of a tall volcano in the distance.

"I'll help you walk. Once we get to the city limits, we can ask for an escort."

"Thank you, Renko," Koa said. Nashi was fully asleep in her arms. Its ears would twitch every few seconds. Koa stepped off the car. "I'm glad I put my faith in you."

"You're welcome. We're not there yet," Renko draped his arm over Kuzo's shoulders. "Let's get walking."

They walked along the tracks for so long, Koa noticed that the moon was in a different spot in the sky from when they started. They talked about anything and everything to keep their spirits up. Kuzo told them about his favorite places in the city and what it was like growing up as royalty. When he was fifteen, he and his cousins were trained to be the heads of the Army, Air Force, and Navy. It was a tradition that the Royal Family be heads of the military. They also were heads of Parliament but they couldn't make the laws. In fact, Parliament could override the actions of the monarch with a two-thirds majority, though, it had never happened in recent history.

Kuzo told them about his Fire Bending instructor that he had since he was five. His father wasn't very hands on and his mother was in the Northern Water Tribe. His instructor felt more like a father than a teacher because of it. He even had a dragon promised to him, when he became Fire Lord of course.

Renko spoke briefly about his parents. His dad was a senator from Ba Seng Se working in Zaofu. The young freshmen senator met his mom, Tao Lin Beifong, a native to Zaofu. They apparently didn't agree on much, she was a free spirited world traveler like her grandmother and he was a conservative boy connected to his roots. Instead of running for reelection, he married her and birthed Renko.

Then, Tao Lin got deathly ill. Renko was only seven at the time and couldn't figure out why the healers couldn't make her better. Tao Lin insisted that Ridhya go back to politics. She knew how much he missed it and how he sacrificed for her. She also insisted that Renko train as she and her mother trained. To be a metal bender of the Metal Clan. Thus, Renko grew up with a passion for politics and the Earth.

Koa's story was very short. Her mother removed Koa's father far away to build the Dark Hand. After she took power, she pushed the Dark Hand to more and more extreme projects and ideas. Koa was seen as an accident and Koa tried very hard to get her affection. She tried to rise in the ranks and prove her worth but still, the red headed woman would only use her as a tool.

Eventually, they arrived at a twenty foot gate near the base of the volcano. The iron door was locked tight and above it sat a guard house.

"Hey, who is down there?" a voice called down from the guard house.

"Prince Kuzo, son of Fire Lord Tahno, Commander of the Fire Nation Army, and Heir to the Throne."

After being led through the quiet city and into the crater of the volcano where the palace lie, Team Avatar was led into their rooms. Koa nodded her thanks to Renko and Kuzo and was led away to a different wing of the Palace. Kuzo helped Renko into his room. His room was relatively modest and had a balcony that opened over the palace gardens. Warm summer air blew through the open windows and fire flies danced in the air.

"So in the morning," Kuzo began. "I will meet with my father and his advisors. We need to be prepared for when the Dark Hand comes."

"Let me go with you," Renko said. He was half asleep and his speech was a little slurred. He wobbled a little as he stood and decided to just sit down. "As the Avatar, I should be there."

"Don't worry Avatar," Kuzo answered. He sat on the bed next to him. "I can handle this." He leaned down and left a gently kiss on Renko's lips.

"Night Ren."