reconnective | ZUKO ✬

Locking them up from the darkness? You can do that?

With the Keyblade, yeah. It's a weapon I have but this place took it away.

Uh.

[ hold up. ]

Key... blade?

It's a weapon I have. It's kind of like a huge sword, but shaped like a key.

When you said lock the world, I didn't think you meant... literally.

[ wtf. ]

Your world is weird.

[he just laughs at that.]

Then maybe you should tell me a little about yours? To make it fair.

It's pretty normal compared to yours.

.... I mean.... there is some darkness... but it might not be the same as what you were talking about. But there's been a war going on for a hundred years.

[he settles in for story time at least.]

Why so long? Who's fighting?

... My country. Against the rest of the world.

[ fire nation music plays in the bg ]

[...hm but faster.]

And what're they fighting for? Kind of sounds like a pretty big effort.

They want to "share their greatness with the rest of the world." It's what we were taught to believe, when really the Fire Nation just wants to bring the rest of the world to its knees.

[he scoffs a little.]

Sounds familiar. But also sounds like you don't believe it anymore. Something change your mind?

.... Familiar?

[ deet swap!! ]

It's complicated. But I couldn't stand by and let it happen anymore, once I started to realize the truth.

Not exactly in a good way, but yeah. We've fought against people who thought their view was the best, too, when all they wanted was control.

[there's a light grin.] Doesn't sound that complicated though. You realized something was wrong and decided to make it right. Isn't it just that simple?

.... Guess it's a common thing with bad guys.

[ sighs. but he's frowning at sora ]

It's not as easy as you make it sound. And it's not like I realized it right away.

From what I know about bad guys? It's kind of the first thing on their list.

Reformed bad guys don't always realize it right away either, you know. It's more about the part where you realized it at all. Some people never do.

Well, you're right about that.

[ ... ]

I am trying to make it right. But there's a lot.

One step at a time, Zuko. Every step forward is progress, but think about it this way. You have a chance here to start making other things right, too.

And you say you're not a goody-goody.

[ despite the sarcasm zuko is appreciative of the encouragement. ]

[he just grins.]

Alright, well, maybe a little then.

[deal with it, zuko.]

You're the type to have faith in everyone no matter what, aren't you?

[ he kind of smiles, actually. ]

[well...]

I have faith in the people I know it's important to have faith in. There are people I know that are bad, and there are people I know that are good. And I know there are people who'll find themselves on both sides without quite knowing where to go. So...I have faith until it's proven otherwise, I guess.

[and he knows that's a little naive, but it's worked for him so far. sora's sense of right and wrong, and who's good and evil, hasn't really steered him wrong in the past.]