Chapter 49.2- And so the Dragons Danced

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The journey to the fire Nation’ s capital began smoothly enough. I still didn’t enjoy being on a ship any more than usual, especially considering that I was surrounded by people who could become enemies at the drop of a hat. Toph was the only ally I allowed to remain in my presence. Toji and Maki were placed on different ships. Toji with the second group of possible traitors, and Maki with an unlikely pair who I felt would be watching the winds to decide whether they would betray me or not. While they had both had their objections to the separation, they understood where I was coming from easily enough.

We had to prevent my army from getting ideas, and while I would be taking the time to wine, dine, and woo the generals on my ship, they were in place to ensure that if anyone had any dangerous thoughts and acted on them, they wouldn’t last long with their heads still attached. Toji was many things, a friend, a wise adviser, a damn good man to have at your back, but above all, he was a genius killer. Long Feng was certain that he had been the one to kill Amara, and that he had killed the Earth Kingdom General I’d captured. If he had, it would be a betrayal of my trust. But now that I had some distance from the situations, I could see the logic in the decisions, if he had made them. It was clearly done for my own good, not out of self-interest.

So, I would not ask. I would never ask and I would instead give Toji as much trust as I ever had. I would trust, but verify. That would be it. Another advantage of being isolated from my friends meant that I could spend my time thinking as much as I spent it doing anything else. I was presently on one of those thinking adventures, meditating on the deck of the ship while my daughter sat to my side, manipulating some scrap metal this way or that way.

The blimps were ready, I knew. I could make a detour and secure them. With their help, the Capital would fall to us in no time. But I still didn’t want to attack the capital. It was for more than sentimental reasons. I had no idea how popular Zuko was with the average citizens— I hoped not very, but I had to prepare for the opposite. In that case, I had to get rid of him in a way that they would consider above reproach. Agni Kai was the only option. But how to get him to say yes. Did I have leverage I could rely on?

"You should just beat them all up" Toph said, interrupting my meditation.