Chapter 36.2- And so the Dragons Danced

“That’s all we’ll do. Believe me you, I would never want something as ridiculous as brainwashing the FireLord’s daughter on my head” I said with a smile while I lived through my teeth. Behind Maki, Toji looked to be having the time of his life as he tried to prevent himself from erupting in hysterical laughter.

“Alright then. I’m going topside. I want no part in all of this” She said as she left without turning around. She hadn’t believed me. What a shame. Not a surprise, though.

“You’re usually a better liar than that” Toji said once Toph had closed the door/wall behind Maki’s exiting form.

“Only an absolute idiot would fail to take advantage of the tools open to him. The Princess had shown no small amount of hostility towards me for no just cause earlier so why not use the opportunity to make things square.” I said. This was to be my revenge against Azula. My revenge against Azulon for placing the unjust punishment on my family in the first place. My revenge against Ozai as well for using my Grandfather as a tool and leading the old man on with false promises. Azula would be my tool in the end.

“Fair. Now, when are we getting started” He asked.

“There’s no better time than now” I replied with a shrug.

“Amara, are you capable of placing them in the requisite trans? Long Feng mentioned that they use a combination of drugs and hypnotism to replicate the skill but that it had been one from the water tribes initially” I asked, turning to her. I knew she would not betray me now. I could read people as well as I could read books, and Amara was a coward. She wouldn’t mess this up because I would be able to trace it back to her, and she knew she wouldn’t have a choice if I decided I wanted her dead.

“I can do it.”

“Good. Get on it. Toph, I understand if you don’t want to be around for this” I said.

“Are you kidding? This is going to be so cool. I’ve never met a spirit before.” She said with a wide smile. I nodded at her enthusiasm and reached out to ruffle her hair.

“Let’s move out” I finally said.

Toph created two floating platforms for each of our targets and we began to move through the base. Long Feng’s brainwashing was so much more complex than what the series had made clear. For one, it was not technology that made it possible, it was something beyond true comprehension.

We arrived at the dark cavern and with a flick of my wrist, I provided lighting for our journey, a strong orange flame that lit up our immediate surroundings but failed to go further. Almost like the darkness of the cavern was fighting the light of the flames. We walked deeper and deeper in, and when we found it, I could barely resist the urge to retch.

It was bound by rusted iron chains. Chains around what looked to be its wrists, ankles, neck, and chest. What looked to be, because its appearance was constantly shifting to my senses. Almost like my brain could not entirely understand what it was seeing. All I could tell was that it was terrible.

A/N: Shifted how brainwashing works a lot here