Chapter 31.5- And so the Dragons Danced

XXXXXX- THE DRAGON OF THE WEST

He stared at the letter he’d just received and felt his inner flame stoke itself into being separate from his will for the first time in years. He brought it all under control once again even as he silently admonished himself for failing in his discipline.

Natsu the Thunderer. He was going to put a wrench in the plans the White Lotus held so dear. Their first plan to see Zuko bring an end to the war with his ascendancy to the throne had been accelerated by the return of the Avatar. With the bridge between the two worlds among them once again, the goal then became to have the Avatar himself defeat Ozai and end the Century long war. Iroh could not deny that the Avatar’s return had brought no small amount of peace to his heart.

Before, he’d been weighed down with the knowledge that he would one day have to turn his fist against his brother. That was the only way to secure the throne for Zuko. He would challenge Ozai to Agni Kai and then after killing his brother, his nephew would take the throne and banish him as the first action of his rule. It would have consolidated the Fire nation under Zuko for decades. But the thought of a banishment and having to kill his own brother had not been things he’d looked forward to. The Avatar came on that august day and everything changed.

Now, things were changing again. The word was that the Earth Kingdom would fall. There was no doubt about it in the hearts of the White Lotus. Natsu Wu had taken Omashu, Gaoling, a dozen smaller towns, and now had his eyes on the City of Walls herself. He remembered the boy. How could he not. His father had spoken of him with no small amount of pride. A prodigy, the Wu General had named his son.

He’d thought it an exaggeration. Every father would be proud of their son. Most would overestimate and overstate said child’s attributes before others. Even moreso before a Prince. And then the boy had called forth lightning with no training in the matter. They called him the one blessed by the cold fire. If not for his Father’s actions, Iroh knew that Ozai would have formalized a betrothal between him and Azula immediately. But then the ruling of Azulon had stood in his way.

The ruling of Azulon was the only thing that the White Lotus could count as still working in their favour. He had hated to see a man he called friend made into a cripple for nothing more than words spoken in anger, but he could not deny that the rest of that ruling was working in their favour now. If Azula and Natsu were to marry. The war would never end.

Zuko could take the throne but the Wu family were old, wealthy and well connected. They would support Azula’s claim, and as a former member of the military, Iroh knew well enough the loyalty that the Fire Nation Army held to their own. Half a dozen Generals had pledged to disobey Azulon’s will and declare for him in just two hours after his Father passed. He knew more would have declared and pledged their support with time. And that had been against Ozai, a popular Prince. Zuko was banished. An exile. No, the Wu bloodline could not be allowed to join Ozai’s. That could mean the end of the world.

“Uncle, are you okay?” his wonderful nephew called out to him, and he schooled his expression into a calm one.

“I am. Just smelt something foul about the tea.” He said, nodding at the shopkeeper who pocketed the letter he had just been reading and stood up.

“How do you feel about working on the 13th Kata once we get on the road?”