Chapter 31.1- And so the Dragons Danced (Rewrite)

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“So what are we going to do about our healing friend and her lover?” Toji asked as he swaggered up to stand next to me as we watched the boats be loaded for our journey. For reasons beyond my understanding, Azula had deemed it necessary to make the journey here, but had still not waited for my army to prepare itself to leave for her to make her own exit. She’d left on an impressive Galley that flew the Insignia of the Fire Nation, except that instead of red, the flame was a bright blue to mark itself as her personal standard. Only the Royal Family got to do something like that. To adulterate the symbol of our homeland in such a manner.

“I have bigger problems to deal with” I replied almost instantly, still watching the ships be loaded.

“No. No you don’t. You think you have to deal with the Princess’ insult. That you have to find some way to pay it back or to get your revenge. You don’t. You can let it go. You should let it go.” He said, almost begging with the way he pressed every word.

“You were there, Toji. You heard her. You heard the others afterwards. She humiliated me, and for what? For succeeding in a war her family has struggled to win? Or for my Grandfather doing what every Noble Lord in the bloody nation did?” I seethed as I turned to him, sure my eyes were blazing as the memories of the event came to forefront again. That had been my first introduction to what qualified as the ‘higher-ups’ of the Fire nation military. Six Generals, and half again as many Lietenant Generals had sat around that table as Azula paid me that insult. When I tried to make connections afterwards, I could see it in their eyes. The mocking. They dared to mock me.

“And I also know your pride is nowhere near this fickle. So tell me what’s really bothering you” He said instead of answering my question.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about” I replied instantly.

“Sure you don’t. But I don’t really care much. All I do care about is that you tell me you understand and that you leave this alone”

“I’ve heard you, Toji. And as for Amara and Shin, I see little to do beyond a warning.”

“Fuck that” He replied instantly.

“Azula has already made her displeasure with me clear. Losing a healer of all things on the word of an Earthbending assassin is just the kind of shirt people lose their heads for, and I have no desire to bet my life on her restraint.” I replied.

“Then we find a different way to punish her” I turned to see the look in his eyes as they narrowed in thought. This was the side of Toji that few ever got to see. The truly evil impulses in his head.

“She spoke out for the Swamp Tribe benders, aye?” He said, spotting a baggage train that contained the prisoners.

A/N; Failing to get into Azula’s head, so I decided to rewrite the entire thing and just start at a different point.