A/N: I tell you what... trying to write when you don't wanna is a pain. I have been feeling a little stuck with this transition not because I don't have a thousand other chapters ready to go already, but because I wasn't sure which direction to go when I made a creative decision in a previous chapter or two. Now that I have that sorted, the action and pace will pick up and we can be on to the real stuff I have planned for this story. Is Nishikawa real or fake? Is he telling the truth or two lies? Why is it so hard to get a read on this man and the situation? What exactly is Lord Hondo up to? Questions that need answering...

Disclaimer: "You don't really have to trust someone just because they say they are telling the truth. Trust me."-Captain Nishikawa, dead man walking.

Chapter 29—The Drafting of A Future: Part 4

"Ako, care to explain why you left me out of the loop?" Toph asked with a huff.

She crossed her arms and "glared" at Ako and Jet who obviously made plans for the captain without her knowledge. Ako shifted uncomfortably in place. He never liked leaving Toph out of things because despite being on the same team, she never missed an opportunity to exact revenge when she felt slighted. She gave a sturdy nod to the captain who smiled at her.

"It was my fault, Lady Toph. I was afraid you would have informed the princess of my "dishonesty" and the ruse would not have gone well. We needed the enemy not to suspect my true intentions and you have an uncanny way of determining that very thing." he said humbly. Instantly Toph understood.

To be around the captain while he was lying to protect the princess would have jeopardized everyone and the mission.

"I suppose I can forgive you since it was for a good cause, she groused. The captain bowed deeply though Toph couldn't see it. Sokka and Lu Ten looked at Ako with questioning in their eyes. Iroh too raised his eyebrows at Toph's vague statement and the captain's admission. Ako sighed deeply.

"We couldn't tell you the truth about what was going on with the captain. The situation kept escalating and we were afraid it would all explode in our faces if we didn't take action." he began. The others knew there were more and very specific details he needed to share so they waited patiently for him to continue. Ako smirked at Jet.

"We discovered that Takeshi Hondo was still at large and plotting to once again hurt our princess and ruin the delegation. We figured out that his acts were just too focused and intentionally directed at Zuko to be coincidental or even related to your previous engagement as you allowed him to leave with his honor intact. So, we did a little digging..." he added.

The mysterious tone raised the hairs on the back of the princess's neck. Jet huffed causing his shoulders to rise and tense before he let them down slowly as he took a calming breath.

"Yes, that bast—ahem, I mean, Lord Hondo is not all he appears to be." he blurted his voice laced with vitriol. "He hates Princess Zuko, but not for the reasons any of us would expect. He has a long-standing grudge with her that started back during the Siege of the North." he declared.

"The Siege of the North!?" several shouted in unison and began speaking furiously at once. Ako quickly hushed them and paused to see if there was any movement or noise by the door. He whispered,

"Keep your voices down. The rooms have been somewhat soundproofed but you just never know. Yes, Hondo has been harboring hatred in his heart all these years because of his father, former Admiral Zhao Ping Hondo." Zuko scoffed and scoffed again as she grabbed her coin purse.

She threw two gold coins at Toph who caught them easily and stuck out her tongue in victory. Zuko "rolled" her eyes.

"Gods, I really hate when you're right, Toph. I can't believe I almost married Baby Zhao...Wait! How did he manage to convince my father to give him my hand?" she practically shouted. Ako shushed her gently and grimaced.

"Believe it or not Princess that was pure luck; I'm not really sure which kind yet... honestly. Your father choosing him was a coincidence. Whoever is running this coup is clearly aware of the history and grudge he holds for you and is using it to his or her advantage." He explained. Sokka had had enough.

"Alright so history aside what is Jerk Hondo's plan for the future? It's clear he has a vendetta toward our Princess and plans to do something awful. What do you know and what can we do about it?" he demanded.

Iroh and Lu Ten exchanged looks remembering how angry Sokka was when he found out what Lord Hondo had done to Zuko when she was the cruel lord's intended and he has nowhere near forgotten about when he discovered Lord Hondo's intention to kill Zuko on the hijacked naval ship the night she rescued Captain Nishikawa.

Ako took a deep slow breath to brace himself for what was coming.

"He wants to kill Zuko in grand fashion. What better way to exact revenge on someone who he believes sent his father to his death? Zhao died in humiliation before the navy ships and the Water Nations when the ocean spirit took him so Lord Hondo plans to destroy Zuko before the nations of the world." he said frankly. The room exhaled in shock and amazement. Katara sat flabbergasted.

"He really is crazy, isn't he?" she mused aloud. Iroh sat with his hand on his beard not surprised by the plan but definitely concerned.

"That would explain his behavior on the airship quite well. Lord Hondo is a strategist though brutal and callous. He would not want any evidence left on board that would bring suspicion to him and perhaps his benefactors. Does he know that we escaped?" he asked. The captain answered for Ako.

"General Iroh, he was sure that you all survived, and he does have spies that reported your arrival to the Governor's house. He's trying to use me as a pawn to keep Zuko unaware until the moment he makes his strike." The captain wiped his face with his hand and sighed.

"That's why he had me mention explosives to throw you off the trail, that's also why I had to add truth mixed with falsehoods. I was certain you would see through it otherwise. It is true he threatened to expose me and hurt my family but luckily Ako got to me first. This young man helped me see how I could help you all and still protect my girls." he said with a sense of relief. Ako smiled.

"We needed the captain to be aware of Hondo's movements but we also needed him to seem like he was truly trapped in his blackmail situation so that Hondo wouldn't suspect anything. It has worked so far," he said with a grin still plastered on his face. The young Fire Prince frowned.

"That may be so, but what do we do now? In just a few hours we'll be going into the ceremonial tea services with no weapons and potentially no backup." Lu Ten asked sagely. Princess Zuko stood.

"We stay alert and wait until he makes his move. If Hondo is nothing else, he is patient. He will not strike until he is sure that he has us right where he wants us, but now that we know his intentions, we will keep our heads on a swivel and prepare for anything. No, we don't have weapons but we have our bending, our wits and we can take a weapon if we need one, right cousin?" She said with more courage than she felt at the moment.

Lu Ten sighed deeply. Realizing his cousin was not backing down he chuckled to himself.

"Right Zuko, I just hope you're sure about this. We should try to get some rest. It would do no good to be exhausted at the meeting. We can't be alert if we don't have enough sleep." he suggested. Zuko smiled one last time and bowed to Captain Nishikawa.

"I'm glad I was wrong about you, Captain. We will do our best to stop this threat to peace. Please rest well." she said. The captain stood and bowed deeply to the Princess.

"I appreciate your trust in me and I will do my best not to let you down, Princess. I know it's hard to know who to trust but rest assured, I am doing everything in my power to be on the side of the right. Rest well, your Highness." he said humbly.

Katara and the rest of the gaang watched on with cautious admiration. It was hard not to appreciate Zuko's courage but that didn't mean they wouldn't be hyper-vigilant when they don't know how their enemy would attack.

Ako decided the best thing to do would be for everyone to stay at the inn since it was protected by White Lotus members, who had all sworn an oath to protect the Princess with their lives. The royals would be perfectly safe at the inn for a few hours until they could get up and dress for a potentially world-changing tea party.

In the room that was prepared for Zuko and the other women, Toph got close to Zuko and whispered.

"I don't know what it is and I just can't put my finger on it—but I don't trust Captain Nishikawa." she declared. Katara's eyebrows raised near her hairline but kept her voice low.

"Yikes, I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Everything he said was right and seemed so sincere, but I don't feel at peace, either," she added.

Zuko's face remained expressionless and placid. Kori watched in surprise and concern as Zuko made a gesture toward the closed bedroom door. With a too-loud voice, she said,

"Guys, I saw and heard for myself that the captain was sincere about his situation and his allegiance. I believe he was telling the truth!" Toph grunted understandingly and felt two men standing at the door by her earth sense. One was the captain and the other was a man too tall to be Ako or the others.

Zuko apparently sensed them at the door too especially since they were both fire benders. Toph decided she knew exactly how to play along.

"Zuko, you don't have to pretend to be brave—we know that Lord Hondo terrifies you. If you don't want to do the tea ceremony for safety's sake, no one would blame you." she pled uncharacteristically in her most sincere voice. Zuko gave an exaggerated huff and her voice trembled slightly.

"I'm not afraid. My duty is to represent my people! I wasn't afraid when I fought and defeated Lord Hondo's father in an Agni Kai and I'm not afraid to fight Hondo now. He probably wouldn't even challenge me honorably if it came to it. I believe he's more afraid of me. It's easier for him to sneak around and subvert rather than face me head-on." she said.

Toph felt the tall man's heart rate increase to a thunderous pace. Got him. The earth bender nodded silently to the other girls indicating that Lord Hondo took the bait. She gave Zuko's hand a squeeze to let her know that their impromptu plan was working.

To seal the trap, Kori and Katara giggled in sync as if Zuko was bragging and Toph felt Takeshi Hondo's heart almost pound out of his chest. He was livid! The traitorous pair moved away from the door quickly and, if all goes well, Hondo's pride and ego will have him change his plan for the ceremony and fight Zuko in an Agni Kai. This way no one else would have to get hurt on Zuko's behalf and he'd be easier to isolate.

Here's to hoping Takeshi Hondo is a creature of habit like his father was. Zuko thought to herself.