430N/A: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a new story! The third one published by your humble servant JkAlex18.
Thank you, thank you for the applause, you can sit down now.
I was debating whether to post this new story, since I still have "The Return of the Hero" and "Pure Blood", which I've barely started and intend to continue writing. But I decided to do it to give this story a chance, because it's something that's been on my mind for the last few months.
As you can see, this fic will be a crossover between Percy Jackson and Avatar The Last Airbender. An unusual combination, but I see a lot of potential in it.
I've always been a fan of Avatar, as I watched it as a kid on Nickelodeon, and it became one of my favorite cartoons. And now that live-action series of both have been confirmed, my fanaticism has only increased.
So I decided to combine two of my favorite shows into one, and thus this fanfic called "Avatar; The Legend of Perseus" was born.
I realize that Avatar: The Last Airbender is a "kids' show", so it doesn't go much into how horrible and cruel the war becomes. I understand that because it was aimed at a kids' audience, they had to censor many, many things. But I've decided to change that.
Now, I'm not going to write a dark and gritty story full of massacre, slaughter and rape like Berserk (although I'm very tempted to do so). No, my intention is to raise the bar a bit and focus more on a teen and young adult audience, which is most of the people reading this.
If I had to put a label on it based on something we all know, it would be like Naruto, a "shōnen". It will have its moments of comedy and happiness, but it will also have its sad, dramatic and serious moments. And, as I know everyone wants, there will be romance, much more than in the original Avatar series. That's why the characters will be a bit older, not kids like in the original Avatar series, but teenagers on the verge of adulthood.
This story will be occasional, so it will not be a constant. The chapters will not come out as quickly as my other stories, as was the case with "The Origin of a Hero" or the first season of "Pure Blood". Although that may change depending on how well it is received.
Anyway, I'm sorry you had to read this long author's note, but it was important to make these points clear.
And remember, this story, like all my other English stories, is translated, so you might find some inconsistencies when you read it.
So, without further ado... Let's go!
Prologue
The Arrival of the Demigod
How far would a mother go for her child?
A child. A delicate little being in your womb for almost nine months, accompanying you every moment of the day and night. A tiny living being, completely dependent on you. A miracle of creation, of life growing inside you.
For Sally Jackson, there was nothing she would not do for her son. She would willingly give up everything to ensure his safety.
She knew the risks. The doctors had told her in the last months of her pregnancy that she had developed a complication after 20 weeks. Preeclampsia was the term the doctors had used. In other words, she had developed high blood pressure because of her pregnancy. And because of that complication, she had to give birth prematurely.
The doctors had told her that there was a high probability that the child would not survive labor because of the premature birth, but Sally believed that he would. This child, her son, was special, she knew. His very existence was a miracle.
Despite the intense pain that overwhelmed her body and made her want to scream, she decided to go on. Not for herself, but for her unborn son.
After what felt like hours of painful labor, it finally happened. Her son was born.
"Doctor..." the nurse called, trying to hide the alarm in her voice.
The doctor was silent as he held the newborn.
"Doctor... Is... there anything wrong with my son?" Sally asked, growing anxiety flooding her chest.
The doctor looked sadly at the young mother.
"Mrs. Jackson, your son... is not breathing."
Sally gasped in alarm.
"Give him to me," she demanded, stretching out her arms. "Give me my son."
"Mrs. Jackson... we need to resuscitate him."
"Please!"
Cautiously, the doctor handed the newborn to the nurse, who quickly cleaned him before placing him on his mother's stomach and covering him with a clean towel.
Sally felt the tears begin to sting her eyes as she looked at her son's tiny, limp body. He looked so fragile and delicate. A pain began to twist in her chest, bigger than any she had ever felt in her life. She held him to her chest, looking for some kind of reaction from the infant, but nothing happened. He didn't move or make a sound.
"Prepare for resuscitation," the doctor ordered, "This child has to start breathing on his own before his heart stops!"
"Doctor, the heartbeat is slowing and there is still apnea," the nurse reported, placing the stethoscope on the infant's chest and checking his breathing.
"Get the mask and start ventilating."
As the doctor and nurses quickly prepared to begin resuscitating the newborn, Sally reached out her trembling hand to her son's body and placed her fingers over his heart. She could feel it, feel his little heart beating. Her son was alive, but he had to breathe on his own.
"Perseus..." she murmured. "Percy... My little boy..."
"Mrs. Jackson, please give us your son, so we can begin resuscitation before..."
The doctor was interrupted by the loud screams that filled the room. Everyone in the room looked at the newborn in shock, surprise written all over their faces.
Sally looked down at her newborn son and listened to him cry. And as she heard him announce to the world that he was alive with all the strength his little body could muster, every ache and pain disappeared, replaced by the satisfaction, relief, and joy of knowing that her son was alive.
"That's... impressive" commented one of the nurses. "For a preemie, he sure has strength in his lungs."
"He is a fighter, just like his mother," praised the doctor, approaching the boy to place a cotton cap on his head. "He's a beautiful boy with a wonderful name."
Sally stroked her son's head. Now that the long labor was over, and her son was born healthy, she felt exhausted and sleepy.
"His father is Greek..." she murmured, stroking her son's face, who had stopped crying and was sucking his thumb. "I want him to have something to remind him where he comes from... To be with him always... And maybe he can have a happy ending like his namesake..."
Sally slowly began to close her eyes, looking confused and disoriented. She began to feel an intense cold all over her body as the alarm beeping from the monitor began to resonate. The doctor and nurses turned to watch in alarm as her vital signs began to change drastically.
"Doctor, her blood pressure is dropping, and her heart rate is increasing," the nurse reported, "Her respiratory rate is also increasing!"
"She is going into hemorrhagic shock, most likely from her uterine atony," the doctor said. "Give 20 units of oxytocin in 500 ml of glucose solution, along with a continuous infusion of physiological solution to replace the lost blood volume. Quickly!"
One of the nurses quickly followed the doctor's instructions, while another grabbed the newborn and pulled him away from his mother. Immediately, the baby began to cry, sensing the loss of contact with his mother.
"There, there, little one," the nurse tried to soothe him, "Mommy will be fine."
But the little baby was still crying, crying for his mother.
Sally turned her tired eyes to him and weakly reached out her hand.
"Percy..." she murmured almost inaudibly, "My little boy..."
Her mind felt more and more clouded, drowsiness began to overwhelm her, and the feeling of her body became more and more distant, as if it didn't belong to her.
"Doctor, she's not stabilizing," the nurse reported, looking at the monitor, "Her elevated blood pressure and tachycardia are causing her to lose too much blood!"
The doctor frowned in frustration.
"We can't use methylergonovine because of her preeclampsia... I'll have to do a uterine artery ligation. That will buy us some time. In the meantime, put her on an oxygen mask so her SpO2 don't drop any further."
Even after the mask was on and Sally felt the oxygen, her confusion and drowsiness did not subside. With blurred vision, she turned to where she could hear her son crying. It sounded farther and farther away.
She knew it, she knew what was going to happen, she could feel it coming closer and closer. She was not unaware of it. It had been there before. Her parents, her uncle, and now her.
Strangely, she felt no discomfort or pain. The overwhelming cold was gone, replaced by a strange, unexpected, yet overwhelming sense of peace. She felt no anger or resentment about her situation. Just acceptance.
She knew she didn't have much time, a few seconds or more, maybe a few minutes. And in the last moments of her life, her thoughts were only of her son. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, even if he didn't understand. She wanted to tell him that she was proud to be his mother. Grateful to him for giving her the fleeting and ephemeral experience of being a mother.
"Poseidon... "she murmured with the last remnants of her strength, "Please... help him..."
Before she closed her eyes, her mind was filled only with thoughts of concern for her son.
In a dark and lonely ICU room at the hospital, a man watched the woman and child in the bed with great sadness. Several plastic tubes were embedded in the woman's arms, providing the life support her body needed. The monitor reflected her vital signs, which were very low.
The tiny newborn was with his mother, clinging tightly to her chest as he slept.
The doctors had run all the appropriate tests to make sure he was perfectly healthy and were surprised by the results. For a premature baby of less than 36 weeks, he had no abnormalities, changes or delays in his development. He did not require any medical assistance beyond feeding. He did not even need to be placed in an incubator.
Now the child clung to his mother like a lifeline, and this fact only added to the grief of the man watching them.
Somewhat hesitantly, the man reached out and gently caressed the woman's pale face.
"Forgive me, Sally," he said in a plaintive voice.
"She doesn't have much time left. Her life is slipping away."
Outside, lightning streaked across the sky, faintly illuminating the room through the window. When the lightning faded, a woman stood at the foot of the bed. It was a woman wearing a long black and purple dress. Her black hair flowed like a river and hid a beautiful but stern face.
"Styx," he said the name, sounding slightly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"You know very well why I am here, Poseidon," Styx turned her gaze to the woman and child sleeping peacefully. "You have broken your oath. An oath to my river. You know very well what that means and the consequences of breaking it."
Poseidon's eyes widened in alarm before narrowing in fury.
"If you dare to harm them, I swear..."
Styx sneered.
"Swear? Please, Poseidon, your oaths mean nothing. They are worthless. The birth of this child, your son, is proof of that."
Poseidon gritted his teeth and looked away, feeling his anger overshadowed by his shame. He knew he could not deny her words completely.
Styx circled the bed slowly. Instead of walking, she seemed to glide across the floor, her dress billowing ghostly, as did her hair. She paused at Sally's bedside and took a long look at her before turning her gaze to the tiny baby.
"This child is living proof of your broken oath, an oath sworn in my river, my name. A cursed child who should never have been born. Its very existence is a threat to the entire order established over the past millennia" She caressed the baby's face, which flinched at her touch. "And I will not tolerate evidence of a broken oath in my name in this world. A broken oath has consequences, Poseidon."
Poseidon's expression reflected growing unease and fear.
"Styx... you're not suggesting...?"
"You deserve to be punished, Poseidon" the look she gave him was stern and unforgiving. "Even if you are an immortal, that does not exempt you from the consequences. Zeus, Hades and you swore an oath in my name. And you were the one who broke it by having this child. A child that should not have been born. Therefore, the Fates have decreed that the proper punishment is in my hands."
"No... you can't... He is just a child! A son does not deserve to be punished for the sins of his father..." Poseidon looked at his son with sorrow, but also with determination. "Punish me, but leave my son alone. He is innocent."
Styx's gaze softened slightly as she looked at the sleeping baby.
"You are right. The child has done nothing wrong. His soul is pure and innocent, free from any evil of man."
"Then let him live, and I will accept whatever punishment you see fit to give me."
"A salvation for the son and punishment for the father?" Styx mused. "Sounds fair. Tell me, Poseidon, how far are you willing to go to save your son's life? This mortal woman made the ultimate sacrifice for the birth of her child. She gave her life. What about you? What are you willing to sacrifice to save your child?"
"I... I will offer whatever is necessary to ensure his safety," Poseidon looked at Sally with sadness. "This is the only thing she's ever asked me to do."
The silence seemed to last forever as Styx watched mother and child.
"I have made a decision," she explained. "Your son will be saved in exchange for your punishment. Your penance will be to never interfere directly in his life again."
"What...?!"
"Not only that, but you will never have any other offspring for the rest of this child's life. No demigod child of yours will be born until the end of this child's life."
"All this in exchange for letting him live?! You are condemning me to have no part in the life of my own child?!"
"I am offering more than letting your son live, I am offering him salvation."
"What do you mean?" Poseidon asked, confused.
"Even if your son lives beyond this day, what awaits him? He is a hero, so his life is doomed to be short, painful, and tragic. Besides, he is your son, a son of the Big Three. He will be a very powerful demigod... and very dangerous. Zeus will not let him go free if he poses a threat to his rule on Olympus."
"The Great Prophecy"
A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky, illuminating Styx's dark features.
"Your son's fate was sealed from the moment he was born... but I can save him."
"What do you have in mind?" Poseidon asked anxiously.
Styx turned away from Poseidon and looked out the window. Due to the sea god's fluctuating and intense emotions, a heavy rain fell from the sky, which was filled with black, stormy clouds. A cold, strong wind blew against the windows, and in the distance, large waves were crashing hard against the Statue of Liberty that could be seen on the horizon.
"The best way to save him from what the Fates have decreed for him is to send him to a place far from their influence. Or at least to a place where their influence is so small, almost non-existent, that they will not be able to intervene. Your son will be able to escape the threads of fate and forge one of his own."
"And how will you do that?" Poseidon asked.
"Through my river," Styx replied, causing Poseidon's eyes to widen in surprise. "My river is the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead. And it flows nine times through the Underworld, meeting in the center of the Underworld with the Rivers Phlegeton, Acheron, Cocytus, and Lethe, and flowing into a place far beyond the realm of the gods and Fates themselves."
"This... world you speak of. What is it like?"
Poseidon, like all the gods, knew of the existence of other worlds. Some of them were so far away from each other that it was impossible for even the gods themselves to interact with them. Just as it was impossible for them to know of the existence of all worlds. It would be like trying to count the grains of sand in the desert. The universe was so vast.
"It is a world where mortals and spirits coexist in balance and harmony," Styx explained. "And though mortals have their differences, they have managed to overcome them and thrive. I know your son will be able to survive and be free in this world."
Despite his words, Poseidon's expression reflected his concern and worry.
"But to get to that world, my son would have to reach the place where the rivers of the Underworld converge. He would have to cross your river, and in doing so..."
Styx nodded.
"He would have to bathe in my waters. And not just to reach this new world, but to resist the convergence of the Underworld's rivers. To reach this new world, he will have to receive my blessing."
"A curse, you mean," Poseidon growled. "He will be powerful, yes, but he will also be weak. Vulnerable. His powers will grow, but so will his weaknesses. And that may lead to his death."
"It is the only way he will survive the journey," Styx insisted. "You must have faith in your son, Poseidon."
Poseidon's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You seem very interested in sending my son to this world, Styx. What are you not telling me?"
Styx's face remained unmoved, but the slight sideways glance she gave the boy was all the confirmation Poseidon needed.
"This world, the world where mortals and spirits coexist, separated by a thin layer, has been at war for nearly a hundred years."
"And you want my son to end that war?"
"No. There is already someone in that world who will resolve it one day."
"Then why send my son there?" Poseidon asked.
"Because in sixteen years, a unique event will occur that will cause the Underworld to be directly connected to this world for a short period of time. There will be a rift. This has only happened once in the past, but when it happened, the worst and most terrible monsters from the depths of Tartarus invaded this world and tormented people for years. And on that occasion, it was a demigod of this world who stopped them."
Poseidon opened his eyes in surprise.
"Then someone else has gone to this world in the past. And in the same way, I suppose."
Styx nodded.
"A son of Hermes. A young and wounded, but noble boy who wanted to leave behind a life that had only been tragic for him. I offered to take him to this world when I discovered the rift and the monsters that came through it. He went willingly, with his mother's blessing and mine."
"What happened to that young man?" Poseidon asked curiously.
The ghost of a smile curled the Styx's lips.
"Through the small bond I shared with him when he received my blessing, I could sense that he lived a long and prosperous life. He died peacefully in his bed at the age of 120, surrounded by the family he had raised."
Hearing this, Poseidon was filled with a small hope. A hope that his son would live a long and fruitful life, far from the influence of the gods... even himself.
"Why do you care so much about the welfare of this world?" Poseidon asked.
"I am partly responsible for monsters entering this world, for my river flows through it," Styx continued. "And although there is a powerful barrier that always prevents monsters from crossing from this world to the other, that barrier will disappear for a short time in sixteen years. Therefore, someone must be there to prevent the chaos."
"And you want that someone to be my son."
Styx nodded and looked at the baby approvingly.
"He is a powerful demigod. A son of the Big Three. And when he bathes in my river, he will be unstoppable. Invincible. Most importantly, he will be free from the influence of the gods. This is my offer, Poseidon. This is the salvation I offer your son. And at the same time, the punishment I will inflict upon you for breaking your oath."
Poseidon pondered Styx's words for several minutes. He watched as his son, blissfully unaware of the situation, clung to his mother.
Styx's proposal was what many would consider outrageous, unheard of, and utterly insane.
But for Poseidon, it was the only way to save his son.
He bowed his head in resignation.
"At least let me say goodbye to my son... and to Sally."
Styx's stern gaze softened and she nodded.
Poseidon approached the bed and slowly and carefully lifted his son and cradled him to his chest. The action woke the child, who immediately began to cry. Poseidon panicked and began rocking the child to calm him, but it didn't seem to work.
"There, there, there. Don't worry, I'm here," he said in a soft, loving voice. "It's going to be all right, little one."
At the sound of his voice, the baby's crying stopped and he slowly began to open his eyes. Poseidon felt a lump form in his throat as he saw that his son's eyes were the same color as his own. An intense sea green that seemed to glow in the dimly lit room, reflecting the purest innocence that only a child possesses.
"There are... There are so many things I want to tell you," Poseidon said in a choked voice. "But so little time to tell them all."
The baby stirred, waving his hands slightly. Poseidon moved his hand closer so the child could grasp his little finger. His hand was so small that he could not fully grasp the finger.
Poseidon watched with amusement as his son brought the finger to his mouth.
"Perseus... I don't expect you to forgive me for the choices I've made, I just expect you to understand why I'm sending you away. And why I can't be there for you. I don't know what kind of place you'll go, but I'm sure you'll be able to adapt and thrive. You are a very special child, more than you know. And I say this not because you are my son, but because you are the son of your mother, one of the bravest, kindest, most compassionate women I have ever known. You must be like her. Live a long life with no regrets. And whatever you do, whatever path you choose, I want you to know that you are a son of mine. You are a true son of the god of the sea, never forget that."
With great regret, Poseidon handed the baby to Styx, who had watched the farewell in respectful silence. She held the child tenderly to her breast.
"Don't worry, Poseidon, I will see that your child arrives safely and that its mother crosses my river," she glanced at the sleeping mother. "After all, her blessing is needed."
A flash of lightning illuminated the room again, and when it disappeared, so did the Styx.
Poseidon approached Sally's bed and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, then brushed a few strands of hair from her face.
"Farewell, Sally, you were a queen among mortals," he said, his voice wistful. "May your soul find its way to the Elysian Fields."
He gently took her hand and waited patiently by her side for the inevitable moment.
After what seemed like hours, the monitor at the side of the bed emitted a loud, steady beep that echoed throughout the room, signaling the end of Sally Jackson's life.
"Where am I?"
Sally looked around, a feeling of panic flooding her chest. Moments ago, she had been in a hospital bed giving birth to her son. Now she was in a place she had never seen before. But what frightened her most was that when she looked at herself, she saw that her body was transparent. She could even see the sand under her feet through her hands.
She began to look around frantically. It was a dark, cold, desolate, rocky place. It was on the banks of an oily black river. On its surface floated bones, dead fish along with some stranger things; plastic dolls, crushed carnations, gold-edged diplomas.
As she looked at all the strange objects floating on the surface, one of them caught her attention. When she looked closer, she could see that it was a picture frame containing a photograph of what appeared to be a family. Sally immediately recognized herself. A few years older, with some wrinkles and grayer hair, but it was definitely her. She also recognized Poseidon. The same jet black hair, neatly trimmed beard, and eyes as green as the sea. He looked as beautiful as the last time she saw him.
But what caught her attention the most was that in their midst was a boy of about twelve with a big smile. And just like Poseidon, Sally knew right away who this cute boy was. After all, he was the spitting image of his father.
She saw the image of his son.
A lump formed in her throat as she watched the image slowly sink into the river.
"What is this place?" she asked.
"You are in the Underworld."
Sally turned in alarm to see a beautiful woman approaching. Her black dress seemed to slide across the floor, and her black hair rippled like the river itself before them. In her hands, she held a small bundle surrounded by blankets.
"The Underworld?" Sally asked with growing fear. "So that means I...?"
The woman nodded. A flash of grief and pity shone in her dark eyes.
"You are dead, Sally Jackson. You made the ultimate sacrifice a mother can make for her child; her own life."
She showed him the small bundle. Sally looked at it, a little confused, but when she looked closer, she was alarmed to see her newborn son.
Quickly, she tried to grab him, but her transparent hands passed through her son's body.
"What...? Why can't I...?"
At the woman's growing panic, the goddess explained:
"The dead cannot interact with the living. Your son is alive, and you are unfortunately dead."
Sally felt a chill run through her body, along with a pang of pain in her heart.
"So... it really happened," she murmured in a choked voice, looking down at her transparent hands. "I... in this hospital bed..."
"I am sorry that your destiny ended so tragically," Styx said sympathetically. "You were so young, so beautiful. You had a whole future ahead of you. Most times when a mortal interacts with a god, it ends in pain and tragedy."
Sally wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face. She found it strange that, even as someone who had died and with a ghostly body, she could cry.
"Excuse me, but... Who are you?" she asked, her voice cracking from crying. "I suppose... you are a goddess."
The woman nodded.
"Very perceptive. You are right. My name is Styx, goddess of hate and guardian of oaths. I am also the goddess of the river that flows behind you. I understand that Poseidon revealed to you the truth about our existence in this world."
"Yes... he did,"she said with a look of distant longing as she gazed at the spot where she had seen the family photo in the river. "At first, I didn't believe him. I assumed he was just trying to be funny, but when he showed me the things he could do... it wasn't hard to accept the truth. He insisted that we couldn't be together, but I still wanted to be with him. I loved him... and a big part of me still does. When I got pregnant, he warned me about the dangers in the world for our child. Gods, monsters, prophecies... He told me that our child was destined to change, for better or for worse."
"Despite all that, you decided to have this child."
"How could I not?" Sally looked at her son with love, affection, and deep sadness. "He is my son, there is nothing I would not do for him."
Styx was silent for a few seconds before she said:
"There is one last thing you can do for him."
Sally looked at the goddess in confusion, and Styx told her everything. The oath of the Big Three not to have any more children. The fact that Poseidon was the only one to break that oath. The Great Prophecy and the threat her son posed to Olympus and the world.
But she also told her of her intention to send her son to a new world, where in sixteen years he would have to stop an invasion of monsters. A way out of the boy's bleak future.
"With the blessing he will receive from bathing in my river, I am certain your son will not only survive but thrive in this new world," Styx explained. "A demigod in the past has already done this. He went to this world and lived a long and fruitful life. I offer your son the same chance to live free from the influence of the gods."
When she finished, Sally's eyes misted over with unshed tears. A full minute passed before she spoke again.
"If I... accept your proposal, my son... my child will be alone in this world."
"If he stays here, he will be, too."
"But he'll have his father. He would do something."
Styx shook her head.
"Poseidon cannot directly interfere in his son's life; the Ancient Laws prevent him from doing so. And even if he did, it would only attract the attention of the other gods and monsters. Staying in this world is not safe for your son, but in this new world, he will be safe."
Sally looked at her son with sadness and grief. She studied his features, his flushed, chubby cheeks and the black curls of his hair, as if this was the last she would ever see of him. And probably it would be.
"What..." she began, looking at the goddess with sad resignation. "What must I do?"
A small expression of pity crossed Styx's face.
"All you have to do is give him your blessing," she explained. "That is why I brought you here. Once you do, you can continue on your way to be judged by the Three Judges, who will decide your place in the Underworld."
"My blessing..." Sally approached her son. "Percy... I... give you my blessing."
Nothing happened as Sally had expected. There was no glow or sound to announce that anything special had happened.
Styx walked to the riverbank with Percy in her arms. The black water came up to her waist, and slowly she began to submerge the newborn's body.
Sally watched anxiously as the water began to swirl around her son's submerged body.
"Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson," the goddess cried, "Receive my blessing and may your mortal point, the place where your soul anchors itself to the world and represents your hope and weakness, be the place where you received the touch of life."
The river swirled with more force, forming a whirlpool where the child had been submerged, until it exploded in a geyser of black water.
Then Sally heard it, the shrill cry of her son. She reached out anxiously to the goddess, who still held him, wrapped in blankets. She gasped at the sight of her son's reddening skin, as if his entire body were on fire.
"Percy!"
"Don't worry, your son is fine," Styx reassured her. "The procedure was a success. It's done."
The reddish color of his skin began to fade and turned to a normal color, although the child was still crying loudly.
"It is time," the goddess announced.
With a wave of her hand, the river began to bubble, and a wooden cradle emerged from the depths and slid to a stop on the riverbank on the black sand. Sally watched with a lump in her throat as Styx gently placed Percy in the cradle and, running her hand over the boy's face, he stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
"It is time for you to part," Styx said. "If you have anything to say to him, now is the time. I will see that he receives your words in the future."
Her heart pounding with grief, Sally knelt before the cradle to look at her sleeping son.
"Percy... I'm... I'm so sorry," she said in a choked voice. "I'm so sorry that I have to leave you alone... I'm so sorry that I can't live by your side. There is so much... So much I wanted to spend with you. So many things I wanted to show you... I wish I could stay with you longer, see you grow up, hear your first words, see you take your first steps, celebrate each of your birthdays together, and watch you grow into the magnificent man you will someday be" tears fell down her face again, but she did not push them away "Percy... even if we will never be together again, if we will never be the family I always wanted us to be... I want you to know that I loved you from the first moment I knew I was going to be your mother. I have loved you, I love you, and I will always love you."
She leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his forehead, even though their bodies couldn't touch. A symbolic kiss.
As Sally wiped away her tears, Styx reached over and placed in the cradle a small wooden box with inscriptions that Sally recognized as ancient Greek.
"What... what is this?" Sally asked.
"A gift from his father," the goddess replied. "Something to help him where he is going, and a reminder of his origins, of who he really is."
With a wave of her hand, the river currents rose and swept the wooden cradle away.
Heartbroken at having to say goodbye to her only son, Sally could only murmur a few last words:
"Goodbye, my boy."
They both watched as the cradle grew smaller and smaller, following the currents of the river, until it was lost on the horizon.
Little by little, the transparent figure of Sally Jackson began to fade until she finally disappeared, going to face her judgment like any mortal soul, where the Three Judges would reward her with entrance to the Elysian Fields.
"Go, Percy Jackson," Styx said. "You are free to forge your own destiny."
The wind blew gently and steadily, carrying a warm summer air and making the grass ripple slightly. Numerous waterfalls cascaded into a wide river that flowed into a large waterfall, casting a light mist that only enhanced the beauty of the place. On the horizon, grassy hills and rocky mountains rose above the land, reaching for the clear blue sky.
At the top of a cliff, a man silently gazed at the beautiful landscape before him. His robe, a dark brown, almost black changpao with gold trim, billowed in the wind as his hands were clasped behind his back, holding a sheathed sword.
The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath before quickly and gracefully unsheathing the sword, revealing a short, double-edged blade. Demonstrating the dexterity, skill, and elegance of a master, the man began to perform slashes and thrusts with ferocity and precision. Each move seemed coldly calculated and controlled until, as he made a pronounced slash, the man's face crumpled, and he clutched his side with a grimace of pain.
"You shouldn't overexert yourself, master. It could open the stitches in your wounds."
"Fat," the man acknowledged, turning to look at the one who had approached.
It was a grown man wearing the same dark changpao. He had gray hair pulled back in a bun and a slight bald spot on the top of his head, indicating the man's age.
"Master Piandao, you should rest," Fat suggested. "It has only been a few days since your battle. To face a hundred soldiers and emerge victorious is a feat like no other, but you did not come out unscathed, sir. Your body needs to rest."
"I cannot afford to rest, Fat," Piandao refused and once again took up a position to swing his sword. "If Fire Lord Azulon has sent men to arrest me for deserting the army, he will do so again in the near future. My body, my sword, and my mind must be sharp and ready when that time comes."
"That is why I am here, master" Fat reached into his sleeve and pulled out a roll of sealed paper. "A messenger hawk arrived this morning. The letter was stamped with the Royal Family's emblem."
Piandao grabbed the roll of paper and looked at the Royal Family emblem cautiously for a few seconds before tearing it off and unrolling the paper. He read the message carefully and frowned with concern before rolling it up again and handing it to Fat.
"Master..." Fat called out somewhat hesitantly. "If I may ask, what did the letter say?"
Piandao turned his back on Fat and looked at the landscape again.
"The Fire Lord Azulon has offered me a proposal, a deal," Piandao said in a somber tone. "He will forgive my desertion from the army and send no one after me in exchange for my future service to the Fire Nation as compensation for the lives of the soldiers I took. Compensation for the families I destroyed and the dishonor I brought upon them."
Fat looked alarmed when he heard him.
"Master, you're not considering this, are you? After all these years of serving in the army and fighting in the war, they're asking you to be a part of it again? Most likely, they will force you to train soldiers in the art of the sword. Or worse, they will force you to fight on the front lines!"
"I don't have much choice, Fat," Piandao admitted in a slightly defeatist tone. "I hate to admit it, but the Fire Lord is right. Because of my selfishness in my quest for enlightenment, I have hurt many people. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who will never return home. I still have a lot to learn..."
"Master..."
"I will write a letter to the Fire Lord saying that I will accept his terms." Piandao looked at the blade of his sword, where he saw his reflection. "If I have to pay for my mistakes, so be it. It is a small price to pay for the lives I have taken."
He sheathed his sword, and as he did so, he noticed something strange in the landscape he had been observing. In the distance, in the river, he could see a small object floating in its waters, following the currents carried by the waterfall. As he focused his gaze on this object, his eyes widened in alarm and surprise as he recognized a baby in a wooden cradle.
"Master, is something wrong?" Fat asked, intrigued by his reaction.
"There is a baby in the river!" Piandao exclaimed, running to the edge of the precipice. "He is going to fall over the waterfall!"
With a speed and agility that belied his injury, Piandao began to descend the cliff, leaping between the various ledges. As he descended, he watched in panic as the cradle containing the baby fell over the waterfall and into the depths of the river below.
Piandao reached the bottom of the cliff at the mouth of the waterfall. He began to examine the surface of the water, looking for the baby's cradle in the light mist that covered the place due to the strong fall of the water.
Then he saw it. Emerging from the surface of the river, a cradle began to approach slowly, as if pushed by something, until it stopped on the bank. Piandao approached and watched in amazement as the baby was still inside the cradle, fast asleep. His small body was wrapped in blankets as he clung to a polished wooden box. But what shocked and disturbed Piandao the most was that the child was completely dry, as if he had not been submerged in the river.
"Ma... Master," Fat called, reaching the bottom of the cliff with far less grace and greater difficulty than Piandao. "Did you find the baby?"
"That's right, Fat, I found him."
"What is a child doing here?"
"I think it's quite obvious, my friend." Piandao got down on his knees and picked up the boy firmly but gently. Even the surrounding blankets weren't wet, which intrigued him even more. "This child was deliberately placed in this river."
Fat looked at the boy with a slightly perturbed expression.
"Are you saying someone wanted to get rid of him? A newborn baby?"
"Yes, it is likely that someone left him to his fate."
Piandao looked at the polished wooden box. It was small and elegantly decorated with gold. It had some words engraved in a language he could not read or even recognize.
When he opened the box, he raised an eyebrow when he saw nothing but a ring that seemed to be made of bronze. The ring was engraved with a word in the same strange language that was on the box. Next to the ring was a sheet of paper, which he picked up. Piandao was relieved when he could read the characters on the paper.
"Or maybe... someone left him in this river, hoping that someone would find him."
He handed the paper to Fat, who read it aloud.
"This boy's name is Perseus. Whoever finds him, please take care of him" Fat looked at the boy strangely. "Perseus... Is that his name? I must say, it is quite... unusual."
Piandao nodded in agreement.
"I have traveled all over the nations and have never heard such a name."
"Master, what are you going to do with him? If you wish, I can take him to the orphanage in town. He will get all the care he needs."
Piandao looked at the boy carefully. He looked so small in his hand, so fragile...
"No," he finally said. "I will not condemn this child to a life of drift... And I will not deny him what was denied to me."
"Then what will he do, master?"
Piandao felt the child in his hands begin to stir and babble. And when he opened his eyes, he was stunned to see them. He had never seen anyone with such intense and brilliant green eyes.
The little boy held out his hands, and Piandao was touched by the innocence in his eyes. He couldn't help but smile sympathetically as he reached out to touch the boy's fingers.
It was then that Piandao made a decision. A decision that would change his life forever.
"I will take care of him. I will raise him like my own son."
...
..
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And that's all for now, dear readers!
With that, I have laid the groundwork for the story. Percy Jackson has arrived in the world of Avatar.
Percy's mere presence will change everything. Believe me when I tell you that his arrival will shake the four nations.
What do you think will happen when the son of one of the three most powerful Greek gods, a demigod with the Curse of Achilles, reaches the Four Nations? Join me in this story to find out.
As always, I am open to your opinions and suggestions on the future of this story.
For those who know me from my other stories, you know that I am in the habit of adding fanarts of my characters or key moments in the story, so please look out for that in the future.
Finally, I hope you enjoyed it.
And with that, nothing more to say... Until next time, beautiful people!