400N/A: Hey, Alex is back! You didn't expect me so soon, did you?
To be honest, even I was surprised to finish this chapter in just a week, considering how busy I've been. The inspiration and support you've given me were the best (along with insane amounts of alcohol)
screwthefates1806: Percy will slowly start to discover his powers from now on. Look forward to it, because it will blow the whole world away.
ImHellaUgly: Thank you so much! And the worlds will work even further down the line.
Callum Runchman: It will, trust me ; )
Gamelover41592: Monsters and spirits will be a common variable in this story. And they will play a big role due to Percy's presence in the world of Avatar.
Guest: Even if the Mechanist didn't mention the air tank, he would have used it later on; the harpies would have been released without anyone being able to stop them, and everyone would have died.
Bob: You didn't expect a new chapter in just a week, did you? ;) As for your questions:
1: Percy has absolute control over water that puts any bender to shame. And it's great to explore everything he can do.
2: Maybe yes, maybe not. I'm not sure yet.
3-No. In the world of Avatar, there are no "gods" as such, only spirits. Even Raava and Vaatu, beings that represent light and darkness, are only known as "spirits.".
Warthog525: Yep, it was. And this chapter will answer your question.
Lord Chronus: And they will be even more so from now on.
JoJo 'Perlia' Jesus: Perzula is a possibility in this story, yes. And believe me when I tell you that Percy will not be submissive to Azula; he will have no doubts in facing her without fear. Their interaction will be really interesting to write in the next chapters.
jontybhardwaj13gmail: And that's just the beginning, my friend; things will get a lot better when we get to the more intense parts of the story.
Bingus: The original Avatar story will be kept as far as the "hundred year war" goes, but I'll also be adding my own original work; that's the point of a fanfic, right?
ListentoD: No need to be so aggressive, but you're right. There will be a LOT more big things in the story, though there's still a ways to go.
Now, I want to make a few points clear that we are entering the "canon" of the story.
The characters will be a bit older than in comparison to the animated series, so I will leave the ages for you to keep in mind.
Zuko: 19
Sokka, Mai: 18
Percy, Katara, Azula, Ty Lee: 17
Aang, Toph: 16
As I said at the beginning, they will be teenagers close to adulthood, since I will touch on slightly more adult themes and give a little more seriousness to the fact that they all live in times of a world war.
Likewise, I will combine events and situations from both the animated series and the live action, along with my own personal touch. So it will be a fairly original story, and if you are expecting to see a carbon copy of the animated series with minor changes due to the presence of Percy, this is not your story.
With those points clarified... let's begin with the second season!
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Book 2: Demigod.
Chapter 17
The Return of the Avatar; The Last Airbender
Water...
Earth...
Fire...
Air...
For millennia, the Four Nations have lived in harmony. A peace made possible by the Avatar, who maintained and protected the delicate balance between the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation.
Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.
Only the Avatar, the only one with the ability to master the four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most... he disappeared.
A hundred years have passed since his disappearance, and the long war is about to culminate in the Fire Nation's victory.
When an Avatar dies, his spirit is reborn in a new body in an eternal cycle. However, since the death of the last Avatar, there has been no sign of a new one. Some believe that the Avatar was never reborn among the Air Nomads and that the cycle was broken.
But there was one person who had not given up hope. She believed the Avatar would return and save the world.
Her name was Katara, a girl from a small village called Wolf Cove at the South Pole.
Two years ago, her father and the men of her tribe decided to join the Earth Kingdom to fight the Fire Nation, leaving her and her older brother in the care of their tribe. It was not easy. Her brother had to take on the role of tribal chief at the age of eighteen.
Under very different circumstances, she would only have to worry about finding a good marriage partner since the women of her tribe were allowed to marry at sixteen. And she had already turned seventeen a few months ago, but she hadn't even found anyone. All the boys her age in her tribe had gone to war. But she also had the concern and moral obligation of raising and caring for the tribe's children, as well as running the household where she lived with her brother and grandmother Kanna, whom she affectionately called Gran Gran.
But despite her own responsibilities, Katara still found time for one task, albeit a more private one.
Waterbending.
She was the last waterbender of her tribe and of the entire South Pole. And she had the responsibility and duty to keep her tribe's tradition alive. To that end, she secretly practiced her skills to improve them. But without the guidance of a true master, her skills were as stagnant as the icebergs that flooded the waters of the South Pole.
But that did not stop her from trying to improve her skills. Standing in front of an ice fountain where she could access the water beneath the thick layer of ice beneath her feet, Katara concentrated on controlling the water, causing a small portion of it to levitate and form a ball of water. The sphere rippled and looked unstable, as if it could not hold its shape. Katara used all her concentration to stabilise the water, but it lost its shape and fell with a splash into the small pond.
She sighed in exhaustion and frustration; it hadn't worked today either.
"You're a Waterbender!"
Katara turned around in surprise at being discovered but relaxed when she saw who it was.
"Aang?" she asked, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
The boy, Aang, scratched his shaved head sheepishly. Katara still found Aang's appearance fascinating; it was the first time in her life she had ever seen someone like him.
He was a sixteen-year-old boy wearing orange and yellow clothes. His head was completely shaved, and on his forehead was a tattoo of a large blue arrow that stretched from his head to the back of his neck. He also had the same arrowhead on the back of his hands and extending up his arm.
"I'm sorry," Aang apologized. "I saw you coming and thought... we could slide with the otter penguins."
"Are you sure? You need to rest."
"I've had enough rest for the last hundred years."
A sad smile played on Aang's lips, and Katara couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
A few days ago, when she accompanied her brother Sokka on a fishing trip, they made a great discovery: a perfectly spherical iceberg.
But the most surprising thing was that inside the iceberg was a person and an animal the size of a tent. Seeing that they were still alive inside, Katara did not hesitate to help them, and when they came out of the iceberg, they could see that it was a boy.
And not just any boy, but a real Air Nomad who had been trapped inside the iceberg for a hundred years.
Katara couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He had emerged from the iceberg only to find that all of his people, his friends, were gone. Aang was alone in the world.
"So... did you come here to train?" Aang asked, trying to change the subject as he looked around. "It's a pretty hidden place."
They were in a Fire Nation battlecruiser that had run aground decades ago. It had been part of one of the first fleets to attack the South Pole. The Waterbenders of that time had managed to freeze it from the inside, and it had been stranded ever since, a cold reminder of the war that had raged in the world for over a hundred years.
"If you call splashing water 'practice'," Katara said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "I'm trying to improve, but it's hard without the guidance of a master. I'm the only water teacher left in the South Pole. Sokka doesn't like it when I practice because he's afraid the Fire Nation will find out and..."
"And what?"
A sad look graced Katara's features, and there was a flash of pain in her eyes.
"There's a reason I'm the only bender in the village. They killed the others." The pain in her eyes faded, replaced by a firm determination as she turned to look at the pool of water where she had been practicing. "But Sokka doesn't understand. No matter how much he wants me to hide it, I'm a Waterbender. It is who I am. Trying to hide that would be trying to hide who I am."
Aang looked at her for a few seconds, his grey eyes shining with wonder and even some admiration.
"Well, I'm not a waterbender, but I can give you some advice that my teachers taught me." Aang stood in front of the pool of water and bent his knees slightly as he gently and slowly moved his hands from his stomach to his chest. "They taught me that bending is about energy and balance. By feeling the energy around you, find balance. And when you find balance, you feel the energy."
Aang ended his explanation by thrusting his arm to the side, and a strong but small gust of wind pushed a wooden bucket several meters, demonstrating his skill in bending.
Katara gasped, impressed. Even though she knew Aang was an airbender, she was still surprised to see him do it.
Inspired by his words, she moved back to stand in front of the pond. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she bent her knees slightly and stretched her hands out toward the water, concentrating not on controlling it but on trying to connect with it and feel the flow. Soon she felt a small tug in her hands, as if she were pulling on something invisible. When she opened her eyes, she was amazed and excited to see a ball of water rising from the pond. She moved her hands gently, following the current she felt in the water, and as she did so, the ball of water held its shape.
"You did it!" Aang said, smiling excitedly.
Katara was also excited and a little surprised.
"But... I wasn't even trying," she said, looking at the perfect ball of water floating above her hands.
"This is good. You just have to let yourself go."
She did that; she just let go, like ice following the water currents. The ball of water continued to float in the air, and Katara was thrilled to see that she wasn't even forcing it. But all her excitement and concentration vanished when she saw something that made her bones freeze.
In the distance, approaching from the sea, she saw a huge iron ship. The black smoke it spewed rose into the sky, causing the ash to mix with the snow and turn black.
The orb of water Katara was holding fell to the ground with a splash, stunning Aang.
"Katara? What's wrong?" He asked. "You were doing well."
She didn't answer, just continued to stare at the huge warship, feeling a chill run through her body and her heart pounding with growing fear.
The Fire Nation had returned.
As they hurried back to the village, Katara wasted no time going to see her brother, who was handing out bone spears to the younger members of their tribe, children between the ages of nine and thirteen.
"Sokka!" Katara called, approaching him with panic in her voice and on her face. "The Fire Nation is-"
"I know, we saw them," he interrupted, frowning seriously and looking at the gathered children. "Take your positions, now!"
The children grabbed the bone spears, arming themselves for the possible and imminent attack.
"Sokka, there's not enough ammo for the crossbows," warned the oldest of the children, who looked no more than thirteen.
"Use these," Sokka said, offering them several wooden stakes, the tips of which looked sharp enough to impale a person.
The boy accepted the stakes and immediately went to place them in the crossbows that were on the ice wall surrounding the village.
Katara quickly went to help her brother put on his armour of iron and arctic tiger fur, which belonged to the animal with the thickest fur in the entire South Pole. It couldn't stop a direct hit from a weapon, but it was quite resistant to fire.
"I don't understand," Katara muttered as she tied the gauntlets to Sokka's forearms. "Why is the Fire Nation here? After all this time, what could they want?"
"Him."
They turned to see their grandmother, Gran Gran, pointing at Aang.
"You're so much more than the last Airbender, aren't you?" she asked, though it was more of a statement. "You are the Avatar."
Katara opened her eyes, stunned, unable to believe what her grandmother was saying, but judging by Aang's expression, it didn't seem to be a lie.
"Aang?" she muttered.
Aang looked away, but he didn't deny Grandma's statement. She was right; Aang was the Avatar.
Katara couldn't believe it. All her life, for as long as she could remember, she had believed that the Avatar would one day return to end the war. And truth be told, she had expected an old man filled with wisdom and power. Someone beyond mortal comprehension.
Certainly not in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the Avatar, whom she saw as the saviour of the world... would be a teenager about her age. The very idea seemed inconceivable.
"I knew he was hiding something," Zuko accused scathingly as he looked at Aang. "When the world needed the Avatar the most, you disappeared. Because he's a coward. He ran away and people died."
Aang was unable to look either of them in the eye, guilt and shame written all over his face.
"Sokka," the same boy who had set up the crossbows called out. "They've disembarked."
Katara could see a flash of panic in her brother's eyes, but it quickly faded as his gaze hardened.
"Go hide," he told Katara.
"Sokka, I want-"
"Katara, now," he said in a harsh tone that brooked no argument.
She knew her brother was scared, but he was forcing himself to be strong because that was what was expected of him.
She wanted to help him somehow, but she knew she couldn't use her waterbending, which basically made her useless. And even if she did, with her current abilities, she would only be a hindrance and an easy target. Besides, she knew that Sokka wouldn't want her there for fear that she might get hurt somehow. He took his duty to protect everyone in the tribe very seriously, especially her.
"Come on," she said to Aang. "We need to get to a safe place."
Aang hesitantly followed her, his head down, but he looked worriedly at the huge Fire Nation Navy ship, knowing that if the people of the tribe were hurt in any way, it would be partly his fault.
The great wooden gates of the ice wall surrounding the village were closed, though they would be of little use if the Fire Nation decided to attack with their great catapults or firebending. They had the ability to burn anything in their path, and everyone knew it.
Sokka watched through the cracks in the door as a group of Fire Nation soldiers, led by a man, approached. When they were a few feet from the door, the man leading the group stepped forward.
"I am Prince Zuko, firstborn of Fire Lord Ozai!" He introduced himself with a firm and authoritative voice. "We are not here to invade your village. We have come to search for someone who does not belong here. Someone who is not one of you. Hand him over now... or I will burn this place to the ground."
Sokka analysed the entire battalion of Fire Nation soldiers. There were four ranks with four members each. Those at the top of the ranks wore Firebender armour, while the others carried long spears. Zuko, who led the group and appeared to be the same age as Sokka, wore different armour than the other soldiers, emphasising his position as a prince.
Seeing the fierce Fire Nation soldiers and pondering the proposal of his nation's prince, Sokka didn't have to think long before he had an answer.
"Where is he?" he asked, intending to turn Aang over.
"Sokka, you can't do that," his sister interjected. "You can't give him up."
"He doesn't belong here."
"It's wrong! And you know it!"
"What I know is that dad entrusted me to protect the village. And that's what I'm going to do."
"Yes, but remember what our mother told us." Katara stood in front of him and stopped him from going after Aang. "That we have to protect those who can't protect themselves. Aang lost everything he knew."
Sokka remembered his late mother's words well, but his father's words echoed more strongly in his mind. The promise he had made to him to protect the village and its people.
Ignoring his sister's pleas, he walked past her, ready to find Aang and turn him over to the Fire Nation.
"Sokka, don't you see, he's the Avatar!"
"And he lied to us about it!" he replied.
"I know it's been a lot of responsibility for you since dad left, but being a leader is more than just keeping people safe. You have to give them something to live for. That's being the Avatar. It's hope. And it's missing as much as food or shelter... I need it."
Sokka frowned, pondering his sister's words as they walked to the main building of the village, where he found the elders, the women... and Aang.
This boy was the Avatar who had disappeared when the world needed him most. And now he has returned. And he has given his little sister something that Sokka had not seen in her for many years: hope. Something to believe in.
With a newfound determination, Sokka walked over to one of the shelves and looked at one of the weapons that had belonged to his father—a club. It was carved from the femur of a polar bear and set in a solid sphere that was painted blue at the tip. Underneath the ball was a notch to hook the weapon into an opponent, and the handle was wrapped in a leather strap for a better grip.
Sokka picked up the club, ready to use it.
As he came out of the village gates, he saw the group of soldiers waiting patiently. Prince Zuko was leading the squad, and next to him, he saw a tall soldier in slightly modified armour, demonstrating his military position higher than the other soldiers. And to his right, he saw a teenage boy who looked to be about his age, wearing more tailored armour under his thick, full-length cloak, the hood of which covered his head. Sokka saw him shiver as a cold wind blew and sneeze loudly.
Swallowing the knot of fear and nervousness he felt, Sokka spoke in the firmest, most confident voice he could muster.
"I am Sokka, son of Hakoda, Lord of... Snow and Ice," he introduced himself awkwardly. "And under his authority, I invite you to leave immediately!"
'That went... well,' he thought.
Prince Zuko didn't seem to think so, though, as he narrowed his eyes at the sight of him.
"If this is the path your tribe has chosen, then so be it," he said before turning his back on him.
The soldiers moved into battle stance, ready to attack.
"Wait! Let's settle this between us!" Sokka suggested getting Zuko's attention. "Leader to leader. Warrior to warrior. Do you really need an army? I thought firebenders had guts."
"Sir, don't fall for that," the tall soldier in another suit of armour interjected. "We overpowered him. It's not a contest. Besides, he challenges you, leader to leader, but he speaks for someone else. He is not a leader."
Zuko looked over his shoulder at Sokka, narrowing his eyes and causing Sokka to curse himself for his poor choice of words. Looking closely at the prince as he considered his next move, Sokka noticed that under his helmet, he could see the burnt skin around his left eye.
"You are right," Zuko finally admitted. "He is a warrior speaking for his leader. Then let this define itself from warrior to warrior sent by their leaders. Percy, take care of him."
The boy in the long coat looked confused and groaned in annoyance.
"Do I have to?" he complained.
Zuko turned to look at him in annoyance.
"This is an order."
Percy snorted but took a step forward anyway.
"You're not paying me enough for this."
"I'm not paying you anything."
"Exactly."
Percy took off his long coat, and Sokka got a better look at him. He was a teenager about his age. He had tousled black hair and wore nothing but armour that covered his torso over clothes that protected him from the cold. His arms and legs were bare, and he didn't even have a scabbard. Over his right shoulder were the handles of two different swords.
"I am Perseus, son of Piandao. Lord of... the Sword," the boy introduced himself, scratching the back of his head. "Look, dude, just give us the person we came for, and we'll save all this. We'll go away and leave you alone."
Sokka blinked, confused. Unlike Prince Zuko, Perseus had a much more relaxed attitude, as if he didn't care about any of this.
"How about all of you just go away and leave us alone?" Sokka suggested, taking a fighting stance as he brandished his club.
Perseus pointed his thumb over his shoulder at Zuko.
"Do you really think he's going to accept that?"
Sokka looked over Perseus' shoulder, and he was right. Zuko looked rigid and impatient.
He swallowed nervously but didn't give up; he just glared defiantly at Perseus.
"We will not give up," he declared.
Perseus did not seem impressed or discouraged; he just shrugged.
"As you wish."
He moved his hand to the hilt of one of the swords at his back and pulled it out, revealing a crimson blade about three feet long.
Without waiting for his opponent to attack, Sokka made the first move and struck. He raised his club with the intention of striking Perseus directly in the head, but he simply raised his sword and parried his attack, unflinching.
Sokka hooked Perseus' sword into the grimace of his club and pulled, intending to disarm him, but the grip Perseus had on his sword was iron, and it didn't even budge.
Sokka looked directly at his opponent and was disturbed by what he saw. Instead of the cold, golden eyes that most of the Fire Nation had, Perseus' eyes were a green as intense as the sea itself, and it unsettled him.
Reacting quickly, Sokka stepped back, putting some distance between them. Perseus didn't follow; he just stood in the same spot, raising an eyebrow as the seconds passed without his attacking again.
"What's the matter?" He asked, resting his sword on his shoulder, "Are you waiting for a formal written invitation to attack? Then let me get a messenger falcon."
Narrowing his eyes in irritation at seeing his opponent not taking him seriously, Sokka lunged, swinging his club to strike Perseus in the body, but he simply stepped back, dodging the blow. Continuing his attack, Sokka swung his club in an attempt to hit Perseus but to no avail. He simply dodged all of his attacks with ease, as if playing with a child, which only made Sokka more frustrated and impatient.
In a final attempt, Sokka made a sweeping motion to attack Perseus, who easily dodged, but that was always his plan. He spun around on the ground, and when he stood up, he grabbed a handful of snow and threw it straight at Perseus' face. The swordsman grunted in annoyance and took a step back. Sokka seized the moment to strike with a direct blow to the head, but he didn't count on Perseus recovering quickly and swinging his sword with a speed that made him aghast. The crimson blade of his sword collided with the club, knocking it out of his hands.
Before he could react, Sokka found himself with Perseus' sword inches from his neck.
"It's over," he said in a cold voice.
Sokka swallowed hard and anxiously, almost feeling the edge of the sword. His heart pounded hard in his chest, and his blood ran cold. He had lost. His opponent had defeated him with one simple move. His skills had not been enough to deal with the threat that was attacking his people.
"Leave him alone!"
Before Perseus could make a move on Sokka, a strong wind blew over him, forcing him to retreat. The wind was so strong that it knocked Zuko and all the soldiers behind him to the ground.
When the wind suddenly stopped, everyone turned to look at where it was coming from and was surprised to see Aang holding his long wooden staff and making a controlling air movement.
"Were you looking for me?" He asked before tapping the top of his staff on the ground, "Well, here I am."
Some soldiers quickly stood up and did not hesitate to attack. Aang gasped in surprise, and in full view of everyone, he made a controlled airborne leap that lifted him sixteen feet off the ground and past all the soldiers. When he landed, he fanned his long staff and sent a powerful gust of wind that knocked all the soldiers to the ground.
Of all those present, Zuko was the least able to believe his eyes. He was so surprised that he didn't even stand up as he stared at Aang.
"This can't be..." he muttered. "You're the Airbender? You... You are the Avatar?"
Aang's only response was to take a fighting stance with his staff.
Zuko frowned and stood up, taking a firebending stance as he scanned Aang with his eyes. The two began to slowly circle around each other, sizing each other up.
"I have spent years preparing for this encounter," Zuko said, not taking his eyes off Aang. "Training... Meditating... And you're just a teenager!"
This statement confused Aang, who paused and relaxed his posture.
"Well, so are you."
With a grunt of annoyance, Zuko sent a powerful fireball at Aang, who opened his eyes in surprise and began to quickly twirl his staff, dispelling the fireball. But Zuko did not stop attacking, sending fireballs through punches and kicks. Aang was able to deflect all of them by skilfully using his staff and his air control.
Zuko stomped down hard and sent a powerful fireball from his fists. Aang countered with the same, sending out a powerful blast of air. Both elements collided and neutralised each other after a few seconds, leaving both in a stalemate.
The soldiers took advantage of the moment to surround Aang, forcing him into a corner. At that point, rocks began to fall on the soldiers, even knocking one unconscious. Everyone looked up to see the children of the tribe on the walls throwing rocks with slingshots. Some were even throwing snowballs.
Zuko looked up just in time to see a series of long stakes being thrown from a crossbow and falling toward them. Although the stakes did not hit any of the soldiers, they came pretty close.
"Enough!" He shouted, "Burn this place to the ground!"
The soldiers gathered and prepared to carry out their prince's orders.
"No!" Aang shouted, putting himself between the soldiers and the village, "I... I will go with you without resistance. But only if you promise to leave this tribe alone."
There was a tense silence among everyone. Sokka expected Zuko to fly into a rage and order all his soldiers to burn the village and capture Aang, but was surprised to see him relax his stance and nod in agreement.
"Get him," he ordered his soldiers.
"No!" Katara shouted, trying to intervene, but Sokka stopped her by grabbing her shoulders.
"It's okay, Katara," Aang said, smiling at her to calm her down, before looking at Sokka. "No one has ever fought for me before. Of everyone I know, you are the bravest."
Aang nodded in their direction before starting to walk toward Zuko and his soldiers. Zuko grabbed Aang's staff as the soldiers grabbed his shoulders and led him to the ship.
"Head for the Fire Nation," Zuko ordered. "We're going home."
The soldiers followed without looking back. The only one who did was Perseus, who looked sympathetically at Sokka and Katara before sheathing his sword and following Zuko.
They all gathered around the door and watched as the Fire Nation ship weighed anchor and, after a few minutes, headed out to sea.
Sokka turned and walked into the village.
"We have to do something," Katara said as she followed him, but Sokka ignored her. "Sokka, we have to help him. We have to follow that ship. I know you don't like Aang, but he saved our village by giving himself up; now it's up to us to save him. Sokka, are you listening to me?"
Despite her pleas, her brother continued to ignore her and went straight to the older boy who had been in charge of the crossbows.
"All right, listen," Sokka said, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Reinforce the door supports and don't stop training. I saw some serious sloppiness today."
"Sloppiness?" The boy muttered, confused.
"And don't let the little guys boss you around. Let them know who's in charge. And from now on, you are."
Sokka patted his shoulder in a show of support before turning to his sister.
"Now... let's go save your boyfriend."
Katara's happiness at hearing her brother say that was only matched by her indignation.
"He's not my...!"
"Whatever."
"So you're going to save him."
Katara and Sokka turned to see their grandmother approaching. What surprised them was that she was carrying a travelling bag.
"Gran Gran?" The confusion in Katara's voice was obvious.
"Hope has long been lost, not only in our tribe but in the world," her grandmother said, offering her the travelling bag. "This young Airbender represents that. And if he falls into the hands of the Fire Nation, we will have lost our last hope."
"We will not let that happen," Katara declared fervently. "We will save Aang."
Gran Gran nodded, looking pleased.
"Aang is the Avatar. He is the hope of our world, and for some reason, you two have found him. Now your destinies are intertwined with his. A long journey awaits you. May Tui and La be with you."
"Thank you, Gran Gran," Katara said as she hugged her grandmother.
When they parted, Gran Gran looked at Sokka seriously.
"Sokka, I know I don't have to tell you this, but take care of your sister. The Water Tribe needs to stick together no matter what."
Sokka nodded.
"I will, Gran."
Grandma smiled.
"Perfect. Now it's time for you to go."
"It won't be easy to catch the ship," Sokka said. "We'll have to find a fast current."
"Or maybe we can go another way," Katara suggested with a cryptic smile.
Sokka didn't understand what his sister meant, but that smile made him uncomfortable because it didn't bode well.
As they boarded the ship and set off, Percy stifled a yawn with his hand. He had been taking a nap when he finally disembarked after following the light Zuko had seen on the horizon that had led him to the village where they had found the Airbender.
At any other time, Percy would have been intrigued and even a little excited to meet someone who could bend the air. But his intrigue and excitement were drowned out by the exhaustion he felt. All he wanted to do was go to his cabin and sleep for the rest of the day.
But he couldn't do that until he transported the Avatar to the prison along with Tao and Hui Ying. He glanced sideways at the boy with his hands tied behind his back. He found it incredible that this little boy was the greatest threat to the future of the Fire Nation, and capturing him was the only way Zuko could return home.
"So... how does it feel to be the Avatar?" Percy asked, trying to break the silence between them. "I guess it must be cool to control all four elements."
Aang blinked, obviously not expecting the question.
"Well... I don't control all four elements yet," he revealed. "To tell the truth, I only found out that I was the Avatar a few days ago. Although it was actually over a hundred years ago."
Percy raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"A hundred years? But you look about fifteen."
"Long history." The Avatar turned to look at him and bowed his head slightly. "My name is Aang, of the Southern Air Temple."
Taken aback by the young monk's manners, Percy blinked in surprise but also bowed his head.
"My name is Perseus, son of Piandao."
"So... you're a swordsman?" Aang asked, looking at the swords Percy had on his sword. "You beat Sokka pretty easily, and you only used one sword. I guess you must be much stronger when you use both at the same time."
"I'm not a double swordsman," Percy clarified. "I only wield one sword."
Now it was Aang's turn to look confused.
"But you have two swords," he pointed out.
"One is for mortals. And the other... is for spirits."
Aang opened his eyes in shock, disbelief, and a little fear. A chill ran through his body as he heard Percy's explanation.
When they reached the cells on the ship, Tao untied Aang's hands and placed him in one of the cells. Percy prepared to leave, but saw Iroh approach Aang's cell and exhale in awe and admiration.
"There are many who never thought this day would come, myself included," he said, his eyes fixed on Aang as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Aang looked at the old general with curiosity.
"Can I ask you a question? Uh..."
"Oh, forgive me. My name is Iroh, son of Fire Lord Azulon." Iroh bows to the young monk and smiles kindly. "And of course."
"Why did the Fire Nation start this war?"
This question surprised not only Iroh but Percy as well. The Avatar didn't know why the war started? Although, to tell the truth, Percy didn't know for sure either.
He had been taught at the academy that the Fire Nation had attacked the Air Nomads because they had an army to subjugate the other nations under their spiritual vision. And with the Avatar, who would be reborn as one of them, they would have the power to do so.
Fire Lord Sozin wanted to see a world that abandoned the archaic traditions of spirit worship and left humanity to fend for itself. And under his leadership, he had achieved it. The Fire Nation was more prosperous than ever. So when Avatar Roku died and it was learnt that the next Avatar would be born among the Air Nomads, who had an army to subjugate the other nations, the Fire Nation struck first.
That was the truth the Academy had taught him when he was a boy.
Percy looked at Iroh curiously, curious to know the perspective of a wise old general like him.
"Ah..." Iroh sighed, as if he had asked himself this question a million times. "Many say it is in our nature to expand and consume, like fire itself. Others believe that the stability of the world can only come under our rule, and the drive to conquer is a drive for peace and unity."
"But peace comes from respecting life, not killing and destroying it," Aang replied truthfully.
Iroh nodded, looking strangely moved.
"A noble sentiment, young Avatar. But in the end, it doesn't matter how the war started. It began over one hundred years ago. What matters is how it will end. And the belief is that by capturing you, the Fire Nation will finally succeed in ending the war."
"And this is what you believe?"
Iroh didn't answer immediately; he looked down for a few seconds, as if thinking about it, before raising his head to look at the Avatar.
"I must go. But I look forward to many more conversations with you, young Avatar. I have always been in awe and fascinated by the philosophy of the Air Nomads. In the meantime, I will send you some jasmine tea. It is very relaxing. It will make your stay here more bearable."
With a small, amused chuckle, Iroh bowed politely to Aang before leaving the cell. Percy took one last look at the young Avatar before following Iroh.
"What do you think of him, Percy?" Iroh asked as they walked down the hall.
"I... he's not what I expected," he admitted. "I was expecting an old man over a hundred with a long white beard who spoke in riddles and analogies, like the guru we met at the Eastern Air Temple."
Iroh laughed, amused.
"To tell you the truth, so did I. It's clear that this Avatar is not one that any of us expected. But it's a pleasant surprise to find a child, barely a teenager, instead. I sense there's a great deal of wisdom in him."
Percy raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"You think so?"
"Of course I do. Children have their own way of seeing the world that older people like me often lose sight of. Besides, he was raised by monks who had a very enriching philosophy of life."
"If you say so..."
Percy was still a little skeptical, but he didn't give it much thought.
He went straight to his hut with the intention of taking a nap; all this cold weather made him lazy (even more than usual).
Arriving at his cabin, he opened the doors and took off the straps of his swords, leaving them next to his bed. He loosened the straps of his armour and pulled it off, which fell with a thud.
He collapsed onto his bed and closed his eyes, letting sleep take over.
Now, even though Percy knew he was someone who slept a lot, much more than any normal person, he was a pretty light sleeper. It was as if his body, though at rest, was constantly on alert. He could feel the waves hitting the hull of the ship and the slight rocking that, while uncomfortable and making many people dizzy, was like being rocked in a cradle to Percy.
So when he heard the creak of his metal door opening, he opened one eye slightly and was surprised to see none other than Aang's shaved head with a blue arrow on it.
They both stared at each other for a few seconds, completely stunned, before Aang smiled awkwardly and began to slowly close the door.
"Sorry for interrupting your nap," he said. "Go on and have sweet dreams."
Just as he finished closing the door, the shrill sound of the ship's alarm alerted the entire crew.
Percy knew immediately what the alarm meant; the Avatar had escaped.
Shooting up from his bed as if propelled by a spring, he grabbed one of his swords and immediately ran after Aang. He heard the soldiers screaming through the corridors, running frantically after the Avatar.
"He's on deck!" he heard one of the soldiers, whom Percy recognised as Shen, shout. "The Avatar is fighting with the Prince!"
A group of soldiers quickly went up on deck, and Percy followed. When they arrived, they saw Zuko overwhelm Aang with his aggressive firebending, pushing him to the edge of the deck.
Aang jumped high, dodged a fireball from Zuko, and landed on the ship's railing, slightly off balance. Zuko used that moment to send a series of fireballs that hit Aang, knocking him off the railing and off the ship into the cold waters of the South Pole.
Zuko, the soldiers, and Percy approached the railing of the ship and looked at the spot where the Avatar had fallen.
"Sir, what do we do?" Lieutenant Jee asked Zuko. "Do we wait for him to surface to capture him, or do we send someone?"
Zuko opened his mouth to answer, but his words caught in his throat as he saw a whirlpool begin to form on the surface of the water, and then suddenly a huge pillar of water rose above the ship. Percy's eyes widened in amazement as he saw the pillar of water, spinning rapidly like a tornado, rise above them all. And at the top of the water pillar, as if he were riding it, he saw Aang. But there was something strange about him; the arrows in his head and hands were glowing bright white, as were his eyes, which looked like beacons of light, giving him an otherworldly appearance.
Aang landed on the deck of the ship, dragging the massive pillar of water with him, which spun around him like a whirlwind before he made a thrusting motion, sending large amounts of water at everyone who had gathered around him, pushing them to the edge of the deck and throwing them overboard.
But there was one who was not affected by the attack.
Percy passed through the vortex as if it were not even there. The water soaked his body, and as it did, a surge of energy ran through his body, propelling him at an alarming speed toward the glowing Aang, who did not wait for anyone to pass through his attack.
In the blink of an eye, Percy drew his sword and swung. Aang reacted quickly, showing amazing reflexes, but he was not spared as the blade sliced through his forearm.
An unearthly scream came from Aang's mouth, echoing throughout the place. It was as if hundreds of voices had cried out in unison.
Percy found his reaction strange, but when he looked down at the blade of his blood-soaked sword, he was shocked to see himself wielding Riptide. In his rush to capture Aang, he had grabbed his spirit-killing sword.
And perhaps it was the right decision, as Aang held his bleeding arm while his face scrunched up in deep pain, as if the wound was causing him unbearable pain.
Before Percy could attack again, he heard a loud, low growl above him. Looking up, he saw a huge, six-legged creature with a large, flat tail landing on the deck.
"What the hell...?" Percy muttered, eyes wide open, stunned at the sight of this huge creature.
The creature, which had white fur, prominent horns, and a large brown arrow in the fur on its head, stood between him and Aang, snarling menacingly at him. He recognised Sokka and a Water Tribe girl sitting on the creature's large saddle.
"Stay away from Aang!" the girl shouted.
Sokka jumped from the saddle and landed in front of Percy, brandishing his club.
"Katara, get Aang out of here!" he shouted to the girl.
The girl, Katara, nodded and climbed down from the saddle of the large white animal, sliding down its tail until she reached Aang, who had stopped glowing and could barely stand.
"All right, pal. Round two," Sokka said, getting into a fighting stance.
Percy looked at Sokka and then at his own sword. He knew Riptide wouldn't work on him because he was a mortal, so he sheathed it on his back.
Sokka raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"You're not going to use your sword?" he asked.
"There is no need," Percy replied.
Thinking he had underestimated him, Sokka frowned in annoyance and attacked.
Percy didn't want to waste too much time facing the Water Tribe warrior, so when Sokka swung his club, Percy simply stepped aside and then punched him hard in the stomach.
Even though Sokka was wearing armour, he felt the blow knock the air out of his lungs, causing him to fall to his knees, clutching his stomach in pain as he coughed erratically. He felt as if he had been kicked by a buffalo yak.
Percy looked at the prone Sokka and privately thanked the soldiers of the 41st Division for teaching him how to fight hand-to-hand. He wasn't a master, but at least he could defend himself decently.
"Sokka!" Katara shouted worriedly, running towards her brother.
When she saw Percy standing in front of him, Katara stopped and took a step back, a little afraid. She had seen Percy face his brother and defeat him with the same ease that an adult defeats a child. Even now, unarmed, he had knocked Sokka to the ground with a single punch.
Still, she assumed a vague pose with her knees bent and her arms at chest level. She was afraid to face him, but her desire to protect her brother outweighed her fear.
"What are you going to do?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"This!" Katara bellowed.
She raised her hands, and the remaining water from Aang's previous attack rose from the ground, causing Percy to raise his eyebrows in slight surprise.
'A waterbender.'
Despite travelling the world for three years, it was the first time he had seen a waterbender, as they were all in the isolated capital city of Agna Qel'a at the North Pole.
Katara moved her arms, and water began to surround her, just as she had seen Aang do, but in lesser amounts. And as she pushed her arms forward, Katara was sure she was going to hit Percy, but to her surprise, the water deflected just before touching him, soaking her brother and freezing him to the ground.
Percy looked at Katara's pathetic attempt at waterbending and let out a snort of amusement.
"You call that waterbending?" he asked in a mocking tone. "I think I heard the waterbenders of the North Pole booing."
"S-shut up!" She snapped, her face flushed with embarrassment. Katara turned to the massive white beast and pointed at Percy. "Appa, attack!"
The massive beast let out a low growl, used its large flat tail, and swung it at Percy, sending out a powerful gust of wind. Percy wasn't expecting this, so he couldn't do anything as he was pushed back roughly. Reacting quickly, he stabbed his sword into the ground and skidded to a stop, preventing himself from being thrown from the ship. He looked up to see Katara helping Sokka onto the back of the massive beast she had named Appa.
"Appa, yip yip!" Katara yelled.
The large creature let out a low growl and slammed its large, flat tail on the ground before rising into the air and flying away.
"No!" Zuko shouted as he climbed up the ship's railing and watched the Avatar run away.
Refusing to let go, Zuko took a wide firebending stance and, after a series of movements, sent a large fireball at the massive flying beast.
Percy expected the fireball to hit, but it didn't as Aang used his staff and fanned it hard, deflecting the fireball and sending it crashing into an iceberg. Everyone watched in panic as the iceberg crumbled and began to fall onto the ship. The massive amount of ice and snow that fell buried the ship's bow and much of the deck, halting its progress.
Zuko and Percy couldn't do anything but watch as the Avatar and his friends flew away.
As they flew over the skies of the South Pole Sea, Katara wrapped bandages around the deep cut on Aang's forearm, which was bleeding profusely.
Aang winced as Katara finished bandaging his forearm.
"Thank you, Katara," he said. "Both of you, for coming back for me. You saved me."
"Well, we had to show them that we could fight back," Sokka said, taking off the reins of his armor. "It didn't go as well as I had hoped, though..."
He lifted his clothes and saw that his stomach had taken on a deep red tint where Perseus had struck him. Even though he was wearing the skin of an Arctic tiger bear, the animal with the toughest and thickest skin in the entire South Pole, it did little to protect him from the blow.
"That guy's really strong," Sokka growled in pain as he touched his wound.
Aang looked at the bandaged cut Perseus had made on his forearm, which throbbed with pain. It felt like his entire arm was on fire, spreading throughout his body.
"Aang, how did you do that?" Katara asked. "With the water. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"
"I don't know," he replied honestly. "I just... did it."
He still remembered the feeling, as if his own body was acting on its own, as if it didn't belong to him and was being driven by something else. It wasn't until Perseus cut him that he came back to himself.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Katara asked. "Why didn't you tell us that you were the Avatar?"
"Because..." Aang looked away sadly. "Because I never wanted to be."
"But, Aang... The whole world is waiting for the Avatar to return. To finally end this war."
Aang bent his knees and hugged them to his chest, looking desperate and overwhelmed.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" he asked.
"Well, according to the legend, you must first master water. Then earth and fire."
"Yes. That is what the monks told me."
"Well, if we go to the North Pole, you can learn waterbending."
The idea seemed to cheer Aang up a bit.
"We could learn together!"
Katara nodded, encouraged.
"That's a very nice thought, but remember, we have those who are hot on our heels," Sokka reminded them, finishing the bandage on his stomach and putting his shirt back on. "I doubt Zuko and Perseus will give up so easily. And the way we are now, I don't think we can stand up to them."
"All the more reason to go to the North Pole so Aang and I can learn waterbending," Katara pointed out.
"Yeah... I guess. Then the North Pole it is."
"All right, buddy, you know where to go!" Aang shouted, going to Appa's head and whipping the reins that were tied to Appa's horns. "Yip Yip!"
Appa let out an affirmative grunt and fanned his tail, propelling himself through the sky toward the newly set course.
Because the ship was badly damaged in their skirmish with the Avatar, Zuko had no choice but to travel to the port where the Fire Nation's regional commander had his headquarters, which was located on one of the Earth Kingdom's southern islands. It took them two days to get there because of the damage to the ship and the distance.
When they finally arrived, they docked in the middle of the harbour, where the other warships of the Fire Nation Navy were located. Their ship was small compared to them, barely a third of their size, but Percy knew that his ship could make any of them inhale the smoke left behind by its engine.
"I want it fixed as soon as possible," Zuko told Lieutenant Jee. "We can't delay and risk losing track of it."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Lieutenant Jee said and saluted.
Zuko turned and walked to the dock, where people were gathering. There were a lot of tourists and travellers around the docks, so it would be helpful to find out any kind of information, even the vaguest sightings of something unusual or strange.
At least, that was his intention on his tour of the docks. Not to chase after his uncle and Percy, who seemed more interested in trying the food of the street vendors.
"Zuko, you have to try this," Iroh said, popping what looked like a boiled, spiced egg into his mouth. "The quail egg is really tasty."
"You also have to try the grilled lion elk," Percy added, grabbing a few strips of meat with a few strands and popping them into his mouth. "Its meat is so soft and juicy that it melts in your mouth."
"Uncle, Percy, we're not here to try the local food!" Zuko scolded. "We're here to gather information!"
"Oh, we can ask the Commander," Iroh said, paying the peddler for his food. "If there's anything notorious going on in this region, he'll know about it."
Zuko opened his eyes in a slight panic and looked around before dragging his uncle to a place where no one could hear them.
"Have you lost your mind?" he scolded him in a low voice. "You want to ask the Commander of the Fire Nation if he's seen the Avatar? If word gets out, everyone will be looking for him. And I could lose everything!"
"Calm down, Prince Zuko," Iroh said in a soft tone, trying to calm his nephew. "One thing you need to learn is how to get what you want without saying your true intentions."
"Basically, be like Azula," Percy commented, approaching them while eating what appeared to be pieces of meat embedded in his stick. "But please don't be as ruthless as she is."
"I agree with Percy," Iroh nodded. "You must use your tact and sensitivity. Be respectful and subtle. Be honest, but don't reveal the whole truth."
Zuko nodded, putting a hand to his chin as he thought deeply about how to get the information he wanted without revealing anything. He was determined to do whatever it took to find the Avatar.
As dusk fell, Zuko, Iroh, and Percy went to the area headquarters. The commander's office was on the top floor, so they had to climb up. When they arrived, they saw a soldier behind a desk, writing on a scroll.
Zuko was the first to approach the man and spoke in an authoritative voice.
"I need recent surveillance reports. And I want them now."
Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko saw Percy's face drop, but ignored him as he looked at the soldier behind the desk, who stared at him in disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
"And maps," Zuko added. "Nautical maps. The most detailed ones."
The soldier looked Zuko up and down, clearly not recognising him.
"And you are?" he asked.
At that moment, the commander's door opened, and a tall man stepped out, wearing a decorated military uniform with a red cloth diagonally across his body and several insignia on his chest. His slightly greying hair was tied back in a bun, and he had prominent sideburns on the sides of his face.
"Prince Zuko," the man said with recognition in his voice. "What an honour to welcome royalty to our humble base. What can I do for our Fire Lord's firstborn?"
The man looked familiar to Percy, as if he had seen him before, but he couldn't remember exactly where. And judging by the slight glint of recognition in the man's eyes when he saw him, he recognised him.
"Captain Zhao," Zuko said in recognition.
'Zhao...' Percy thought, opening his eyes in recognition.
Now he remembered. This man was the same one who had gone looking for his father on the day they left for the Fire Nation capital. It was surprising that after all these years, the man still had his sideburns.
"I'm a commander now," the man corrected with clear smugness. "So, how can I help you?"
"As I said, I must..."
"Please excuse my nephew, Commander Zhao," Iroh intervened, approaching the decorated soldier. "We have been sailing for a long time, and our manners are as rusty as our anchors."
"General Iroh, you need not apologize. And please forgive us as well," Commander Zhao said, giving the soldier behind the desk a reprimanding look. "We don't get many visits from very important and well-known people around here. Much less the famous 'Dragon of the West'... Along with the new and acclaimed 'Spirit Slayer'."
Commander Zhao gave Percy a sideways glance, and this time Percy saw not only recognition in his eyes but also a hint of contempt.
"Well, I see you know me," Percy said, looking the man up and down. "I wish I could say the same for you. Those sideburns deserve to be recognised by all four nations."
The commander frowned, a growl escaping his throat. This time, the contempt was clear on his face as he looked at Percy.
Before things could get any more heated, Iroh stepped forward and smiled kindly.
"As my nephew said, we searched for maps and surveillance reports. You see, we have been sailing these waters for several weeks now and have encountered numerous pirate ships that have attacked us and attempted to plunder us. Although our brave crew has managed to repel them all without loss, we have grown tired of the constant attacks. Especially after the last attack, when our ship was severely damaged. It would be extremely helpful if you could provide us with any information on areas where they frequently attack or any suspicious sightings in these waters."
Percy looked at Iroh, surprised by his wit. Surely he would not have come up with such a clever lie.
"Oh, I see," Commander Zhao said. "Anything I can do to help. If you don't mind, give me until morning, and we'll find what you need."
"How kind of you, Commander Zhao."
Commander Zhao bowed to Iroh.
"At your service."
Iroh returned the bow, and they turned on their heels to leave, but before they could, someone else came through the door.
He was a young man of sturdy build. His black hair was tied back in a bun, and he was dressed unlike any soldier Percy had ever seen. He lacked the infamous shoulder pads and tassels. Instead, he wore a single breastplate that covered his chest, along with bracers, knee pads, and greaves. All of this was beneath black clothing that contrasted with his black armor. It was certainly simple armour, designed for ease of movement. Maybe because the man was a swordsman, judging by the Jian sword sheathed on his back.
But the most striking thing about the man was the intriguing and disturbing red mask that covered the lower part of his face, leaving his golden eyes exposed. The mask seemed to be made of iron, with protruding fangs, as if it were a wild beast that was constantly snarling.
"Commander Zhao, the Samurai have returned from our mission," the man reported, performing a military salute. "I have come to deliver the report of what we discovered."
"Excellent," Zhao nodded, pleased. "The sooner we discover our opponents' defences, the sooner we can know how to get through them."
The masked man handed Zhao a wrapped scroll. It was then that he noticed the presence of Zuko, Iroh, and Percy. Seeing the two teenagers, the soldier's eyes widened in surprise, and a gasp escaped his mouth.
"It can't be..." he muttered before his eyes lit up with joy. "Percy! Zuko!"
Before either of them could react, the masked man wrapped them both in a tight embrace, even lifting them off the ground with his great strength. Percy felt himself being squeezed until he had trouble breathing. For a moment, he wondered if his invulnerable skin could withstand being crushed.
"Who... Who are you?!" Zuko stuttered, trying to free himself from the man's tight grip. "I demand that you put me down this instant!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
Thinking back, the man let them down gently. Still, his excitement at the sight of them was almost palpable.
"I can't believe we're meeting here after all this time," he stammered. "It's incredible!"
"Uh... do I know you?" Percy asked, looking the man up and down. "Because I remember meeting a seven-foot talking armadillo bear."
The man before him was certainly huge. Percy had grown to six feet tall in recent years, dwarfing even Zuko in height, but he still had to raise his head to meet the man's gaze.
"I see you haven't changed," the man said, a hint of amusement in his voice but also relief. "You're still just as brazen."
"Who are you?" Zuko demanded, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at the man.
"Oh, of course. You wouldn't recognise me in this."
Noticing that he still had his mask on, the man pulled it off, revealing a face that Percy and Zuko instantly recognized. After all, they had spent years training together in the art of the sword before leaving the Fire Nation.
"Qiang?!"
The young man from a prominent noble family and one of Piandao's few official disciples smiled at them, happy to be recognised.
"It's been a while, guys," Qiang said. "I'm glad to see you again."
"But... what are you doing here?" Percy asked, recovering from his surprise at seeing a fellow swordsman on the other side of the world.
"I suppose it was to be expected that you wouldn't know. You've been gone for three years. Come with me; I'll explain on the way. The boys will be glad to see you again."
Percy's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are the others here too?"
"Yes, I'll take you with them," he nodded before turning to look at Zhao. "Commander, with your permission, I'll go."
Zhao waved goodbye without even looking at him as he stared intently at the scroll Qiang had brought him.
"You may go. Inform your squad that there will be a meeting tomorrow at noon to discuss the strategy we will use to take this fort. And your role in it."
"As you command, sir."
Qiang gave a final salute before leaving the room, followed by Zuko, Iroh and Percy.
As they left the Commander's office, Iroh excused himself and decided to stroll down the dock, saying there were still delicacies he hadn't tried.
Percy and Zuko followed Qiang through the headquarters to where the Samurai were temporarily staying while Qiang brought them up to speed.
Officially, they were part of the Fire Nation military, but they were not attached to any particular branch of the military, such as the infantry, cavalry, or navy. They acted as an independent force on the front lines, sent where they were needed most. They had participated in a few battles, nothing too significant. Just isolated Earth Kingdom forces trying to retake some Fire Nation colonies, and bandits trying to raid small villages within the conquered territory.
"After six years of intense training, we have finally been recognised by the Fire Lord as an elite group of swordsmen, all under the tutelage of Master Piandao," Qiang explained. "We call ourselves 'Samurai'. It means 'one who serves' because that is our oath. Men and women sworn to serve the Fire Nation and, above all, to follow the way of the warrior."
"The way of the warrior..." Percy muttered, surprised that everyone had chosen to follow that path.
Qiang gave him a half smile and nodded.
"You remember, don't you, Percy? Master Piandao taught us this. It's not just a way of thinking, but a way of living. And I'm very proud to follow this way."
Percy looked at him in surprise. Qiang... had changed. His eyes no longer reflected the smugness and haughtiness they had when Percy first met him. Instead, he looked more serene and focused, as if he had found his way in life.
Despite the years, Percy had not abandoned this path. He continued to live his life according to the values his father had instilled in him.
Justice. Respect. Courage. Honour. Benevolence. Integrity. Fidelity.
It was not easy to live his life according to these values. Even after all these years, he still found it difficult to follow them. Some more than others. But he didn't give up. Because it was the path he had chosen.
"We've arrived," Qiang reported as they stopped in front of a group of tents.
There were several people there. They all wore the same outfit as Qiang, with light armor and dark clothes. Some were sharpening their swords, some were training with wooden swords, and some were just hanging around. But when they saw them arrive, they all stopped what they were doing and looked at him in surprise.
"It can't be... It's Percy and Zuko!"
"What? Percy and Zuko?"
"They're back!"
Immediately, they found themselves surrounded by all of their fellow swordsmen, happy to see them again.
Percy shook hands and returned hugs. At any other time, he would have felt uncomfortable being the recipient of so much attention, but he was too happy to see his companions, his friends, that he didn't mind.
Likewise, Zuko was the recipient of many greetings, though they were more reserved. They had all considered Zuko a friend and companion, but he was also the prince of their nation, and many of them belonged to noble families, so they couldn't help but be more respectful than friendly. Also, more than one took a second look at the noticeable scar on Zuko's face, creating a slightly tense atmosphere.
"Wow, Percy, you've grown!" he heard one of them exclaim, who Percy recognised as Mifune. Certainly, the scrawny boy he once knew was gone, giving way to an athletic teenager. Years of training had done him good. "What the hell have you been eating to get so big?"
"And you haven't let up in your training, either," Ming commented, crossing his arms and nodding pleasantly at the sight of Percy's athletic build.
"And you've become very handsome, too," a girl said this time, looking him up and down in appreciation.
Percy recognised her. It was Xiuying, Qiang, and Ming's close friend. The girl hadn't grown much in the past few years, but she had become a very pretty girl.
"Didn't you have a crush on Zuki?" Qiang asked him quietly.
Xiuying frowned in annoyance and slight embarrassment before stomping hard on Qiang.
"Shut up, that was years ago!" she whispered to him.
Percy smiled, slightly amused. They hadn't changed.
"Good to see you again, guys," he said sincerely. "All of you."
"Oh, you haven't seen everyone yet," Qiang commented. "Someone's still missing."
Percy looked at everyone present. As far as he could remember, no one was missing.
He raised an eyebrow in confusion as he looked at Qiang.
"Really? Who is it?"
"Our leader."
"I thought you were the leader."
There were a few seconds of silence before everyone except Qiang burst out laughing, causing Qiang himself to feel indignant.
"What are you laughing at?! I can be a good leader!"
"Yeah, right," Xiuying laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "And I can become the new Fire Lord."
"But I...!"
"Face it, man," Ming said, putting a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "You're not made to be a leader. Take comfort in the fact that you're the best swordsman in our troupe."
"And that's only because Percy isn't a part of it," Mifune added, making everyone laugh, which only irritated Qiang even more.
"So if you're not the leader, then who is?" Percy asked after the laughter died down.
Qiang gave Percy a cryptic smile.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"
Percy and Zuko looked at each other curiously and followed Qiang to the largest tent at the end of the camp.
When they arrived, Qiang pushed aside the flaps of the tent and entered. Inside, they could see that it was a simple tent that appeared to be a command center. In the centre of the tent was a long table on which a detailed map of the southern region of the Earth Kingdom was spread out, with small statues representing the forces of the Earth Kingdom Army and the Fire Nation Army, as well as the cities and towns in the area. At the end of the tent was a small bed with neatly folded sheets.
To one side of the tent was an iron stand that held the same armour that all the Samurai wore, but with slight gold detailing to indicate that it belonged to someone of higher rank.
"Sir, I have returned," Qiang announced in a serious voice. "And I bring two people who wish to see you."
Percy froze when he saw who was standing at the end of the command table, studying the maps in detail. Hearing Qiang's words, the Samurai leader raised the head, and when their eyes met, both of them opened their eyes in total astonishment and disbelief.
The words stuck in Percy's throat, and he felt a lump form in his stomach. He hadn't thought it would be like this the next time they saw each other. Not in this place and under these circumstances.
He should have felt happy about their reunion, but instead... he felt only sadness because he knew what it meant for him to be here.
When he finally found the words to speak, his voice came out broken and choked.
"Dad...?"
A sad smile formed on Piandao's lips as he looked at Percy.
"Hello, my son."
...
..
.
That's all for now, my dear readers!
And with nothing else to say... until next time!
E/N: New chapter that fast. Well done, Alex. Finally, we get to see Aang, Sokka, and Katara. More of their POVs to come, hopefully. See yalls in the next one.