Here is The Boy On The Ground. Take two!

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson, Avatar: The Last Airbender

Chapter 8

Katara and Aang stood together on the beach with their feet planted firmly in the warm sand, trying to see who could move the water from farthest away. The cheery sun shone down on their heads and a warm breeze gently played with their hair.

Toph was sitting close by, drawing on the sand. It was nice, quiet and normal; something that didn't happen very often for the young Avatar.

At that moment, he wasn't the Avatar, just Aang; he liked it that way.

"Hey guys? What do you think of Percy?" Aang asked suddenly. "Honestly?" He kept his eyes trained out on the horizon, refusing to look up at Katara.

"I like him!" Toph declared. "He fights monsters! How much cooler can you be? He's not a wimp, that's for sure."

Aang looked slightly offended. "I have to deal with angry spirits all the time." He turned his head to look at her. "That's pretty cool."

Toph shrugged. "It's not the same." She made a little man out of sand with an arrow on his head then squished him with her fist.

Aang winced.

"Truthfully... I like him too." Katara said. She was making a long, ribbon of water dance above her head like a whip.

Aang couldn't help and stare longingly at her. "You do?" He asked quietly.

Katara shrugged, not even looking at him. "Sure... He is a pretty cool guy and seems trustworthy enough for me."

"I can just feel the power radiating off of him, too." Aang added as an afterthought. "He's powerful and yet he seems so normal."

"Hey, Aang?" Toph asked gently.

"Yes?" Aang turned towards her, surprised by the softness of her voice.

She threw a small pebble at him, it hit him in the center of his forehead and bounced off.

"Sneak attack!" She yelled.

Aang looked at her, his expression unamused. Then with a small flick of his wrist, he managed to throw Toph back a couple feet.

Katara started laughing. "Bending battle!" She called and began attacking.

/././././././././././.

"What happened here?" Sokka demanded, he went into what they had begun calling 'big brother mode' as he surveyed the three teenagers on the beach. "Did someone attack you guys? Is anyone hurt?"

Katara laughed and tried to smooth down her hair and dress, trying to stop it looking like she had been caught in a wind storm.

Toph and Aang were no better; Toph's sleeves were smoking slightly and mud caked on her legs, Aang was completely drenched in water and smudges of dirt were splattered across his face.

"Not quite..." Katara told Sokka carefully.

She shrieked with mirth as Aang air bended himself dry, sending a spray of water and mud over everyone around him.

"Just a bending battle."

Aang beamed, "I won." he declared, puffing out his bare chest.

Pushing him from behind, Toph spoke loudly, "Did not! I so won."

"Oh, please." Katara smirked and flicked her hair back. "I think we all know who the real winner was."

Aang and Toph both yelled at her. "Yeah, me!"

Zuko's eyes traveled over the three in front of him, his gaze finally rested on Aang who was still sitting in the sand, holding his own feet.

"When did you get so competitive?" He asked.

"I'm not competitive!" Aang grabbed his ankles and rolled on his back. "We were just playing a game... which I happened to win."

Sokka folded his arms and grinned. "I knew you had a competitive side!"

"What's wrong with being competitive?" Percy spoke for the first time.

Toph scrunched her nose, "Is the word competitive starting to sound weird to anyone else?"

Everybody stopped arguing and rolled the word around in their own mouths for a few seconds.

"It does sound weird." Sokka agreed.

Zuko rolled his eyes. It was hard being the oldest in the group sometimes.

"Alright, back to business." He decided. "We have some stuff to put away and then Percy has something he wants to say to everyone."

Percy's stomach twisted. How were the other kids going to react to his news? Especially Aang. He already had so much to worry about, Percy hated to think that he was adding to the piles of concerns.

"Nice outfit, by the way." Katara complimented Percy.

Percy blushed, feeling absolutely ridiculous in the rags. "Thanks..."

Aang glared at his back as everyone started cleaning up and putting things away.

Zuko nudged Percy, telling him to speak. He knew he had to get it out but Percy just didn't want to. Remembering when he was only a twelve year old kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders still gave him bad dreams.

He started tearing at the long grass swaying at his feet.

"Well, you see..." He started, seemingly nervous, "I have to go on a quest to fix the walls separating our two worlds or whatever, right?" He lifted his green eyes to survey the group. "I think you guys are supposed to come with me." He blurted out. Then he sucked in his breath and waited for the dreaded response. He wasn't afraid of them, only of what they might accuse him of.

"That's is?" Toph yawned. "Boring! I totally saw that one coming... and I'm blind."

Percy turned his head to glare at Toph. "You saw it coming but didn't try to help? Harsh."

She shrugged and grinned. "Hey, it was fun watching you squirm. Besides I-"

"Hey," Aang interrupted. "I have a question!"

Percy motioned for him to speak knowing Aang was like him in this respect.

"How long would it all take? We're kind of on a tight schedule and deadlines..." He trailed off and before he lowered his eyes to the ground, Percy caught sight of the anxious, pained look in the big, grey eyes.

Sokka had seen it too. "It's okay, Aang. We sorted it all out." Sokka gently nudged the younger boy with his shoulder. "When we say that we're going on this mini adventure we mean we're helping Percy but that doesn't mean you'll stop training." He looked up at the sky, as if he was watching for something. "Plus, it's only a matter of time before the Fire Nation finds out we've been hiding in the Fire Lord's summer home."

"I told you, we're safe here." Zuko argued.

Percy surveyed the group sadly. "I'm not going to force anyone to do anything." He said finally. Percy, of all people. Knew what it was like to be told one thing but want to do the complete opposite. "It's completely your own choice if you want to come or not... But it'd be nice if you did." He added on as an afterthought. "Sokka has already promised to come with me; even if none of you guys do."

Sokka pulled his knees up to his chin. His mouth was a thin, hard line, but his eyes held a firm, determined look.

Katara gasped. "You what?" She said angrily. "Sokka, how could you? You're just going to turn your back on us? On me?"

Percy winced at her cruel accusations but Sokka held her gaze, evidently used to this.

"Dad said we have to look out for each other, protect each other. You promised!" Katara was standing up now, her face flushed and her fists clenched. "How could betray me?"

That was enough. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Percy stood up and help his hands out to protect himself if Katara lashed out. "Hold on! Nobody said anything about betraying anyone, Aang hasn't even said if you guys are coming or not. But Sokka has made the decision to help me."

Katara held his gaze for a second, then backed down. "I know, I'm sorry." She touched her necklace. "I overreacted." She seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I'm staying with Aang, whatever he decides. I am sorry, Sokka. But Aang needs me."

"I'll go with Sokka and Percy!" Toph frowned. "I know Aang still needs help with earth bending but poor, old Sokka would be dead in a minute if I weren't there to protect his sorry butt." She punched Sokka in the arm.

Sokka shrugged. "Yeah, probably." He rubbed his arm and grinned down at the small earth bender.

"So, Avatar," Zuko turned to Aang with his arms across his chest. "What are you going to do? I'll stay with you, whatever you decide. It's your choice."

Aang was still sitting cross-legged on the ground, with his glider in his lap. His head was bowed and his eyes closed.

"I think I need to meditate for a little while." He said. "When do you need to know by?" He asked Percy.

Percy thought quickly. "If I could know by tonight, that'd be great." Percy told him.

Aang nodded and stood up. Without another word, he opened his glider, flew off and disappeared behind a white cloud. Momo chirping and flying behind him.

Percy whistled. "That kid has guts." He commented. "How old is he? Thirteen? And the world is depending on him..." He shook his head. "That's never easy."

Katara snorted and folded her arms. "How would you know?" She asked bitterly. "It's hell. And I'm not even the one everyone looks up to."

"You'd be surprised," Percy returned softly. "Of what I know."

The day seemed to be just a small bit colder and darker as the information of what was about to happen sunk in. Adding another dangerous adventure shouldn't have been that much of a big deal, but they could all feel that this time, it was different.

"Hey!" Percy said brightly. "Do you think you could show me some more bending?" He opened his eyes wide and pleaded with them. He looked so cute that Katara couldn't help but smile at him. She wanted to ruffle his hair like you would to a small child, or a puppy.

He was just hoping nobody noticed the desperate attempt he was making to help these kids not look so hard and saddened.

"Why not?" She said. "What element do you wanna see first?"

"Ha!" Toph laughed. "We all know earth is the best element."

Katara made little clicking sounds with her tongue and shook her head. "Oh, Toph." She said sadly. "Will you never learn? Earth is for bullies, fire is for jerks, we don't have an air bender and so that leaves water. Water is the best." She grabbed Percy's hand and started running for the shore.

"Water tribe!" Sokka yelled over his shoulder as he followed his sister.

Zuko and Toph exchanged glances.

"Did that really just happen? Seriously?"

/./././././.

"So, what's first, Katara?" Percy asked.

The two were standing knee deep in the blue, water, facing each other, just soaking it in. Sokka sat on the sand with his toes wiggling in the water.

"First, its Sifu Katara, got it?" She grinned, her only other pupil had been Aang and he hardly ever called her Sifu Katara. There were really good friends but it was nice to have that respect when teaching.

Percy bowed his head in mock respect. He would play along with her. "Sure thing... Sifu Katara." He kept his head down but he looked up at her through his thick eye lashes. His green eyes danced and sparkled.

"Now," She was all business again. "What do you know about bending?"

Percy blanked. "Uhh, Toph said the earth needed to be commanded, not controlled, it wouldn't move unless I demanded it... right?"

"Sure, but that's earth bending." She started weaving her arms in the same way a stream of water would around a boulder, gently and swiftly. The water around her swirled and danced. "Water is the opposite. You don't have to be the boss, you just have to be in control. All the water needs is slight direction and it will bend."

Percy was staring at the water around her. It was so odd for him to watch someone else have power over his element, but he didn't mind as much as he thought he might. She was so passionate about it, too. Her eyes were sparkling and her whole face was lit up. It would be a shame to rain on her parade...

"That's deep…" Percy said. "Too bad it's all wrong." The satisfying feeling settled in his chest as he popped her bubble. It was almost enough to make him feel bad... Almost.

"Excuse me?" Katara put her hands on her hips.

On the shore Sokka chuckled to himself. He wasn't sure who was going to win this fight but he knew it was going to be good.

"I said, you've got it all wrong." Percy repeated himself. He splashed his hands by his side, feeling the water run over his skin. "The water doesn't like being told what to do. It's wild."

"The water isn't alive." Katara was unamused.

"Isn't it?" Percy countered. "The water is uncontrolled and unpredictable; it's rebellious."

Katara delicately raised an eyebrow at him. "Sure, whatever you say, Percy, but let's move on."

Percy shrugged, the knowing grin still plastered on his face. "Okay."

"Water benders get their power from the Moon and Water spirits..."

"But the moon and I aren't really on the best terms right now." Percy interrupted. It's not his fault she hates all men.

"The Moon is a very gentle, kind and loving spirit!" Sokka yelled from shore.

"Ugh!" Katara threw up her hands in frustration with Percy. "Just do this." She pulled a strand of water out of the ocean and made it spin in a circle, like a dog chasing its tail.

She waited and watched Percy; he didn't move a muscle.

"Are you going to do it?" She asked, finally.

"Yeah, yeah, just a sec." He said, looking bored. Then a mischievous glint came into his eyes.

"Just do as I'm doing!" Katara was becoming extremely frustrated now.

The water just in front of Katara burst forth in a mighty wave and splashed over her head before she had time to react. She stood there, dripping wet and shocked at what Percy had done.

Percy, on the other hand, was laughing as if it was the funniest thing in the world. He flopped on his back and floated, holding his stomach, roaring with mirth.

Katara seethed in silence.

"Oh, come on!" Percy defended himself. "I already know how to move the water around. Show me how to fight with it like you do!"

Katara sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine. You only seem to learn by doing things, so let's do it."

/././././././././

The bright green mountain side was quiet and peaceful. A lively breeze was blowing and making the long grass dance. Aang sat cross legged on a boulder, Momo circling overhead, chasing a large bug.

Aang took a deep breath and waited, he knew he couldn't actually go into the spirit world or talk to Avatar Ruko, thanks to Azula, but it was nice to just sit. No angry spirit, no deranged Fire Nation, no bustling citizen and no insane bender... Just Aang.

After soaking up the moment for a few minutes, Aang felt inclined to actually focus on the issue at hand and the reason he came to meditate. He folded his hands and closed his eyes, slipping intl a deep meditation.

He always felt closer to Monk Gyatso and the other air benders when he was meditating. It was a bitter-sweet feeling.

Thoughts of Percy filled his head, crowding out the memories of the Monks.

Aang could feel himself slipping out of his body. For one wild second, he was terrified. The Avatar spirit had been damaged, this shouldn't be happening.

The terror left him as soon as it had come. This felt completely different somehow. It wasn't the Avatar spirit working; it was something older, more powerful.

A cold disappointment took its place.

But soon, Aang had to focus on what was happening. It was like looking at a moving picture or watching a play.

Percy was in front of him, wrestling with a huge black dog.

Aang tried to move to help but he found he had no control over his limbs or voice. He could only sand frozen and watch.

Soon enough, a dozen arrows entered the body of the dog and it dissolved into yellow dust, blowing away in the wind. Percy scrambled to his feet and Aang realized it was a younger version of Percy. He looked about Aang's age, maybe younger. A blue trident was glowing above his head.

The scene changed.

A slightly older Percy was standing knee deep in an angry ocean facing off a giant man. Aang felt his stomach churn when he saw the giant only had one, big, bloodshot eye in the middle of his forehead.

Before he could try to react again, the scene shifted, Percy was sword fighting with a boy, older than himself with blue eyes, yellow hair and an ugly scar running from his eye to his mouth.

Wait, yellow hair?

Aang tried to look again but he wasn't fast enough.

The world stopped spinning long enough for Aang to watch Percy approach a coffin, he could practically feel the cold and evil radiating off of it. Percy could too, you could tell just by looking at his hard face. Aang shuddered and wished the scene would change.

Luckily for Aang, it did.

Percy looked much older now. He was dropping his sword to kneel down and take something on his shoulders from a beautiful woman, who was changing shape from a woman to different animals. The weight of whatever Percy had taken looked ready to crush him.

They must be getting close to the end now. This Percy didn't look much different from the Percy Aang knew. He was walking through a lake of fire. His face twisted up in pain, and then he was fighting wild monsters. They sight of them turned Aang's blood to ice but Percy was taking them down right and left. Finally, there was Percy, looking so haggard and worn that Aang wondered how he was possibly moving.

He was walking towards the boy with yellow hair and the scar. This time his eyes were flickering from blue to golden. Percy handed the boy a bronze dagger and a terrible scream filled the entire room, shattering the vision. Aang tried to cover his own ears but it was no use. It left Percy and the girl with yellow hair Aang had seen in almost all of the pictures, kissing.

He blushed deeply but felt happy for Percy. He had endured so much and was still so young.

The smell of the ocean filled the air and Aang breathed it in deeply.

"This is my son." A deep, royal voice said kindly. "Keep him safe... He would die for you...In the worst way possible to save a loved one. Please don't make him make that choice. Not again."

With a hard jerk, Aang was back in his own body. He flopped on his back and let out a deep breath. Momo sat next to his head and grabbed at his nose, thinking it was a berry. The grass was tickling his ears so he was forced to sit up again.

The mountainside was burning with the beautiful colours of the sunset. A few fingers of sunlight were still fighting for their time in the sky.

Momo chirped and jumped on Aang's head, glad that he was awake again.

"That was pretty crazy, hey Momo?" Aang scratched between the furry ears of his friend. "We had better get back... They'll be worrying about us."

Picking up his glider, Aang stood up and stretched once before taking off. Wind whistled through his ears as he let himself fall through the clouds. Momo close behind, chattering happily. The ground appeared beneath him, so he opened his glider and rose up on the winds.

Aang almost felt free. More free than he'd felt in a long time. Laughter bubbled up from deep inside his chest and out of his lips because there was something he'd realized when watching Percy's life.

In almost all of the pictures, he had friends surrounding him, fighting with him, for him, or watching, cheering from the sidelines. He never had been alone, friends had protected him. The girl with yellow hair had been there the most. She reminded Aang of Katara somehow.

He smiled as he remembered his own friends.

Sure, they had their faults and everything, but they were all loyal, brave and honest. Love for them kept Aang going. He wouldn't trade them for the world. They were his world.

And Aang would do as the creepy voice had asked him too. He would be Percy's friend and protect him. Just as he realized Percy would protect him.

Hey guys! So sorry for the long wait! I was at the WinterGrass festival and didn't have any wifi…

TWO THINGS!

Rashad Eggleston is my hero and you should all go look him up so we can make a fandom for him.

My totes-ma-goats awesome beta, Annabeth Brady, is amazing. You can all thank her for a chapter that makes sense!