N/A: Hello everyone, Daddy JkAlex is back.
Sorry for the delay, but I'm in the middle of a war against the last college midterms. And then comes the final boss: finals.
Does anyone have God's number? Because I want to talk to the bastard.
It can't be that the last midterm, the one on which I depend for the right to take the final exam of the most important subject, will be an oral exam.
That exam will not be oral, it will be anal. And without vaseline.
Anyway, I bring you a new chapter of this story that I really enjoy writing.
But first, I will answer some reviews:
HossamGasser0: Thanks for the good wishes. As for whether Percy understood Katara, that's still irrelevant because I haven't decided yet if the 4 nations will speak different languages. What is important is what Percy saw in the dream.
Ltbutterfly287: A reasonable doubt. Although in the books, Percy not only dreams mostly about events involving gods, titans, and demigods, but he also dreams about mortals, like Rachel. So it wouldn't be strange for Percy to have demigod dreams about key events of the various characters, especially in the world of Avatar, where there is a strong connection to the spiritual.
Fanfic Rater 1-5: Isn't that the point of reading fanfic? To read something interesting and different from what is already established in the canon?
ultima-owner: That's a good guess, considering the way Percy arrived in this world, it wouldn't be surprising if the spirits were aware of him.
Death Fury: Percy will develop his demigod powers much more than in the books because of the different experiences he will have throughout the story. It will be constant, but also relevant. He won't have an ability just because it's convenient for the plot.
Anonymous: That's the point of each nation speaking their own language, the language barrier. This barrier will make it difficult for people from different nations to understand each other, which will make living in harmony much more difficult, because "How can you live in peace with someone you don't even understand?"
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. I will try to explain it as best I can without giving spoilers.
And without further ado... Let's go!
Chapter 4
The heir to the sword
Zuko
Zuko could not believe it. Less than a week ago, he had discovered the existence of a man who was said to be invincible. A true prodigy in the art of sword who had never known defeat. Someone who was known as "The best swordsman in the Fire Nation". And now, this same man had come to the Royal Palace on the orders of his grandfather to train a group of soldiers and form an elite squad of swordsmen. It must be said that Zuko was very excited to meet this remarkable man.
He knew all this because Azula had bragged to him that it was she who came up with the idea of forming an elite squad of swordsmen to earn their father's favor.
At least that's what she told him. And because it was his little sister who told him, Zuko found himself doubting the veracity of her words.
After all, Azula always lies.
However, despite her dubious reasoning, there was some truth to her words, for Zuko had overheard the conversations between the palace guards. They were all talking about one thing: the swordmaster, Piandao, had arrived at the Royal Palace.
The excitement on Zuko's face was palpable as he nearly ran through the corridors to meet the man recognized as the best swordsman in the Fire Nation. Knowing that he would find himself in the throne room talking to the Fire Lord, Zuko went straight there with the intention of meeting him.
When he arrived at the Throne Room, he saw the guards guarding the entrance, but he also saw someone else. It was a boy who looked to be about twelve years old, wearing burnt red pants under a dark qi pao with gold trim. His inky black hair was unruly and unkempt, held up by a simple headdress. What caught Zuko's attention, however, was that he was carrying two sheathed swords, one significantly longer than the other.
'Wait a minute, he can't be Piandao, can he? He's just a kid,' Zuko thought, raising an eyebrow in confusion, 'A disciple, maybe?'
The boy looked curiously at one of the many finely decorated vase along the corridor to the Throne Room. His fingers traced the intricate dragon-shaped design carved into the vase.
"Don't touch that vase, boy," one of the guards ordered.
"I was just looking at it," said the boy.
"That vase is a valuable antique, made in the time of Fire Lord Sozin on the day he ascended the throne. It's worth more than your life, so don't touch it."
The boy rolled his eyes.
"There was no need for a history lesson" a grunt from the guard was the answer he received. "Relax, I won't do anything to it."
"Just stay away and don't touch anything."
"Fine," the boy said, stepping away from the pot.
Zuko looked at the boy for a second, but then ignored him and walked to the entrance of the Throne Room, which was covered by curtains with the Fire Nation emblem. The guards stood at attention when they saw him arrive.
"Young Master, I'm sorry, but the Fire Lord is in a meeting," one of the guards said.
"With whom?" he demanded to know.
"A guest. I'm afraid you can't come in."
Zuko grumbled under his breath, but did not insist. He leaned against one of the columns with his arms crossed and waited for the meeting to end.
It didn't take him long to start drumming his finger impatiently, he never considered himself a patient person. And it certainly didn't help that the boy in front of him was pacing back and forth while tapping the tip of his sheathed sword on the floor, causing a constant, annoying clatter.
"Will you stop that?" Zuko growled in irritation.
"Stop what?" the boy asked without pausing.
"Striking the floor with your sword! Can't you just stand still?"
"Well... no."
"Just stop it! It's annoying."
The boy turned to look at him, and Zuko was intrigued by the color of his eyes. It was the first time he had seen someone with green eyes.
"Are you always this grumpy? Or do you only get grumpy when you don't get what you want?"
Zuko frowned in annoyance and approached the boy.
"How dare you speak to me like that?" He growled, "Don't you know who I am?"
The boy raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the tone of his voice or intimidated by the slight difference in height.
"A surly, grumpy teenager?" He asked mockingly.
Zuko snarled again, but when he realized he was doing so and saw the slight smirk on the boy's face, his frown deepened.
Before he could say anything, the curtains leading to the Throne Room slid aside and out came his father, accompanied by a tall, brown-skinned man dressed identically to the boy Zuko had been talking to. He had black hair tied in a bun, gray eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. His gaze was hard and steady, not like someone of nobility or royalty, but like a soldier. Zuko had seen the same look on the faces of senior military commanders who had fought in the war for years.
"Father..."
"Dad..."
Zuko and the boy looked at each other in surprise.
"Are you Piandao's son?" Zuko asked.
"Are you Prince Ozai's son?" the boy asked in turn.
"I see our sons have met, Prince Ozai," Piandao commented with slight amusement as he approached them.
"So it seems," Ozai replied with disinterest.
Piandao clasped his hands in a bow and bowed slightly to Zuko.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, young Zuko. Prince Iroh has told me much about you."
Zuko's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know my uncle?"
A small smile formed on Piandao's lips as he nodded.
"He is an old friend of mine. I had the honor of serving under him in several battles. Though I have not seen him in years, I have kept in touch through letters."
Zuko looked at the man with renewed interest. He did not know that his uncle was friends with the best swordsman in the Fire Nation.
"Piandao," Ozai said impatiently.
"Oh, I am sorry, Prince Ozai," Piandao said, bowing slightly before looking at Zuko. "My apologies, young Zuko. But I have business with your father. Perseus, let's go."
The boy, now identified as Perseus, nodded and handed the longer sword to Piandao.
"What business?" Zuko asked curiously.
"Prince Ozai wants me to meet the people I will be training to form a squad of swordsmen," Piandao replied. "I will see if they are... up to the task."
"Are you questioning my judgment, Piandao?" Ozai asked, squinting in his direction.
"Of course not, Your Highness. I have no doubt that you have chosen good soldiers, but I must judge for myself whether they will be good swordsmen."
His answer seemed to satisfy Ozai, for he said nothing and started to walk down the hall.
"Father!" Zuko called as he approached him, "May I come with you?"
Ozai looked over his shoulder, and Zuko tried not to flinch from his father's stern gaze.
"Do what you want, just don't get in the way," Ozai snapped.
Zuko stood watching his father's back as he walked down the hallway, different feelings swirling in his chest and none of them good.
He snapped out of his reverie when Perseus stepped up beside him and gave him a sideways glance.
"Is your dad always such a... jerk?"
Zuko's brow furrowed as he turned to look at him indignantly.
"How dare you talk about my father like that?!" Zuko snarled, "He is the prince of the Fire Nation!"
"And that gives him the right to treat his son like that?" he asked.
Zuko clenched his fists in anger. His father was the second prince of the Fire Nation, a member of royalty. Someone who stood at the pinnacle of the greatest society of the four nations. And here was a mere child, a mere peasant, who dared to question his behavior. For such audacity, he should be severely punished.
But before striking the insolent child, Piandao placed a hand on Perseus' shoulder.
"I apologize for my son, young Zuko," Piandao said. "He tends to be rather... disrespectful at times. My fault. I did not teach him how to behave in the presence of a member of the Royal Family."
Piandao glanced at his son, who had the decency to look down in embarrassment.
Zuko glanced at the boy before snorting and following his father.
The Royal Palace had many rooms, so many that Zuko had gotten lost more than once as a child. On all those occasions, he was always found by his mother, who always comforted him, because in his childish mind, he thought that no one would ever find him again.
Now, he had no problem walking through the corridors of the palace to the open-air courtyard where the guards did their daily training. It was the same courtyard Zuko had seen when he looked out of the window of his study, only now there were no guards training, but about two dozen people. Young men and women in their twenties, wearing the standard army uniforms, but without the skull-shaped helmets characteristic of the infantry.
When they saw Ozai arrive, they all stood at attention and looked straight ahead. Zuko walked over and stood next to Perseus, who yawned loudly.
He snorted at the sight, thinking the boy needed his afternoon nap.
"Judging by their age and their new uniforms, these men and women are newly graduated recruits," Piandao guessed as he looked at the assembled men and women.
"You guessed right," Ozai confirmed. "However, these men and women are not just newly graduated recruits. They are the best recruits from the various training camps throughout the Fire Islands. They are the best of the next generation."
"I see..." Piandao walked through the ranks of the recruits, scanning them with his eyes. "I can see that they are all firebenders."
"Obviously. Firebenders are superior to non-benders. One trained firebender soldier is the equivalent of ten non-benders soldiers. If I want to form an elite squad, it will obviously be made up of firebenders."
"But the elite squad you want to form is not a firebender squad, Your Highness, it is a swordsman squad. If these men and women who have proven themselves in the art of firebending are trained in the art of sword... I fear they will not be able to reach their full potential. Their focus will be divided between their firebending and their swordsmanship."
"The focus of these soldiers will be where I tell them to be," Ozai said with a stern look. "They have proven themselves in firebending, which is a superior art, they will master the simple art of the sword."
Piandao was unmoved by the clear denigration of the art he had devoted his entire life to. His expression remained controlled and impassive. But out of the corner of his eye, Zuko noticed that Perseus did not have the same control over his emotions as his father, as he frowned and narrowed his eyes in annoyance as he watched Ozai.
"Your Highness, that would be... counterproductive," Piandao said, his voice betraying no emotion. "These soldiers have been trained for years in the art of firebending, as well as military combat tactics and strategies based on their bending. They already have a foundation to stand on. Therefore, their growth as swordsmen would be stunted, as they would use their firebending as a crutch. They will not reach the level of skill of those who have focused all their attention on their sword training."
Ozai said nothing for a few seconds, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Piandao. Zuko thought his father would punish him for his audacity to go against his wishes. Many others have been punished for less.
"If you're so sure, let's put it to the test," Ozai said before pointing at a random soldier. "You, step forward!"
The soldier gasped slightly when the prince of his nation pointed at him and hesitantly stepped forward.
"Y-yes, sir!" replied the soldier.
"You will have a duel. We will see if the skills of one who has trained only in the art of the sword surpass those of one who has trained in the art of firebending."
"I-I am going to face Master Piandao?" the nervousness was evident in his voice.
A cold smile formed on Ozai's lips.
"No. You will face his disciple."
Everyone turned to look at Perseus, who looked as surprised as everyone else.
The soldier's nervousness turned to disbelief when he saw who his opponent would be.
"A child?"
"This boy has been trained by Piandao in the art of the sword," Ozai explained, his cold smile never leaving his face. "If I were to form an elite squad of swordsmen, I would compare his skill level to that of a newly graduated firebender."
Ozai looked at Piandao as if challenging him to disagree with his argument.
"Fair enough," Piandao agreed.
"Your Highness..." The soldier spoke with a doubtful look, "Do you really want me to confront him? He's just a child!"
Ozai gave him a stern look that made the soldier shudder.
"You will do as you are ordered. It is your duty as a soldier of the Fire Nation."
The soldier bowed his head in resignation.
"Yes, sir..."
Zuko watched conflicted as the soldier walked away and stood in front of all the other soldiers, who had conflicted expressions on their faces. Would it be fair for a trained soldier, though only a recent graduate, to face a twelve-year-old boy? He turned to look at Perseus, who didn't look worried or nervous as he drew his sword and walked towards the soldier.
"Percy..." Piandao shouted, making his son stop.
'Percy?' Zuko thought confused, 'I think it's short for Perseus.'
Piandao approached his son, placing a hand on his shoulder and speaking softly, though Zuko could still hear him due to his proximity.
"Don't hold back," he heard Piandao say to his son.
"Huh? "Why?" Perseus, or Percy, asked, looking confused by his father's request. "It's just a friendly duel."
"Prince Ozai is trying to demonstrate the superiority of firebenders and underestimates the effort required to wield a sword. He underestimates the art of the sword."
Zuko watched as Perseus' face grew serious and nodded at his father's words. Apparently, even if he looked like an insolent, rebellious, and lazy child, he had his own pride in the art he practiced.
"So don't hold back and go for it right from the start," Piandao said. "Use your 'Fire Stance'."
Perseus turned to look at his father, surprise on his face.
"W-what...? How do you know that?" he muttered.
A faint, amused smile formed on Piandao's lips.
"You may have done an excellent job of hiding it from me, son, but Lee certainly did not."
Perseus grumbled under his breath about loudmouth friends.
"But... I've never used it in a real fight," he said, a little unsure.
"Then this is the perfect time for you to do it, since you're facing a firebender" Piandao pushed him gently in the back. "You can do it, son. I think you can."
The insecurity on Perseus' face faded, giving way to one of determination. He nodded and stepped in front of the soldier, who looked unsure about facing a child.
"Sorry, kid. Nothing personal," the soldier said, moving into a basic firebending stance. "If it's any consolation, you're up against a trained firebender."
"Oh, yeah? Well, I don't think anything is going to comfort you when you're getting your ass kicked by a twelve-year-old non-bender," Perseus replied, taking his own stance.
Zuko looked at the boy's stance, which was eerily similar to a firebending stance. His legs were shoulder-width apart and slightly bent, giving him a solid base. He grasped his sword with both hands, placing it at eye level and keeping the blade parallel to the ground while pointing forward, as if he was about to make a thrust.
"Mmm, interesting..." Piandao muttered, watching his son's stance closely.
The soldier frowned in annoyance at the boy's answer, and when Piandao gave the signal to begin the duel, he quickly attacked with the intention of overwhelming him, sending a great burst of fire. Perseus attacked as well, lunging forward and stepping aside to avoid the fireball. Not expecting a frontal attack, the soldier again sent several fireballs, which Perseus dodged by stepping aside without stopping his run.
Trying to stop his opponent's advance, the soldier swung out with one leg and sent another fireball, intending to knock the boy off balance, but he jumped over it and fell hard toward the soldier, swinging his sword downward. Had the soldier not stepped back at the last second, the sword would have struck his shoulder. But Perseus did not stop his attack, continuing with a thrust at chest height. The soldier fell back again, trying to regain his balance and a solid foothold, but the young swordsman continued to attack.
Zuko watched in utter amazement as this boy, who looked no more than twelve-years-old, overwhelmed a trained soldier and attacked with a ferocity worthy of a firebender. Not only that, but he could see the similarities between his attacks and firebending moves. It was as if his sword somehow mirrored the flares that a firebender produced in his attacks. He understood why Piandao had called it "Fire Stance".
The intense exchange of blows continued as the soldier tried to overwhelm Perseus with his attacks, but Perseus simply dodged them, unaffected by the heat of the flames. In return, the young swordsman fiercely attacked the soldier with blows that destabilized him, struck parts of his armor, and forced him to retreat.
The duel ended abruptly when the soldier sent a fireball at Perseus, who, instead of dodging, swung his sword hard enough to split it in half. The soldier was stunned by the sight, and Perseus used the moment to stomp hard and deliver a swift thrust to the chest. The point of the sword struck the soldier's armor with such force that it sent him flying several feet before he fell to the ground with a grunt of pain.
When he tried to get up, he found the tip of Perseus' sword just inches from his neck.
"The duel is over," Piandao said.
Zuko's eyes were wide, as were those of all the soldiers present, as they processed what they had just seen. That boy had shown impressive skill for one so young, managing to defeat a trained firebender with sheer skill. Was that the result of being taught by the best swordsman in the Fire Nation? Or was it because he was his son?
The sound of applause brought him out of his reverie. The other soldiers applauded the duel, acknowledging the young swordsman's skill. Perseus drew his sword from his opponent's neck and reached out to help him to his feet. The soldier looked at him, still dazed, but accepted the help.
Zuko was surprised by Perseus' consideration, considering the insolence he had shown earlier.
As Perseus approached Piandao, he smiled slightly at the sight of him.
"An honorable victory," Piandao nodded in agreement. "You recognized your opponent and showed him the proper respect... Even though you actively taunted him before you fought."
Perseus laughed, looking somewhat annoyed.
"Interesting," Ozai commented. "Tell me, boy, how long have you been training with the sword to reach this level of skill?"
"Uh... One year..." Perseus replied, before adding belatedly, "Sir."
"I see. The fact that you have progressed so far in such a short time shows your skill and that of your master in teaching you."
"You honor me with your words, Your Highness," Piandao said, bowing his head. "However, my son's skill is entirely his own. In fact, the moves he just used are something he created himself. He is a true prodigy in the art of the sword."
Zuko watched as Perseus lowered his head in embarrassment at his father's words, but the smile on his face showed how flattered he felt.
He ignored the pang of envy he felt at the sight.
"Is that so?" Ozai looked at Perseus, a new interest shining in his cold eyes. "Impressive. You remind me of my daughter Azula. She is a prodigy in the art of firebending. Very well, Piandao, you have proven your point. You will train non-benders recruits who have just begun their training."
"Twelve students," Piandao said. "That is the maximum number of people I can train. More than that would be counterproductive because I have to teach each one personally."
Ozai narrowed his eyes, obviously not pleased with his request, but finally nodded.
"I will send a message to the best recruiting stations in the Fire Islands to send those who are interested to learn from you. The time between receiving a reply and the arrival of the recruits will be 5 days. Until then, you will remain on standby for further orders."
"As you say, Your Highness."
"I have made arrangements for you to stay at one of the many estates outside the Royal Palace for an indefinite period of time. This place belonged to the Royal Procession, so it has enough space to accommodate a full squadron. It will be the place where you will train these recruits."
"I appreciate you making all the preparations, Your Highness," Piandao said.
"I have high expectations for this squadron, Piandao. Do not disappoint me."
Piandao bowed his head.
"I will try to live up to your expectations."
Ozai said nothing more, just turned and began to walk away.
Once all the soldiers had left the courtyard, Zuko looked expectantly at Piandao, hesitating whether to talk to the man.
At that moment of indecision, one of the palace guards approached Piandao and Perseus. They exchanged a few words and the guard led them to where Zuko guessed they would be staying and Piandao would be training the new recruits.
Maybe he could visit them later.
After finishing his afternoon lesson, Zuko wasted no time in putting his things away in his room and heading to the place where Piandao would be training the swordsman squad. He ran quickly through the corridors of the Royal Palace towards the exit, excitement written all over his face.
"Where are you going so fast, Zuzu?"
Zuko stopped and turned to look at the only person who called him that. In his excitement to leave the Royal Palace, he walked through the gardens, where he met Azula and her two friends, Mai and Ty Lee.
"None of your business, Azula," Zuko replied with a frown.
"Then you're doing nothing important, as usual," his sister said as she and her friends approached him. "And it's a coincidence, because we were just about to test Mai's aim. What do you say we put an apple on your head, and she tries to hit it with one of her knives?"
Azula held an apple in front of her face with a slightly mischievous grin. Behind her, Mai shifted uncomfortably.
"Azula... I don't think that's a good idea," she spoke quietly.
"Hm? But it was you who suggested that we invite Zuko."
Mai blushed obviously and looked away. Next to her, Ty Lee chuckled in amusement as she nudged her with her elbow.
"I don't have time to play your silly games," Zuko spat in annoyance.
Azula rolled her eyes.
"And what's so important that you can't spend time with your sweet little sister?"
Zuko snorted at her description. Azula was anything but sweet.
"The swordsman Piandao arrived at the palace today," he replied. "Father sent him to the residence where the Royal Procession used to train, and in five days he will begin training recruits for his elite swordsman squad."
"Ah, yes. That's what I heard. Though I still don't understand your interest in that man, unless..." A smirk played across Azula's lips. "I see. You want him to teach you. Since you're incompetent at firebending, you think you might not be a hopeless case at swordplay."
Zuko clenched his fists in annoyance as he looked at his younger sister, who laughed at his reaction.
"You better give up, Zuko. A swordsman can't beat a master. Maybe they could beat an earthbender or a waterbender, lower elements, but they certainly couldn't beat a competent firebender."
Zuko remembered Perseus' confrontation with the soldier. He remembered the way he swung his sword with confidence and determination. His movements were sure and fierce, like a firebender. He knew it immediately when he saw that demonstration of skill and ability.
He had been captivated, and a desire burned brightly in his heart.
"I wouldn't be so sure," he said.
The certainty of his statement caused Azula to raise an eyebrow, looking slightly intrigued as she watched her brother walk down the hallway toward the palace exit.
The massive double doors of the estate that would be the current residence of Piandao and his son loomed over Zuko, almost imposing. He stared at the Fire Nation emblem carved into the door for a full minute, contemplating what he was about to do, until he pushed all hesitation aside and grabbed the iron knocker, tapping it several times to announce his arrival in the new residents.
A few moments later, one of the doors opened and out stepped Piandao's son, Perseus, who looked a bit surprised by Zuko's arrival.
"Oh, it's you," he said. "What are you doing here?"
Zuko frowned slightly at the boy's lack of manners, but let it pass. He didn't want to argue over trivialities.
"I'm here to see your father," he announced. "Is he here?"
"He's inside, cleaning up."
"Take me to him."
Perseus did not move. Instead, he arched an eyebrow.
"Would it kill you to be nicer when you ask for something? Aren't you royalty supposed to be more polite than the common people?"
"And you commoners are supposed to show respect for the Royal Family," Zuko replied with annoyance. "I am the son of a Fire Nation prince. You should show more respect."
"Huh? Why should I respect you?" Perseus asked, frowning in annoyance. "You have done nothing to make me respect you."
Zuko gritted his teeth in anger.
"Insolent peasant...!"
"What is going on here?" a new voice asked.
Zuko looked behind Perseus and saw Piandao, who had a strange expression on his face at the sight of him.
"Ah, young Zuko, to what do I owe your visit?" Piandao asked politely.
"I... want you to train me," Zuko explained earnestly. "I want to learn the art of the sword."
Piandao and Perseus had a somewhat puzzled look on their faces.
"Well, this is... unexpected," Piandao said, "Shall we discuss this over a cup of tea?"
Zuko didn't care much for tea, but he accepted the man's invitation. He stepped through the door and shot a scowling look at Perseus, who returned it defiantly.
Entering the mansion, Zuko could see that Piandao and Perseus had begun preparations to turn the place into an academy focused on learning the art of sword. The dirt courtyard in front of the building was littered with wooden poles, some of them wrapped in ropes. There were even wooden dummies wearing old battle armor.
Zuko followed Piandao into the two-story house made of a combination of wood and brick with red tile roofs. The wooden halls were polished, and the shoji doors were open, letting air and sunlight into the house.
He kicked off his boots when he saw that Piandao had done the same, and followed him into the room that overlooked a rather simple but cozy back garden. In the middle of the room was a wooden table where Piandao knelt down and sat on a cushion with his knees bent.
"Please have a seat, young Zuko," Piandao invited.
Zuko accepted the invitation and sat down on one of the cushions, imitating the man's position.
"This is a very nice place," Zuko commented as he looked around the interior of the place.
"It is. I must thank your father for the trouble he has taken to prepare this place for my arrival. I see he is quite interested in the training of this group of swordsmen."
"My father, like everyone in the Royal Family, has only the best interests of our nation at heart."
"And is that why you are here today, young Zuko? For the good of the Fire Nation?"
Zuko was about to answer yes, but Piandao's firm and imposing gaze stopped him. It was as if he was scrutinizing him with his eyes and could tell if he was telling the truth or not.
At that moment, the sliding fabric doors opened and Perseus appeared, carrying a tray with porcelain cups and a teapot. He placed the tray on the table and began to pour the tea.
Zuko raised an eyebrow at the disrespectful boy's show of politeness, but accepted the teacup and took a sip. It wasn't bad.
"Hmm, I see Fat has been giving you lessons," Piandao commented, taking a sip of his tea.
"Just the basics," Perseus said, sitting down on one of the cushions. "Don't expect me to cook as well as he does."
"Perhaps I should ask Prince Ozai for some servants for this place. We'll certainly need them if we're going to live here for a few years."
"Or... you could send a letter to Fat to come here. I still don't understand why he stayed behind when he could have come with us."
"Someone has to take care of our home until we come back, Percy."
"We could make this place our home if Fat was here. At least until we get back to Shu Jin."
Piandao was silent for a few seconds, pondering his son's idea as he looked out into the garden.
"Maybe I will," he finally said. "This place needs a homey touch that only Fat could provide with his gardening."
"Great," Perseus smiled, looking pleased before he looked at Zuko, and then at his father. "So, since he's still here, have you agreed to train him?"
"I haven't decided yet, because young Zuko hasn't given me a good reason to do so."
Piandao looked at Zuko, waiting for his answer.
"Being the son of a Fire Nation prince is not a good enough reason?" Zuko asked, frowning slightly.
"I take the liberty of choosing my students," Piandao replied firmly. "Tell me, young Zuko, why do you want to wield a sword? To become stronger? To better serve your nation? To protect your people? Before you learn to wield a sword, you must first find a good reason to do so."
"I..."
Zuko couldn't give an immediate answer because he hadn't even thought about it. He was just swept up by the sudden desire to learn how to use a sword when he saw Perseus fighting with that soldier, but... Why did he want to do it?
He clenched his fists in his lap and pressed his lips into a thin line as he bowed his head.
"I don't know," he admitted in a defeated tone. "When I studied about you and learned all the amazing things you had done, I thought you were someone amazing and... I wanted to be like you..."
There was silence in the room after what he said. Tentatively, Zuko looked up to meet Piandao's pensive expression. Surprisingly, Perseus had a sympathetic expression on his face, as if he understood what he was feeling.
"I see..." Piandao said quietly. "Just one last question; do you want to learn how to use a sword for yourself or for someone else?"
Zuko thought about it. Who did he want to wield a sword for? Was it because what Azula had said was true? Was it because he wanted to prove that even though he was not good at firebending, he could be a good swordsman? Or perhaps because he wanted his father to look at him with the same recognition he had looked at Perseus when he had defeated that soldier?
Finally, he looked up in earnest.
"Both," he said sincerely. "I want to do it for the others... and for myself."
Piandao looked unperturbed by his words for a few seconds, until a smile formed on his lips.
"Very well, young Zuko. Let's see if you have what it takes. I propose you this. In the five days before the other recruits arrive, you will go through some tests to see if you have the qualities to be a swordsman. If you do, you will be my thirteenth student."
Zuko was thrilled at the opportunity Piandao was giving him. A fire he had never felt before burned in his heart and hardened his features.
"Thank you, Master Piandao," he said solemnly, bowing his head. "I will accept any test you see fit."
"Oh, it will not be me who gives you the tests," Piandao said with an amused smile. "It will be my son."
"What?"
"What?"
Perseus and Zuko looked at each other before looking at Piandao, both looking equally confused.
"Dad, are you sure?" asked Perseus. "Or are you just talking crazy because of the tea of dubious origin I found in the kitchen?"
Zuko looked at his cup of tea and put it down on the table, unsure if he wanted to drink it again. Piandao, on the other hand, just chuckled with amusement.
"No, you heard me right," Piandao said. "You will be the one to give young Zuko the proof. You know the tests, Percy. They are the same tests I gave you when I decided to begin your training."
"Oh, yeah... those tests," Perseus grumbled with a sour expression on his face, as if he remembered something unpleasant.
"I see you remember them."
"Yes, but I don't understand why you want me to be the one to test him."
"This will be a test for both young Zuko and you, son. To prove that you have finally mastered the basics of swordsmanship, you must pass that knowledge on to someone else."
Perseus did not look entirely convinced, judging by the expression on his face.
"Are you... sure about this?" he asked hesitantly.
A smile formed on Piandao's lips.
"You have made your own stand, son. There's nothing you can't do."
Perseus' shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh.
"Fine, fine," he conceded. "This is going to be so funny..."
Zuko frowned slightly at his sarcasm and couldn't help but feel a little insecure. Sure, Perseus had proven himself to be incredibly skilled with the sword, even beating a trained firebender, but he was just a twelve-year-old boy, rude and disrespectful.
It would be strange to be taught by someone two years his junior, but ironically, it was Perseus who had pushed him to want to learn to fight with a sword.
He just hoped that since Perseus was a prodigy like his sister, he wouldn't be as crazy as she was.
...
..
.
And that's all for now, dear readers!
I hope you enjoyed the first meeting between Percy and Zuko. Given Percy's brash attitude and disdain for authority, and Zuko's temper, it was obvious that they wouldn't get along very well at first. At least, I think that's the case.
What did you think of Percy's first fight as a swordsman? It's been a year since he started his training, and considering the factors of being the son of a very powerful god + being a prodigy in the art of sword + the curse of Achilles + being taught by the best swordsman in the Avatar world = a very badass Percy who developed his own style, which I called "Fire Stance". A pretty clear indication of what his swordsmanship will be like later on.
In another case, someone else thinks the name "Perseus" is cool? I personally think it's an impressive and very cool name. So I'm going to take every opportunity to use it, this chapter being a prime example of that, since Zuko doesn't feel confident enough to call him "Percy".
I also touched a little more on Zuko's desire to learn how to use a sword, since it's not mentioned in the show. In my story, Percy was the catalyst, but Zuko has his own reasons, which I will go into more in the next chapter.
I'm sorry for the people who wanted to see the first meeting between Percy and Azula, but that will happen in the next chapter. Given how Percy and Zuko's meeting went, how do you think it will go with Azula?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.
And with nothing more to say... A psychological hug and until next time, my beautiful ones!
