AN: Hey all Happy New Year, I hope you all had a good one. Here is the next chapter of Carry On My Wayward Son, I got around to updating it eventually eh, just like with the rest. I hope you all enjoy the chapter and leave a review and what not, I do like hearing from you and what you think of the story.

Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not ow Percy Jackson or Avatar the Last Airbender.

( - )

(Last Time)

Azula let out a huff of irritation at that, a burst of blue fire erupting out of the air in front of her lips as she did so. She wasn't sure what to do, which was a strange thing for her, as usually she was very decisive, making snap decision with ease and sticking with them.

Now though, she was confused, off balance, and uncertain.

Azula grit her teeth at that thought, her silky black hair blowing about her as she glared up at the silvery moon overhead. She didn't like this feeling, it left her feeling weak, like Zuko had been. She needed to decide on a course and stick with it, who would she pursue, the Airbender, or the Waterbender?

( - )

Chapter 9

( - )

(On the road to Omashu, with Percy and Suki)

Blades clashed as Percy and Suki fought back and forth, the two combatants practically gliding across the dew covered ground as they engaged and then disengaged in a clash of steel blades and graceful skill.

With Percy wielding the sword Han had given him in his right hand, his eyes narrowed as he purposefully gave ground to Suki, weathering her onslaught of jabs and slashes with practiced ease as he dodged and deflected the blows away, his sea green eyes following the lithe girl's movements, even as a slight smiled played across his face.

Suki meanwhile was on the offensive, wielding her sword in both hands, her hands perfectly positioned to give her blows the right amount of power and force, without unbalancing her. On top of that she had chosen to fight in a more tactical way than she usually did, cutting out her usual acrobatics and flourishes as she instead kept both feet on the ground, shoulder width apart, keeping a strong base as she tested her older, and more experienced opponents defences.

Despite this though she was not able to break through Percy's guard as he set himself in a sideways positon as he faced off against her, limiting the area open for her to strike, his left foot turned slightly to the side and his right foot extended, his knees slightly bent, and his blade up and at the ready, the tip aimed mockingly at Suki.

"You're getting better." Percy stated honestly before he then swiped his sword left and right, using the side of his blade to block and deflect Suki's next few blows, his sword blade straight as he once again gave ground.

"I still can't get a touch on you though." Suki grunted, using the sleeve of her green tunic to wipe the sweat off of her brow, even as she then lunged for Percy, her sword swinging from low to high, even as she shifted her feet, adding more power to her swings, whilst maintaining her balance. Her footwork perfect as she danced across the ground, not letting up, nor leaving an opening for the larger male to take advantage of.

Once again though, Percy stepped back, his blade whipping up as he smacked the back of her sword, adding momentum to her swing, and almost knocking her off balance. Or at least it would have done, had she not already prepared for such a move from him, as she suddenly shifted back, repositioning her stance before she then lunged forward, her sword held in her right hand, and her right leg extended in front of her.

"True, but I've not tagged you once either." Percy replied with a smile, before he suddenly stepped forward, his footwork perfect as he sidestepped her thrust, his blade whipping around to smack her blade away before he riposted with a back swing.

Suki however ducked low, and suddenly broke into a roll, avoiding the powerful swing, before she regained her feet in a single smooth movement a moment later, after which she engaged Percy again, their blades clashing three time as she first went high, and then darted in with a thrust and a slash at his torso, aiming for his left side, his weak side where he only had a stump instead of an arm.

Or at least he did at the moment, as usually he crafted himself a prosthetic hand out of ice or water. A limb that was annoying fluid in that he could transform it from a water hand to an icy lance, shield or axe blade at will. Suffice to say she was glad he had decided to lay off using either his bending, as otherwise this fight would have been over a lot quicker.

Once again Percy gave ground a she saw her blow coming, twisting as he did so, so he was once again side on to her, his right arm raised and his blade at the ready.

"Stop retreating." Suki growled in irritation, brushing a hand through her sweaty hair and pushing a stray brunette bang that had escaped her ponytail, back over her ear.

"It's strategic." Percy replied simply, before he suddenly darted forwards, starting off with a straight jab at her chest, before he rolled his wrist and began to unleash a maelstrom of slashes and strikes at the younger girl, his blows swift, powerful, efficient, but most important accurate, as he drove her backward, almost making her trip over her own feet as she dodged, blocked and deflected his sudden onslaught. "Never fight on your opponent's terms, even if that means giving ground and retreating at times. Getting into a slugging match with a stronger, faster or more skilled opponent will do you no favours, instead read the situation and then take the most appropriate action. Even when you appear to have the advantage don't just rush in, I have seen powerful warriors fall to much weaker opponents because they fell for their traps, or because they found themselves trapped in disadvantageous positons."

"You sound like you are speaking from experience." Suki grunted as she continued to fall back, fending off Percy's attacks, before suddenly she darted forwards, her movements swift and fluid as she got inside of Percy's guard, close enough to make their swords useless.

Not that that mattered as by that point Suki had dropped her sword, as she instead landed a punch in Percy's gut, nothing too strong, but enough to surprise him and make him let out a breath.

Almost at the exact same time her other hand went for one of her battle fans on her belt, pulling it out, before she opened it and made to strike at Percy, her left arm whipping around in a straight slash to the torso.

"I am." Percy replied, even as he stepped back with his right leg, shifting his body to avoid the slash from Suki's fan. After which he swung his left arm around, hitting the surprised Suki on the shoulder with his stump, knocking her off balance enough, for him to then stick his left leg behind Suki's, after which he shoulder barged her over the leg, sending her tumbling onto her arse.

"From both perspectives." Percy then continued, the tip of his sword resting on Suki's neck as she tried to get up, with her making it halfway up, before the cold blade of Percy's blade halted her. "That was good, had you been holding a knife it could have been a debilitating wound, enough for you to take the advantage, and perhaps beat me."

"But it was just a fist, and you're being generous. If you were using your Waterbending I wouldn't have gotten close enough to even land a touch you." Suki replied with a sigh, even as Percy lowered his blade and sent her a smile.

"No, but that is just something you're going to need to overcome." Percy responded honestly, sheathing his sword at his hip as he did so, before he reached down to give her a hand up.

"Easier said than done." Suki sighed, but still smiled as she took Percy's hand and let him pull her to her feet. The brunette stepping forward as she did so before she landed a quick kiss on the taller man's lips.

One that Percy gladly returned as he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, her lithe body pressing again his as she stood up onto her tiptoes and brought both hands up, deepening the kiss as she pulled him close, slipping in a little tongue in too, not that Percy was about to complain.

"Right that's enough you two, there are children watching you know!" Hana, a hard faced woman in her mid-twenties suddenly interrupted, walking up to the two of them as she did so, her arms crossed as if to show her irritation, though the slight smirk on her face belied that.

In response to that both Percy and Suki broke apart. Percy sighing slightly as his lips still tingled, and he could taste the apple Suki had eaten before training, on his lips. Suki however rolled her eyes before she turned to face Hana, her dark eyes flickering over the older girl's shoulder, noticing as she did the gaggle of kids and older people that Percy and her training session had gathered, before she shrugged uncaringly.

"It's a free show, they shouldn't be complaining." Suki replied nonchalantly, though her cheeks were slightly pinker than before as she tried to hide her embarrassment with upfront bluntness.

Hana smirked at that, but didn't comment on it, as she instead looked over to Percy. "You two are pretty good, I'm glad you decided to tag along."

Percy sent her a crooked smile at that before he wandered over, throwing an arm around Suki's shoulders and giving her a half hug and a kiss on the side of her head, before he continued on. "We aim to impress."

Hana rolled her eyes again at that. "Well how about you impress us even more, by helping to break up camp, we need to be back on the road soon."

Percy nodded at that, his gaze shifting around to his surroundings.

Currently the column of refugees were camping out in a sheltered copse of trees, fifty or so metres off of the dirt road they were travelling down. With their camp consisting of some dozen or so large, if slightly battered and well used tents, and five heavy wagon, pulled along by a teams of creatures called 'ostrich horses', which were basically large, domesticated, heavily built, land based birds, which the people of the Earth Kingdom used as mounts and beasts of burden.

Suffice to say these weird hybrid animals were pretty odd, just like the Elephant Koi that lived around Kyoshi, and the Avatar's six legged, flying Sky Bison. Already Percy had tried conversing with the creatures, after all as a Son of Poseidon he was gifted with the ability to talk to all marine life and horses, however the ostrich horses obviously didn't fit the requirements, and so were not all that good for a conversation.

Either way the group of refugees had set up a well defended camp some thirty or so miles from the outpost where Percy and Suki had initially joined them. With them having set sentries to watch for brigands or Fire Nation soldiers overnight, and used the heavy wagons to set up a wall of sorts around the camp, with Hef, the nominal village leader having used his Earth bending to throw up a six foot wall around the camp as well, for extra defence.

Now though the group was currently in the midst of breaking camp, or at least those who were either not too young, or not too old, broke down the camp and started packing away the tents on the wagons with the rest of the supplies, even as Hef lowered the walls, and covered their tracks.

Rolling his shoulders, Percy cracked his neck to the side, before he went to help them. Pitching in how he could to make the work go faster, and ignoring the glower the ever grumpy and suspicious Hef sent his way as he did so.

Suki meanwhile joined Hana in corralling the ostrich horses and hitching them up to the wagons, even as the two chatted amiably. The two women having created a friendly relationship over the day and a half they had now been travelling together, the two women often taking point when it came to leading the convoy, as Hana was the grumpy Hef's second in command of sorts, and Suki, as the former leader of the Kyoshi Warrior, had both leadership skills and tactical knowhow.

Percy meanwhile had been relegated to being the vanguard, riding one of the few spare ostrich horses the group had, as he rode some twenty metres or so ahead of the wagons and those the rest of the party, paving the way as he used his water based abilities to sense for vibrations in the air, and possible enemy ambushes.

Hef meanwhile had taken the positon of rear-guard, the bulky Earthbender riding his own mount, his hammer in hand as he brought up the rear and kept an eye out for danger. It was a system that worked for all.

Soon enough, after about a half an hour or so of messing around, the group were all packed up and nearly back on the road, the caravan trundling slowly through the forest and to the dirt track road. A road that headed in the direction of the great city of Omashu, where they all hoped to find sanctuary from the Fire Nation, who had been ravaging their coastal homes on the southern border of the Earth Kingdom, and driving an ever increasing number of refugees north.

In the end it was about mid-morning by the time the exiles finally made it to the road and once again began their journey, the caravan spreading out as the wagons rumbled along, containing both the supplies and the young and old, whilst the rest of the group took turns walking and riding beside the wagons, keeping an eye on the surrounding area as they did so.

At the front of the long, straggling line, Percy rode just ahead of the group, even as Hana now wearing leather armour with a sword on her hip rode her own ostrich horse, gesturing forwards as she did so, directing the whole caravan of people from her own ostrich horse, spurring them to pick up the pace a little as they increased from a slow trundle, to a slightly quicker saunter.

Seeing this Percy dug his heels into the flanks of his mount, goading it to pick up the pace slightly, even as a sudden feeling of thrill passed through him at the thought of exploring even more of the Earth Kingdom. The road might be dangerous, but despite that he couldn't help but be excited. Being on Kyoshi for the last few years he had settled into a peaceful life of quiet contentment, it had been a rustic but still pleasant life, one that he had enjoyed, even if he had missed going out on adventures and exploring the world.

Here though on the mainland, a vast continental landmass that Percy could only equate to the combination of Europe and Asia back on earth, it was all just so interesting. The place was vast, the maps that Hana had shown him proved that much, and much of it was untouched and untainted by humanity, just a vast wilderness with the occasional town, city or village dotted across it, with dirt tracks like the one he was on now connecting most of them. Though from what he heard the roads further north, nearer to the capital were made of paved stones, but that was likely due to the apparent disparity in wealth between the north and south of the Earth Kingdom, and the city dwellers and those that lived in more rural locales.

Plodding along down the compacted dirt track, the wagons trundling along after them, the caravan of refugees passed by some truly beautiful sites. Like mountains that jutted skyward like grey giants. Trees dotting their sides and streams running like quicksilver down their flanks towards their source. Rain in the far distance, mingled with the mist morning air softening the harsh outline of the landscape and lending it a sort of wild loveliness.

It was awe inspiring really as they continued on through the verdant and wooded area, the air rolling in from the sea carrying a slight chill and bringing with it mist, even as the clouds overhead stayed a dull grey, threatening rainfall.

Lumbering along, Percy heard the padding of heavy clawed feet lumbering along, before Suki appeared next to him, her sword sheathed at her side, and the light armour from her Kyoshi Warrior garb strapped on over the top of her green tunic, trousers and boots.

Smiling back at the girl, Percy almost felt at peace as he heard the voices of the caravan calling out, as those on them began to chatter, easily audible over the rumble of the wagons. Being drawn in to all that human motion, it was as if he were being borne by a river on an adventure. He already felt part of this small itinerant community, a sensation that made him nostalgic, not only for his life on Kyoshi, but also for his life at Camp Half Blood.

It had only been a couple of years since he had last been at the Demigod's training camp, which during his time there had become like a home to him. However despite that it felt like it had been a lifetime since he had left. Heading out alone on a Quest to put down a disturbance in Brazil, one that was putting pressure on the Mist, and had the potential to reveal the Divine world to the mortals.

The Titan Perses had been the cause of the disturbance, the powerful and awesomely strong Titan of Destruction having been in the midst of trying to carve himself out an empire in Southern America, attracting monsters to him to forge his army, and using his power to force the mortals around him into supplication.

The creation of a whole new Pantheon is what Perses had been after, one based upon the ruins of the old Mesoamerican Pantheon. It had been a Quest from which Percy would never return or at least not to Camp Half Blood and his family, both Divine and mortal.

Still, looking around at the new and fantastic landscape around him and at the fierce and beautiful girl he had fallen for, he honestly couldn't find it within himself to complain. Sure he would miss those that he had lost, or rather those that had lost him, but he wouldn't let that stop him from living, and despite missing his friends and family, he was honestly happy, right here and now.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Suki asked softly, her lips curving up into beautiful smile as she looked over to Percy.

Percy smiled back at her at that, before he reached out, taking her hand briefly and giving it a squeeze as he did before replying. "Not much, just things that were, and things that are now."

Suki tilted her head to the side curiously as she heard that, before she shook her head. "It's a bit too early in the day to be getting so philosophical don't you think?"

Percy laughed at that, a loud genuine bark of amusement before he sent her a crooked smile. "Probably, especially when the present is so good."

( - )

(On a Fire Nation ship out at sea, with Princess Azula)

Standing proudly at the railings of her ship, her silky, dark haired tied up in a knot, Azula's cold golden eyes looked out into the distance, where she could just about see the shore of the Earth Kingdom coming into view, though it was still little more than a grey smidge on the distance.

It was as she did this that she could feel the metal floor of the ship beneath vibrating as its coal fired engines continued to endlessly chug away, the engineers below deck constantly stoking and feeding the flames, even as the ship sliced through the sea, moving as fast as was reasonably possible as it headed for the Earth Kingdom and Azula's goal.

Sighing slightly, Azula looked away from the horizon, instead looking down at the top deck of her large battleship. Ignoring as she did the clashing of steel below her as instead focused on the goings on. Watching as the Fire Nation marines not on duty trained, with those without bending using swords, shields, spears and halberds, whilst those born with the gift used their flames. With the training in and of itself not being relegated to just nonbenders fighting nonbenders, and benders fighting benders, after all they were pursuing the Avatar and about to enter enemy territory.

It was expected that they would meet heavy resistance, which would require those incapable of using bending to learn how to take down those born with the gift.

On top of that Azula had drafted several colonial soldiers into her forces, three Waterbenders, Ling, Xiou and Mako, all of whom originally hailed from the Fire Nation's colony in the southern Water Tribe, all three of them born to loyal Fire Nation colonials and imbued with that same loyalty as they grew up and joined the Fire Navy, just like their parents and grandparents before them.

As well as the trio of young men, there was also Temujin, a massive giant of a man, with a thick black beard and arms the size of other men's legs. With Temujin himself being a mighty soldier and war hero, and another recruit that came from one of the Fire Nation colonies, only he was from the Earth Kingdom. With him having been born a bastard, born from scandalous fling between a lady from a wealthy Fire Nation Noble House and an Earth Kingdom peasant, who was apparently working as a gardener at the family's summer estate.

Now usually such a thing would cause shame to the Lady in question's family, and for a time it did as the illegitimate boy was hidden away, out of sight and out of mind, and was not mentioned by the family or their guests in polite conversation, even if it had been regularly gossiped about among the social elite both home and away. Despite the family trying to hush up the young ladies affair with a peasant, and her birthing of a bastard.

Or at least that was until the boy had shown remarkable aptitude with Earth Bending, to the extent at which he could manipulate Lava. Something the family regularly bragged about nowadays, that and his military accomplishments. With the having legitimised him now, with the Fire Lord's permission of course.

With that bastard child having grown to be a giant mass of muscle, and patriotic fury, and a loyal Captain in the service of the Fire Nation, one that had fought on the front lines and assisted in expanding the Fire Nation's territory in the Earth Kingdom.

At present though Temujin, like the three Water Benders, was not on the front lines at the moment, as he was instead clad in black, red and gold, Fire Nation armour, his helmet on and a massive Warhammer in his hand as he drilled the soldiers that she had assembled on the best ways to deal with an Earthbender. The three Waterbenders adding in their own comments on fighting Waterbenders too, even if the war had not quite stretched as far as the northern Water Tribe, yet.

Though considering the ambitious plan that one Commander Zhou had put to the Fire Lord, with the support of several Nobles and high ranking military officers that might soon be changing. Not that that had anything to do with Azula's current mission, as the capture of the Avatar took precedence over all else.

"Princess Azula." A croaky, female voice called out, attracting Azula's attention as she turned form the railing to face the source of the voice, a haggard, pale skinned, ancient looking woman, wearing thick, dark red robes, and with her long white hair tied up in the traditional Fire Nation style. This was Li, or maybe her identical twin sister, Lo, Azula wasn't sure, she never could tell them apart, nor did she ever care too.

Either way the two old women were political advisers to the current Fire Lord, and retired Nobles, that had once acted as Ministers of Cultural Affairs for the previous Fire Lord, Azula's grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, before he had passed away.

Now though the two acted as glorified nannies/ servants for Azula, as they used their decades of experience to advise, and offered their insights when they could, and when Azula was formulating her plans and needed an extra two sets of ears.

That being said they were useful and very learned, especially when it came to the Earth Kingdom, as the two of them had been in charge of spreading Fire Nation culture to the new colonies, and integrating their new subjects as seamlessly and painlessly as possible into the Fire Nation. Which had of course been tricky as the rock loving Earth Kingdom peasants were a stubborn lot, which meant that compromise had been needed to ensure their obedience and acceptance into the way of things.

Which had been good in that it forged the Fire Nation colonies, but bad in that the colonies were far looser when it came to stringently following traditions, which was obvious when colonial Nobles, traders and the like came to the motherland and met those brought up and taught there.

Still they were useful all the same, even if Azula would not openly admit that.

"What is it?" Azula asked brusquely, as she turned to them, her golden eyes narrowing in irritation, even as she rested her hands on her amoured hips. She did not like being disturbed, not without a good reason.

"The walled port town of Quinlan is a three day journey at the speed that we are sailing, and the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu is only a day and a half's march from there. Already we are entering hostile waters, soon enough we will need to make choice on our final destination." Lo or Li said carefully, before her sister chimed in too.

"You do not have an invasion force, and subtlety is the better approach when in enemy territory." The other sister added in. "especially when we don't know the exact location of your quarry."

Azula nodded at that, they were very close to the Earth Kingdom now, which meant that she would soon have to make a choice on just where she would go next. "We will avoid Quinlan and head further up the coast to a smaller settlement, a walled settlement, preferably one that is already under the control of the Fire Nation."

Li and Lo nodded at that, but didn't leave, as they both sensed that their strong willed Princess had more to add.

"From there I will travel swiftly with only sixty marines, the other forty will stay on the ship and wait in case I need them to move, or to supply reinforcements, for the moment at least. Originally I sent a missive to two of my old friends requesting their assistance, but since I have not yet received their reply this will have to do." Azula said bluntly, thinking of her old friends Mai and Tylee as she did so, both of whom she had contacted, requesting their help to track down the Avatar and Zuko's killer, something which she hoped would get a response. Especially from the overly emotional Tylee and Mai, who she knew had once had a thing for her late brother.

"A prudent move, but won't travelling with such a force bring you attention?" The twins asked again, their tone neither complimentary nor judging of Azula's decision.

"That's the point." Azula replied, turning to look back at the distant Earth Kingdom mainland as she did so. "I want to be noticed, I want to draw attention to us. In doing so I will try to draw the Avatar to me, instead of futilely chasing after him like my idiot brother Zuko."

"And if you attract too much attention, and a sizeable force is deployed to capture or kill you?" The twins asked again blandly.

"Then that is why I will keep my ship in the port and my soldiers at the ready. If I get word that the Earth Kingdom has moved against me in large numbers I will retreat to the ship and depart. The Earth Kingdom fleet is weak and is mainly in the south and north of the continent, not so much in the west, and most of the Earth Kingdom's forces are deployed on the main fronts, which are much further south, or at, or around the Kingdom's capital." Azula replied simply, this was not an off the cuff decision, it was one she had been thinking on for a number of days now.

"An interesting plan." The sisters replied neutrally.

"And one that we will be following." The fifteen, nearly sixteen year old Princess replied bluntly, her tone holding no compromise. "Inform the captain of our course, the troops too while you are at it."

"Your will be done, Princess." The sister chorused before they bowed to the fiercely intelligent, but also arrogant and overly confident royal.

"Yes," Azula muttered as she turned away from the two decrepit old women, her golden eyes instead fixed on the horizon "Ready or not Avatar, here I come."

( - )

(In the skies above the Earth Kingdom)

Oblivious to the goings on elsewhere in the world Aang, Katara, Sokka and of course Momo were all sat around in Appa's saddle, all of them quiet as they flew away from a recently flooded Fire Nation town, and a forest that had once been plagued by a band of bandits, or freedom fighters, depending on who you asked. Led by a dashing, if slightly delusional and mentally unstable guy called Jet, a roguish kid who was about eighteen, and who had a flair for the theatrics and an almost obsessive grudge against the Fire Nation.

Suffice to say their recent experience in the forest was not good. Originally they had stopped off in the forest. With them having planned to travel by foot for a while, as Sokka's gut told him that flying around on the back of a giant, white, fluffy Sky Bison might not be the best idea, as their furry friend, although handy, did somewhat standout. A decision that had come about after they discovered Fire Nation traps in the forest whilst they were foraging for food.

Still, after their recent experience with the Fire Nation and the invasion of Kyoshi Island, Sokka had ended up suggesting that they travel by foot through the forest, which would help them avoid attention. Something which Aang and Katara had grudgingly agreed to, after all Sokka wasn't the only one affected by what happened on Kyoshi.

Though one thing they could all admit, is that they were glad Zuko would no longer be pursuing them. Not that Aang, or Katara to a lesser extent, had quite gotten over his death, which was more a cold blooded execution than anything.

But either way they quickly found themselves in trouble again, only this time the enemy turned out not to be the nearby Fire Nation town, where people of both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation origins lived in relative peace. But instead the band of freedom fighters led by Jet, who were not the heroes they painted themselves to be when they first ran across the Avatar and his group, when the freedom fighters had ambushed a platoon of Fire Nation soldiers that Aang, Sokka and Katara had bumped into whilst travelling on foot.

Even now as they sat silently in Appa's saddle and slowly flew over the forest, none of the group spoke about what had happened, as once again it made them question themselves and their own beliefs. With things once again not being black and white, or rather the Fire Nation against the rest of the world.

Instead they had seen someone who started out with good intentions, almost commit unspeakable evil when he tried to flood a river with the help of Aang and Katara's Waterbending, and then blow the dam holding the water back, which would allow him to flood the Fire Nation town and wipe out its populace. All so the forest could be scourged of the Fire Nation, regardless of the innocent lives that would be lost.

Apparently it had a plan that had been months in the making, one that they had had to brought forwards faster to take advantage of both Katara and Aang turning up and their respective abilities, with everything else having already been in place, as they had instead just been waiting for rain to fill up the river to its capacity before they blew the dam. Apparently though a pair of kids capable of Waterbending were an even better option.

Silently looking at the other two Sokka could almost feel their guilt, as the two of them, so enamoured as they had been with Jet's tales, had assisted the teen in his murderous plot. A plot that would have succeeded, regardless of the two of them realising what he was up to at the last minute, had Sokka not been there.

It was arrogant Sokka knew, but unlike Aang and Katara he was not naive enough to blindly trust people based on their word. Actions spoke louder than words, and Jet's actions had revealed just how mentally unstable the older boy was.

"So are we just not going to talk about it?" Sokka finally spoke up, breaking the silence as he got both his sister and the Avatar's attention.

"What's there to talk about?" Katara replied stiffly, not looking at Sokka as she did so. "Jet manipulated us, and nearly wiped out a town of innocent people."

"Yes, and you helped him." Sokka retorted, knowing it was harsh as he did so, but it had to be said. Both Aang and Katara needed to grow up and learn from their mistakes, they needed to realise the world wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

In response to that Aang flinched but didn't turn around, Katara however glared at Sokka.

"Had we known what he was planning we never would have helped!" The brunette then snapped angrily at her older brother.

"I warned you that there wasn't something right with Jet!" Sokka snapped back, is own temper flaring now as his sister, ever temperamental as she was, immediately took the defensive, refusing to admit any culpability as she often did.

"No you said you had a gut feeling!" Katara retorted, her lip curling upwards as he did so. "For all I know you could have just eaten something that didn't agree with you."

"Don't try and dismiss it like that, just admit you did wrong and learn from it!" Sokka retorted, his voice getting louder as brother and sister glared angrily at one another.

"It's not wrong to trust and believe in people!" Katara shouted back at him.

"It is when you do it blindly, and ignore your brother when he warns you about it!" Sokka shouted back at her, both of them now nearly face to face.

"Enough both of you!" Aang shouted as he finally turned on the two of them, his usually cheerful face twisted into one of anger. "We all messed up! We shouldn't have just help Jet, nor should we have ignored Sokka like we did!"

"Aang!?" Katara replied in surprise, looking to the younger boy in shock, this is the first time he had ever snapped at either Sokka or herself.

"What did I do?" Sokka grumbled.

Aang ignored him though as he instead brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. "Look, we're all still new to this, but we need to be better. Sokka's right when he says we need to learn from this, just like we should learn from what happened at Kyoshi. This isn't a game or just some adventure, this is serious, and people can get hurt."

"Aang…" Katara said again, her tone softer now as she reached out to the upset monk.

"Look buddy," Sokka sighed as he too reached out to Aang. "I didn't mean that we shouldn't have fun, and that we shouldn't live life to the fullest. I'm just saying we need to be more careful."

"And we will be." Katara said softly, not looking at Sokka as she did so.

"Right." Aang nodded, smiling up at the other two, both of whom smiled back at him, even if Sokka's smile was slightly wane.

"So where too next?" Katara asked kindly, looking to Aang as she did so. There little detour to drop of Iroh off at a nearby Earth Kingdom town had knocked them off course.

Originally they had stopped off at port town on the coast, only for them to rapidly find out that it was under the control of the Fire Nation, which had of course prompted them to leave immediately, with Iroh in tow as although he was a likeable enough old man, he was still a Fire Nation solider, even if he had gone into exile with his nephew, one who had links to both the military and the royal family. Hence why they weren't all that keen on dropping him off at a town that was under the control of the Fire Nation, as he could be just tricking them with his friendly demeanour, and use being in a Fire Nation controlled town to his advantage and capture them.

Despite their reasoning behind leaving the town so quickly, it had still stung a little as they hadn't stopped to help the townspeople or, conversed with them or anything.

With them instead having headed further down the coast to Quinlan, a larger, walled Earth Kingdom town further south, where they dropped off Iroh, before they then headed in a wide loop around the forest Jet haunted and back north, avoiding the Fire Nation where possible as they did so.

In fact it was already a couple of days until the Winter Solstice. However despite that both Katara and Sokka knew that Aang had had his heart set on heading to the city of Omashu to visit, a distraction certainly, but one that could be useful in terms of gathering intel on the area and re-provisioning, as their foraging skills were pretty subpar.

"Hey Aang, how about we head to Omashu? We can resupply there and then continue the journey to the Northern Water Tribe." Katara asked kindly, as she looked over at Aang, hoping to cheer up the usually chipper monk as she did so.

"Yeah, that sound good." Aang said with a nod. So far their adventure had not been as fun as he had hoped, first there had been a visit to the empty Southern Air Temple that had been little more than a tomb, then there had been the trouble in Kyoshi, followed by their mission to drop Zuko's Uncle off at an Earth Kingdom prison, and most then most recently the issue with Jet in the forest.

Honestly Aang was looking forward to heading to Omashu, after all it was one of the friendliest places in the world, or at least it was from what he remembered of it.

( - )

(With Percy)

Continuing on down the road heading in the direction of Omashu, Percy continued to act as the caravan's vanguard as he rode slightly ahead, scanning the surrounding wooded terrain with his eyes. Spreading his senses through the moisture in the air too, twenty metres around him, as he continued to search for the tell-tale vibration that would warn him of an ambush.

Pausing in the midst of doing this Percy casually pulled on the reins of his ostrich horse, slowing it down slightly, before he then absentmindedly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. His sea green eyes narrowing as he drew some water from a water-sack on the saddle of his mount, carefully drawing it up his body as he did so, before he formed a watery forearm and hand on the end of his stump.

There was a group ahead of them, well hidden in the trees on both side of the road. Lying in wait for the caravan to pass them by, before they would likely then leap out and surprise them.

Tilting his head to the side as the caravan slowly caught up with his leisurely trotting mount, Percy's sea green eyes narrowed as he pondered what to do.

The ambush was just fifteen metres in front of him now, and twenty odd metres in front of Suki, Hana and the first wagon in the caravan.

He had a choice to make, and with a sigh he made it.

"Ambush!" Percy suddenly shouted, throwing caution to the wind as he dug his heels into his mount and drove it forwards, alerting all of his companions to the danger, even as he rode into the midst of the ambush, the killing ground, hoping as he did so to draw most of their enemy's attention onto himself.

( - )

AN So that's the chapter, what do you all think? I know it was not as action packed as previous chapters, but that was because the action wasn't necessary, though will likely be some in the chapters to come. After all all the pieces are now moving. Aang and his group have had their course thrown off by the happenings on Kyoshi, which had caused them to miss out on several legs of their journey and disrupted the canon timetable as things are happening at different times, which means the outcomes and results of certain events will change, both positively and negatively. Then again the timetable is pretty much thrown out of the window, what with Zuko being dead and his impact on the story removed. This will have a knock on effect, as things go forward, small at first but larger as the story progresses, and he now faces smarter, and more deadly adversaries than an angry exiled Prince.

As can be seen by the fact Azula is entering onto the scene, and I have some fun ideas for her plot. Even as Percy and Suki meander north, heading for Omashu.

So yep lots of things are happening, and with it important events that happened in canon are falling by the wayside, which I hope some will have clocked onto.

So yeah, other than that I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and leave a nice long review.

Thanks a lot for reading, and please check out my other stories if you have the time, there is an entire range of them.

Catch you later.

Greed720.