"Oh, look, I was right. The bastard was the first to greet us. A shame."

Percy glared at the Princess.

The two knew where they stood in each other's eyes. He didn't play nice to her like everyone else did. Even when he did bow and use such royal pleasantries, he didn't do it to her so much as he did to the crown. He stood before her as a member of the Fire Nation, serving the Fire Lord and the royal family, not Azula.

Because Azula liked having everything in control, even outside of her royal affairs and including the people.

"Why does she always call you that?" Ty Lee huffed inside his embrace, whispering so only Percy could hear it.

"It's fine, Lee," Percy said, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder. She, in kind, lifted her head to meet his gaze. "I'd rather like to know why you aren't at the circus following your dreams like you said you were last time we wrote? Not that I don't mind you being here, that is."

"I, as well," Mai chimed in, joining the greeting of the royal procession. "Princess Azula." She bowed to the girl in the palanquin.

"Mai," Azula replied as she began to step off her ride. The servants quickly came to her side to aid her descent, but she ignored their offered helping hands. Her golden gaze swept across the city instead, lingering at the construction atop its summit, and she pursed her lips.

Percy turned back to Ty Lee, to someone worth his time and caring, waiting for her response.

Ty Lee smiled, seeing his focus back on her, "I was enjoying it. It was fun traveling around so much. The applause, the happy people, the friends I made, but well, Azula came, and well, you know her."

Yes, Percy did know her.

He gave his older sister, by a few months, a smile all the same despite his feelings for Ty Lee's longest friend.

"As long as you are happy and safe, that is all I can ask," Percy whispered, pulling her back into a hug.

"Always, little brother," she responded, ruffling his hair before stepping away.

Percy cleared his throat, straightened his back, and turned his focus away from Ty Lee.

"So, Princess Azula, what brings you to New Omashu? Unannounced, I might add," Percy asked, looking down at her.

Azula ignored him as she walked past, the edge of her armor barely scraping against his own.

"Mai," she began, "I have a mission for you."

"I'm in," the stoic girl instantly agreed.

"Mai?" Percy frowned. It was never that simple with Azula. "You didn't even hear the proposition."

"She doesn't need your permission, Bastard. You are the family guard, not Mai's."

"Yeah, she fell under the family the last time I checked. If you even know what that is."

The Princess spun on her foot, an effortless turn as she stalked forward to him. Ty Lee stepped aside, refusing to take a side in the coming exchange, but that was fine. Percy knew Ty Lee wouldn't take sides in such a matter like this.

"And what would you know, orphan? Your parents didn't want you and left you on the doorstep of their betters because you were more valuable lost in a group of kids than being their child."

Percy bit his cheek. Azula's words were still as potent as her flames. If the world had given her any true gift, it was her way with words. Yet, that would never stop Percy from speaking his own mind.

"At least I know that the people that love me actually chose me. Not even your Uncle wanted to stick around with you, and we know how he is."

"What would you know of me?" she hissed, prowling forward into his face and invading his vision. "I could have you killed for your words."

"But you won't," Percy smirked, his words a whisper against her cheek. "After all, you aren't the only one the Fire Lord keeps close."

Azula's brows sharpened as she searched his eyes for her own response, but Percy just smirked as no snide remark fell from her lips. She huffed, turning away. It was the closest thing you could get to a win over the younger girl, and he was the only one besides her father who could silence her.

Although they had two different approaches, Percy had no problems returning the barbed words that Azula dished out to everyone. He knew she wouldn't go to her Father and complain about him speaking back as that would make her look weak, and she would never allow that. However, one day, Percy wouldn't be opposed to having the ability to overrule her demands like the Fire Lord could instead of only being able to argue back. What a day that would be…. He could see her baleful eyes already.

"Mai. Take me to your Father," Azula commanded, a sneer on her lips.

Mai nodded, silently turning and leading the way back to her family's home.

Percy watched them go as Ty Lee lingered by his side. The two watched the gap between them and the other two grow while silence reigned. He knew what was about to happen next. Even if she didn't take a side, she still would lecture him all the same.

"You shouldn't talk like that to Azula."

Percy shrugged.

"I'm serious, Perce. You should know better by now. One day, she won't care anymore about what her father thinks. His protection over you will mean nothing, and you know what she can be like."

Percy gently bumped her shoulder with his own, "You worry too much, Lee. Plus, I can take her." He mimed, throwing a few punches, a grin splitting his face as he tossed her a wink for good measure.

"But can you take the whole Fire Nation that would come for you?"

Percy faltered, his smile falling…. Could he? If the world did come to that moment, would he be ready to take down a whole nation? Probably not. It would be easier to flee to some backwater town and hide away.

"That's what I thought," Ty Lee smirked, linking her arm through Percy's. "Now, how are you and Mai getting along?"

Percy shrugged, leading his older sister after the Princess and Governor's daughter even as his mind slowly transitioned from the last line of thought to the newest one.

"You guys doing anything fun?" Ty Lee prodded, leaning into Percy, wiggling her eyebrows.

He blinked, "What?"

"Nothing? Really?" she pouted. "You guys are so boring."

Percy shook his head, trying to bring forth clarity into her words, "What are you on about, Lee?"

"How has nothing happened?"

"I mean, things have happened." Percy shrugged. "A couple of things actually happened. Like you guys picked arguably the worst time to show up, kind of happened."

"Oh…" Ty Lee frowned, her head falling a little.

"Not that I don't mind your company, that is," Percy corrected. "I love your company. It's just that some things happened." He leaned closer to her, craning his head down as he lowered his voice, "And between you and me, Mai's father isn't really fit to be in control of this city. He isn't cut out for it, and it's showing."

"What? Why?" the acrobatic whispered back. "What happened?"

"He let the city out. Like everyone. Haven't you noticed there isn't a person in the city but the guards?"

Ty Lee quickly glanced around, "I did think it was weird that I've seen no one. I just thought it was a workday or something."

Percy shook his head, "If only. Then, we could at least know what the people were doing. What happened, or what I believe happened, was that the people faked a plague and bolted through the open gates to get out."

Ty Lee frowned, "How do you fake a plague?"

"Same way you fake a bad back and a cough."

"And he let them out the gate? What if they do have the plague and spread it to the neighboring towns and cities? That could get back to home. Everyone could be infected."

"Exactly." Percy nodded. "Either way, the cookie crumbles; he got fooled or made a foolish mistake."

"And now Azula is here. Could this get any worse for him?"

Percy snorted despairingly, "It already has. The local resistance took Mai's little brother. I'm supposed to negotiate his release at noon, but I have a feeling a certain someone is going to have to have a say in the matter."

"Tom Tom?" she gasped. "Someone took the little toddler? How can they be so heartless?"

In front of them, Azula turned around to them, sizing them up.

Ty Lee's last statement had been rather loud. Ideally, Azula wouldn't stop to pester him about it the rest of the way up. He was enjoying her blind eye.

Percy studied the Princess' body language, staring back at her as she glanced back and forth between the siblings. He waited for her snide remark or whatever commentary she was thinking, but as the silence stretched longer than a moment, he could tell she had grown bored and disinterested in spending any more time walking.

She turned away, her stride longer than before.

Percy matched it as he forced his face to blank and closed the gap between the two groups. Once more, Azula glanced his way, but he dared not clue her into the city's problems. Act like something is wrong, and she will find out every detail. Plus, she would find out things soon enough. It was better it came from the Governor's lips than his, so she didn't lump the blame on him alone.

Azula lost interest, as expected. Her stride grew as she silently competed against Percy's, leading the group toward the middle ring even if she didn't know where she was heading.

"What are you going to do, Perce?" Ty Lee whispered so faintly he barely heard it over the quiet city's ambiance. "You can't let Tom Tom be a hostage. What can I do?"

He shrugged, relinquishing his pace against Azula, and turned to whisper to his sister, "I don't know, Lee. They want to trade him for the old king here soon, but it's a bad idea in terms of maintaining control here. Yet, It's the only idea, really."

:P LINE BREAK d:

"I apologize," the Governor started on the ground, bowing to the Princess like the common folk would. "You've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon, we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom Tom back."

Percy resisted the urge to face-palm. Of all the things he had to say to the Princess, the first thing he said was his problems. He didn't even try to appear competent in the face of the royal. What a weak man and weak leader… but perhaps that was why he was established here. A weak spine to bend to the words of his betters. What better way to ensure loyalty amongst distant overseers than to pick those too meek to think for themselves?

"Yes. I'm so sorry to hear about your son," Azula droned from atop her throne that she had brought with her. Her false sympathy echoed across the room to beguiled ears. "But, really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?"

Preaching to the choir.

Percy watched a sneer cross the Princess' face. Her golden eyes bore down upon the Governor, who promptly cowered.

"My father has trusted you with this city, and you are making a mess of things. A pitiful mess of things."

Despite Percy's problems with the girl a few months younger than him, he wouldn't deny the fact that she was intelligent and well learned far more than those thrice her age.

"Forgive me, Princess," the man whimpered from the ground.

Azula disregarded the man's pleas as she shifted to business, "While I am here, this city will listen to me or what is left of it. And my first act is renaming this city in honor of my father. Omashu shall henceforth be known as New Ozai. As for the trade negotiations, I will be handling that. You are all dismissed."

Mai's father quickly scampered away, her mother following suit, but for a moment, Michi paused. Her uncertain eyes searched Percy's, an unspoken question in her gaze.

He nodded, and she smiled weakly before leaving out the door her husband went.

"Guards," she turned to the scattered armored men across the room. "Secure the bridge to the city. I want to know the moment the delegation for the resistance even thinks of looking at New Ozai."

"Yes, my lady." The guards bowed before leaving in mass, leaving only Mai, Ty Lee, and Percy.

Azula turned to her friends, "There won't be much talking done."

Mai nodded while Ty Lee glanced at Percy before quickly nodding to Azula.

However, Azula caught her brief moment of distraction and turned to face Percy.

"Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to be on the wall like I ordered?"

Percy shrugged, walking towards the door but stopping to address the Princess. "I made a promise. I'm getting Tom Tom back whether you like it or not."

Azula sneered, stalking forward. "Fine, but stay out of my way and remain quiet."

She quickly exited the room, the two girls on her tail just as they were when they were younger.

Percy begrudgingly followed. It was the same song and dance from when they were kids. Azula demanded, and the people around her caved to her will, even him, despite how much he hated it. Her power was undeniable, between the mix of the power she controlled and that which was gifted to her by her position. Azula was absolute in that way, like her Father, but unlike her exiled brother.

Her ability to command and dictate outcomes felt familiar in some weird way. If Azula weren't such a vindictive and cruel girl, Percy probably would be someone who would follow in her shadow and listen to her counsel willingly.

Yet, she wasn't that. She was so close yet so far.

Ultimately, Azula was an undeniable force of mind and physicality—a force of cunning and persuasion. The world was hers to conquer, but it was only a matter of how she wanted to do it.

So, as the sun began to reach its zenith in the sky and the group found their way to the summit of the city, Percy kept his eyes on Azula. He watched as she analyzed the construction of a statue of her father. He followed her eyes as they pivoted towards the former king, hanging in the air. He frowned as a triumphant smile crossed her lips.

He knew what was running through her head.

She wasn't going to trade for Tom Tom.

She wasn't going to give up the old king.

She was going to capture whoever stole the child.

She was not going to be stopped unless the world and the forces that dictated it opposed her themselves.

But most importantly, she would not make an effort for Tom Tom….

As the quartet crossed the wooden planks, in the distance, three figures awaited. Considering no city guard had alerted them, they likely entered the city using an alternative method. That would mean the earthbenders were likely waiting in the rocks, ready to intercept or flee.

Percy sneaked his hand to his blade, his gaze scanning those opposite.

A boy and a girl in blue stood to the sides of a smaller kid in burnt orange who carried a wooden staff.

Percy wasn't familiar with the clothing. Although the blue was traditional to the water tribes, the orange could be a faction of former Fire Nation citizens. The youth of the group was also concerning. Did the resistance think that putting kids on the front line meant they were less likely to get attacked? Did the kids even possess the ability to negotiate? If they were water tribe members, why were they representing the earth's people?

Percy frowned. Something was wrong. He stepped forward, on par with the firebender, and showed her his arm, grabbing his blade. He knew Azula would understand. He could feel her shift as her brain processed everything he did.

The trade was a trap of some design.

"Did you bring the child?" Azula called out.

The boy in blue nodded, bringing the child out from behind his back.

"We did," a juvenile and squeaky voice came from the boy in the orange robes. "And Bumi?"

"Above us, waiting," Percy responded. "Bring the child over first. The chain will take a minute to lower him."

"No. No trade till we have King Bumi," an older voice came from the boy in blue.

Azula sighed, overly loud and theatrical.

"I suppose we've come to an impasse," she announced with false disappointment. "Just remember, we tried it the easy way."

Percy rolled his eyes. It was always going to come to this with Azula in charge.

Blue fire raced forward—a scorching blast that even made Percy turn away from the heat.

The sapphire flames that left Azula's control raced across the wooden flooring as they forced the trio to dodge. Each child going a different direction, even the orange one going straight up into the air.

That was not normal.

Percy and his group watched the child cling to the construction scaffolding high above anyone everyone else, the orange garb he wore atop his head leaving him in his leap.

Then it all came together.

The reason they sent children to negotiate wasn't a tactic of cunning and deception. It was a show of force.

It was the Avatar, a soul born to upset the order of the world.

Percy hesitated. Something inside him begged for him to engage the Avatar, but before he could act, Azula quickly overruled such feelings.

"My lucky day," Azula purred, running forward, more blue fire racing from her closed fists toward the child.

"Mai, Lee," Percy ran towards the water tribe boy. "You get the girl."

The Fire Nation trio raced forward, knives flying forward and leading the assault.

A whip of water came forward to meet the blades, smacking them to the ground.

A waterbender, Percy realized, seeing the display of power from the water tribe girl. Rare to see one so far from the North Pole. Perhaps Admiral Zhao's failed attempts sent them loose.

Percy dodged the following watery whip, and his gaze met the water boy's own. Tom Tom was clenched in one hand, while the other had a whistle of some sort at his lips. It was probably the signal to the resistance to join the fray. Which meant Percy had to act quickly. He was not going to fail Mai's mother another time.

Percy slashed forward.

The blade of the tanto cut across the sleeve of the water tribesman. If the kid hadn't pulled away at the last second, his whistle-blowing hand would have been cut clean off. However, since he did, Percy was treated to the brief shrill of a whistle. Hopefully, it wasn't long and loud enough to be heard by anyone else.

Percy followed his slash with a stomp on the boy's foot and a punch to his unprotected side.

In close quarters, Percy knew he could swipe Tom Tom away before he would hit the ground if he were dropped, and then he could win the fight cleanly. But, it was only a matter of getting him free from his kidnapper's grasp. Lightning would have been the easiest choice to subdue his target if it wasn't for the fact he was connected to the toddler he was trying to save. He also had to be careful not to cut at the wrong angle with his blade. The safer bet was subduing with personal force.

Maybe he should have let Mai and Ty Lee have this one. He could've fried the waterbender with no problem and no repercussions.

"Ow! That hurt!" the boy hissed.

"That's the point." Percy swung his fist for another blow to the ribs.

The boy backstepped away, and Percy kept advancing.

Behind the two, a roar of flames crossed the sky, chasing the Avatar on a glider. The airbender, seeing his friends in trouble, quickly swooped down, a blast of wind pushing forth from his control.

The air knocked Percy off balance, and the water tribe boy rocked him with a punch. While it wasn't as strong as the one Percy was used to receiving in training, the blow still stung as he opened his mouth to flex the pain out of his jaw.

Refocusing, Percy gave chase back to the kidnapper, who had jumped down to a lower floor of the construction. Percy quickly dropped down as well.

He was not losing this chase.

And a chase it was.

With intermittent drops lower and lower down the scaffolding, the two boys finally came to solid earth between a row of buildings. On flat earth, both were in a dead sprint forward. Again, the boy brought a white whistle to his lips as blood dripped from his arm and onto the dirt.

Percy was running out of time before the burrowing benders would likely arrive, and despite the boy being smaller, he was quicker than Percy donned in his armor.

Percy would have to take a risk before any proper gap could form between the pursuer and the pursued.

He would have to risk it or lose it in the long run.

If he missed, Tom Tom would return to being unattainable, and he would have to look Mai's mother in the eye and tell her he failed.

But Percy wasn't going to do that.

Percy wasn't going to fail.

He wouldn't allow it.

He could do it.

He just had to do it smart and safe.

With all that in mind, Percy jumped.

His arms wrapped around the waterbender's waist, and he pulled the boy to the ground. Percy turned the boy on his back to protect Tom Tom from being smooshed.

So, as the two boys slammed into the cobbled road, Percy grappled and pulled the boy closer.

The water bender's foot connected with the lightning bender's shoulder, breaking part of his grasp. Yet, Percy quickly struck back, a blow to the thigh causing the boy to yelp as his leg went numb. Percy pulled at him again and made his way to a four-point stance over the water tribesman.

He ripped Tom Tom free and delivered a swift kick to the kidnapper's ribs.

The downed boy cried out in pain.

Percy pressed his knee into the boy's stomach. With one arm securing the child in his grasp, the other cocked back to knock out his target. It would give Azula someone to interrogate, and they would be able to bring this resistance to an end. They would even be able to get relevant information on the Avatar as well.

Percy launched his fist.

He watched on in seemingly slow motion as the earth rose to match his punch.

Percy winced as he punched through the rock. He could feel tiny bits of rock in his skin.

Percy pulled away from the water boy and lifted his gaze, meeting the glare of multiple earthbenders.

The resistance had finally showed up.

AN: Enjoy! Follow, Review, Favorite. Means a lot to me.

I realized I made a slight blunder in clarifying the ages of everyone, and as that isn't an organic narrative point to really fit into dialogue/exposition without being heavy-handed. For a general rule of thumb, the Fire Nation kids are three years older than canon. Boo hoo if that upsets you. There are some plot points I will write later that a 14-year-old isn't mature enough as a human to be able to rationalize the same way as a 17 or 18-year-old would be. (No, not X content.) Fundamentally, this has zero effect on the narrative and actions of characters. This is a move to shift the characters in line with Percy's age, who does need to be a set age for certain aspects later in the story.

Zuko-19, Mai-18, Ty Lee/ Percy/ Azula- 17 (oldest to youngest, months separate their births)

This has no effect on the Gaang.

Join the Discord link in the bio.

It is a vibe, and I've been running some polls there to help shape my stories. You can also influence what story gets updated next as well. Plus, we got something crazy cooking there with some other authors roosting in my server.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter!

That's about it.

-Manke