Disclaimer: Percy Jackson belongs to Rick Riordan, and Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon.
"Thoughts"
"Speaking"
This fanfic is an Alternate Universe (AU)
Explanations will appear as the chapters progress.
Percy's Point of View
I couldn't stop thinking about my last dream and the letter sent from my brother, it's not uncommon to receive a letter from him, but it is unusual for him to send me a gift. And before the first rays of the sun were seen on the horizon he was already awake, because he hadn't slept all night, I was just thinking over and over again about the strange dream I'd had.
Calmly, I got out of bed covered in soft sheets and headed for the bathroom. The morning routine was not simply a mechanical act. It was a carefully crafted ritual... Or so my father told me. As the water poured down on me, I closed my eyes and let the soothing sensation envelop me. At that moment my mind had a moment of serenity as the competition drove me crazy.
"Only an idiot wouldn't realize that this 'woman' isn't going to cause problems, is it my subconscious telling me something? Do I have traumas from my childhood?" I said out loud my thoughts were taking over me, maybe I won't have peace of mind like this again after the tournament...
...
Once dressed and revitalized I left the palace, the cool breeze caressing my face as I walked along the rocky paths, every firm step I took reflecting the determination that burned within me.
Arriving at the outer gates that delimit the palace, I waited a few moments to do stretching exercises. Fluid and controlled movements, like a dance with the light breeze that surrounded me, I stretched my muscles as physical preparation against the big tests that are coming and I would prefer not to hurt myself, after all I didn't want to enter the damn tournament.
With my body ready for the challenge, I arrived at the central square of Ciudad Palacio. The hustle and bustle of the city echoed around me as I made my way through the crowd. The square, a lively place where citizens converge to celebrate important events, was surrounded by majestic buildings that spoke of the greatness of the city... but if you ask me they are only to show off to visitors from other nations.
"There seem to be a lot of competitors this year," I said as I watched more people arrive at the square.
"Percy! I'm glad you're here, I thought you wouldn't come," I heard a familiar voice, before a hand grabbed my shoulder friendly.
"Zuko!" I greeted him "when did you arrive?"
"I was the first to arrive, I didn't sleep because I was so nervous and I decided to arrive earlier. Either way, I'm glad you decided to help me."
"Oh, really? Did you doubt me?"
"Of course, when I told you about the tournament you didn't seem very happy," Zuko said, "so I thought you wouldn't come in the end."
I could see his point, because I left the topic aside and turned to look at the rest of the competition.
More and more people gathered in the central square, relatives, friends, wives and children as well as soldiers were present. It was obvious that not all of them were participants in the tournament, but for a long time it has been the custom of those close to them to say goodbye to them and wish them good luck. I'm sure my brother would be with me if it weren't for his top-secret mission outside the nation, but when I think of Zuko, I feel a little sorry for him. I can't imagine any scenario where Ozai would be present and saying goodbye to his son like all normal parents do.
"Whoa, whoa, what do we have here?" A voice behind me said "but if it's the royal family or should I say 'royal blood and its pet'?"
I didn't need to look to know who they were, the voice comes from an imbecile I detest with all my soul.
"Brother, you shouldn't be so kind to him," said the other voice, "pets are part of the family, and he's just a poor lucky beggar
Both voices burst out laughing outright, Zuko and I turned our heads to face our aggressors.
Two tall figures emerged behind us, like symmetrical shadows.
"Zuko, look at nothing but trash brought to us by the wind," I said while shaking my hand as if I was trying to get rid of a bad smell "nothing more and nothing less than the twins addicted to drink Fang and Feng"
Fifteen-year-old twins shared not only the same age, but an appearance that exuded youth and vitality. At 175 centimeters tall, they stood with the confidence of those who have been shaped by military discipline from an early age, their father, an important military commander in the army under Ozai himself.
The twins' short black hair seemed to defy the wind, as if it were a testament to the strength in which they had been raised in a family with deep roots in the military hierarchy, and each strand was adjusted with surgical precision. Their bodies, sculpted by years of athletic training, exuded undeniable confidence. Broad shouldhers and toned muscles denoted an ironclad dedication to the physical regimen. Their bearing revealed an intimate connection to the world of tactics and strategy, a direct inheritance from thier father. The twins' black eyes, piercing and fierce, moved nimbly, observing every detail in their surroundings. Their aggressive and pretentious behavior was evident at every step they took. The square vibrated with their commanding presence, as if they were accustomed to commanding attention around them.
"Watch your words, damn hound," Fang said, "your 'big brother' isn't here to defend you
"Right, if you don't watch your words, we'll kill you in the tournament," Feng grumbled
"And why wait until the competition," I replied as I gripped the handle of my sword tightly, "I'll take care of you right now."
Feng, one of the twins who had a scar marked on his right cheek, added a touch of intrigue to his appearance. The brand, like a signature of the past, added to its face a story that spoke of battles overcome and challenges bravely faced. The scar, far from weakening his image, gave him an air of mystery and authority... But that's just the opinion of others. Since his scar was the product of a fight in the past, two years to be exact, and the cause of it was me, so it was understandable his hatred towards me.
"Enough!" Another familiar voice said, "Fang and Feng, right? If you continue with this behavior, You will be disqualified from the tournament"
"What?!" Feng said as he raised his head, "Who the fuck do you think you are to give us orders?!"
The twins froze and pale as they turned around, as if death itself had come.
"I'm just Fire Lord's bodyguard, enough for you?" Jeong Jeong said with an unimpressed but dangerous look at the twins.
At that moment I understood the reason, death itself had come, but in the form of a maniacal old man.
"This warning is also for you Percy, if you want to settle your differences, do it in the tournament cleanly."
"Mr. Jeong," Zuko said, "Aren't you supposed to be with my uncle?"
"Yes, but I came to get you, your father wants to talk to you," Jeong said
"With me?" Zuko asked, surprised.
"Really?... Is he drugged?" and I asked too, totally surprised
To be honest I was more surprised than Zuko, this doesn't happen often, well it never really happens.
"Yes, I think he wants to say a few words of encouragement to you before the tournament starts," Jeong said, "so let's go."
Okay, if my uncle Ozai wants to be a father for the first time in all of human history, it's because we're doomed and something very bad is going to happen. Slowly, Jeong and Zuko made their way through the crowd and got lost in the crowd.
"Beggar!" Fang said, "Say goodbye to whoever you can, you won't be able to get out of this alive!"
In turn, the pair of brothers also slowly moved away from me.
"Great guys, as popular as ever Percy."
"Now you?" What are you doing here Harry?! I exclaimed, surprised to see him
"I'm here to cheer you up before the competition, obviously, and don't worry, don't worry, I forgive you for the pants thing, it was a good joke"
"Of course, I also forgive you for selling me," Percy said, "I thought Ijichi had already buried you."
"Ijichi?"
"Oh nothing, well, what's the matter?"
"I've been asking, you know, here and there," Harry said with his classic demeanor, "and honestly the outlook doesn't favor you"
"Is that your idea of cheering me up?... Well, I guess it's better than nothing."
"Hey!"
"Who do I have to watch my back from?"
"Everybody," Harry replied
"What!? "I think the surprise was obvious on my face when I almost shouted it," "I know perfectly well that I'm not very welcome here, but I didn't think I'd be in everyone's sights."
"Apparently someone put a price on your head," Harry said, "it's said that whoever manages to get you out of the way will have a very good reward. Hell, my friend, I even thought about kidnapping you"
"How much is paying?" I asked "I can't be worth that much"
"I'll put it this way, with the reward you can buy three warships. That's why this place is more crowded than usual"
"Who put up the reward?" I asked
"I don't know, but just think for a moment: Who knew about your participation today and hates you to death?... Hint: he loves expensive portraits"
"Ozai?... It's possible, but he wouldn't dare do anything in my father's presence"
"And that is why he will pay whoever manages to kill you"
This family drama is getting out of hand if you ask me, is Ozai really behind the bounty on my head? Well, he knew he was going to participate and showed a bit of interest, which is disturbing enough. He was also the one who discovered a secluded place for the tournament, the dungeon...
The more I was immersed in my thoughts, the more worried I was about my near future, until a high-pitched voice sounded throughout the square loud enough for all the people to fall silent listening to his words as if their lives depended on it.
"ATTENTION!"
The only perceptible sound was that of our own hearts
"Very well! I introduce myself, my name is Linlin, and for the duration of the tournament I will be the official narrator—
"Is she...?" Harry said in a whisper
"Shit, she's my brother's ex-girlfriend," I replied
Linlin stood on the third-floor balcony of the building closest to the square, continued with the announcement to the participants. The square vibrated with anticipation as competitors lined up, ready to face the thrilling odyssey ahead.
"First of all, this event will not be like the past, it consists of three phases that will be described in detail below. As you yourselves can notice, this year there are more participants than expected, therefore it will be necessary to make a knockout phase so that only the most skilled are present and thus survive the next phases. The first phase consists of a race, a test of endurance and cunning, starting from this place"
The roar of applause and murmurs from the crowd created a symphony of anticipation.
"Hush!" LinLin exclaimed and everyone present paid attention again, "the race is the first and easiest test, you just have to leave the palace city, go down the mountain and reach the port where you will find small boats or personal canoes and with it you will have to paddle until you reach the Gates of Azulon, a majestic monument that marks the end of the race and the qualifying stage. As you well know, it is a huge distance that you will have to travel, however, only fifty participants will be accepted and will go through to the second round.
The crowd went even wilder as some silently wondered if they would have enough stamina to travel such a distance.
"Only fifty?" A voice said in the middle of the crowd
"The reason for that number lies in the second stage," Linlin said, "for now this is as far as the explanation goes, and as the participants advance to the next round, they will be given the relevant instructions and in this way we ensure that no one can cheat. I have to mention that no death or weapon will be allowed at this stage, throughout the course there are different checkpoints and those participants who do not abide by the rules will be disqualified immediately. With nothing else to say for now, I wish you the best of luck and let the tournament begin.
Look around me "Huh... It seems that after those screams everyone is calm"
At least until a loud sound was heard in the distance marking the start of the competition and the runners launched themselves from the square, quick as arrows to leave Palace city.
"PERCY!" Harry shouted at me "React and start running that the competition has begun!"
"WHAT?!"
Like the others, I started running.
Between shouts and pushes, all the participants were desperately trying to get out of the main square and one of them was me.
From one moment to the next I found myself behind all the participants, running desperately to catch up with them.
"Go ahead, guys! A voice shouted, "We must leave Percy to eat dust!" We must not let Percy win friends!"
I knew many of the contestants because of my internships with the coach, the excursions I take with my father, and my escapes from the palace. At first he was not welcome in the city or the palace, an adopted child is very frowned upon in this nation, but some of the soldiers are the exception, many of them came from the colonies that the fire nation established on earth kingdom territory or belong to an other city than Palace City. Some time ago, the trainer along with Mr. Jeong Jeong took on the task of gathering many soldiers who have excelled in battle against some monsters, without taking into account their economic or political origin were recruited. But there are people like the damn twins who don't respect this thought and unfortunately there are not a few.
"What the hell?!" I couldn't help but say, "Guys, you take this too seriously!"
—|—|—|—|—|—
Third-person point
From the tall building in the square, Jeong and fire lord Iroh watched with what appeared to be some sort of binoculars as the stampede of participants left the square on their way to the great Azulon Gate.
"It looks like Percy isn't going to win, my lord," Jeong said.
"HAHAHAHAHA he's still young but don't worry, I assure you he'll get back to a good position," Iroh said as he drank some tea
"How are you so sure, brother?" Ozai said from the background, "he has no firebending skills and it's a very long career
"Just look at the race and you'll understand," Iroh replied, "Percy has a lot to show us. How did it go with Zuko? Did you give him any advice?"
"I just told him he's going to concentrate on the race. Any problem with that?"
"Of course not," Iroh said, "but I think Zuko got more than a piece of advice"
"Do you accuse me of being a liar, brother?"
A strong pressure was felt in the air as the brothers of the royal family did not take their eyes off each other.
"My lord," Linlin said, "the transport is ready, please come with me."
"Excellent Lin!" said Iroh jumping up from his seat, "come on brother, let's see how the race ends"
—|—|—|—|—|—
Arriving at the end of the city, the path turned into stairs that went down around the entire mountain.
"Hell, I'm the last one," Percy said of his situation. "The stupid group left me behind, but it's not too late
"Now!" A voice ahead of them turned, "Start the "Leap Detour" just as we had planned!
The soldiers began to jump on the edge of the stairs making a controlled descent using firebending techniques between the four limbs to cushion their fall. When they reached the ground they would again jump on the shore and in this way a long stone path carved around the mountain became the perfect place for firebenders and their frog jumps.
"What the hell was that?... Hey! it's not allowed to use firebending" Percy shouted without stopping
"Surrender, you brat! You don't stand a chance!" Some competitors shouted who were already halfway there
"I can't lose to these bastards!" Percy thought, before complaining loudly. "These types of tricks will get you completely disqualified"
—|—|—|—|—|—
At the front of the race, the twins led the competition, using their firebending to gain greater speed against the others.
"It looks like everything is going according to plan."
"HAHAHA, Of course"! Fang replied, "When you conceive a plan, you have the strength of a thousand men. We leave the royal family dog behind at the start line, when the race continued the stampede of competitors formed a wall to stop him"
"And don't forget that he's not a bender," Feng said. "He won't be able to get down the mountain as fast as we can."
—|—|—|—|—|—
Going back to the back. Percy was going down the mountain as fast as he could.
"I can't lose, not today."
Out of nowhere a gust of wind came unexpectedly and the firebenders who were jumping between the mountain stairs lost control when they were in the air, suddenly falling and unable to get up.
"What?! What happens to the boys?" Percy said, confused by what happened.
Without a second thought Percy rushed over, the impact of the fall causing some competitors to lose consciousness while others were only delayed enough for Percy to move ahead of them, but the gusts of wind kept coming.
"What the hell was that?... Wind? Percy wondered, trying to understand what was going on
Turning his head a figure hiding among the trees near the base of the mountain made strange movements as if he was doing a dance or performing some ritual to summon demons, while doing that, the wind was blowing more and more causing more firebenders to get hurt.
"Is he helping me?..."
A rumble was heard at the top of the mountain.
"And now what the fuck was that?!" Percy exclaimed before looking up
Somehow the strong gusts caused the rocks to become depressed, and huge stones falling from the top of the mountain onto the stairs reaching the base of the mountain.
"I was wrong, I think he wants to kill me," thought Percy
Incredibly, he began to dodge the pieces of stone, avoiding any of them from hitting him in the head or crush him, jumping from one side to the other without stopping he managed to reach the base of the mountain safe and sound so he continued running in a straight line to reach the boats. A few meters away he could make out in front of him an object lying on the ground, with a pile of leaves resting on a circular cardboard.
"That's a... trap?" Percy said incredulously, "It's the only place with a pile of leaves, that's kind of obvious. What a stupid trick... They really expected me to fall into something like this"
He jumped to avoid the obvious trap, but as he fell in front of it the ground opened.
"What!?" Percy said, having managed to land on his feet, "A second trap after the first?" Daemons! Who the hell did something so elaborate? Hold on... it feels damp"
The trap was filled with Komodo rhino droppings.
"Aaaaarrrggggghhhh! I swear I'll kill the damned one!" cried Percy angrily
Impelled by his anger, he jumped out of the trap, but the pleasure of getting out of the trap did not last a second when a third trap opened in front of him, into which he fell again.
"AAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!" Percy yelled again. "I get it. Do you want to play!? LET'S PLAY! I'll destroy you all and win the marathon!"
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