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
As I slept, a strange sensation swept me along a current into a strange and enigmatic new dream that unfolded before my eyes as if I were sitting in front of a play. In the gloom of my subconscious, a black-clad female figure emerged, an entity that again defies the logic of my dream. The mystery was woven into his silhouette with a hat that hid his face and long white hair that floated like silver threads. I really hoped to see those "gods and half-bloods" again, but dreaming of women I think is an advance in my situation...
He elegantly held a staff, a staff whose tip housed a white sphere, and in his other hand he carried a kind of shield adorned with the noble image of an eagle that gave the impression of being engraved by a great craftsman. The figure exuded a supernatural presence, as if connected to forces beyond my comprehension.
Looking around, the dream took me inside what appears to be an abandoned cabin. The structure resonated with echoes of the past, the boards creaked ominously, clearly not a place I wanted to be, even less with the darkness that enveloped every corner.
The woman, her voice imbued with the wisdom that only time can confer, was conversing with a man kneeling before her.
"How are my beloved pets?" The woman asked, her voice was similar to that of a grown woman with a kind tone, "Are they anxious?"
"The-the-they lo-lo-look gre-gre-great" replied the man in front of her. "Do-do you wa-want me to do-do so-so-something, my-my lady?"
The man's nervous, fearful stutter added a layer of tension to the atmosphere. That woman seemed to possess a knowledge beyond the earthly, clearly the man was frightened and did not want to be there.
"Not at the moment," said the woman, "it's time for you to return to your punishment.
"My-my-my la-lady, I be-beg you, I can-can, I am-am us-useful," replied the frightened man, he could hear every bead of sweat running down the man's forehead "Pee-pee-mercy, I can fe-feed your pe-pets my-myself"
The man placed his head on the floor, begging the woman for what appeared to be seconds more to live. The cane with the white dial and the shield with the engraved eagle stand out in the hands of the mysterious figure, emitting a slight glow as the woman addresses her words to the kneeling man.
I couldn't help but feel that this dream, like the previous one, wasn't simply a product of my mind...
The dark web of dreams continued to unfold as the figure of the woman in black, in the middle of the abandoned cabin, uttered words that resounded like echoes of an inexorable destiny.
"No" Her voice, aged by time and with a tone of annoyance, rose into the gloom as she motioned the man not to feed her pets and the tension in the air thickened even more. "My little ones will do their best against the son of the sea," replied the woman, "their feast are coming."
The mention of this enigmatic being sent a shiver down my spine, it was as if the skink had injected me with its venom. Who is the son of the sea? is the only question that circulated in my mind at that moment, as if those words had already been in my mind before, but I am not able to remember it, also something tells me that the words "son of the sea" and "feast" make a terrible combination...
I don't even want to imagine what's going to happen to him.
It was also strange that the woman's words resonated with an intriguing duality; while warning the man of his inevitable fate.
"If you dare to intervene with my little ones, I'll give them your remains for dinner myself," the woman said in a grunt, "my pets are crucial to these events and I won't tolerate mistakes."
The air was filled with a terrible omen, when the threat was said by the woman followed by the cane shining more intensely, and I began to think that those objects in the woman's hand were not simply fashion accessories or some kind of etiquette, but some kind of artifacts with great power.
"I cannot fail the Emperor's wishes," said the woman worriedly, "he expects good news of this"
"I'm so-sorry my lady," the man said as he tried to control his body, completely terrified of the woman's words
The concern in the woman's voice added a new layer of complexity to the dialogue they had, the insinuation of pleasing the emperor seemed like it was more than a task or their current mission, it was a crucial responsibility. I began to think that she is somehow linked to the "emperor," as if she were a messenger or an intermediary between his desires. The son of the sea and the emperor?, what does it mean?, I kept thinking about it a thousand times, as if it seemed a little familiar, whatever it is I don't think it's anything good.
"Very well, then make preparations and make sure that no one can intervene," said the woman, "I don't want that old traitorous hermit to stick his nose where he shouldn't, he's already given me too much trouble and the emperor can't tolerate such insolence."
"Of-of-of course-se, my lady, I-I will do-do it imme-mediate-tely," replied the poor man
Then the man hurried to his task, got up and left the hut, leaving the woman alone in the center who remained motionless.
—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—
After being a little more than two hours of travel the basket of the balloon landed softly on the airfield at the navy base, as promised Haru woke me up the moment our transport touched the ground, when I woke up I stared at him.
"What the hell are you looking at me?!, Do I have something on my face?"
"What?" Percy said, "I wasn't listening."
I was still confused, first I dream of gods and now of dark women... It doesn't make any sense, I don't know if I'm going crazy. Anyway, Haru got out of our transport and I followed him.
"Pe-Pe-Percy," Haru said frightened.
"Now you're going to start stuttering too," I said annoyed. "What the hell is going on these last few days?"
Looking in the direction Haru was looking and not stopping shaking I could understand the reason, in the background an older man with a serious expression was slowly approaching us. Mr. Jeong Jeong stood up and carried a training hammer with him, which he held firmly from the handle in his right hand, and I can swear that instead of his eyes, two flames were burning with great violence. Haru exchanged nervous glances with me, wondering us which of the two options was better... Run or commit suicide, there were no other options.
"You two idiots!" Grandpa Jeong shouted from his position not far from ours, "Do you have any idea how much time I've spent looking for you?"
"We went for a walk," Haru said. "There's a great view from the balloon, did you know?"
I know perfectly well that Haru's intention was to smooth over the situation, giving a believable excuse, I mean, it's not the first time we've gotten into trouble and he knows how to handle those situations perfectly, however, after hearing those words, Grandpa Jeong seemed to engulf his face in flames, making evident his displeasure with Haru's comment..
"You don't think he'll use that hammer against us, do you?" He asked whispering to Haru, it was a training hammer, it wasn't lethal, just painful... but in Jeong's hands...
"No, he just took it to scare us," Haru replied in a whisper, "don't worry, I know him well."
"I've been looking for them all day!, A whole day!"
"We're sorry grandpa HAHAHA, I swear it won't happen aga-"
Haru's face was on the ground before he could conclude his sentence and false promise, Grandpa Jeong rushed over hitting him hard with the hammer.
"Dude, I think you're wrong..."
Without thinking, Jeong Jeong threw a second punch again, this time with the opposite side of the hammer hitting my face this time and I ended up in the same way as Haru
"My time is too valuable to waste on you two idiots!" Jeong said, raising his arm with the gun again. "A whole day! That's what you owe me"
"GRANDFATHER DON'T WORRY!, Percy and I are really sorry!"
Surprisingly, Haru's voice changed from its usual mocking and relaxed tone to a voice with a high-pitched tone, it was more like that of a 6-year-old begging for his life.
"Put that hammer down, you don't know what you can do with it," Haru said, completely terrified. "I beg you! It was Percy's idea!"
"You damned traitor! "I couldn't believe he threw me into the dragon
"I don't care whose damn idea it was, I don't care where they went, all I care about is watching them suffer," Grandpa Jeong slowly began to laugh slowly "Je-He-Ja-Je-Ja-Je-He"
"But what kind of laughter is that?!" Haru and I shouted at the same time, it was terrifying
From one moment to the next the hammer was burning, surrounded by blue flames, ready to attack and end our lives.
"Do your best not to die," Jeong said, with a gloomy smile. "Percy, when you can get up, show up in the main square of Palace City, the tournament will start tomorrow exactly at dawn."
"GRANDPA, MERCY!" were Haru's last words
Without waiting another second, Grandpa Jeong Jeong hit the ground in a space that separates my face from Haru's, but we didn't get away with it, the hammer full of flames charged with great murderous energy caused a huge crater two meters deep and the shockwave blew Haru and me into the air burning everything around us.
—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—
When I was able to open my eyes I got up with a start, my eyes blinked slowly as I tried to assimilate the reality that unfolded in front of me but what really captured my attention was the dull rumble that echoed in my ears.
Do you know what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night in the middle of an airfield with your burnt clothes totally consumed by the blue burning flames of your best friend's grandfather?, it is not a pleasant experience at all or that anyone would like to repeat, when I stood up I took a look around and I could pay more attention to the place that was a few meters from where I slept, I marveled at the immense power of old Jeong Jeong and wondered, how is it possible that at sixty-something years old Jeong is so powerful? That shouldn't be possible.
Thankful that I hadn't been at the impact site I promised myself that I wouldn't provoke Jeong's anger again, next time he can aim for my head and if something like that happens I'll blame Haru. I wiped the dust and ashes from my body, but there was a more pressing matter.
"I need some clothes, or at least enough to cover my private parts."
"Well thought out, Percy"
"Aaahhh!"
It was Ijichi, sitting on a blanket on the floor next to me holding a bottle full of my Dad's favorite tea.
"Old man, you frightened me!" I exclaimed, surprised, "How long have you been sitting there?"
Ijichi slowly drank from the tea and slowly replied
"Ever since they fainted," Ijichi replied, "your father was here until a few moments ago, but his presence was required to fine-tune the final details of tomorrow's event.
"You mean you saw us coming down from the balloon?"
"That's right boy" Ijichi replied, taking another sip of the drink, "we saw them before we landed, even though they were at a very high altitude. To be honest, Jeong wanted to take them down by shooting a flaming arrow with a note saying 'I hope you die slowly' and he would have thrown it if it wasn't for your father convincing him not to.
"Thank Agni that my father was present."
"Your father said that if he shot down the balloon in the air, the debris caused by the explosion could fall on some innocent people, plus Jeong would have to spend his money on repairs" Ijichi said, "and finally he mentioned that no one would be willing to clean up yours charred corpses. So your father asked Jeong to hold back on the punishment"
"You could use us to feed the komodo rhinos," I said sarcastically
"Exactly! That's what I said to your father, but he dismissed the idea because he's not willing to sacrifice innocent animals"
"I see," I said sarcastically again, "but what are you doing here?"
"Your father asked me to bury the bodies if they didn't survive and to get rid of the existing evidence. It's a pity I brought my shovel in vain"
Ijichi took his shovel and stuffed it inside a black bag, looking a little disappointed as if he had failed to calculate the nation's annual budget...
"Either way, Percy you have to prepare your strategy for tomorrow and rest if possible"
"But I still don't know what the phases of the tournament are, they always change and so it's impossible to make a strategy," I reminded him of certain facts about the tournament
"JEJEJE, calm young man, how lucky you are to have me as your ally."
"Will you tell me about the tournament?"
"But of course," Ijichi replied, "with a proper reward, I can give you specific details, and in this way you will have the advantage and help Zuko. It's a win-win"
"A bribe?, are you serious?... Is the nation really in good hands?
"I think of it as a reward and not as a bribe... Do we have a small deal?"
"I don't have many options."
"Excellent! but first get some clothes," Ijichi said. "Just by looking at you I know you're freezing to death"
There were no clothes left in me, on the other hand around me there was only a pile of rubble and ashes, but then I remembered Haru, and the only thing that survived him were his pants as they were made by specialized craftsmen capable of creating suitable clothing for those who need it.
My friend is useless when it comes to firebending in its use with his hands and arms, but his legs are different, they are able to resist fire without burning the skin making Haru even able to walk on lava without anything happening to him, we haven't checked, but we believe that, considering what we've seen him capable of doing. And because of this, Jeong Jeong got him clothes with the goal that he wouldn't turn to ashes with just one kick.
I walked over to Haru, who was just a few feet away from me, and if someone saw us like this, they would surely get a bad impression of us. I quickly took off my friend's pants now leaving him naked.
"You know something, seeing it like that makes me feel a little sorry for him" I said as I looked at my friend still on the ground
"I thought the same of you before you woke up, boy," Ijichi said as I dressed in Harry's pants "ready?"
"I am, let's go"
Don't think badly of me, he asked for it himself when he betrayed me with Grandpa Jeong, I'm sure that when he wakes up he will find clothes as if he had prepared them in advance for such a situation.
—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—
When I got to my room I quickly took a shower and dressed appropriately, when I finished I went to Ijichi office.
With two light knocks on the door I said "It's me, Mr. Ijichi, Percy."
From the other side of the door, a voice other than Ijichi's answered
"Go ahead"
I opened the door, the room was very similar to my father's office, except for one big detail, the office was full of books on the shelves, some from world history, economics, monster study, etc. On the floor there was a pile of unreviewed notes or files, evidently it was Mr. Ijichi's job, after all he is in charge of maintaining "good" relations with other nations and reviewing the budget of everything that concerns the nation.
"Welcome and goodnight Percy," said Jackie sitting on the couch, "I was waiting for you.
"I suppose," said Percy, "what are you doing here? I was supposed to see Tontichi"
"I know, he asked me to take care of talking to you, since he has to take care of some details tomorrow."
"Why can't he?"
"It's simple enough, my friend," Jackie replied, "if someone saw you talking with the right hand of your father, the fire lord Iroh, and then you won a tournament he and your father set up, what do you think that would look like?"
"In that case I can't talk to you either, you're my father's bodyguard."
"It's true, but I'm still seen as a simple novice, all the attention is taken by the old man, which favors me and leaves me free in some matters."
"Ah"
"Well, pay attention, this will be fast."
Jackie got up, closed the windows and the door making sure no one was around to hear us.
"I told the servants not to come up to this floor for today," Jackie said, "but we're still short on time."
"What did you tell them?"
"It's simple, Ozai got upset with your father and when that happens no one wants to bother him. Listen, I can only tell you that some monsters are going to participate in the tournament this year."
"That's not unusual," I replied, as it wasn't anything out of the ordinary "they've been used as obstacles a few times before"
"Yes, but they didn't use an entire dungeon as proof of survival."
"What, a dungeon? Where?"
"After the knockout phase, the tournament will continue on an island near Ignea, Ozai found a hidden dungeon and proposed that it be used as a test in the competition" Jackie responded.
"Do you know what we have to do there?"
"Apparently your father asked Ozai to clean it of the most dangerous monsters and hide sixteen scrolls all over the cave, the participants will move on to the next round if they can come out with a scroll in their hand
"It sounds difficult, but I don't think I'll have any problems."
"I wouldn't think that if I were you," Jackie opined
"Why?"
"Just think a little about the situation, this year many soldiers and firebenders who come from well-to-do families in the politics of our nation are going to participate, they will cheat without thinking twice, inside the dungeon they will not have the protection they have outside. You'll be alone and unsupervised! Anyone can attack you, and it's not like you're well-liked as a member of the royal family..."
Unfortunately it is true, not counting Ozai there are many who want me outside of this palace.
"Not only do you have to watch out for the other competitors," Jackie said, "you also have to watch out for the monsters, and don't forget that Ozai was in the dungeon before everyone else, only he knows it well, and I wouldn't be surprised if he set up a trap. Do you understand now?"
"Shit, what did I get myself into?"
"Exactly! Jackie exclaimed, "but you can get ready, the supervisory staff won't check the equipment you enter the dungeon with, so I've got a couple of things ready for you that can help you"
"I'm glad to have you on my side and Ijichi too, I'd be happier if you hadn't charged me for the information you were going to give me."
"HAHAHA I understand you, one last thing Percy, your brother asked me to give you a gift from him. I left the box in your room along with a letter he wrote. Good luck tomorrow my friend and I'm leaving, I have to review some things for tomorrow—
Jackie left Ijichi's office just like I did, when I got to my room two boxes were on my bed, one from Jackie with the things she prepared for my trip to the dungeon and another with a letter on top of it. I quickly opened it and started reading it.
—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—
For Percy
I hope that when you read this letter you will be in a good frame of mind and with the necessary determination to face the challenges that the tournament has in store for you. I deeply regret that I can't be there to see you, but I want you to know that my spirit will be with you every step you take in the arena. However, be very careful, there will be many other competitors who, like you, will not be alone during the competition so you must be very careful, this tournament not only proposes physical challenges but also mental challenges so keep your eyes peeled.
I have no doubt that you will achieve victory because you have always demonstrated exceptional prowess in combat and in the use of the sword, I have full confidence in your abilities and to overcome any challenge that arises.
I look forward to the day when we can come together again and celebrate your triumph. By the way, I want to remind you that the chainmail you carry with you is exceptional and a small gift from me will be needed. Its resistance to cuts is astounding and no sword can pierce through. In addition, it offers formidable fire protection, giving you an additional advantage in the fight. Trust your team and your skills, and I'm sure you'll become the undisputed champion.
I wish you the best of luck, Percy. I'll be eagerly awaiting hearing from you.
With all my support. Your brother"
If you are interested in reading more chapters of this fanfic or the other fanfics, before they are published here on fanfiction, AO3 and Wattpad
You can do it on P treon: Xifos&Gladius
Thanks to Ken Harris, Ravunz, Stefan Gottlieb, joshua scroggins, Benji, Rocket22, Luis, Chronicle Clock, God of Wind 200, Alchem, Orioles Enjoyer, Raj, James Cavazos , United Federation, Daniel bridges , XVenomX159, Voidful 911, Malignance, luis a. v. r., Henry, Daniel R. and OettamLass for their support on P treon
If you liked it, comment and vote in favor, the review helps to improve.
I don't own the images, credits to whom it belongs
