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.
Third Person's Point of View
Did you know that throughout history, royalty has been the target of multiple assassination attempts and conspiracies?...
From ancient times to the modern era, the power and privileged position of Fire Nation monarchs has generated envy and resentment among those who do not share their status. And these feelings of hatred have led disgruntled individuals to plot attempts on the lives of members of the royal family.
On many occasions, assassination attempts have been politically motivated. Coups d'état, popular revolts, and conspiracies that have led ambitious individuals to seek to remove leaders in order to usurp the throne or change the political course of the nation. However, the dangers have not only come from external forces such as the Great Earth Kingdom that in the past, long before the appearance of the monsters, she was considered on different occasions the greatest enemy of the Fire Nation, and vice versa, launching attacks, provoking wars of a few years, and sometimes they were successful in assassinating a member of the Fire Nation. royal family or an important member in internal politics…
But today, the dangers exist within the very walls of the nation, with members of the royal family themselves have been the target of assassination attempts by other members of the dynasty. In a struggle for power and succession, heirs to the throne have often conspired to eliminate their rivals, whether by poisoning, strangulation, incineration, or any other means available.
These internal conflicts within the royal family can trigger turbulent periods of intrigue and violence, weakening the nation's stability or provoking civil wars. Throughout history and especially in this family there have been numerous examples of assassination attempts, and these events serve as a reminder of the dangers inherent in the possession of power and the fragility of the position of royalty, in short, assassination attempts are quite common and are more than those recorded in the history books...
Well...in a peculiar way...it happened to Percy...
...
...
Feng caused a slight explosion at the base of the Great Gates of Azulon, one with enough power to blow up a person, Percy managed to dodge the attack by the skin of his teeth.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Percy quickly grabbed his sword.
"That's the idea," Feng said, launching another attack "That could have killed me."
Jumping, Percy managed to avoid Feng's flare and then approached and with a punch to the face made him retreat.
"You'll pay for that, you damn dog," Feng wiped the blood from his nose after Percy's blow, then took out a knife he was carrying
"¡Enought! " said Jackie
From one moment to the next Jackie was holding Feng's arm tightly, and was at his side with a creepy smile.
"Didn't my sister tell you?" Jackie asked "At this stage of the competition it's not allowed to attack another competitor, it's just an endurance race. Therefore, there is no reason to fight each other, you will do that at the last stage in the individual combats, until then, no one can kill anyone..."
Before answering, Feng tried to free himself from Jackie's grip, but was unsuccessful.
"Let go of me, you bastard!" Feng said.
"Didn't you hear me? I asked them if they understood," Jackie repeated, tightening her grip tighter and staring at Feng as she held his arm, unblinking
"YES!, I heard clearly!" Feng said
At that moment Jackie opened her hand. Feng took a few steps back as he tried to hide the pain caused by Jackie's strength. "What kind of force is that?" He asked himself.
So, Jackie's voice changed to a friendly tone as usual. "That goes for you, too, Percy," Jackie said, "put that sword away before your father comes."
"HEY!" Fang shouted, "Are you going to allow him to cheat? Will you turn a blind eye?"
"What are you talking about?!" Percy said, "I don't... I cheated. The watermines exploded!
"Enough!" said Jackie "When my sister arrives, you'll talk to her. She's the expert in these cases, but I tell you that making that kind of accusation without evidence doesn't make you look good, guys... But you decide what to do"
The twins fell silent, more and more of the participants of the race arriving at the great gates of Azulón realizing the altercation that had happened.
"Is a non-bender like him able to get there first?" Feng said "At the start of the race he was in last place and now he's the first to arrive. Do you need another proof?"
"I see..." said Jackie
The crowd remained silent, waiting for Jackie's response. Worried about what he was going to say and wondering if Percy really cheated, Feng's argument was selfish, but it made a bit of sense. In the entire history of the Fire Nation, no master has ever been able to beat someone who is, let alone win the tournament.
"Young Feng... you..." Jackie said seriously, "you're afraid that Percy is much more talented and stronger than you, aren't you?"
"What?... I don't..." Feng said lost and disbelieving.
"Don't worry. It's no shame. Jackie replied in a mocking tone, "It's quite understandable that you would try to discredit Percy since you're afraid of him and don't want to lose the tournament. Can a non-teacher beat a teacher? Come to think of it, it's absurd, my friend.
"I'm not afraid of that dog!" Feng replied annoyed, "it's impossible for him to beat me."
"Are you serious?" Jackie asked
"Obviously!"
"Then why do you want him to be disqualified if you're not afraid of him?" Jackie said, "If you're so sure that a non-bender won't beat you, then why don't you give it a try?"
"I..."
Feng looked around and noticed that everyone was staring at him. Nervous and not knowing what to answer, he looked at his brother, who was in the same condition. "Are you afraid of no-bender?" was what someone present asked from the background, which caused a huge rage in the twins' hearts.
"Of course I'm not afraid of that damn dog!" Feng replied after a few seconds of silence "Percy!"
"Yes?" replied the green-eyed black-haired man cautiously
"The tournament isn't over yet, so get ready," Feng said before shouting, "I'LL DESTROY YOU!"
Percy didn't say anything, he was just attentive to everyone as boats of the armada approached the gates of Azulon, that they were the transport to take the participants who managed to pass the heats to the next phase. Jackie cleared his voice and turned to those present to give them instructions.
"Very well, attention!" Jackie said "I congratulate everyone who has been able to get to this point, they have passed the first phase of the tournament, but don't be complacent, the tests will get more and more difficult and this was just the beginning. Get into the boats, they will take you to the mainland where you will see our current Fire Lord Iroh. Treat him with respect, brats"
All the participants walked towards the boats, the rather annoyed twins looked at Percy with an irresistible desire to be able to murder him before getting into the boat.
"They love me," Percy said curtly before boarding the ship
Once the ships were full, they set sail for the coast. The sun was at its highest, illuminating everything around it, filling the entire Fire Nation with light, with the sky blue and clear. The boat glided smoothly over the calm waters toward the shore, while the group of competitors, still drenched with salt water and sweat from the intense elimination process beforehand, relaxed as they felt the warm sea breeze caress their faces. The soft sound of the waves crashing against the boat's hull created a soothing melody that enveloped everyone on board.
Above the great blue sky the seabirds, in their graceful flight seemed to escort the group, while the fish leapt playfully through the crystal clear waters adding a touch of life and movement to the stage. The staff on board, attentive to the needs of the competitors, provided them with clean, fresh water to refresh their bodies, adding a touch of pleasure to the idyllic landscape.
"All right, brats," said Jackie at the back of the boat, "enjoy your quiet moments while you can. Water is going to be the only thing we're going to give them until the next stage. Do you understand?
A palpable tension hung in the air, like a dark shadow that threatens to tarnish the beauty of the moment. One of the participants, Feng, with a hate-heavy gaze was still furtively watching Percy from his seat. Jealous and resentful of the previous humiliation, he nurtured a stormy homicidal emotion that threatened to boil over at any moment. The other participants could not help but sense the tension between the two participants and some looked at each other with gestures of uncertainty. A few murmurs were beginning to erupt, as they wondered quietly if Feng's words were ?..true. It was all they were thinking about. Speculations and doubts mingled with the gentle murmur of the sea, creating an atmosphere full of intrigue and suspicion that was difficult to avoid.
"Shit, Percy," Jackie said, "they really hate you."
"Thank you," Percy said as he looked at his friend, "I didn't know"
"It's my pleasure," Jackie replied with a smile at Percy's sarcasm
Meanwhile, the boat continued on its way to shore, oblivious to the human drama unfolding inside. The golden sunlight bathed the landscape in comforting warmth while tension persisted, waiting for the right moment to burst forth and reveal the truth hidden beneath the "calm" surface of that journey.
After a short period the boat stopped.
"We've arrived!" Jackie said cheerfully. "Please clear the boat before someone kills Percy, thanks..."
When they got off, multiple members of the Navy were patrolling the perimeter, attentively watching each of the participants in search of some excuse to beat them up. Ahead, a few yards from their position, a small tent was improvised, but well placed it sat on what appears to be a huge hand-carved square wooden table like the one that stood in the office of the firelord Iroh.
"Why are there so many guards?" Fang said, "Is the dungeon so dangerous?"
"Ahhh an apology young people, I asked my staff not to make a fuss but my royal guard insists on following me everywhere."
Everyone was astonished just by hearing that voice and without waiting long they knelt down... Except Percy.
"My lord," they said in unison, "it is an honour to be in your presence
"Hahaha you don't need to be so formal," said Iroh, "the protagonists here are you since I'm not the one who will enter the dungeon."
"My lord! Feng said, "if you would allow me to mention-"
"Father!"Percy said cheerfully "I didn't think I'd see you today
"I didn't son either and I made a space in my schedule to be able to attend, after all it is an important event" the fire lord responded with a smile
"Lord Percy!" Linlin said seriously, "What kind of manners are those?"
Confused, Percy looked at the young lady, she was wearing her military uniform from the waist down but everything else was out of place.
"Right now you're in front of our fire lord and you have to show even more respect, even if he is your father, right now you're in the middle of a pretty important event..."
"Lin!" Percy interrupted seriously, "Can I ask you a question?... It's of the utmost importance"
A bewildered Lin looked at Percy.
"What's wrong?" She asked in a tone of real concern "Is everything okay?"
With a short pause, Percy approached her and said:
"What the hell are you wearing?"
"What?" Linlin said, "You mean this shirt?. I bought it on my trip to the water tribes. It's very comfortable.
"This is bad" Percy said rather dazed "It is not normal"
"Hey! What are you talking about?"
"Father!" Percy said "Did you notice it?"
At this point, not only was Linlin wondering what was going on, but everyone present, the participants and the members of the navy and royal guard looked at each other in confusion.
"Enemy attack?" A soldier asked
Hearing these words, all the members of the royal guard were placed in a combat position whose objective was to protect their lord from the fire.
"I'm afraid not," said Percy.
"Calm down Percy," said Iroh, "say it, everything will be alright, boy."
Percy looked up and stared into Linlin's face.
"Lin you... you—" said Percy, "I mean you—"
"What? Percy I don't understand anything!"
"Military pants, expensive shirt from the water tribe, recently groomed hair and nails, necessary makeup. Percy said, "It only indicates one thing.
"That's right Percy, I'm afraid your suspicions are true." said his father
"Linlin, you... You're still in love with my brother, you dressed up like you've never done before because you thought he'd come..."
Everyone was stunned.
The gentle breeze caressed his face as the group gawked. Linlin's hands became restless, fiddling with the folds of his shirt trying to stay calm, his breathing became shallower and faster.
A sudden blush began to spread across her cheeks, tinting her skin a deep pink hue that contrasted with the blue of the sky and sea. She tried to hide her nervousness behind a forced smile, but her eyes betrayed the anxiety that throbbed inside her.
Aware of her sudden change of color, the young woman averted her gaze, feeling the shame burn on her cheeks even more intensely. She tried to find solace in the serene landscape around her, but the sense of discomfort lingered like a fire fanned by her own anxious thoughts.
In a desperate attempt she held her breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and concentrated on anything that might be of use to her. However, the blush persisted, remembering her vulnerability at that moment.
"The love of youth is beautiful," Jeong Jeong said
Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, the young woman knew that his face betrayed her inner state of agitation. Shee could only hope that the moment of shame would pass as it was a losing struggle against her own feelings.
"Can we continue with the competition?" Ozai interrupted, completely bored
"You're right," Iroh replied cheerfully. "Dear, you can explain the dungeon now."
"..."
But Linlin remained immersed in her thoughts.
"Linlin?"
"What, ah, yes right away," Linlin replied
With a breath Linlin was able to concentrate enough to continue with her work, still with a blushing face she continued with the explanation.
"First of all, I congratulate you for being able to get here, originally we considered that about fifty participants would pass the qualifying phase, but due to the current events and difficulties, that is, the explosion of the water mines left most of the participants out of action. At this time, a team of the navy is still searching the entire area of the route for survivors and I am happy to report that no one has died so far. Now pay attention. Only thirty-seven of you advanced to the next stage, to the dungeon... Sixteen scrolls have been hidden inside this dungeon newly discovered by Lord Ozai, and they can be found anywhere. The scroll has a red ribbon on it, and that's what you guys are supposed to get... To pass this test, all you have to do is enter the dungeon, it's to find one of those scrolls, and exit the dungeon in less than twenty-four hours. However, the dungeon also contains monsters strong enough to seriously injure or even kill you, so you must be very careful"
"It doesn't seem to be that difficult," Fang said confidently
"I assure you that it is not so, inside the dungeon they will be completely alone, the members of the army will not be there to take care of them or help them in case something goes terribly wrong. If any of you don't want to take the risk, it's time for you to say so"
Everyone was silent.
"Very well," Linlin said, "if you have no other doubts, it's time to get started. One last thing, the order of entry..."
"Order of entry?" some asked
"Of course!" Linlin replied "You will enter the dungeon each within ten minutes of time in the same order in which you arrived at the great gates of Azulon.
The participants were stunned for a few moments and then expressed their discontent, raising their voices expressing their disagreement and discontent with indignant murmurs and shouts. Tension builded up quickly, so much so that it threatens to erupt at any moment.
"What kind of absurd rule is that?!" Some participants of the fund shouted
"Listen guys!" Linlin replied, "Lower your voice and pay attention, the order of entry is exactly the same as the one the qualifiers ended with, therefore, Percy you will go first.
The participants' faces reflected a mixture of annoyance and confusion. Some frown, incredulous at the apparent lack of organization. The sense of injustice spread like a virus among the crowd, fueling discontent and indignation.
"That's not fair!" The twins said in unison
"It's unfair that Percy is the first to enter, he cheated and that's why he was the first to arrive. Feng said, "I should be the first to enter, my position was the number one spot in the competition.
"You're right, young Feng," Linlin said
"Of course!" Feng replied casting a glance of superiority at Percy
"However," Linlin continued, "your place was first at the start of the competition, and in the end you were overtaken by Percy.
"Not that... He cheated!"
Tempers flared and arguments intensified as frustration peaked. The moment Feng accused Percy everyone remained silent, paying attention to the accusation brought against Percy.
"Really?" Linlin replied, "Do you have proof?"
"I don't... but..."
"Then tell me exactly how did Percy cheat?" How did he get there first? Do you know how he did it?
"I don't know," Feng replied, "but I'm sure, it's obvious, how it's possible that a non-bender like him is able to win us all over.
"Ahhh..." Linlin sighed, "Listen, young Feng, Percy doesn't..."
"Percy didn't cheat," Ozai said, "you should be ashamed of yourself, to make such an accusation in this tournament without evidence is an offense to us. The one who should leave is you"
"I don't..."
"Do you dare to answer me?" Ozai got up from his seat right next to his brother "Are you an idiot? Answer me!"
"..."
Feng's trembling hands and pale, sorrowful face reflected the terror he feels at Ozai's unleashed fury. His heart was pounding so hard that it was easy to hear him from a few steps away, and a sense of paralyzing terror gripped the other participants. For a moment, time seems to stand still as Feng tries to find the right words to answer, however, he couldn't think of something.
"That's what I thought," Ozai said. "Do you think we didn't notice that your henchmen delayed Percy during the race? Personally that was quite funny, however, Percy managed to turn the matter around and didn't complain. But you... You don't know shame brat, you're a disgrace to the competition, you're...
"Wow wow wow it's enough brother," interrupted Iroh, "you don't have to go that far, come on guys! Don't worry, Ozai was just joking, right? ha ha ha
"Of course not!" Ozai replied
"Brother, you're not helping."
The atmosphere is tense and charged with emotion, the silence becomes a palpable, heavy and oppressive presence. It spreads out like a dense fog, enveloping everyone present in an uncomfortable, suffocating arm.
Their eyes meet and move away quickly, as if they fear disturbing the fragile calm that Ozai offered with his intervention. The sound of a pin falling to the ground could echo like thunder in the midst of the overwhelming stillness. And a shiver runs down the backs of those present, while silence becomes a force that seems imprisoned in its unwanted company.
"But what the hell just happened? Did Ozai defend me?" Percy asked himself again and again in search of meaning in an event he would not have imagined in a million years.
"Can I say something, father?" A voice came from the center of the participants
"Go ahead," replied Ozai, "what have you to say?"
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity, father," Zuko said. "Well, I don't think Percy cheated, I think he just got a boost from the blast wave from the sea mines and that way he managed to outmaneuver the others by taking advantage of the confusion"
"Zuko?! Well, that way the damn twins won't have to say, 'Thanks for backing me up, dude,' Percy thought quickly "Zuko you are amazing"
"Are you serious Zuko?!" Fang said.
"What's the problem?" Zuko replied, "Look on the bright side, my friend.
"And what exactly would that be?" Feng replied
"Wait a minute, this smells bad to me," Percy said in his thoughts
"Percy will be the first person to enter the dungeon, right?" Zuko asked
"And he'll also be the person who has the most advantage to find some damn scroll," the participants replied, some indignant and some annoyed
"That may be true," Zuko said, "but he'll also be the first to see the monsters, he'll find the dungeon intact, and all the monsters may kill him before he finds any scrolls, but what's in it for us? It's simple! the presence of fewer monsters, everyone will chase after him and he will leave the way clear"
Zuko's words lit up the twins' eyes as if they were finding a hidden treasure full of gold where the heart beats hard in the chest, like a drum announcing the arrival of fortune. A wave of disbelief, euphoria and hope ran through every fiber of skin on the twins' bodies and their eyes... And Percy wasn't sure, but he could swear they were filled with tears of joy.
"Very well," Feng said cheerfully after clearing his voice "there is no remedy, Percy will enter the dungeon first. There's nothing we can do."
"True! after all, he won in the endurance race, let's be fair," Fang said, trying to hide the ghoulish smile on his face
"Could they better hide their happiness at my inevitable death?" Percy asked annoyably, "But what the hell is wrong with you? You damn sadists!"
The other participants accepted Zuko's words as did the twins, the idea of Percy dying and leaving the way clear for the others was too appealing.
"Very well," Linlin said, "if there are no more questions or complaints, we will begin the next stage. Percy..."
"Yes?" Percy said, not very confident now about his luck.
"I hope you're ready, good luck."
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