N/A: Hello everyone, JkAlex is back!
To tell you the truth, I didn't expect to post this story again so soon, but when I saw the amount of acceptance I received just for the prologue, it was a great support to write the first chapter. Seriously, guys, I love you in a non-gay way. XD
Before we start the story, a few clarifications:
1-The story will be told from a third person point of view, limited to the character. This means that each chapter will focus on one character, similar to how the Heroes of Olympus books are written. One chapter might focus on Percy, the next on Zuko, then Aang, and so on. Some will have more chapters of their own than others, but I will strive to give each character their moment to shine. Obviously, Percy will be the main protagonist with the most screen time, but the story won't focus on him alone. That would be boring.
2-My goal with this fic is to explore what might come to pass in the Avatar world when a demigod as powerful as Percy is present. Perhaps some may feel insecure about the fact that I gave Percy the Curse of Achilles when he is already a powerful demigod in his own right, but I think things will be much more interesting that way.
3-As for the level of power involved, I'm going to clarify something that many have in mind. Yes, Percy will be powerful enough to stand up to Aang while using the Avatar State...eventually.
4-The story will focus a lot on Percy's growth, not only in terms of his powers and abilities, but also as a person. I want to make the character development as good as Zuko's was in the canon (although it's going to be a real challenge because Zuko's character has some of the best character development I've seen in any story).
5-The impact that Percy would have on the Avatar world will be far more significant than someone powerful being able to stand up to the Avatar in his full power. And I hope you like to see a character grow, stumble, fall, make mistakes, and then get up and be better, because those are my favorite stories. And that is what I will do with Percy. He's not a perfect character the way a lot of fiction tends to make him out to be. He makes mistakes like we all do, especially when he was a kid, but he was able to grow as a person by recognizing his mistakes. A clear example of this is his relationship with his brother Tyson in The Sea of Monsters.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. You came to read the first chapter of this story, and that is what I am going to give you.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. You have come to read the first chapter of this story, and that is what I will give you.
And without further ado... Let's go!
Chapter 1
The Son of Piandao
Percy
11 years later
Even before he opened his eyes, Percy felt tired and wanted to go back to sleep.
Despite the first rays of sunlight filtering through his window in the early morning, he couldn't find the strength to get out of bed.
The sun began to peek over the horizon, bathing the people of Shu Jing in its warm, invigorating light. As residents of the Fire Nation, everyone was in the habit of rising with the sunlight to begin a new day.
Percy, on the other hand, did his best to hide from the sunlight, covering himself even more with his sheets with a grunt of annoyance.
The sound of someone knocking at the door dissuaded him from any attempt to go back to sleep.
"Young master," a man's voice called, "I'm coming in."
The door opened and in walked Fat, holding a uniform of black, brown, and red.
"Young master," Fat repeated, approaching the bed where the boy slept and shaking him lightly by the shoulder. "Master Percy. It is morning."
"Mmm... Two more hours, Fat," Percy grunted, snuggling further into his bed.
"You'll be late for class if you don't get up."
"All the more reason to stay in bed."
Fat sighed, as if he was waiting for that kind of answer.
"You won't get your breakfast if you stay in bed," he said, laying the uniform at the foot of the bed.
Percy didn't answer, considering whether to leave his comfortable bed to eat or go back to sleep.
"If you get up and make your bed, I'll add three extra large portions of onigiri to your lunch," Fat offered.
That got his attention as he moved the sheets to partially expose his face and sleepy eyes.
"With nori seaweed?"
"Crunchy and slightly smoky, just the way you like it, young master."
That was enough to get Percy out of bed, though he did so reluctantly. He scratched the back of his head and stifled a yawn. He glanced down at the uniform at the foot of his bed and frowned when he saw the headpiece.
"Fat, don't make me wear that thing, please," he said, sounding almost pleading.
"Your father wants you to, young master. He says you look good with your hair up," Fat said. "He's waiting for you in the dining room. Breakfast is served."
Fat left the room, closing the door and leaving Percy alone, who sighed in resignation as he looked displeased at the headpiece with a small Fire Nation emblem inlaid into it. He didn't like the accessory. It made him feel stupid and presumptuous, but he wanted to please his father.
'Stupid topknot,' he thought, sighing in resignation before grabbing his uniform, which consisted of brown pants, a black vest with red trim, and a red sash with the school emblem.
He went to the bathroom with the intention of taking a shower, as it always woke him up in the morning and revitalized him for the day.
After showering and quickly and sloppily dressing in his school uniform, Percy hurried through the halls, struggling with his unruly hair as he tried to put his bun on properly. Another reason he didn't like wearing a bun was that it was too much trouble, as his hair had a tendency to look messy no matter what he did.
He finally managed to get his hair into a halfway decent bun when he reached the dining room. Before opening the door, he took a moment to notice the huge lotus figure forged into the door, with the emblem of the Fire Nation in the center. Percy always found this figure curious, as he could see it in various parts of the castle.
The dining room was large enough to perfectly seat a battalion and still have room to spare. The huge windows let in the sunlight, along with the warm summer breezes characteristic of the Fire Islands. The floor was stone, decorated with red carpets, and wooden pillars on the sides of the hall supported the ceiling, which was nearly ten meters high.
In the center of the room was a wooden table for only six people, counterbalancing the enormous size of the dining room.
"Percy," said a man sitting at the head of the table, holding a steaming cup of tea. "Nice of you to join us for breakfast so early. Although Fat told me, he had to give you an incentive to do so."
Percy felt his face burn with slight embarrassment, he wasn't a morning person, he realized that. He walked over to the table and sat down in the chair to the man's right.
"Good morning, dad," he greeted.
Piandao set the teacup down on the table, and his lips curved into a smile as he looked at Percy.
"Good morning, my son."
Fat walked in the door, holding two trays of breakfast and placing them on the table. Percy looked at the traditional breakfast of rice, fish, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and boiled greens. Even though he was only an eleven-year-old boy, he could eat the same amount as an adult. His father and he shared the same ration. Even so, Percy knew he would be hungry again in a few hours.
They both thanked each other for breakfast and began to eat in pleasant silence.
A few minutes passed before Piandao spoke.
"How's school going?"
Percy grimaced slightly at the question.
"Fine," he replied. "Things are... fine. I'm not the brightest student in the class, but my grades stay at 'acceptable'."
Piandao chuckled with amusement.
"Don't worry too much about your grades. I remember I was pretty hectic at your age, so I didn't pay much attention in class."
Percy didn't want to tell her that he not only didn't pay attention in class, he fell asleep in class. He had lost count of the number of times he had been reprimanded or punished for it. It wasn't his fault that the classes were so boring. All they did most of the time was study the history of the Fire Nation and how glorious it was.
"Although I enjoy the music lessons," Percy added, "I've become quite proficient on the flute!"
Percy reached into his vest and pulled out a bamboo reed flute, a dizi. Under Piandao's watchful and curious gaze, Percy placed his lips over the flute's mouthpiece and began to blow. His fingers trembled slightly, but he managed to play a short melody that he had been practicing for the past few days.
When he finished, Percy looked up expectantly and felt a twinge of pride as he saw his father nod in satisfaction.
"That was great, Percy," he said. "Everyone needs to find something to help them relax and focus their minds."
Percy's shoulders slumped slightly, and he looked down at the flute in his hands.
"I wish I could say the same about calligraphy or painting..."
"You need not have the same passions as mine," Piandao said sympathetically. "I would be more than happy for you to cultivate your own. And from what I can see, you have talent with the flute."
"I wouldn't say talent, I've just practiced a lot."
Piandao nodded, a smile on his lips.
"That's even better."
"Why? Isn't it better to be talented at something than to just practice it?"
"Maybe most people think that way, but I don't. Remember, Percy, talent has limits. Effort and passion do not. Only with determination and discipline will you go farther than someone who relies on talent alone."
Despite his father's words of encouragement, Percy still felt a little discouraged as he looked at the flute. He didn't want to be good at calligraphy or painting to have the same passions as his father, but for something else. Something he had longed for since he was eight years old.
As Percy finished his breakfast, Fat opened the door and approached them.
"Master, there is a visitor to see you," the butler reported.
"Another prospective student?" asked Piandao, without looking up from his breakfast.
"That's right."
"I see," Piandao ate a portion of fish and took a sip of tea before standing up. "Let's see if this visitor is someone worthy."
"Like the other five that came this week?" Percy asked, sounding slightly grumpy.
"Everyone has the right to prove themselves worthy or not, Percy, no matter where they come from or who they are. The way of the sword belongs to no one. But not everyone can walk it."
Percy looked at his father with interest.
"And what does it take to prove oneself worthy of the way of the sword?"
A smile formed on Piandao's lips and he approached Percy.
"The answer is in your mind, my son," Piandao said, placing a finger on his forehead and then on his chest. "And most of all, in your heart."
As Piandao placed a finger on his heart, Percy felt a tingling sensation run through his body, but it disappeared as his father pulled away, leaving him confused.
Piandao and Fat left, leaving Percy alone in the huge dining room, pondering over his father's words. Obviously he didn't understand them, his father always had the habit of speaking in metaphors and analogies when he wanted to convey a message, which he found annoying on many occasions, because he didn't understand them.
Knowing he wouldn't get an answer, he sighed in resignation. His gaze slid slowly back to the food Piandao hadn't finished yet. There was still a lot of left, and it would take time for his father to test this new prospective student, so his breakfast would get cold.
Shrugging his shoulders and thinking that it would be a waste to let it get cold, Percy began to eat his father's breakfast. After all, he was a growing boy and needed to eat.
"And so it was that our nation, under the leadership of our Fire Lord Azulon, achieved victory at the Battle of Garsai," the teacher explained, walking between the students' desks as she taught the history lesson. "This battle was the cornerstone for the subsequent conquest of the Hu Xin provinces. Since then, the Hu Xin provinces have prospered under the leadership of our nation, enjoying our wealth and advances in technology, education, and medicine. Any doubts?"
The teacher looked at her students, who were taking notes. She nodded, satisfied, until her eyes fell on a student with his head down. For a second, she thought he was just writing, but when she looked closer, she realized that the student wasn't writing, he was sleeping.
Frowning in irritation, she approached him.
"Young Perseus," the teacher called, but received no response. "Young Perseus!"
The teacher tapped her wooden pointer hard on his desk, causing the student to raise his head with a start.
"W-what's going on, are we under attack?!"
The other students laughed at Percy's reaction, who still looked sleepy, but when he saw his teacher's piercing gaze, he tensed.
"Young Perseus, is it so boring for you to recall the achievements of our great nation?" the teacher inquired with irritation.
'Yes, quite boring,' Percy wanted to reply, but instead he just lowered his head and muttered:
"No."
"No, Teacher Masako," she corrected, sounding annoyed. "Not only do you snooze in class like a slacker, but your manners are terrible, like a savage of the Water Tribe."
The students chuckled under their breath, but a look from the teacher was enough to silence them all.
Percy's lips formed a thin line, and he clenched his fists under his desk.
"I'm sorry... Teacher Masako."
"Very well. I'll let your fragrant disrespect pass for high if you answer what year Fire Lord Sozin fought the Air Nomad Army."
Percy wanted to groan in annoyance, but the teacher would only punish him further if he did. He didn't know the answer. History was the class that bored him the most because all they did was study dates and past events about the Fire Nation, especially military victories in the war.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the student standing behind the teacher, quickly scribbling in his notebook and then discreetly lifting it up for Percy to see.
"It was 93 years ago," he replied.
"Correct," Teacher Masako nodded, looking satisfied. "And how was it that Fire Lord Sozin was able to defeat the Air Nomads?"
Even Percy knew the answer and didn't need to look at the crude drawing of the student behind the teacher.
"Because he used the power of a great comet that enhanced the firebenders' powers."
"Correct. That comet was later named 'Sozin's Comet' in honor of Fire Lord Sozin's great victory."
As the teacher stood in front of the students, the student who had been helping Percy raised his hand shyly.
"Yes, Lee?"
"Teacher Masako... Since Sozin's Comet increases the powers of firebenders, can it also awaken the powers in a person who didn't know they were a bender?"
"That... is a very good question, Lee. Unfortunately, since the comet only passes every 100 years, we don't have enough information about the effects it would have on a firebender beyond a significant increase in power."
Lee looked slightly depressed as he listened.
One of the students, Hana, a girl with black hair cut into a fringe that partially covered her eye, snorted in amusement.
"You wish that would happen, don't you, Lee?" She teased, "Maybe then you'd stop being a loser!"
The other students laughed, except for Percy, who clenched his fists in anger and looked at the student with a desire to knock her teeth out.
"That's enough," the teacher said in a harsh tone.
The students fell silent, and the class returned to work.
Percy's eyelids began to feel heavy as he listened to the teacher continue to preach about the great deeds of the Fire Nation. It was then that the sound of a clanging bell announced the end of class and ushered in the brief 15-minute recess.
As they left the classroom, Percy approached Lee, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Lee" he said. "Thanks, buddy. You saved me back there."
Lee turned and gave him a shy smile.
"You're welcome, Percy."
Lee was Percy's best friend, and his only friend. He was a big boy, shy and self-conscious because he was overweight, which made him an easy target for school bullies. It didn't help that he was a total nerd. It was mostly thanks to him that Percy's grades were "acceptable," because Lee would always tell him the most important points before a test.
"Hey, Fat gave me an extra serving for my lunch," Percy said as he sat down on the edge of the fountain in the courtyard. "Would you like some?"
Even though Percy knew he would be hungry again in a few hours, he didn't mind sharing half his lunch with Lee. One thing they had in common was a big appetite. Which struck Percy as odd, since although he ate even more than Lee, he wasn't as overweight as his friend. He just assumed it was because he was a growing boy.
Lee's eyes seemed to sparkle at the mention of food.
"Really?! Thank you, Percy!"
They both sat down and shared the food.
"Hey, I found something interesting in my dad's scrolls about firebending," Lee said, pulling a rolled scroll out of his uniform.
If there was one thing Lee was a fan of, it was controlling the elements, especially firebending. The boy had the illusion that one day he would discover that he was a firebender, coming from a family that had been firebending for generations.
Lee unrolled the scroll, and Percy could see the various silhouettes of men performing a series of firebending kata. Next to the silhouettes was the description of the technique, along with some personal notes from Lee's family.
"Apparently, the fire a firebender creates is fueled by their emotions," Lee continued, looking increasingly excited as he read from the scroll. "It's also the only one of the four elements that is generated by the bender's own body, rather than requiring an external source to control it like the other elements. Maybe that's why they think it's the best element, isn't that amazing?"
"Fire is the best element, everyone knows that."
Percy and Lee turned to see Hana approaching, accompanied by her 'friend'. A tall, stocky boy who looked fifteen, not twelve. He had black hair, a pale complexion and the golden eyes common to the Fire Nation.
"What do you want, Daichi?" Percy growled.
If there was anyone Percy despised more than Hana, it was Daichi. He was a bully and no one dared to stand up to him because he was one of the few firebenders in the school. And because he came from a family of benders, he had basic training in firebending.
Daichi reached over and snatched the scroll out of Lee's hands. Lee tried to grab it, but Daichi pushed him with one hand and knocked him to the ground.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Daichi asked as he looked at the scroll. "A scroll about firebending?"
"G-give it back," Lee said, his voice shaking. "It's not mine, it's my family's."
"Your family? Oh, that's right. They're all firebenders... But not you!" He smiled in a mocking and contemptuous way. "You're just a non-bender! Your parents must be ashamed of you."
"Your family? Oh, that's right. They're all Firebenders... But not you!" He smiled in a mocking and contemptuous way. "You're just a non-bender! Your parents must be ashamed of you."
Daichi burst out laughing, and Percy watched as Lee looked down, looking truly distraught. The poor guy looked on the verge of tears as tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.
Percy clenched his fists until they turned white. Before he could react, he punched Daichi in the face.
"Give it back, Daichi," he demanded.
"Why? This scroll would be better in the hands of someone who is a firebender."
"It's not yours. Give. It. Back."
"Huh? Why don't you take it off my hands, loser?" Daichi challenged.
The other students quickly approached and began muttering among themselves, expecting a fight to break out.
Even though Daichi was four inches taller than him, Percy did not back down. The anger that began to boil in his blood seemed to make him see all red.
He reached out to grab the scroll, but Daichi lifted it over his head, making it impossible for Percy to grab it.
"Come on, reach for it, midget," he taunted.
Percy gritted his teeth. He looked at the scroll, he wasn't going to jump and give Daichi the satisfaction of wanting to humiliate him. So, he would let the scroll fall. Feinting, Percy jumped. He didn't catch the scroll, but that wasn't his goal, he wanted to land on Daichi's foot on purpose. He let out a scream of pain and ducked. Percy used that moment to snatch the scroll out of his hands.
"You... you bastard," Daichi growled, wedging his injured foot.
Percy ignored him. He turned his back and handed the scroll back to Lee.
"Here you go, buddy."
"T-Thank you, Percy," Lee muttered, then opened his eyes in alarm, "Look out!"
Percy turned just in time to see a fireball headed straight for his face. He quickly covered himself with his arms to protect himself as the fireball slammed into him.
The students gasped, some in shock, others in horror. Amid the steam, they all watched as the flames gnawed at the sleeves of Percy's uniform, but his skin remained undamaged. There was no sign of burning, not even a reddening of his skin.
"Bastard..." Percy snarled.
Daichi took a step back, looking somewhat startled. Obviously, he hadn't expected Percy to withstand his attack without suffering any damage.
"What's going on here!?"
The students stepped aside to make room for Teacher Masako, who clearly didn't look happy, judging by the heavy frown on her face.
"It was Percy!" Daichi accused. "He hit me!"
"You took Lee's scroll from him and wouldn't give it back!" Percy retorted.
"Enough!" the teacher said in a harsh voice before looking at Percy. "Young Perseus, is this true? Did you hit young Daichi?"
Percy had a bitter look on his face and nodded reluctantly.
"Why did you do that?"
"Daichi took a firebending scroll that belonged to Lee and refused to give it back."
The teacher's gaze fell on Daichi.
"Is that true, young Daichi?"
"I just wanted to look at it," he replied. "Of course, I was going to give it back, but Percy hit me first!"
"That's bullshit!" exclaimed Percy.
"Language, young Perseus!" the teacher scolded. "In this school, students must behave with courtesy and refinement."
"And what about students who use firebending to attack someone from behind?"
Percy showed her the singed sleeves of his uniform.
Teacher Masako looked at him in surprise before turning to Daichi, who was doing his best to look smaller.
"These students will be punished... Come with me, young Daichi. We will discuss your punishment in the headmaster's office."
Just as a victorious smile began to form on Percy's lips, it was immediately wiped away by the teacher's next words.
"You too, young Perseus."
"What?! Why?!"
"You physically attacked a student instead of calling a teacher to solve the problem. You deserve punishment for that as well."
Percy grumbled, finding it unfair that he should also be punished for hitting a bully who, in his opinion, was crying out for it.
"I'm sorry, Percy, this is all my fault," Lee said, looking apologetic.
"Don't worry, I've been wanting to hit Daichi for a while," Percy said, patting him on the shoulder. "You just gave me the perfect reason."
A small smile formed on Lee's lips as Percy walked over to teacher Masako, who was waiting for him to go to the principal's office.
Percy looked down at his singed sleeves and saw strangely that his arm hadn't suffered any damage. He hadn't even felt the heat of the flames.
'Maybe Daichi isn't as good as he thinks he is,' he thought.
As it turned out, his punishment was not as bad as he expected. Daichi got the worst of it, being suspended for a full week for using his firebending to attack a non-bender. Percy, on the other hand, was only punished for cleaning the classroom. On the bright side, he didn't have to do it alone.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Percy said, sweeping the floor with a broom. "You're not the one grounded."
"I know, I know, but I want to," Lee replied as he wiped the desks with a damp cloth. "It's partly my fault that you're grounded."
"Don't say that. It's not your fault."
Lee didn't look convinced.
"If I'd stood up for myself, you wouldn't have to do it for me."
Percy stopped sweeping and turned to look at him.
"Lee, you're my best friend, of course I'd defend you."
"Aww, isn't that cute? The loser son and the son of a loser, I guess that's why they're friends."
Percy and Lee saw Daichi walk through the door, accompanied by Hana and Koji, Daichi's sidekick.
Daichi didn't look too happy, judging by the expression on his face as he approached Percy.
"Weren't you suspended for a week?" asked Percy, annoyed. "What are you still doing here?"
"I was suspended because of you!" he exclaimed.
"You got suspended for being a bully. And an idiot too, but if that was enough to suspend you, they would have done it a long time ago."
Hana and Koji chuckled slightly, but were silenced when Daichi gave them an annoyed look.
"A bully? You mean because of that fat guy?" Daichi pointed at Lee, who was doing his best to look smaller. "Why do you defend him so much?"
"Because he's my friend!"
Daichi snorted in amusement.
"Your friend? He's just a loser! Although, on the other hand... I guess you sympathize with losers. After all, you are the son of one."
Percy tensed, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at Daichi.
"What did you say?"
"My father told me the truth about you. He said he was a man who served in the glorious army of the Fire Nation and won countless battles without losing a single one. Until, one day, he deserted. He turned his back on his fellow soldiers, his comrades, his nation, and came to live in this city as a simple blacksmith."
"Shut up!" Percy shouted. The broom creaked under the force of his grip. "You know nothing about my father!"
"Your father may have been an honorable soldier," Daichi said, sneering and smiling contemptuously. "But now he's nothing but a failed, cowardly old man who turned his back on his nation."
Percy gritted his teeth in growing anger. He could take being made fun of, but not his father. He knew that Daichi was provoking him, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was wipe that mocking, contemptuous smile off his face. He did just that when he used the broom in his hands to hit Daichi right in the face with such force that he broke the broom in half.
Daichi fell to the ground, holding his bloody face as he screamed in pain. The blow had broken his nose.
"You... How dare you!?" Koji shouted, moving into a firebending position.
A fireball the size of a football flew straight at Percy and Lee. Percy pushed Lee aside, then rolled to the other side and quickly stood up. As Koji prepared to throw another fireball, Percy's body seemed to act on its own. With surprising speed, he ran and grabbed the broom to hit Koji in the arm, breaking his grip, and then hit him in the stomach with the broom.
He fell to his knees, clutching his stomach in pain from the force of the blow. Percy took the opportunity to punch him hard in the face, knocking him to the ground. A tooth flew out and fell at Hana's feet, who recoiled in horror.
Percy looked down at the broom in his hand, unable to believe what he had done. He had never received any sword training from his father, but he had watched him train and tried to imitate his moves. And even though he didn't have the same skill and elegance as Piandao, swinging the broom as if it were a sword felt... natural.
'Maybe... Maybe I can finally be like my dad!'
"Daichi, no!"
Hana's cry of alarm alerted him that Daichi had slipped behind him and raised his fire-wrapped hand to strike him. But something hit him from behind, and he fell to the ground, stunned.
Percy watched wide-eyed as Lee stood in a position with a clenched fist extended forward. And judging by the slight steam rising from his fist, it was clear what he had done. His expression was one of pure shock as he looked at his fist and then at Daichi lying on the ground.
"I can't believe it..." He said before a huge smile lit up his face, "I did it! I did firebending! I'm a firebender!"
Lee's joy was so great that he grabbed the first person near him, who turned out to be Hana, and hugged her tightly, even lifting her off the ground as he laughed excitedly.
"L-let go of me, you brute!" she cried, her face red with embarrassment.
Percy couldn't help but laugh. He was happy for his friend, knowing how much it had meant to him to discover that he was a firebender, like his entire family. But that happiness didn't last long when the classroom door suddenly opened and teacher Masako appeared.
"Oh, Agni..." The teacher looked stunned to see two students lying on the floor, bleeding from blows to the face.
At any other time, Percy would have found her expression amusing. Then the teacher's eyes landed on his blood-stained fist, and her previously perplexed expression turned to one that was almost angry.
Percy no longer found it so amusing.
As he sat across from the headmaster, Percy drummed his fingers on his lap as the heel of his foot tapped frantically on the floor. To others, it looked like he was nervous, maybe even scared. But the truth was that he just couldn't sit still. His view went from the various papers on the headmaster's desk to the window, where he could see the schoolyard. It was a nice day. He wished he could be there instead of being under the scrutinizing gaze of the headmaster and the portrait of the Fire Lord Azulon behind him.
Maybe it was set up that way on purpose, and whoever was in his position would be under the cold gaze of the headmaster and the portrait of the Fire Nation's ruler. If their goal was to make him uncomfortable, they had succeeded, because Percy felt uncomfortable.
The door to the headmaster's office opened and Piandao walked in, glancing sideways at Percy, who dodged his gaze before looking the headmaster straight in the eye.
"Headmaster Shen," Piandao nodded in greeting before sitting down in the chair next to Percy, "To what do I owe your sudden call? What has my son done this time?"
Percy shrank back in his seat. It wasn't the first time his father had been called by the teachers for what they called "inappropriate behavior".
"Master Piandao, I apologize for the sudden call," said the headmaster Shen, interlocking his fingers on his desk. "But your son's behavior has reached a point where it can no longer be overlooked with a simple reprimand. He is late for class, he disrespects his teachers by falling asleep in the middle of class, his grades are barely acceptable, he shows little or no interest in any class..."
"I'm interested in music class," Percy protested quietly.
Headmaster Shen shot him an annoyed look for interrupting him.
"And what's worse. He just physically assaulted two of his classmates with a broom, leaving them seriously injured. One had his nose broken and another had a tooth knocked out."
Piandao looked somewhat perplexed to hear it. He turned to look at Percy, but Percy again avoided his gaze.
"This kind of behavior is unacceptable!" exclaimed the headmaster, slamming the table. "And drastic measures must be taken immediately!"
Piandao kept his composure. His face seemed carved in stone as he looked at the headmaster.
"And what do you suggest?" he asked, his voice revealing no emotion.
"If it were any other student, I'd be sent straight to the reform school in the coal mines! Perhaps then he will learn a little of the discipline he is so lax," the headmaster rose from his chair and looked at Percy sternly. "But considering he is your son, Master Piandao, I will take no such measures. Instead, I am forced to suspend your son... permanently. He will no longer be welcome at our school for the foreseeable future."
Percy opened his eyes in shock. He didn't like the school, but it wasn't so bad either. Hana was a nuisance, yes, and he would rather listen to teacher Masako ramble on about the great exploits of the Fire Nation than interact with Daichi. But there were things he enjoyed about school, like spending time with Lee, music class, and the day trips they took around the island.
"I see..." Piandao rose from his chair and bowed his head slightly. "I appreciate your indulgence, headmaster Shen. With your permission, we'll be leaving."
"But, dad..."
"Perseus. We're leaving."
Percy grimaced. When his father called him by his full name, he was upset.
They both left and walked down the halls of the school in awkward silence. Percy felt unable to look at his dad because of the embarrassment he felt. He had always gotten in trouble with his teachers and there were many occasions when they had called his dad because of it, but this was the first time his behavior had led to his expulsion.
Piandao gave a quick glance around the surroundings before asking in a low voice:
"Percy, did you use your... talents?"
"W-what!?" he looked at his dad, alarmed, "Of course not! You told me not to use them... and I don't want to."
Percy knew what his dad meant. An accident when he was eight revealed to him what he could do. He didn't know he could do something like that. And when he found out, he was surprised, shocked and, if he was honest with himself, thrilled. He felt unique, special.
"I see," Piandao nodded, looking relieved. "That's good. I know it's hard, but it's better that no one knows. You know the possible consequences."
Percy nodded, his eyes downcast. When his father had warned him of what could happen if he used his talents in front of others, all emotion had been crushed by fear. If anyone outside his family found out what he could do... it terrified him to think what would happen.
"Dad... I... I'm sorry..."
He was ashamed. He was not sorry for beating Daichi and Koji, he would do it again, but he was sorry for bringing this shame on his father. The son of Piandao, the strongest swordsman in the Fire Nation and a renowned blacksmith, was expelled from school. Daichi had said that Piandao was a failure, but it was Percy who felt like one. He didn't have his father's talent for calligraphy, wasn't good at blacksmithing, and couldn't even help Fat with chores around the house.
Seeing Percy's dejected state, Piandao put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"Don't worry, my son. We'll find a way for you to continue your studies. We can hire a tutor. Or maybe Fat could tutor you."
Percy forced himself to smile. He didn't want to worry his dad. And if he wanted him to continue his studies, he would make an effort for him.
"Yeah... that's fine."
As they left the school, Piandao and Percy saw Lee and, to their surprise, Hana waiting for them at the entrance.
"Percy," Lee exclaimed as he approached worriedly, "How did it go? Don't tell me headmaster Shen decided to send you to reform school?"
"Lee..."
"I've heard that place is horrible. They force students to work in coal mines from sunrise to sunset."
"Lee..."
"And worst of all, they only give you three meals a day. Three meals!" Lee grabbed him hard by the shoulders. "You'll starve to death in a week with how much you eat!"
"Lee, headmaster Shen expelled me!"
Lee opened his mouth in shock. Even Hana was surprised, her only visible eye opened considerably.
"W-what...?" Lee mumbled, "But... It can't be..."
"I'm afraid what my son says is true, young Lee," Piandao interjected. "He will continue his studies at our house."
"I...understand." Lee looked at Percy, uncertain. "We're still... going to be friends, aren't we?"
Percy gave him a small smile and patted him on the shoulder.
"Of course we will. You can always come visit me and brag about your firebending skills. Now that you've discovered that you're a firebender, your family will want to start training you."
Piandao nodded in agreement.
"You are always welcome to visit anytime, young Lee," he turned to look at Hana. "As are you, miss. Any friend of my son's is welcome."
"I-I'm not friends with this pair of fools!" she spat, crossing her arms and looking away.
"She's been acting strangely ever since teacher Masako took you to the headmaster's office," Lee whispered to Percy. "She stayed with me, waiting for you to come out."
Apparently Lee wasn't speaking quietly enough or Hana had a good ear, because she turned to them with a heavy frown.
"I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be blamed for what Daichi and Koji did!"
Lee gasped slightly and hid behind Percy, as if that would somehow protect him.
"That's what she says, but she even offered to show me some firebending scrolls from her brother, who's a soldier."
Percy looked over his shoulder, surprised.
"Wait, what? We're talking about Hana, right? The same girl who used to hide our backpacks and throw paper balls at us during class."
Lee nodded.
"The same one. Dude, I don't understand girls."
"Yeah..." Percy agreed, glancing at Hana, who was strangely still leaving. "Neither do I."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father smiling amused. Commenting on what youth was like these days.
The moon was high in the sky, signaling the late hours of the night. Still, Percy could not fall asleep. It was strange, he never had trouble sleeping. In fact, he always had the problem of sleeping too much and too many times a day. But on this occasion, his mind refused to fall asleep as he remembered all the events that had happened today.
The fight with Daichi, the way he had used the broom as a weapon and how easy it had been to defeat them. His expulsion...
He stirred in his bed several times before he decided to get up. Perhaps a late night snack and a glass of milk would help him fall asleep.
Walking through the halls of the castle, he passed his father's study and noticed that the door was slightly open. Curious, he opened the door and saw his father sitting cross-legged on a cushion, peering through the large windows of his study. To his left, he could see his father's sword lying in its scabbard.
"Can't you sleep, Percy?" asked Piandao without moving from his position. "Or was it your stomach that woke you?"
His dad knew him too well.
"A little of both," he admitted.
"Would you like to join me?" Piandao gestured to the pillow beside to him. "The moon is beautiful tonight. And there's something I want to talk to you about."
Percy walked over and sat down beside him. Through the window, he could see the moonlight high in the sky, illuminating the horizon. He could see the mountains rising in the distance, and if he listened carefully, he could hear the sound of the many waterfalls that characterized the island of Shu Jing.
"What is this about?" asked Percy.
"It's about today's incident," Piandao said, without looking away from the scenery in front of them. "How much of what headmaster Shen said is true?"
There was no emotion in his voice beyond calm. And that was something that often confused Percy, since he didn't know what his father was thinking. There were few occasions when his emotions got the better of him.
"Well... everything," Percy admitted. "I told you that my grades weren't very good and that I found the classes boring."
"What about the fact that you attacked two of your classmates with a broom?"
When he said it like that, it sounded kind of funny and Percy couldn't help but let out a small nervous laugh, but he stopped laughing when he noticed the serious look on his father's face.
"It's... It's true. I only struck Daichi with the first blow. I hit Koji after he almost burned Lee and me. But Dad, you should have seen me. I used a broom like a sword and defeated them, even though they were firebenders! Maybe... Maybe I can finally train being a swordsman like you!"
Piandao gave Percy a suspicious look before asking:
"And how did it feel to do that? How did it feel to defeat those guys?"
"Well..." Percy remembered the feeling of victory and exhilaration when he easily defeated Daichi and Koji. "It felt... good. Daichi deserved it after what he said."
"And what did he say that made you attack him?"
"He..." Percy pursed his lips into a thin line. "He said bad things about you. His dad told him you were a failure and a coward who turned his back on his nation."
Piandao was silent for a few seconds as he stared at the moon high in the starry sky, as if thinking about something that happened many years ago.
"He's not entirely wrong," he admitted, with a distant look on his face. "I turned my back on my nation when I decided to desert the army. In the eyes of many, I must have looked like a coward. As someone without honor."
"But that's not true!" Percy replied vehemently. "You're not a coward, you took on 100 soldiers by yourself, and you were victorious! You're the best swordsman in the Fire Nation!"
A small smile appeared on Piandao's lips.
"That's what you think of me, son. But... What will the families of the soldiers I killed think? The loved ones of the people whose lives I took while fighting in the name of the Fire Nation? I can't control what everyone thinks of me because of the things I've done or the choices I've made."
Percy frowned with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Still, Daichi's dad didn't have to talk about you that way."
"And is that why you attacked Daichi when he repeated what his dad told him? Is that why you think he deserved to end up with a broken nose?"
Percy turned to look at his dad, incredulous.
"Are you defending him?" he asked.
"No. I'm not. What I want you to know, Percy, is that being a swordsman is not just about putting your opponent under your sword. It's about finding a good reason to wield it. Revenge? Duty? Ambition? Many have come to me seeking instruction in the way of the sword, but none have had a noble reason in their hearts for me to accept them as my students."
Percy did not know what to say. He had never thought of a reason for wanting to be a swordsman other than to be like his father. And if he told him that, he felt that he would somehow disappoint him. He felt that the answer should be much deeper than just "I want to be like you.
So he didn't answer.
Seeing the conflicted state he was in, Piandao moved to look directly at his son.
"Tell me, Percy, do you consider yourself worthy to learn the way of the sword?"
"I..."
Percy thought of what had happened today. About how he had hurt Daichi and Koji badly. He had done it with only a broken bamboo broom. If it had been a real sword... they would have ended up with much more serious injuries than just a broken nose and a missing tooth. It would have been an irreparable mistake, the result of a fleeting feeling born of impulse.
"I don't know," he finally admitted in a defeated tone. "Since I was eight years old, all I wanted was to learn to use the sword to become a great swordsman. To, someday, be like you. And, after what I did today, I don't know if I'm worthy. I don't know if I deserve it..."
A sad smile formed on Piandao's lips.
"We all make mistakes, Percy. Some more than others. But the important thing is to recognize them and be willing not only not to make the same mistakes again, but also to improve as a person. You're young, you have a lot to learn... but I'll be there to teach you everything I know."
Percy looked up, surprised and hopeful.
"Dad... Does that mean you...?"
Piandao nodded with a smile before his features hardened.
"I will train you. I will teach you not only the way of the sword, but also the way of the warrior. One driven by the seven great virtues. Justice, Respect, Courage, Honor, Benevolence, Honesty and Loyalty. This is the way of the warrior. And one you will have to walk," Piandao placed a hand on Percy's shoulder. "It will not be an easy road, my son, but I have faith that you will overcome it. And that you will be a greater master of the sword than I am. You will be a warrior of great courage."
Percy felt his heart swell with excitement. This was what he had wanted since he was eight years old; to be trained by his father.
He clenched his fists tightly in his lap, and hardened his gaze.
"I won't let you down, dad," he said with conviction. "I will make you proud."
He did not know why he was wielding a sword. He had no noble reason, no fixed goal beyond being a great swordsman. Now he just wanted to make his father proud, and he would hold on to that desire.
...
..
.
And that's all for now, dear readers! I hereby declare the first chapter of Book One: Sword.
The duration of this book will be until the end of the first season of Avatar The Legend of Aang, which would be Book One: Water.
In this book, we will see Percy's childhood, his training to become a swordsman and the challenges he will face as he grows up and enters the world of Avatar.
By the way, how do you like the cover of the story? It's something I've been working on myself for a while, so I'm pretty proud of it, as well as all the other fanarts I've done.
Anyway, let me know what you think of it and what your expectations are for this story. I'll try to not only meet them, but exceed them.
And with that, nothing more to say... See you next time, handsome!