N/A: Hello everyone, Daddy Jkalex is back! Have you been good? I hope so. And if you've been bad, I hope you've been responsible. That's one piece of advice I always give; if you're going to misbehave, do it responsibly.

This chapter is shorter than the previous one, but I have decided that the chapters in this story will be a little shorter than the others.

I know many of you are looking forward to my other stories, but I write what comes from my heart.

As a medical student, I know that the heart has four chambers. In other words, my heart has room for four stories. And this story comes directly from my left atrium.

Attack on Titan: Pure Blood is in my right atrium.

My Percy Jackson saga stories are in my right ventricle.

And this story is in my left atrium.

So I have room left, left ventricle, for one more story...

You guys didn't come here to listen to my medical student ramblings, you came here to listen to what I write. So that's what I'm going to give you.

But first I'll answer a few comments:

maxe03: The meeting with the principal and only discussing the end result was because there was no need to investigate what happened. Percy admitted what he did, he never denied it. Also, Percy already had a reputation as a "problem" student. He was expelled for that. In the original series, Aang was threatened with juvenile detention for much less.

And at the end of the episode, Percy told Piandao the truth. And his father was sympathetic, but firm, because what he did was wrong. It's not right to physically attack someone just because they say bad things about you or your loved ones, no matter how tempting it is.

And as for Percy's powers, well... I'll get to that later. Let's just say that Percy is not as ignorant about his powers as he was at the beginning of the original series. After all, he lives in a world where people control all four elements.

Fireclaw239: Any fic that slightly alters the past makes the character not an "original character" OC, but an "out of character" OOC. Basically, that's what happens in every fic. What I'm looking for in this fic is to create a world where Percy Jackson, a demigod son of Poseidon, will change the established order. I will keep Percy's essence as canon as possible, but the story itself forces Percy to be a different person, adapted to his environment.

Ltbutterfly287: A very good point. And my response to it is that the Fates do not punish Poseidon directly, but through his son, Percy. He does it through Styx by interfering in Percy's life and sending him away where the reach of the gods is very limited, as I expressed in the prologue. Poseidon could have stopped Styx, yes, but she gave Percy the opportunity to escape the prophecy that said he would die at sixteen (that's what everyone believed). That's why Poseidon allowed Styx to send Percy to Avatar's world.

Anyway, that's about it. I will try to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the story. So do not hesitate to express them, although I ask you to do it respectfully and politely. If it's a message about how shitty the story is, or any kind of insult, I will simply ignore it.

And without further ado... Let's go!

Chapter 2

The Parallelism of the Siblings

Zuko

1 year later

Being a member of the royal family of the most powerful and glorious nation in the world was never easy. At least it wasn't for Zuko.

He knew many would do anything to be in his position. He woke up every day to the care of the many servants who worked in the royal palace, making his bed, helping him dress, combing his hair, and even offering him a hot towel to wipe his face.

He accepted them all because it was what was expected of him.

And that was the problem for Zuko, the expectations everyone had of him.

Being a member of the royal family meant carrying the high expectations not only of the entire nation, but also of his own family. To be seen as the pinnacle of society. A position that ordinary people only dreamed of achieving, but were unaware of the weight on their shoulders that came with it.

Still, as he finished receiving the attention of the servants after dressing, Zuko could not help but turn to them and give them a small smile.

"Thank you for your service," he said sincerely.

The servants bowed to him, grateful to be recognized for their work.

As he left his private room, Zuko saw someone waiting for him. It was a twelve-year-old girl. Her black hair was pulled back in a bun, with two curls falling in front of her, framing her face. Her golden eyes sparkled with impatience as she saw him approach.

"You're up at last," she said, irritation in her voice. "You know I can't begin my lessons without you. That incompetent refuses to start them unless we are both present."

Zuko frowned disapprovingly at his little sister.

"You should not talk about Master Kunyo like that, Azula," he scolded.

"I will consider calling him 'Master' when he teaches me some real firebending," she replied.

"He does. Every day."

Azula just rolled her eyes.

"It's just useless, repetitive kata, like he's training a vulture lion."

"He just wants us to perfect the simple techniques before he teaches us anything more advanced."

"I mastered the basic techniques years ago, Zuzu. Unlike you, who is still stuck in the basics."

Zuko frowned. Even though Azula was two years younger than him, she was far more skilled in firebending. She learned the lessons their master gave them with little or no difficulty. Unlike him, who had to repeat them over and over again until he had an 'acceptable' form.

But it was never enough. At least not for his father.

"Let's go," Azula said, turning and starting to walk. "The sooner I finish these 'lessons', the sooner I can go to the Academy."

Zuko followed her with a resigned sigh.

"No, no. Spread your legs wider and bend your knees slightly. This will give you more stability when performing kicks while maintaining a solid base. And your arms should be closer to your body, so you can land several consecutive blows to overwhelm your opponent."

Zuko followed Master Kunyo's instructions, although he did so with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. He had been doing the same firebending positions over and over again for almost an hour. Normally, he would have no problem getting them right, but Master Kunyo would change the kata slightly because he felt it wasn't 'right' for the firebending movement he wanted to teach.

After correcting his stance, Zuko proceeded to perform the movements of what Master Kunyo called 'Dragon's Fury'. Too presumptuous a name for a simple combination of three punches and two kicks. Nevertheless, Zuko did it, and from his point of view, he did it well, judging by the intensity of his flames with each blow and the way the training dummy shook.

When he finished, he turned to his master, who shook his head with a disappointed expression.

"Not good enough," Master Kunyo said. "Your legs were too far apart."

"But I did it exactly the way you told me!" Zuko replied, sounding annoyed and upset.

"If you had done it, you would have noticed that your legs were too far apart. Do it again."

Zuko clenched his fists and grunted in annoyance, but reluctantly obeyed and resumed the same firebending stance.

On the other side of the training room, Azula leaned out the window, gazing disinterestedly at the city that stretched beyond the walls surrounding the Royal Palace. She clearly did not seem to be interested in the lessons their teacher was trying to teach them.

"Miss Azula," Kunyo called as he approached. "You need to practice as well. The Dragon's Fury is not an easy move to master."

Azula rolled her eyes, looking annoyed as she turned her back on the man.

"I am done with these pointless lessons."

"I understand that you get frustrated when you fail to execute the move successfully, but..."

"Where did I say I failed to master this move?" she asked in annoyance, turning to look at him petulantly. "I just find these lessons worthless."

A slightly annoyed expression appeared on the Master's face, but he quickly hid it behind a forced smile.

"In that case, how about proving it to me?" he asked. "If it turns out that you have mastered it, I'll teach you something more advanced."

Annoyed by the man's insistence, Azula turned away from the window and went to stand in front of one of the many training dummies in the room.

Zuko stopped his training to watch Azula adopt the kata that Master Kunyo had taught them, though her legs were a little wider apart and her arms in a much more open form.

Kunyo approached her with the intention of correcting her.

"Miss Azula, your form..."

Ignoring him, she went through the motions. With each strike, a burst of fire shook the training dummy, even scorching it. Her movements were confident and, in a way, graceful. When she performed the kicks, the resulting explosion of fire sent the dummy flying several meters until it finally crashed into the wall.

Zuko couldn't help but admire his little sister's skill. She displayed an elegance and confidence that he lacked. No matter how hard he tried, Azula seemed to be on a much higher level in the art of firebending than he was.

Master Kunyo approached Azula. Zuko thought he was going to congratulate her on her skill, but judging by the disapproving look on his face, that didn't seem to be the case.

"Miss Azula, those were not the moves I taught you," he said in an accusing tone.

"Of course not," she said disinterestedly, "I have taken the trouble to correct your outdated form. This way, you will get a greater creation of fire."

A frown formed on Kunyo's face at the clear disparagement of his teachings.

"I must insist that you adhere to the traditional ways, Miss Azula," he said firmly. Impatience and anger seeped into his voice. "They are made this way by years of study that you do not yet understand. Now, correct these sloppy forms."

As Kunyo turned away, Azula's face grew grim before a mischievous smile formed on her lips.

Zuko watched as Azula sent a blast of fire at Master Kunyo's pants, setting them on fire. He quickly rushed over and helped the man, who was frantically beating the flames on his pants in an attempt to put them out.

Once the flames were out, Zuko turned to look at his sister reproachfully.

"Azula! That was excessive!" he scolded.

"He deserves it. He's a fool for insisting on old-fashioned ways," she gave Kunyo a haughty, contemptuous look that made him jump. "Don't ever speak to me in that tone again. Know your place, peasant."

Azula turned and left the room.

Zuko watched her go, both embarrassed and frustrated by his little sister's attitude.

"Is that so?" Kunyo asked, sounding dejected. "Have my teachings become obsolete?"

"T-that is not true, Master Kunyo!" Zuko replied. "You are a great teacher. I have come a long way under your guidance."

"Perhaps in your case, young Zuko. But Miss Azula has proven herself to be on a higher level, much higher than my teachings could ever be of any value to her," he looked up at the door where Azula had gone. "I fear there is nothing I can teach her now. She is a firebender par excellence. A true prodigy."

Zuko frowned regretfully. Master Kunyo's words were just a reminder of something he knew all too well. Azula was at a higher level of firebending than he was. It had been that way since they began their training at the age of 9, and the gap in their skills had only grown over the years.

Would it always be like this, with his little sister surpassing him in everything?

Unlike Azula, who attended the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, Zuko was taught at the Royal Palace by private tutors. Studies were never his forte, he always found them long, boring and tedious, but he put in the effort anyway. As a member of royalty, he was expected to be knowledgeable in many arts, not only firebending, but also politics, war strategy, history, and even philosophy.

It was the kind of teaching and education that only a member of royalty would receive. Still, Zuko seemed to be more interested in something else.

As his teacher rambled on about the war strategies of the Fire Nation army, Zuko looked out of one of the many windows in his study hall into the courtyard of the Royal Palace. He could see the men and women who made up the Royal Procession, elite firebenders who serve as the personal guard of the Fire Nation Royal Family. And most importantly, Fire Lord Azulon, Zuko's grandfather.

He watched with curiosity as they trained. As elite firebenders, their skills had to be the best in the army. And to do that, they had to train constantly. Their firebending movements were fierce, yet precise. A demonstration of the skills they had acquired through years of training.

His attention was then drawn to a group of people training a little further away. Unlike the members of the Royal Procession, these men and women were not using firebending, but were using bows and arrows to shoot at targets nearly 160 feet away. Zuko marveled at the skill of these archers, as not one shot missed the center of the target.

"Excuse me, teacher, who are they?" he could not help but ask.

The teacher stopped teaching and looked out of the window at the group of archers.

"They are the Yuyan Archers," she replied. "They are a group of highly skilled elite archers from the Fire Nation. It is said that their accuracy with a bow is so legendary that they can shoot a fly into a tree from a hundred yards away without killing it. In my opinion, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but the skill of the Yuyan Archers should not be underestimated."

"They really are impressive," Zuko said, looking at the group of archers.

"Of course. The Fire Nation is above all other nations. Education, medicine, wealth, culture, resources, military might, technology... The skills of the citizens of the Fire Nation are the epitome of society itself. To be considered a master of a craft in the Fire Nation is to be considered the best in the world. That is the greatness of our nation."

"I see..." Zuko looked around the courtyard at the men who were considered the best in their craft, and a question came to his mind. "Teacher... if the Royal Procession has the best firebenders in the nation and the Yuyan Archers are made up of the best archers, is there any other elite group that stands out for their skills?"

The teacher closed the book she was holding with a pensive expression on her face.

"Well... there are the Rough Rhinos. An elite group of Komodo rhinoceros cavalry, each specializing in a different type of weapon. They currently serve under the orders of Crown Prince Iroh, your uncle. Then there are the Southern Raiders, a group of special forces charged with invading the Southern Water Tribe."

Zuko looked at the teacher, who had his full attention at the moment.

"Is there another group?" he asked curiously.

The teacher thought for a few seconds before answering:

"More than a group... there is a man who served in the army for many years and excelled more than any other soldier. He had the reputation of never having lost a single battle."

"Wow, he must have been a very strong firebender."

"Actually, he wasn't," the teacher said to Zuko's surprise. "And that's his most remarkable aspect. Even as a nonbender, he was considered undefeated and invincible."

"But... How?" asked Zuko, looking incredulous at the idea of a nonbender being so renowned. "How is it possible for a nonbender to have such a reputation?"

Zuko did not disparage nonbenders. In fact, he had a certain respect for them. Many of the soldiers in the Fire Nation's army were nonbenders who, despite not having the ability of firebending, fought fiercely for their nation.

But one trained firebender was equal to ten nonbenders. For this reason, firebending was considered a gift. Some even called it a divine gift.

"It was because of his skill with the sword," the teacher explained. "To this day, he is considered the greatest swordsman the Fire Nation has ever seen. His skill with the sword is unparalleled."

"It is... impressive," Zuko said, fascinated. "What is this swordsman's name?"

"Piandao."

"Piandao... This is the first I've heard of this man. What happened to him? If he was such a remarkable soldier who won dozens of battles without losing a single one, why is he not one of the Fire Lord's personal advisors?"

"Because one day he deserted the army."

"He... Deserted?" Zuko mumbled, surprised and incredulous. "I guess... he was severely punished for that."

The teacher looked around to see if anyone was nearby and spoke softly.

"In fact, 12 years ago, the Fire Lord Azulon sent a hundred men to capture him for desertion, but he defeated them all. Some say that after that legendary battle, Piandao was so wounded that he could no longer hold a sword. Others say that the Fire Lord did not send more soldiers for fear of losing them, as more than half were killed and those who survived were left with wounds that left them on the verge of death. Be that as it may, Piandao did not return to the battlefield and has now chosen the forge, where he forges swords of great quality that are recognized and coveted by the entire Fire Nation."

The teacher opened her book again, ready to continue the lesson, but Zuko's mind could not focus on the war strategies the Fire Nation had used to win battles in the past. His mind could not leave the story of the man known as the greatest swordsman the Fire Nation had ever known.

If you ask Zuko what his favorite time of day was, it was the afternoons when he got to spend time with his favorite person in the world; his mother, Ursa. The Princess of the Fire Nation.

After his lessons were over, Zuko had free time to spend as he pleased. And for him, there was no better way to spend it than with his mother. So when he put away his books and scrolls and left them in his room, his mother was waiting for him down the hall, as she often was.

She was a woman dressed in elegant, dark red and brown robes. Her long black hair fell down her back in an elegant bun, held in place by a headdress in the shape of the Fire Nation emblem.

"Mother!"

A smile spread across the woman's red lips as Zuko approached.

"Zuko, are your lessons over? They took a little longer than usual."

"I'm sorry, it's just that the teacher insisted on finishing the lesson on our nation's meritocracy policy," he explained. "She says that's one of the reasons why our nation is the greatest of all."

The woman's smile became a little tense, but quickly relaxed as Zuko came to her side, and they began to walk down the long corridors of the palace.

"Your teacher is right. We must reward those who achieve greatness. As a member of the Royal Family, you must remember that, Zuko. Recognize the accomplishments of others. It is one of the qualities of a great leader."

"Yes, mother!" Zuko nodded.

That was something Zuko had always admired about his mother, her kindness to others, her gentleness, and most of all, her undeniable love for him. Zuko could not remember a single day when his mother did not show or tell him that she loved him.

They both walked down the palace corridor to his mother's favorite part of the palace, the Royal Garden. When they reached it, they could see someone sitting at the foot of the tree in front of the turtle duck pond, reading a scroll.

"Azula," Ursa said, recognizing her daughter, "Are your classes at the Academy over?"

The young girl looked up from the scroll she was reading, which appeared to be a firebending scroll, judging by the intricate silhouettes of kata drawn on it. Her previously thoughtful expression turned to a frown as she saw Ursa and Zuko approaching.

"My lessons ended an hour ago," she replied, her voice slightly scathing. "If you weren't so intent on seeing Zuko finish his lesson, you'd know I've been here ever since."

"Oh... I... I'm sorry, Azula," Ursa said, looking a little guilty.

Azula didn't reply, just gave a low snort as she rolled up her parchment and got up, ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" Ursa asked.

"To my room," she replied without turning to look at her. "I want to finish reading the scroll. And since you and Zuko will be here, I won't be able to do it in peace."

"Why don't you stay and join us?" Ursa offered with a friendly smile.

"Why would I do that?" Azula replied, looking over her shoulder. "You want to spend time with Zuko, that's why you waited for him."

"I want to spend time with my two children," Ursa said before speaking in an almost pleading tone. "Please, Azula..."

Azula watched her for a few seconds with narrowed eyes, as if questioning her mother's actions, before placing the parchment on one of the stone benches in the garden.

"I suppose... I can take a break from my reading," she mused.

Ursa's face brightened. Zuko, on the other hand, looked a little conflicted, but if his mother was happy, he would accept it.

The three of them walked through the large garden of the Royal Palace, Ursa teaching her children about the different flowers in the garden and how they could be used in different ways, from brewing tea to curing diseases and ailments.

Zuko didn't care much for flowers and plants, but he was pleased to hear his mother speak so passionately about them. Azula stood further back, but close enough to listen to her mother talk about the various uses of plants, with a disinterested expression on her face. Clearly, the siblings were not interested in herbalism.

"So, tell me, how did your studies go today?" asked Ursa. "How was the Academy, Azula?"

"Fine," she replied, "I'm the best in my class, obviously."

Ursa nodded with a smile on her face.

"And what about your friends, Mai and Ty Lee? Didn't they come with you today?"

Azula looked away, slightly annoyed.

"They... had things to do."

"I see... Well, they're always welcome at the palace. I see you have fun when you're with them. It's important to have friends."

"They are not my friends," Azula replied, looking away. "They are... people I tolerate more than any of my classmates. They will make good subordinates in the future."

Despite her denial, Ursa seemed to find her daughter's denial amusing.

Zuko didn't find it amusing, but what his mother said about the importance of having friends made him think. He was fourteen, but he had no friends. Mai and Ty Lee were more Azula's friends than his, even though they came to the palace often. Even though she called them "subordinates", he knew that his sister enjoyed being with them because it was one of the few times she smiled, even if it was usually at his expense.

"What about you, Zuko?" His mother turned to look at him. "How are your studies going?"

"Well... I think it's going well," he replied, looking excited as he remembered his lessons today. "I learned something interesting."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"I learned that there was a man who fought in the army and won all his battles," Zuko said. "Every battle he fought, he won."

"That's... impressive."

His mother didn't seem that interested, but in his excited state, Zuko didn't notice. Surprisingly, Azula looked interested as she came closer to them as they walked through the garden.

"It is," Zuko nodded. "But the most impressive thing is that he won all those battles without being a firebender. He's a swordsman, the greatest the Fire Nation has ever known! They even say that he defeated a hundred soldiers alone!"

Azula snorted in disbelief.

"Please, there's no way a nonbender could have done that."

"It's true!" Zuko replied. "Teacher Jia told me that his swordsmanship is unmatched. His name is Piandao. A true master of the sword!"

"If it were as you say, this man would have his place in grandfather's war council."

"Well... I thought so, too. But the teacher told me that Piandao deserted the army."

"Then he's either dead or captured," Azula said simply.

"Azula!" Ursa said.

"What? It's the truth. The fate of deserters and those who turn their backs on the Fire Nation."

"I thought so, too," Zuko agreed. "When our grandfather learned of his defection, he sent a hundred soldiers to capture him, but they were all defeated. Teacher Jia said Piandao stopped fighting after that and took up blacksmithing. Apparently, his swords are highly sought after in the Fire Nation because they are the best."

Even Azula looked surprised and interested in that fact, but quickly hid it by looking away with a disinterested expression on her face.

Zuko prepared to follow his mother and continue his walk through the garden, but noticed that Azula was standing still, staring at one of the open passageways that ran along the sides of the garden. Curious, he followed his sister's gaze and tensed when he saw a man looking at them with intensity and coldness before continuing down the corridor towards the interior of the palace.

Like his sister, Zuko stopped in his tracks as he recognized the man and wondered inwardly:

What was their father doing there, and why did he seem to be listening to them?

Azula watched her father carefully as he walked away. Then she started to follow him.

"Azula?" Ursa called to her, but she ignored her.

She walked out of the garden and caught up with her father, talking to him as they walked into the palace.

That night, during dinner, the air was a little tense, as it had been for the past few years. Or perhaps it was only Zuko who felt the strange tension, for Azula did not seem to, speaking to their father with an emotion he had only seen in her when she was in his presence.

"During today's training, the man who calls himself our 'Master' criticized my form," Azula told her father in a contemptuous and mocking manner. "I told him that I changed his outdated forms and improved them, but he still insisted on using that outdated form. Not only that, he dared to speak to me in a petulant and condescending manner. So when he turned around, I set fire to his pants!"

The man sitting at the head of the table nodded in satisfaction. His long straight black hair fell down his back like an inky waterfall, and at the crown of his head was a bun held in place by a simple headdress. He had a long goatee, and his amber eyes were cold and imposing. Though dressed in simple yet elegant robes, he had the presence of a proud royal.

He was, after all, a prince of the Fire Nation. Second son of Fire Lord Azulon, Prince Ozai. Father of Azula and Zuko.

"You did the right thing, Azula. Royal blood runs through your veins, you must prove you are above them," Ozai commented, taking a sip from his wine glass. "Your master sounds like a fool and a good-for-nothing. I will send him to the Earth Kingdom Colonies for his incompetence and disrespect."

"He deserves it," Azula said, agreeing with her father with a haughty smile. "He's a fool."

"Master Kunyo is not a fool," Zuko replied to his sister. "He just wanted to teach you the best way to do firebending..."

"Zuko! How dare you talk about your sister's lessons?!" Ozai spat, slamming his fist down on the table and making Zuko wince. "Even though she's two years younger than you, how many more lessons has she mastered than you?"

"F-fourteen..." he admitted in a shaky voice.

The Fire Nation prince gave his son a stern, disapproving look.

"Of course. Because she's better than you. When you were born, we weren't sure you would become a bender. You didn't have that spark in your eyes," Ozai's gaze turned contemptuous. "I wanted to throw you out of the palace. How shameful for a prince of the Fire Nation to have a nonbender as his firstborn! Fortunately for you, your mother and the Fire Sages begged me to give you a chance. Azula, on the other hand, never needed that kind of luck. She was born lucky. You were lucky to be born."

Zuko looked down, devastated by his own father's words. Ever since he and Azula had proven themselves as firebenders, and since his sister was clearly a prodigy in the art, his father had always favored her over him. And now, more than ever, he felt his father's disapproval.

He felt... rejected.

Next to him, Azula smiled a smug, mischievous smile as she watched the dejected look on her older brother's face.

"Ozai, what a terrible thing to say!" Ursa shouted in his son's defense, rising from his chair. "It is your son you are speaking to!"

Ozai ignored his wife in favor of the sound of someone calling from the other side of the sliding cloth doors.

"Your Highness, forgive the intrusion," said one of the many palace guards. "The Fire Lord has accepted your audience. He awaits you in the throne room."

Ozai acknowledged the soldier's report with a simple nod and rose from the table. Without another word or a glance at his family, he left the dining hall.

Zuko remained seated at the table, his eyes downcast, his shoulders slumped, and a pained expression on his face. His mother quickly approached him and began to comfort him with sweet words, but they all seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Neither noticed as Azula quietly slipped away from the table and followed her father.

Azula

It was not difficult for Azula to make her way through the corridors of the palace and sneak into the Fire Lord's throne room without being seen. She was experienced at it. She had done it countless times during the War Council meetings held in the Throne Room.

This was how she knew and learned about the progress of the war, what battles were currently being fought, and the war strategies to win the war.

After all, the best way to learn about battle strategies was to listen to those who led the greatest army in the world.

At the last meeting, the strategists had discussed how to finally conquer the great city of Omashu. They had begun to plan how to attack and conquer the villages near the great city. After all, they had to be careful when dealing with the king of Omashu, Bumi. Bumi was considered by many to be the most powerful earthbender who had ever lived.

This time, however, Azula had slipped into the throne room not to listen to the discussion of war strategy, but to hear the audience her father had requested of the Fire Lord.

When she reached her favorite hiding place, a spot behind the curtains near the entrance, she peered through the slits in the curtains at her father, who was kneeling before the golden canopy that held the undisputed leader of the entire Fire Nation; the Fire Lord Azulon.

Azulon was a man of about 90 years. His long hair that fell down his back was gray, as was his goatee and long, thin mustache. He had small dark spots on his face that reflected his advanced age, along with numerous wrinkles. Despite his somewhat frail appearance, he had the imposing presence of someone who had ruled for decades.

'And yet he never noticed my presence during the meetings,' Azula thought mockingly as she watched her grandfather. 'I guess he's not the powerful Fire Lord he once was. He has become arrogant in his old age.'

"Prince Ozai, what is this audience about?" Azulon asked, though it sounded more like a demand. Though it was to be expected, the Fire Lord does not ask questions, he demands answers.

"Father," Ozai spoke. "I have come to you today with a proposal. A proposal to improve the ranks of our nation's army."

Azulon crossed his fingers in front of his face and looked at his son carefully.

"I hear you."

"As you well know, over sixteen years ago, a man deserted from the ranks of our army. An unforgivable act for any soldier. And twelve years ago, he returned to the Fire Nation and settled in Shu Jin, a village in the eastern region of the Fire Islands. When he returned, you sent a hundred men to capture and arrest him for his desertion. However, he resisted arrest and killed more than half of the soldiers you sent."

There was a flash of recognition in Azulon's eyes as he blinked.

"Piandao..."

Ozai nodded.

"This man is known as a sword master without equal in the entire Fire Nation. Although he is a nonbender, his skill with the sword makes him as valuable as a hundred nonbender soldiers."

"I remember this man very well, along with his swordsmanship," Azulon admitted in a sour, impatient tone. "What are you getting at, prince Ozai?"

"As I understand it, father, you and Piandao have come to an agreement. An agreement that you would not send soldiers after him for his desertion. Instead, he would offer his services to the Fire Nation in exchange for the lives of the soldiers he took. For the shame he brought to their families. And I think it's time that compensation was paid."

That seemed to catch the Fire Lord's attention, and he leaned back in his seat to watch his son.

"And what compensation do you propose?"

A faint smile appeared on Ozai's lips.

"Service to our nation, where he will be a sword-fighting instructor. He will pass on his teachings to the men and women in the ranks of our army. Imagine, father, a deadly elite group that will be on par with the Yuyan Archers, perhaps even surpassing them."

Behind the curtains, a triumphant smile formed on Azula's lips as she watched Azulon consider Ozai's words. Obviously, her father had considered what she had told him when they spoke in the garden, for he had researched it and come to the same conclusion she had; the possibilities this Piandao man could offer if he passed on his knowledge were enormous. And the fact that he owed a debt to the Fire Lord made the plan even more feasible.

After all, it was the duty of every Fire Nation citizen to contribute to society in order to make their nation even greater.

"I see the value in your proposal, prince Ozai," Azulon admitted after a few minutes of thought. "An elite squadron of swordsmen to be trained by the greatest sword master the Fire Nation has ever had..."

"Though it could take years to train such a squadron, the potential it could bring to the ranks of the army is enormous. This elite squadron could be of great help if we were to invade the North Pole, where our firebenders are at a great disadvantage."

"Do you think a group of nonbenders will be able to take on the waterbenders in their own territory?"

"Piandao has done so in dozens of battles in the Earth Kingdom against the earthbenders."

"But he is not just any soldier," Azulon pointed out, again interlocking his fingers in front of his face. "I saw this man's skill with my own eyes at the Battle of Garsai. His skill with the sword is... unsurpassed. He is a true prodigy."

"All the more reason for him to pass on his knowledge of the art," Ozai insisted. "If the soldiers trained under his tutelage are half as skilled as he once was, they will tip the balance in our favor."

Azulon frowned, the wrinkles on his forehead becoming more pronounced.

"Very well," he said at last. "I will send a letter to Piandao. It is time for this man to repay his debt to his people. And what better way than to pass on his knowledge to further strengthen our nation? You have come up with an innovative idea, prince Ozai."

Ozai bowed his head.

"I am only your humble servant, father. I will do my best to serve you and our nation."

The triumphant smile on Azula's face faded, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. A part of her hoped her father would give her the credit she deserved for entertaining the idea of forming an elite squad under the tutelage of the Fire Nation's greatest swordsman.

'It doesn't matter,' she concluded. 'As long as the Fire Nation benefits.'

That, after all, was the duty citizens had to their nation. And she, as a member of royalty, should contribute more than anyone else.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, ushering in a new day, Azula was ready. As a firebender, she rose with the sun.

After receiving the servants' morning chores, she walked the halls of the palace, several firebending scrolls under her arm. She refused to return to the lessons of the man who called himself her teacher. It didn't matter anyway. He would be sent to the colonies for his incompetence.

'Maybe I can finish my reading in the garden. It's a quiet place,' she thought before frowning slightly. 'Unless mom and Zuzu are there...'

But when she reached the garden, she didn't see her mother or her older brother, but her father. This fact surprised her a bit, as her father hardly ever visited the garden.

"Father!" she called as she approached.

Ozai looked over his shoulder and watched her impassively.

"Azula."

"Father, how did the meeting with grandfather go?"

She already knew. But she had to keep up appearances. Her father would not be pleased if he found out she had snuck into the throne room to spy.

"The Fire Lord saw the value in your idea and decided to implement it," Ozai said. "Soon, a squad of elite swordsmen will be formed, and it will be because of you. Be proud, Azula. You have helped to strengthen our nation."

It was a compliment. Her father had praised her.

"It is an honor to help our nation, father," she said solemnly, bowing her head.

She couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. He praised her. Her father praised her. The warm feeling in her chest was almost intoxicating.

Ozai just nodded.

"You don't have a teacher now, do you?" He pointed at the scrolls she held under her arm. "I'll see if I can find you someone competent. You are a firebending prodigy, Azula. And that talent needs to be nurtured" Ozai's gaze hardened as he looked at his daughter. "Don't forget that. You must strive for nothing less than perfection. Otherwise, you will become weak and incompetent like your brother."

"Zuko..."

At that moment, Azula noticed out of the corner of her eye that her brother was standing in one of the open corridors at the side of the garden. The devastated look on Zuko's face was visible even in the distance.

His brother turned and started running down the corridor. He quickly passed Ursa, who approached him with the intention of speaking to him. With a worried expression on her face, Ursa did not hesitate to go after him to comfort him.

As she watched them, a frown settled on Azula's young face, and at the same time she felt an uncomfortable feeling twist in her heart.

It had always been that way. Their mother always looked out for Zuko. No matter what she did or accomplished, whether it was being the best student at the Royal Fire Academy for Girls or excelling in every firebending exercise more than anyone else her age.

Being a prodigy... It didn't matter in her mother's eyes. She only seemed to have eyes for her older brother.

Azula swallowed the cold pang in her chest and looked at her father seriously. Her frown, which had previously reflected annoyance, now turned darker.

"When can I begin my lessons, father?"

...

..

.

And that's all for now, dear readers!

What did you think about this chapter? As I told you, even though Percy is the main character of this story, the plot will not only revolve around him, but mainly around the impact he will have on the world and people. This chapter was mostly to put into perspective what Zuko and Azula's lives were like before they met Percy.

Did you see what I did? As you saw in the prologue, Piandao was in debt to Azulon. I got Zuko interested in the outstanding people who serve or have served in the Fire Nation army by showing him the Yuyan Archers. Then he called out Piandao's name, along with his exploits, to Ursa and Azula. Azula told Ozai. Then Ozai, after investigating, told Azulon, who would send the letter to Piandao, demanding that it is time for him to repay the debt he owes to his people. I didn't do things in a direct way, but a domino effect.

Also, the Avatar wiki, which is the place where all the information about the Avatar series is compiled, says that Zuko was instructed in the art of the sword by Piandao, although it never specifies how or when that happened. In fact, if I remember correctly, it wasn't even mentioned in the series. So I took the liberty of doing it in my own style and adapting it to my story.

Originally, I was going to have Zuko ask his grandfather or father to be instructed in the art of the sword, and they would grant him as a special favor, but I thought that outcome was unlikely given the personalities of both of them. So I decided to go this way. A bit far-fetched? Maybe, but I felt it would be as canonical as possible without changing the established canon too much, along with the characters' development without Percy's interference, which will happen in the future.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.

By the way, if you want to see the cover in HD quality, along with a picture of Percy the boy with the Fire Nation bow hairdo, you can visit my Pinterest page, as that's where I pin all the fanarts I do for all my stories. You can search for me with the name Jkalex18.

As always, I invite you to leave a comment or send me a message about what you think of the story or how you would like to see it develop. I read them all the time, and every comment I see and read gives me a warm feeling in my heart. Like the warm feeling you get when a parent praises you or when a person tells you how much you mean to them.

If I'm being too romantic or poetic, it's because I'm drunk XD.

Anyway, and with nothing more to say... A psychological hug and until next time, handsome!