N/A: Hi everyone, JkAlex is back with this story that has me quite hooked.
I hope you really enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it.
And without further ado... Let's go!
Chapter 8
What Lurks in the Shadows-Part 1
Zuko
Concentration was evident on Zuko's face as he moved his arms fluidly yet steadily. His feet glided slowly but steadily over the grass, repeating the movements he had learned from Master Piandao after being accepted as one of his disciples.
Three weeks had passed since the test that were held to select the disciples of the Fire Nation's greatest swordsman. After an entire afternoon of evaluation under Piandao's inquisitive gaze, the twelve students had been chosen. An interesting and diverse group of teenagers from various social classes, from the sons and daughters of renowned noble families and outstanding military families to ordinary citizens, sons and daughters of simple fishermen and carpenters.
There were even those who came from the most remote region of the Fire Islands. That day, Zuko was surprised to see such neglected and decrepit people. And not because they had come to the capital to become Piandao's disciples. After all, the Fire Nation had a policy of meritocracy. All citizens had the same opportunities. No matter who you were or where you came from, if you could prove yourself, you would have a rightful place.
What surprised Zuko was that such people existed in his glorious and wealthy nation; how could the greatest nation in the world have sectors where people did not even wear shoes and went barefoot, wearing clothes so old and tattered that they looked like beggars?
But no matter where they came from, what their social status was, or who they were, there was one thing Zuko could not deny, and that was that each of them had a fierce determination to become a great swordsman. Their reasons could be different, as different as night and day, but the feeling, the fervent desire to become a swordsman was something they had in common, and it drove them all.
Seeing these people and training alongside them lit the same fire within Zuko, driving him to become a better swordsman. That day, he had proven himself worthy to become a student of the Fire Nation's greatest swordsman. The Thirteenth Disciple, he was called.
And he would prove that he had earned that right.
A heavy frown, reflecting his intense concentration, formed on his face as he held his dao swords tightly and performed the moves he had learned from Master Piandao. Only on this occasion, the flames of his fire control were embedded in them. With each slash and thrust, the blades of his swords erupted in a flurry of fire that reflected the characteristic ferocity of a firebender.
With a grunt of effort, Zuko spun 360 degrees, slashing with both blades, then finishing the attack on his imaginary opponent with a cross slash, sending a fiery blast of fire that traveled through the air and dissipated after a few seconds.
Zuko breathed heavily, catching his breath after an intense workout.
"You have improved."
From a safe distance, Piandao watched Zuko's demonstration with curiosity. He nodded contentedly as he completed the stances and movements they had developed for the unique style Zuko had devised, combining his firebending with swordplay.
"It was all because of your guidance, Master Piandao," Zuko acknowledged.
"If you have come this far, it is because of you. You must not belittle the effort you have put into your training this month. But by the same token, you must not become complacent. Remember, young Zuko, comfort is a greater threat to progress than adversity itself."
"Yes, Master," Zuko nodded in understanding and then bowed.
If he had made any progress in the past month, it was because of the guidance he had received from Piandao. With his help, he had begun to create this new style he had in mind. It would be a long and arduous process, but if Perseus could create a stance based on firebending, then Zuko could do the same by incorporating firebending into the movements of swordplay.
Speaking of Piandao's son, Zuko turned to watch him face Qiang, Ming, and Xiuying simultaneously in an intense 3-on-1 duel. Despite being outnumbered, Perseus was not only able to keep up with the three teenagers, but was constantly pushing them to the point where they had to support each other to stand up to him.
Zuko watched as Perseus ferociously attacked Xiuying, who, despite wielding two dao swords, was clearly struggling to keep up with Perseus' speed and parry his relentless attacks. One particularly strong attack caused her to cross her swords in an attempt to parry the blow, but Perseus reacted too quickly, releasing his sword and then making an upward slash at Xiuying's dao swords, disarming and destabilizing her, leaving her exposed for a thrust at stomach level that knocked her to the ground.
Without turning around, Perseus brought his sword to his back and parried the attack of Ming, who tried to use what he thought was an opening of the young swordsman to attack him, but only left him exposed to a strong kick to the stomach from Perseus, sending him to the ground.
With two opponents on the ground, Perseus turned and reacted just in time to evade Qiang's attack, who without wasting any time began to relentlessly press him with a series of attacks that forced him to retreat. With a powerful blow, Qiang managed to destabilize Perseus and break his guard. Wasting no time, he attacked with a quick lunge at stomach level, throwing all his weight into the attack. But he did not expect Perseus to dodge his attack by stepping aside, then grabbing him from behind his head and pushing him forward, using the momentum of his attack. Qiang lost his balance and fell face first to the ground with a grunt of pain, he quickly tried to get up and attack from the ground, but Perseus stepped on his forearm, preventing him from attacking and then placed his sword just inches from his neck.
The duel was over.
"Damn it," Qiang complained. "I almost had you."
"Better luck next time, dude" Perseus said with a cheeky grin.
"Hey, Perseus!" Zuko called as he approached them. "It's time to go."
"Huh? Sure. I'm done here."
"This isn't over yet!" Xiuying shouted, charging at Perseus with both swords raised.
He gave her an impassive look before stepping aside, evading her attack and then extending the foot, causing Xiuying to stumble and fall on top of Qiang with a groan of pain.
"Yeah, I'm done," Perseus judged, picking up his sword scabbard and sheathing it.
"Tomorrow we will defeat you, Perseus!" Qiang shouted defiantly before pushing Xiuying who was still on top of him. "You get off! You're heavy! You should stop eating so much komodo chicken!"
"And you should stop being such a dick!" Xiuying replied, "Although that would be like asking you to stop breathing!"
As they continued to fight, Perseus approached Zuko as he tucked his sheathed sword between the straps of his sash at his waist.
"We better go before they start another fight," he said.
"Too late," Zuko said as he watched the two teenagers begin a sword duel.
Ming approached them and tried to stop them, but his efforts were in vain, as Qiang and Xiuying simply ignored him.
"They have the energy to continue," Perseo stifled a yawn. "If I were they, I'd take this opportunity to rest and take a nap. The weather is very nice today."
It was true. Today was one of those days when you could be outside and enjoy the pleasant day. The warm sunshine high in the sky filled Zuko with an inner energy like any Firebender, and the cool breeze that was blowing invigorated him.
"You still have to train with me," Zuko reminded him sternly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Relax, Hotman."
"And stop calling me that!"
Zuko snarled under his breath. Perseus had been calling him that since the day of the test. It was totally disrespectful to a Royal like him, but Perseus didn't seem to mind.
How was it possible for someone as educated, cultured, and sophisticated as Piandao to have a son as disrespectful, insolent, and carefree as Perseus? It eluded Zuko's logical reasoning. But then again, his mother Ursa was someone kind, gentle and delicate, while Azula was... Azula.
He figured a son didn't always take after his parents.
"Young Master!"
They both turned to see Fat approaching. In his hands, he held a rolled and sealed scroll.
"What is it, Fat?" Perseus asked." I'm going out with Zuko for a while. Do you need anything?"
"Yes. Your father wants me to deliver this scroll to the post house."
"Why doesn't he just use the messenger falcon we have?"
"Because this is a letter for Prince Iroh. And since it is going to an important member of the Royal Family who is serving on the front lines of the war, it must be sent by a highly guarded means. The enemy might intercept the letter."
"Oh, I see," Perseus thought before adding. "That reminds me, I haven't sent any letters to Lee yet. Maybe Hana killed him long ago, and I never knew because I didn't contact him."
A small amused smile stretched Fat's lips.
"You can send a letter to young Lee when you return, but..." Fat's features darkened slightly. "I advise you to come back sooner. Preferably before dark."
"Huh? Uh... Okay."
Perseus looked confused, but finally accepted the butler's words before taking the letter.
As they left the mansion, they both walked down one of the main streets of Hari Bulkan. As they walked, Zuko noticed with curiosity that the streets of the city were a bit emptier than usual.
Of course, although most of the nobles and wealthier families had large and luxurious homes in the city, not many of them lived there. Perhaps because the city was located in the crater of a dormant volcano and the land was limited, the architecture was more vertical, trying to maximize space. That is why most of the nobles did not live there, but in another of their residences, where they could enjoy a larger space.
But even so, the number of people there was minimal. In the past, Zuko had not noticed this because he spent all of his time within the fortified walls of the Royal Palace. But now that he had been visiting Master Piandao's mansion in search of his teachings, he had been walking the streets of Hari Bulkan more often, even interacting with people his own age. It was refreshing to see and interact with the citizens of his nation, and perhaps that was why he noticed the conspicuous absence of them. And apparently, he was not the only one.
"Hey, Zuko, don't you think the town has been a little empty lately?" Perseus asked, looking around. "Not only that, but there were a lot more guards around town."
Now that he mention it, Perseus was right. Zuko looked around and, at almost every corner, he could see the city guards patrolling the streets.
"Yeah... it is strange," Zuko agreed, looking at the guards. "It seems as if they are waiting for an attack."
"The war... Has it reached here?"
Perseus' voice was hesitant, and his gaze reflected a hint of concern.
"No," Zuko said flatly. "It is impossible that the war has reached the capital. The guards must be worried about something else."
"I hope so... Your father didn't tell you?"
A frown slowly settled on Zuko's face, and when he spoke, he couldn't help the bitterness seeping into his voice.
"No... He hasn't told me anything. He won't even talk to me."
His father hadn't even said anything to him when he was accepted as Piandao's disciple. During family dinners, he didn't even seem interested in knowing how he was doing with his training. Zuko had only received the same cold, distant, and indifferent treatment as always.
Nothing had changed.
When they arrived at the house that served as a post office, Zuko could see a soldier standing guard. He held his spear lazily, and his helmet was slightly off his head as he tried to stay awake. But when he saw them coming, he quickly stood to attention, recognizing him as a member of the Royal Family. Zuko narrowed his eyes at the sight of the soldier, but said nothing. Perseus, on the other hand, just looked at him sympathetically, as if he understood his desire to sleep.
Inside, the post house was what one would expect from a place responsible for sending and receiving hundreds of letters all over the country. Behind a long, smooth, polished wooden desk were rows of ceiling-high shelves containing dozens of neatly organized scrolls and boxes.
Perseus approached the desk, his eyes searching for someone to attend to him, but no one was there, so he knocked on the small desk bell. Immediately, something hit the table from underneath, shaking it. A groan of pain was heard before a boy who looked no more than ten years old appeared, rubbing his head as he tried not to cry from the blow.
"Uh... Are you okay?" Perseus asked, looking concerned for the boy.
The boy flinched slightly, as if remembering that someone else was there, before pulling himself together and nodding. He smiled warmly and looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to say something.
"Do you work here?" Perseus asked.
The boy nodded twice energetically.
"Good. I want to send a letter. It's for Prince Iroh. I was told that I have to come here if I want to send correspondence to someone who is at the war front."
Again, the boy nodded and held out both hands, waiting for me to give him the letter.
Perseus handed it to him, but when the boy saw that it was sealed, he shook his head.
"Huh? What do you mean, no?"
The boy pointed at the seal and shook his head again.
"You mean I can't send a sealed letter?" The boy nodded. "Why not? This is my father's personal seal. Prince Iroh will recognize it."
The boy remained silent and shifted uncomfortably. In the end, he just continued to shake his head, refusing to accept the letter.
Feeling his irritation growing, Zuko took a step forward.
"This is a letter for my uncle, the Crown Prince of our nation, and you refuse to accept it?" he asked angrily.
The boy shuddered at Zuko's tone and began to shake slightly, but continued to shake his head.
"Why not?" When Zuko saw that the boy was still shaking his head, he shouted in annoyance, "Why don't you say something?!"
The boy looked back at him with trembling lips, slight tears in his eyes, before he turned and ran to the back of the room.
"You know something, Zuko?" spoke Perseus without turning to look at him. "There are times when he can be a real jerk."
Zuko looked at him with a frown, but then looked away with slight embarrassment, realizing that he might have been a little hard on the boy.
A few moments later, a tall, stocky man appeared from between the shelves. He had a stern expression and his face bore three linear scars above his right eye, as if a clawed animal had done this to him. Judging by the dull color, he had lost sight in that eye. A messenger hawk perched proudly over his right shoulder. The boy who had served them earlier hid behind the man's leg and looked at Zuko fearfully.
"Greetings, young men," the man said in a thick voice. "My name is Hao. And this is my son, Chao. How can I help you?"
"I wish to send a letter," Perseus said. "It is for Prince Iroh, who is at the war front in the Earth Kingdom. But his son won't accept it because it's sealed."
"And he won't even explain why he won't accept it," Zuko said, crossing his arms.
Hao looked at Zuko sternly, but then bowed his head slightly.
"I apologize, Your Highness. But my son would not be able to explain even if he wanted to. After all, he is mute."
Zuko felt as if he had been slapped. He looked at the boy, who was still hiding behind his father's leg. When their eyes met, he looked away in fear. Seeing that, a bitter feeling of guilt twisted in his chest.
"Yeah, a real jerk..." Perseus muttered under his breath.
Before Zuko could apologize for being disrespectful, Hao looked at Perseus and spoke directly to him, masterfully ignoring him.
"The reason we cannot accept your sealed letter is that there is a strict rule that all correspondence sent to soldiers fighting at the front must be examined," Hao explained. "This is the army's way of preventing information from leaking out if the correspondence is intercepted by the enemy."
"Oh, I see," Perseus nodded in understanding. "Well, I don't think my dad would mind if they went through his letter. After all, he told me that he was corresponding with Prince Iroh in a friendly manner."
"Then it will be my pleasure to send the letter to the Crown Prince of our nation."
After Perseus handed him the scroll and some coins as payment, Hao broke the seal and read the letter for a few seconds. His eyes widened slightly for a second, and then he pulled himself together.
"I see. So it's a letter from Master Piandao..." he confirmed before carefully rolling up the letter, "I'll make sure it's sent to the Earth Kingdom on the next ship. It will most likely take a month to receive an answer, considering that Prince Iroh is currently laying siege to the city of Ba Sing Se."
"Thank you. I will let my dad know."
"So you're Master Piandao's son..." Hao said, watching Perseus curiously. His gaze then settled on the sheathed sword at his waist. "I see you are following in your father's footsteps."
A proud smile formed on Perseus' lips.
"Yes. I hope to be a great swordsman like him one day."
"Perhaps in the future you can serve our nation with great honor, as he has in the past."
Perseus laughed awkwardly.
"I don't know. I'm not really interested in joining the army."
"Well, there are many ways to serve our nation, son, not just by joining the army. Even humble messengers like us serve our nation by keeping soldiers in touch with family and friends, helping them remember why they are fighting this war. And maybe finally see the culmination of this long struggle."
"It will be when my uncle conquers Ba Sing Se," Zuko declared with conviction. "Once the capital of the Earth Kingdom falls, the war will end."
Han gave Zuko a sideways glance. The contrast between his two eyes, one pale and the other amber, was unsettling.
"Let's hope so. I grew tired of sending letters to families telling them they had lost loved ones in the war. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters... They say this war is a way to expand our prosperity and wealth to the world, but all I saw was death and broken families. So I retired from the army and offered my services as a messenger."
Zuko and Perseus wore somber expressions when they heard this. Especially Zuko, who thought deeply about what the man had said. This was a side of the war he had never considered.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to work."
Hao retreated, leaving his son Chao at the reception desk. The mute boy looked uneasily between Perseus and Zuko, not knowing what to do.
"It was nice to meet you, Chao," Perseus said goodbye with a friendly wave. "I'll be back tomorrow to send another letter. I guess I'll find you here. Oh, by the way, I'm Perseus."
Chao gave him an awkward friendly smile before nodding.
After a final goodbye, Perseus left. Zuko stayed for a few more seconds and, after a moment's hesitation, turned to look at the mute boy.
"I... uh... I'm sorry," he said stiffly before quickly leaving the place.
In the near future, he would avoid returning to the post house.
Streets of smooth stone gave way to a rocky path covered with a light layer of grass as Zuko and Perseus approached the shores of the vast lake that lay to one side of the high walls of the royal palace.
The lake, unofficially known to the citizens as "The Queen," had become the place where Zuko and Perseus met almost every day to train. It was a spacious and quiet place where they did not have to worry about being disturbed by others. Perseus had suggested they train there because when they trained at Piandao's mansion, he was challenged by his students. And if they trained in the courtyard of the Royal Palace, Azula would come and demand that they fight another duel.
Zuko still remembered that day when Perseus fled through the Royal Palace as if a vengeful spirit were chasing him. Though considering it was Azula and her friends who were chasing him, the analogy was not so strange.
When they reached the shores of the lake, they were surprised to see a few soldiers patrolling the area. They immediately recognized their presence and approached them.
"Your Highness," one of them greeted Zuko with a bow. "I'm sorry, but you can't be here."
"What?" Zuko asked confused. "Why?"
"It is dangerous to stay in isolated places like this. There have been a number of... incidents in the last few days."
"Incidents? What kind of incidents?"
"Disappearances," the other soldier replied. "In the last month, four people have gone missing. Two men and two women. We have been patrolling the town looking for any trace of them, but to no avail."
"We suspect that someone is behind these disappearances," the first soldier added. "I know that you and Piandao's son frequent this place for training, but until we find the person responsible, it is safer for you to take shelter in the palace."
Zuko was surprised when he heard the news. In the dinners he had with his family, his father had never mentioned the disappearance. In fact, not even the palace guards had said anything about it. And if there was one thing he knew for certain, it was that everything that happened in the capital was not lost on his father.
With no other options, Zuko and Perseus resumed their journey. Since they were near the Royal Palace, they decided to go there to train. Though, Perseus was somewhat reluctant, fearing that Azula would reappear to challenge him to a duel.
"I didn't think something like this would happen in the capital," Perseus commented. "I mean, isn't this the safest place in the Fire Nation?"
"This is the first time something like this has happened," Zuko said. "The capital of the Fire Nation has been peaceful for over a hundred years. For something like this to happen is unheard of."
"Then it is to be expected that the soldiers and the people would be so restless."
When they arrived at the Royal Palace, the guards let them in without a problem. They walked through the corridors of the huge palace until they reached the garden.
Since it was a training session, they would normally have done it in the courtyard where the Royal Procession trained every day, but since they only had a friendly sword duel and most of the time Perseus stayed to sleep in the shade of the tree by the pond while he waited for Zuko to finish his afternoon lessons, the garden had become their meeting place inside the Royal Palace.
It also gave them some privacy, as the garden was only visited by members of the Royal Family and their selected guests, not counting the servants who worked as gardeners. So Zuko wasn't surprised to see his mother there, feeding breadcrumbs to the turtle ducks in the pond.
Noticing their arrival, the Fire Nation princess rose and approached them, a friendly smile on her face.
"Zuko, you're back. How was your training with Master Piandao?"
"The master says I am improving," he said proudly. "He said that at this rate, I will become a great swordsman."
"I am very happy to hear that." Ursa then turned to Perseus and smiled warmly. "It is a pleasure to have you back in our home, young Perseus. I hope there won't be another incident like your last visit."
"That will depend on your daughter, ma'am," Perseus said before looking around uneasily, as if waiting for Azula to emerge from the bushes to attack him. "She's not here, is she?"
"No. She's at her Academy classes. Excuse her behavior. She's usually quite..."
"Unhinged?"
"Unbearable?" Zuko suggested.
"Intense," Ursa said. "Although, she has been a little restless these past few weeks. She's been putting her training ahead of her Academy classes. I've never seen her so... dedicated," she gave Perseus a curious look. "I think it's because of you."
"Uh... I'm... sorry?" he said, shifting uncomfortably.
Ursa chuckled.
"There is no reason for you to apologize. It is always a pleasure for a mother to see her children working so hard at something they are passionate about. The duel you two had really lit a spark in Azula. You have my thanks, young Perseus. Not only are you helping my son improve, but you are doing the same for my daughter."
Zuko watched as Perseus lowered his head, a slight blush appearing on his cheeks as he murmured an almost inaudible, "You're welcome."
"Are you here to train?" Ursa asked.
"Y-yes..." Perseus replied, pulling himself together. "Looks like Zuko wants me to kick his butt again."
"Hey!" Zuko shouted indignantly.
Ursa chuckled again.
"Then I'll leave you alone," she said before turning to her son. "Zuko, don't forget you have lessons with Master Jia this afternoon. She complained to me that you put your training ahead of your lessons."
"But her lessons are so boring," Zuko complained.
"No buts, young man. Your studies are just as important. Your training is no reason to neglect them."
"Yes, mother..." When he heard Perseus laughing at him, he turned to look at him with irritation. "You shut up."
Ursa smiled in amusement at the interaction between the two before leaving the garden, leaving the two boys to begin their training duel.
"Your mom's cool," Perseus commented as he watched her walk away.
"Yeah... I guess so," Zuko replied absentmindedly as he drew his sword and swung it to warm up. "Although there are times when she's a little strict."
"That's because she cares about you. She's a very kind and loving person... She's the way I always thought a mother would be."
There was a note of longing in Perseus' voice that made Zuko turn to look at him.
"You... Don't you have a mother?" he asked as gently as he could.
A few seconds passed before Perseus replied:
"No... I never knew her. As long as I can remember, it's just been me, my dad and Fat. I don't even know what my mom looks like, I don't even know her name..."
Perseus' voice, together with his expression, indicated an almost imperceptible sadness.
"Your father never told you?"
"I never asked him. Whenever I mentioned my mother, he always looked sad and sorrowful. I always assumed that she died when she had me. And dad never told me about her because it hurts him to remember her. Still, I'd like to at least know her name..." Perseus turned to him with a sad little smile on his face. "You are very lucky, Zuko. You have a mother who truly loves and supports you."
Zuko couldn't deny that. Even he was lucky to have a mother like Ursa. Someone who had given him unconditional love and support for as long as he could remember. But at the same time, the more he thought about his relationship with his mother, the more his distant and deteriorating relationship with his father became apparent.
It wasn't always like this, though. There was a time, of which Zuko has little memory, when his father did not treat him as distantly and coldly as he does now. You could even say that he was a father who showed interest and concern for him. But that all started to fall apart when he and Azula turned out to be firebenders. And when Azula proved to be as talented as his grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, who was considered a prodigy, Ozai didn't hesitate to focus all of his attention on her, pushing Zuko aside more and more as he failed to live up to his little sister's standards.
"I could say the same about you," Zuko said quietly, catching Perseus' attention. "You have your father's support."
"Yeah... He has always supported me. He never forced me to be a swordsman like him, but when I decided to train to be one, he supported me without hesitation. He supported me like a father and like a teacher. That's why I want to be better, to live up to his expectations of me, and to one day be as good a swordsman as he is."
"He is proud of you. I could see it clearly on the day of the test."
Even now, Zuko still finds it hard to believe what he saw that day. Thirty-six teenagers had challenged Perseus to a sword duel, and he had defeated them all, one by one. On that day, he had proven himself to be the son of Piandao, the man who had defeated over a hundred Fire Nation soldiers.
The look Piandao had given Perseus was one of almost palpable pride. And seeing it, Zuko felt envious. Envious because his father had never looked at him like that in his entire life. Such looks of pride and satisfaction were reserved for Azula.
"My father didn't even care that I was accepted as a disciple of Master Piandao," Zuko said, the sadness in his eyes reflected in his dao swords. "I thought that if I proved myself worthy to be a student of our nation's greatest swordsman, my father would see what I could do. That even though I have no talent in firebending, I am not a... failure."
Why did he tell him these things? Maybe because Perseus had opened up to him, and in a way, they both wanted the same thing. They wanted to make their parents proud, and Zuko could respect that desire.
He looked up as Perseus placed a hand on his shoulder. The understanding and comforting smile he gave him confused him.
"Zuko... You're not a failure. Sure, you may be a grump and a jerk most of the time, but every day, you try to get better. I can see that" he turned away, turning his back on him as he took a few steps away and slowly unsheathed his sword. "And if what you want is to become a better swordsman so that your father will recognize you, I can help you with that."
He faced him and took his fire stance, making him look fierce and intimidating even though he was only a twelve year old boy. Zuko knew well what Perseus was capable of when he adopted that stance. He had seen it and experienced it himself.
"So..." he began, a small, defiant yet mocking smile stretching his lips, "Are you ready for me to kick your royal butt?"
Zuko rolled his eyes in slight annoyance, but a smile of amusement formed on his lips as he took his own stance, ready to face Perseus. He knew he wouldn't be able to beat him, but that wouldn't stop him from trying and giving it his best shot.
Although the purpose of these confrontations was training, Zuko would admit to himself that he also found some fun and excitement in sparring with Perseus.
Percy
A few hours after they finished their training duel (in which Percy kicked Zuko's butt again), Zuko went to get his lessons while Percy sat in his favorite spot in the Royal Palace, in the shade of the tree by the garden pond.
Since there was still some time before Zuko finished his lessons for the day, Percy watched the relaxing spot and felt a calm come over him for a few moments before he began to fidget again. Normally, he would take a nap to combat his restlessness, it was one of his favorite pastimes. But he had already taken one for about an hour while waiting for Zuko, so he resorted to his second favorite pastime.
To combat his growing restlessness, Percy reached into his clothes and pulled out his bamboo flute. His father had told him that every warrior must practice a variety of arts to keep his mind awake, alive, and clear. And for Percy, that art was playing the flute. He was much better at it than calligraphy or landscape gardening.
As soon as he brought the flute to his lips, a soft, gentle melody filled the garden. His fingers closed the holes in the flute smoothly and securely, then released them at the right moment, producing a pleasant song he had learned and mastered years ago. He had practiced the flute since he was six years old, so playing it was second nature to him. It was also the only thing that calmed his mind.
After several minutes of playing the flute, he paused to catch his breath. What he didn't expect was the sound of applause.
"Amazing! You're so good!"
Percy gasped slightly and followed the sound of the voice. He looked up to see Azula's friend, Ty Lee, sitting on the branch, clapping in encouragement.
"I didn't know you could play the flute as well, you're very talented," Ty Lee praised. "Aren't he, Mai?"
Percy turned to see Azula's other friend, Mai, peeking shyly from behind the tree.
"It was... a nice song," she nodded in agreement, though she still hid behind the tree as if she was afraid he would attack her.
"Uh... Thanks..." Percy said, looking at the two girls. "Wait. If you two are here... Does that mean Azula's here too?"
Percy looked around desperately, searching for the girl who had been looking for him for a rematch of their duel. He half expected her to come out of the bushes, throwing fireballs and demanding a rematch.
Still sitting on the branch, Ty Lee chuckled in amusement.
"Easy, Azula's not here," she said. "She's pretty mad at you, you know?"
"What? Why?" asked Percy.
"You beat her in a duel," Mai said. "And you also copied her moves."
"Is that why she and you two were chasing me around the palace like an animal a month ago?"
Both Mai and Ty Lee had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Oh, yeah... Sorry about that," Ty Lee apologized with a rueful smile. "You shouldn't have run away from her when she challenged you to a rematch."
"So she can throw fireballs at me again and burn my clothes?" Percy crossed his arms and snorted, "No, thanks. I think I'll pass."
He looked up to see that Ty Lee was still on the branch of the tree, more than ten feet up.
"Uh... Are you going to be there all day?"
"Maybe," she replied, swinging her legs. "It's just that the view is very good here."
"You could fall and hurt yourself."
Ty Lee laughed in amusement. Then she stood up on the branch and began to perform a series of somersaults on the branch until she reached the end of it, then jumped, spun around a few times in the air, and landed perfectly on both feet with her arms outstretched in a perfect display of agility and balance that left Percy's mouth hanging open.
He couldn't help but applaud such a feat. He was sure he would break a few bones if he tried something like that.
"Wow," he said, somewhat stunned. "That was impressive."
"Thank you!" said Ty Lee with a big smile on her face. "I'm pretty proud of my flexibility and agility. I spent years practicing it, now I can even do this!"
Ty Lee twisted her body backwards and used her hands to hold herself up in a perfect handstand. Then she started to arch her back until her legs were right in front of her face and looked at Percy expectantly.
"What do you think?" she asked, as if performing such a display of flexibility was nothing to her.
"Uh... Impressive," Percy said, still a bit puzzled that such a display of flexibility was possible. "You are very... talented."
"Thank you! But if we're talking about talents, I think Mai's is even more impressive. Not everyone can do what she does. Show him, Mai!"
Mai shifted uncomfortably as Percy and Ty Lee looked at her.
"I... I don't know," she said uncertainly.
"Oh, come on! You've practiced your knives as much as I've practiced my acrobatics!"
"Knives?" Percy asked, now he was the one who looked unsure.
"Don't worry," Ty Lee reassured him. "Mai had never failed before. Come on, Mai! Do it!"
Percy had to admit that although he was a little insecure, he was also a little curious.
Yielding to social pressure, Mai stepped out from behind the tree and hesitantly pulled a knife from her clothing. It was not a typical kitchen knife, but a throwing knife. Percy recognized it because he had seen his father forge and sell many of them.
"Try this."
Ty Lee pulled an apple out of her clothes and showed it to Mai. With a nod between the two, Ty Lee threw the apple in the air, which made an arc before falling. Mai didn't take her eyes off it for a second and suddenly threw one of her knives, which not only hit the apple but also embedded it in one of the trees on the other side of the garden.
"Wow... that was amazing," Percy praised, looking surprised at the apple embedded more than thirty feet away.
"Uh... thanks," Mai murmured, although she lowered her head shyly, a small smile stretching her lips.
"Hey, hey, Perseus. I have an idea," Ty Lee interjected with an excited smile on her face, "How about if Mai throws her knives at you, and you hit them with your sword? That would be astonishing!"
She made a gesture that she was holding a sword and started to swing it back and forth, doing exaggerated acrobatics of a swordsman's movements.
"That... would be a dangerous thing to do," Percy said, receiving a nod of agreement from Mai.
Although a part of him considered the idea.
At that moment, the sound of arguing caught their attention. The three of them turned to see Zuko and Azula entering the garden while they were arguing. Or at least it was Zuko who seemed to be complaining to his little sister while she seemed indifferent to his demands.
"He won't accept it, and you know it," Zuko said.
Azula dismissed his words with a wave of her hand.
"Zuzu, what makes you think he has a choice?"
"He rejected you last time, remember?"
"'Running away' would be more like it. He's a coward."
"I'd say he's a disinterested slacker. He's the laziest person I've ever met."
'Why do I feel like they're talking about me?' thought Percy.
When both siblings reached their destination, Azula looked at Percy with a frown, but there was also a gleam of curiosity in her eyes, as if she saw an exotic animal she had never seen before.
"You're back," she commented, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, will you run away again like a lop-eared rabbit?"
"Maybe. Will you chase me like a mongoose lizard again?" Percy replied.
"You should have accepted my rematch."
"And you should have taken no for an answer."
"I am a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family," she declared. "If we tell commoners like you to do something, you do it without question."
"More like you're a Royal pain in my butt."
Beside her, Ty Lee snorted and covered her mouth with her hands, stifling her laughter. Though, all trace of amusement disappeared from her face when Azula shot her a scowl.
"Listen, fire girl," said Percy, trying to be as diplomatic as possible, "Just accept that I kicked your butt and live with it. I'm not interested in fighting you again."
Yeah, diplomacy wasn't his thing.
"You say that, but you seemed quite interested in my movements during our duel" Azula looked at her nails as if looking for a tiny flaw in them. "I can't blame you, it's not every day you get to face a prodigy like me. You even went so far as to use my moves on the day of the tests."
The accusatory tone did not go unnoticed by Percy. As arrogant as her statement sounded, Azula was right. In that duel, he had seen moves he didn't believe a Firebender was capable of. How fierce it could become. Certainly, it was a learning experience that made him realize he had only just begun to understand the art of firebending.
"I told you she's upset," Ty Lee muttered to Percy.
"Yeah, I think I can figure that out," he replied.
"The pose you used that day, you call it 'Fire Stance', don't you?" Azula asked.
"Yeah... And what about it?" Percy asked cautiously.
"You created that stance based on the movements of a firebender. A fitting name, I must say. In our duel, you used those moves, but they were the basic firebending moves" her amber eyes seemed to glow as she looked at him with intrigue. "During the tests, however, that changed. You were using my moves, the same ones I used during our duel. And even though it was crude and sloppy, it's something remarkable."
"Uh... Thank you?" Percy said, not knowing if she was complaining, criticizing, or praising him.
"I could help you perfect it," Azula offered, surprising everyone. "Imagine how much you could improve your stance with a firebending prodigy like me as a reference."
Everyone was stunned by Azula's offer. From Percy's point of view, she didn't seem like someone who would just offer help out of the goodness of her heart. Maybe it was the way the offer sounded, or the seemingly innocent smile on Azula's face, but Percy had his doubts.
"What's the catch?" He asked directly, "What do you want in return?"
The smile never left Azula's face.
"I suppose we could help each other improve in our respective arts. You'd make a good training partner, considering you're a prodigy as well. What do you think?"
That didn't dispel Percy's doubts and concerns. In fact, it increased them. It was too suspicious for him that Azula would make him this offer, considering what he overheard in her conversation with Prince Ozai on the day of the candidates' tests.
"What are you up to, Azula?" Zuko asked, squinting at his sister suspiciously.
"You hurt me, Zuko," she said, putting her hand to her heart. "I'm not up to anything."
"Then why do you want to help him?"
"I have already said it. I want Perseus to be my training partner. We will help each other perfect our disciplines. Simply put, I am offering my help to someone who clearly has great potential. Someone who, in his own way, was blessed with a unique talent and did not settle for it. He worked at it and honed it until he created something unique. Talent and hard work, those are two things I can recognize" she turned to look at Percy with a questioning look in her eyes. "But tell me, Perseus, do you also have ambition? The ambition to be the best?"
Ambition... Percy had only one ambition: to become a great swordsman like his father.
He had started down this long road, and from the beginning he had received help from others. From his father, who taught him the basic and fundamental lessons for a swordsman. And from Lee, his friend, who taught him the basic movements of a firebender and helped him create his fire stance. If he had progressed so much in the past year, it was because of their help.
To become a great swordsman like his father, Percy realized that he needed the help of others, but... Would he accept the offer of someone like Azula, who clearly had something to hide in wanting to help him?
Before he could answer, the sound of commotion distracted him. Everyone turned to see a group of guards hurrying through the halls of the Royal Palace. It seemed as if they were under attack and preparing for battle.
Intrigued, the five followed the soldiers as they crowded the gates of the walls surrounding the Royal Palace.
"Hey, you," Azula called authoritatively to one of the guards, "What's going on?"
"Your Highness. Please stay inside the palace," the guard said. "It is not safe outside."
"It's not safe? What happened?" Zuko asked.
A grim expression appeared on the guard's face.
"There has been another disappearance, but this time it happened at dusk and not at nightfall, which makes the citizens uneasy."
"Another one... Who disappeared this time?" asked Percy.
"The son of Hao, the city's messenger. A boy named Chao... he was only ten years old..."
Percy and Zuko opened their eyes in surprise and looked at each other, puzzled. They had only met the boy a few hours before.
"I understand that it is disturbing that another citizen has disappeared," Azula said, looking indifferent to the disappearance of a child. "But I don't understand the concern of the soldiers."
The guard swallowed nervously before answering:
"The reason is that a guard claims to have seen the cause of the disappearances. He said the cause... was the spirit of a monster."
...
..
.
And that's all for now, my lovely readers! I hope you liked it.
Originally, this was going to be a one-part chapter, but before I knew it, I already reached my 5,000 words per chapter quota, so I decided to split it into two parts.
What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
Let me know in the reviews and your opinions about the chapter, I'll be reading them with excitement.
And I'll answer them in the next chapter, just like I'm answering now some comments from the last chapter:
merry1995: Exactly. I like to take my time writing a story, especially the relationship between the characters, whether it's in a friendly or romantic way, as it makes the reactions and decisions the characters make more believable.
JoJo 'Perla' Jesus: Thanks for the support. I recognize that Azula and Percy have great potential as a couple, considering the personalities of both, but I want to explore more the kind of relationships they can have and not only in the romantic way.
Anaklusmos404: That's certainly a great idea. My idea is for Percy to be a much more well-rounded fighter, which he will achieve as the story progresses, and he learns about his own powers.
Imheretolive08: Exactly. Right now, Percy is only about twelve years old, as are Azula, Ty Lee and Mai. Hopefully they act like children. The only teenager is Zuko, who is fourteen.
ASSASSIN OF ARTEMIS: Thanks for the support, it makes me remember how much those like you like this story. As for the pairing, it's still a bit early for that. Although many already have their favorites...
ImHellaUgly: Man, your comment was the best I've read so far. And I loved it, so I'll respond to it with the same emotion you wrote it with.
The relationship Percy and Azula have now, my intention was to do that, obviously putting in context the current situation of both of them and without altering their personalities, since I knew there would be a clash between them. And about Percy using his powers, I already expressed well the reason why he doesn't currently use them, but to remind you, Percy would be seen as a waterbender living in the fire nation. Clearly, he would not be well regarded, which is why he hides it. For now, he will focus on what he expressed, "Being a swordsman as great as his father".
And as far as Yue is concerned, it really is a good idea, with her being an exceptional waterbender because of her connection to the moon and even more so because she is a woman in a macho society as the North Pole is in the times of Aang. Something quite ironic and, therefore, great.
About the Legend of Korra characters, I'm still thinking about adding them, but Korra will not be the Avatar, that position is Aang's only. Korra would just be a waterbender.
And lastly, about Percy calling himself a prodigy, let me clarify, as it may have been somewhat confusing. Percy did not refer to himself as a prodigy, but rather used the "posture" of a prodigy, referring to the fact that he mimicked the posture and movements of Azula, someone who is considered a firebending prodigy.
DRH: You got it perfectly. And yes, I confirm it. Percy will develop sword fighting styles called "Stances" based on the movements of the four types of bending and will develop them throughout the story in the same way Aang learned to bend the elements, only he will do it in reverse order, starting with Fire, then Earth, Water and finally Air.
Guest: Mythological beings from Percy Jackson's world will appear in the story. After all, that's the reason Percy was sent there in the first place.
XXxxxadisxxxxxxXX: Thanks for pointing that out. I recognize that my story is not perfect, as there will be spelling or grammar errors that I don't notice due to English not being my first language. This is a story originally written in Spanish and then translated into English, so there will be some translation errors or grammatical errors, mainly pronouns. Still, I hope you enjoy the story.
And that's all for now.
For those interested, I'm part of a Discord group called ""Emerald Library"" where writers share their stories and chat with each other. If you want to join, just long in: discord. gg / elibrary
And with nothing more to say... a psychological hug and until next time, beautiful people!