A/N: I am officially back, bitches. Can't keep me out forever. By the way, I updated my previous chapters because I felt my Azula was a little too OOC so I tried to get her a little closer. Also, I have a new story coming out next week. It is PJO/DC and I really like it. I have like three spin offs already planned for it but those will be forever down the line. So, here is my summary for Still Human After All;

A small town in the middle of nowhere—that is the sum of his legacy, and that is all he needs. But when meteors fall from the skies, the Son of the Seas finds himself brought back into the world of capes and cloaks. A new Age of Heroes comes forth, and pulled into its midst is Percy Jackson.

Thanks to Nerds4506 because where would I be without that guy? Anyway, Enjoy.

Percy conjured a wall of water, a massive ball of flames smashing against it. Percy froze the wall of water over the edge of the city walls, raising the protective height of the structure. Soldiers of Omashu surged forward and gathered the injured from behind the wall of ice. Percy released a heavy breath. The Fire Nation army had sent a great host of flames against the section of the wall, overwhelming the defenders in an attempt to breach the wall. They would have succeeded, had Percy not been close enough to defend against the following waves. The effort of fending off the Fire Nation for two days was beginning to take its toll. He needed to rest. Balls of fire crashed against the ice wall and shattered it. Percy waved his hand and melted the ice, blasting the water out at the forces on the bridge. The wave of water smashed against several armored tanks, flipping them onto their sides.

The prince stepped back as new soldiers replaced the injured, bending previously gathered boulders to shoot down the fire. He made his way back down the ramparts, waving off the attempts of praise by the soldiers. He needed no praise for defending his people.

"My prince," Balo's voice called out to him as Percy reached the bottom of the steps.

Percy turned to find the captain rushing towards him. "Hey Balo," Percy greeted him. "How goes it?"

Balo joined in step with the prince, who was making his way to the medical tent set up for the soldiers on the walls. There were other tents set up just behind the wall, such as a food tent and various living quarters, all huddled against the wall to keep them out of the Fire Nations firing arcs. Every able-bodied citizen was conscripted into the effort, either as soldiers or as workers to assist where they could. Not that anyone had complained about defending their home. Children, elderly, and caretakers were evacuated into the shelters deep in the mountain and safely out of the Fire Nation's reach. "We are holding, thanks in no small part to you," he reported as they passed aides carrying clean bandages. "Their general hasn't shown himself yet."

This was the disconcerting part. General Sangen had not revealed his presence in the past couple days. Percy assumed he would be front and center and attempt to destroy the wall in quick order. When the army opened fire on the wall and its city, they were shown otherwise. While Percy was grateful that the wall still stood, attempting to hold back their overwhelming force without it would have been nearly impossible. But the lack of their general meant he was up to something, and that was cause for great concern to Percy and his father. "He will play his hand soon. He has to," Percy reasoned. "His army is getting decimated on the bridge. They have no foothold."

They entered the medical tent and Balo gave Percy a once over. "Are you hurt my prince?" he asked in concern.

Percy shook his head. "No, just a bit tired," he said as he rubbed his eye. He reached a soldier, who held his leg which was twisted at an odd angle. Reaching out, Percy conjured a cast of water around the soldier's leg. Percy kneeled down next to the soldier, who appeared to be no older than Percy, and pulled off his belt. "Here, grip this," he told the soldier as he fitted the belt into his mouth. "I have to set the bone. It'll hurt." The boy nodded and bit down hard on the leather. Quickly, Percy willed the water to heal the boy, the leg shifting back into place with a snap. The soldier screamed in pain; the sound muffled through his clenched teeth as the water mended the broken leg. Finished, Percy willed the water away. "Rest," he told the soldier. "It'll still be tender for a while." Without waiting for a response, Percy turned and went further into the tent before he swayed slightly.

Balo gripped his shoulder tightly. "Are you okay?' he asked, helping Percy to sit on a crate.

The prince nodded, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Yeah… I just… I am more tired than I thought," he said, catching his breath.

Balo nodded. "You should follow your own advice and get some rest," he told the prince who shook his head.

"No, I'm fine. There are more injured soldiers who need help," he argued as he slowly rode to his feet.

"Perseus," Balo hissed, the use of his actual name threw Percy off. "I insist. You will be of no good to anyone if you overwork yourself. We have doctors for a reason."

"The soldiers will be on their feet quicker if I assist them," Percy said, his eyes gaining a hard edge. "If I can help them I will. The wall needs you more than I do, Balo. See to your duty in the defense of the city. And let my father know I will be indisposed for a time. I will rest after assisting the critically injured."

Balo opened his mouth to argue but then closed it. "By your word, my prince," he relented. He knew he would get nowhere here and so turned and left the tent.

Over the next hour, Percy helped the doctors and surgeons with healing the wounded. The doctors identified those in most need and provided guidance and assistance where able. By the time he finished, Percy felt dead tired and collapsed into one of the medical beds. Falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Percy stood in the Spirit Oasis in the ice caps of the North Pole. Before him, the small pond stood deathly still, the two koi fish within, one white with a black dot on their head and the other black with a white dot on their head, circling each other in a never-ending dance of push and pull. Bewildered, Percy looked around the cove, trying to figure out how he got there. He walked to the edge of the tiny, grassy island and looked into the freezing waters of the cove. "How… what's going on?" he asked no one in particular.

A small, masculine chuckle reached Percy's ears. "Even after all these years," the male voice spoke, resonating throughout the cove. "You remain clueless."

Percy jerked around, his eyes moving franticly across the cove. "Who's there?" he asked in confusion, not seeing anyone.

"We are," a now feminine voice spoke with its own chuckle. The pond in the center glowed a bright blue that slowly rose into the sky. A black and a white light rose several feet into the air within the beam of blue light, slowly swirling in together.

Percy quirked an eyebrow and slowly approached the pond. Looking at the bright lights, he saw the black and white lights coming off their respective koi fish. "Aw, come on not you two again," he groaned and walked away.

"Who else, you stupid boy?" the male voice spoke again with annoyance, the black koi fish splashing some water at Percy with its tail. Do not tell me you have forgotten your last visit? Or have you locked yourself within a cage in a bid to be normal?

Percy flinched back at the harsh words, caught off guard by the fish's tone. The white koi weaved through the water, trying to nip the black fish's tail. "Oh, leave the boy alone, will you?" the female voice scolded her partner. "He was quite traumatized by what happened back then. It makes sense he would rather not see us again."

Percy shook his head. "How did I get here?" he asked the fishes. Yes, he talked to fish, apparently. "I was home. We were fending off the Fire Nation…"

"You are still there," the black koi spoke to him. "Well, your body is. Your spirit on the other hand, well… I am sure a smart young boy like yourself can figure it out."

Percy felt his eye twitch with annoyance as he could practically taste the fish's sarcasm. It seemed Lu was still in a mood about what happened. "Why am I here?"

"Because the time has come for you to return," Tui said with the same wizened tone as before.

"Uh, yeah, preferably not?" Percy responded, unsure of what the fish was getting at. "In case you didn't notice, I am kinda in the middle of a war?"

He heard Lu scoff. "There are bigger things at work than you mortals' petty squabbles," the annoyed fish shot him down. Annoyance crept into Percy at the fish making light of his people's struggles. "Events have been set in motion that cannot be corrected. No doubt sped up by your father's interference in our world."

Percy started at that. Things in motion? Interference in the world? "My-my father? What does my dad have to do with anything?" he asked in confusion.

"Not your adoptive father, young Perseus," Tui said. "Your progenitor is a being that defies your comprehension of the world around you, and now we must face the consequences of his hubris."

"I-I… What?" Percy sat confused. "What are you talking about?"

The world around them shook and explosions sounded all around them. "We are out of time," Lu shouted, still circling his partner in the pond. "Come to the North Pole, Perseus. The answers to your father and you lie here."

Percy awoke with a start. Soldiers and medical staff were running to and from frantically, gathering the injured and moving them out. Panic was etched into their faces. Explosions sounded outside of the tent, shaking the earth beneath his cot. Percy rose to his feet and ran out of the tent. Small red blimps, bearing the crest of the Fire Nation, floated in the sky, raining fire onto the city below with callous efficiency. All around him, earthbenders launched massive boulders at the flying tanks, but to no avail. The rocks either bounced off the armored carriers or blasted out of the sky by the riding firebenders. Looking around, Percy saw Balo on top of the wall, knocking as many Fire Nation soldiers off as he could for what was sure to be a steep landing.

Percy dashed up the ramparts, pulling on his pendant and grasping his trident in hand. He hurled the weapon, striking a Fire Nation soldier in the back as he tried to strike Balo's. The prince rushed forward, pulling the trident from the dead soldier and knocking away several more. Balo panted as his form relaxed minutely. "Nice of you to join us," he said with a huff. "Have a good nap?" He bent pillars out of the ground, launching various soldiers into the air.

Percy whipped water around at the end of his trident, slapping several more Fire Nation soldiers off the wall. "So, what did I miss?" he asked his friend.

"Those hot air balloons came out of nowhere and started raining fire on us from above," Balo explained as he sent more bent the earth in a wave, knocking his enemies away. "Several more landed deeper in the city and dropped off troops. We are spread too thin."

Percy grunted as he blocked several fireballs with his trident. He conjured a wave of water that swept the invaders off the wall. "Where is Dad? Shouldn't he be here?"

Balo raised a protective wall in front of him, blocking several fire blasts. "He is defending the entrance to the shelters," he shouted over the explosions. He shot the wall forward, slamming it into the offending firebenders. Balo pointed at the metal bridges the Fire Nation had created. "We need to take those out. If they reach us we will be overrun-"

Balo was cut off by a massive explosion at the palace.

Percy turned to see the remnants of blue flames expanding out from the palace walls. Squinting, he noticed a small figure leaping from a gaping hole in the wall. "Well, ain't that just perfect timing," Percy muttered, dodging a ball of fire.

"Alright, new plan," Balo growled, lifting a dozen boulders overhead and throwing them at the metal bridges. "I'll take care of the bridges. You go after Azula. She will wreak havoc on our defenses. We stand no chance with her running rampant."

Percy nodded, whipping water about as he slapped the invaders around. "Got it, stay safe," he told his friend.

"You too," Balo nodded before dashing off towards the nearest bridge.

Percy jumped down from the wall and into the city, water wrapped around his legs to cushion his fall. The prince rolled as he hit the roof of a nearby building, hopping to his feet and charging across the rooftops. The streets below were a cacophony of panicked volunteers and personnel trying to make their way to the shelters. Percy jumped from rooftop to rooftop, his eyes focused on the wave of blue flames the princess was riding on. He couldn't let her rejoin the Fire Nation forces.

Several minutes passed as Percy maneuvered through the city rooftops, dodging stray fire blasts from the war balloons. He closed in on the blue flames blasting across the city streets, his city's confusing layout seemed to have thrown the girl off several times. The prince formed an orb of water at the tip of his trident. Approaching an intersection, Percy leaped down from the rooftop, slamming the orb into the street. A river of water exploded out from the impact, shooting a violent torrent down each of the four streets. The wall of water struck Azula as she turned the corner, dousing her flames and slamming her through a shopfront. Percy pulled his trident from the street before whipping it about. Water coated the tips of his trident as Percy approached the store cautiously.

The front of the store exploded in a blast of blue flames, Azula charging out of the flames with a furious flaming kick. Percy split the flames with his trident, "You just couldn't stay in your room, could you?"

Azula's smirk faded as her eyes flickered over his battered form. "Well, I couldn't let you have all the fun," she jested as she took on her stance, though her tone felt oddly flat. The princess jumped into a series of kicks, launching blasts of blue flames at Percy. The prince deflected the flames with his trident, shooting the water from the tips of his trident. Azula rose a wall of flames that evaporated the water. Azula crouched low and spun on her heel, flames firing out of her extended foot and torching the street around them.

Percy scowled and conjured a wave of water that swept through the street, Azula launching herself in the air on a thrust of flames, landing on a roof. "Can you not destroy my home?" he asked angrily.

The princess' eyes wandered over the burning city, her chin held high, and her jaw set tightly. "Like I need to do anything. Your city already burns," she said, her eyes lingering a beat longer than Percy expected. She shook her head. "This is the fate of all who oppose my father." She leaped from the store top, splitting the air with a flaming kick.

The prince and princess traded blows as they battled through the streets of Omashu. Percy doused the flaming streets as he went like a flood, his anger rising as he witnessed his burning home. Azula, realizing she was at a disadvantage, split off from Percy and tried to make her way to the wall. Percy quickly cut her off, a whip of water grasping her ankle and throwing her down the street. Azula flipped backwards and onto her feet, launching a wave of flames at Percy to keep him back. Percy split the flames with his trident, diving through the searing heat and lunging at the princess. Azula dodged his strike, but Percy pressed his advantage. The prince kept her on the back foot, not allowing her to settle and firebend. Though Azula was doing just as well of a job avoiding each of his strikes, her lithe form maneuvering smoothly from his jabs.

Finally, Percy overextended with his trident and Azula slammed her foot into his gut. She knocked the trident from his grasp, the weapon sliding across the cobbled street. The two quickly entered a game of hand-to-hand combat, with Percy quickly moving on the defensive. The princess batted aside and diverted his strikes with precision and flexibility. His larger form gave him reach and strength, but Azula had plenty of experience in fighting opponents like that, and it showed. Percy thrusted his fist out only to have Azula grab his wrist and twist, throwing the larger boy to the ground.

Azula quickly had Percy on the ground, her shoe pinned into his neck and his arm locked in her grip. "Just where you belong," Azula taunted the prince, pressing down on his neck with her foot. Her eyes bored into him with an odd intensity. "Did you really think you could hold me off all by yourself? It took a dozen of your best just to subdue me."

Percy bit back a groan as the pain in his neck increased. "I'll admit, you caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting you to be that good up close," he grunted out, his eye meeting hers. "But you are not the only one with surprises."

Water whipped through the air, wrapping around Azula's form and lifting her into the air. Shock rose through Azula's face as she struggled against her restraints. "But-How did you bend the water? You couldn't move," she shouted.

Percy slowly rose, rubbing his neck with one hand and rolling his other shoulder. "That's for me to know, and you to never find out," he told her, and, with a wave of his hand, the water restraints slowly solidified into ice. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but I have to go deal with your precious army-"

Boulders, marred by fire, rained down on the street, forcing Percy and Azula to evade them. One large boulder struck Azula's ice restraints, cracking the ice. Azula smirked and quickly blasted her way out of the restraints. Percy groaned in annoyance as he brought his trident to bear. "Will you just stay down?"

Azula's smirk widened. "Not a chance, dirt muncher," she teased him before meeting him again in a flash of brilliant flames.

Massive blasts of feral blue flames were countered by huge waves of unending water as they battled through the city. Percy conjured many tendrils of water that lashed out at the princess, who countered with her own lances of flames. Percy and Azula leapt from the street to the rooftops and back again, always moving and trying to gain the advantage. Their battle stretched across the city as Percy funneled her back towards the palace, intent on keeping her away from the wall. Anger rose through Azula as the battle went on, frustrated that a waterbender could hold his own against her. Eventually, the Princess of the Fire Nation found herself in one of the many courtyards of the palace, huffing for breath along with Percy.

Percy glanced around the courtyard as he caught his breath. It was one they had frequented on their many walks, several finely crafted fountains rimmed with bushes and benches dotted the yard. The courtyard sat halfway in the palace itself and the other half hanging out over the edge of the mountain. "And here I thought we were becoming friends, Zula," he said as he twirled his trident, disappointment laced in his tone.

Azula tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "What can I say, I aim to disappoint," she claimed with a small smile. "You didn't really believe you could turn me just with a few walks and some kind words, did you?"

"Well, no," Percy admitted with a shrug. "But I hoped I could inspire you to maybe consider your own path."

Azula nodded, her jaw tightening. "I did consider," she snapped, her voice sharp like a knife, "and I choose to defeat you and conquer your city. I will bring honor to the Fire Nation and my father." Her feet shifted in the dirt.

Percy twirled his trident. "Well, sorry, but that will be another disappointment you can aim for."

The princess frowned, glaring at Percy with her piercing golden stare. "I am going to flay you alive," she threatened and took her stance.

"And the moment is gone," Percy sighed before launching himself at her, riding a wave of water.

Azula scissor kicked lashes of flames at the charging prince, destroying the wall of water and halting his advance. Percy rolled across the ground and leaped to his feet, cutting another blast of flames with his trident. Percy whipped water off the end of his trident. The princess flipped over the whip and launched another barrage at him. An armor of water surrounded his form, modeled after a set he could find no record of, and shielded him from the worst of the flames. The armor solidified into ice; a round shield of ice formed on his left arm.

Azula quirked an eyebrow at him, "That is new. I have never seen a design like that before."

Percy looked down at it. The chest plate was a molded cuirass with abs and pecs, his pauldrons formed to his shoulders and a skirt around his waist. A set of vambraces and greaves covered his arms and legs. Even without taking the helmet off, he knew it to have a plume and two narrow slits from his eyes down to the bottom of the helm. He didn't know why, but every time he formed a set of armor, it was reminiscent of this set. "What can I say, I aim to please," he teased with a shrug, playing her words against her.

Azula released a growl and launched another set of attacks. Percy blocked the blasts with his ice shield, the ice freezing faster than it could melt. The prince fended off Azula's onslaught, protected by his ice armor. The girl released a puff of frustration. "I tire of these games," Azula said before taking a new stance.

Percy recognized that stance, it was the one she had taken during one of her training sessions in her room. Her words then creeped eerily into his skull. Percy hid his unease with a grin. "Aw, and here I thought we were getting some quality time together."

Azula smiled wickedly as her hands moved around. "I will enjoy wiping that smile off your face," she said, and electricity arced around her form.

"You have got to be kidding me," Percy choked out as she fired the bolt at him. The prince barely had time to lift his shield before the lightning struck it, blasting the shield and armor apart.

Percy flew across the courtyard and crashed through a fountain, the water instinctively wrapping around him protectively. Percy rolled to a stop with a groan, smoke wafting off his body. The teen slowly rose to his feet, clutching his trident like a crutch. He could feel the water seeping into his skin, slowly healing his wounds. "That all you got?" he asked with a forced and pained grin.

Azula huffed. "You're a stubborn one. I'll admit, I admire your will to fight. But you were never going to win this fight," she said with a hint of something in her tone. Almost like she wanted him to stand down, rather than kill him. "But you're finished."

"Last I checked," Percy grunted, pointing his trident at her. His body slowly stitched itself back together with the water from the fountain. "I'm still standing." He surged forward faster than Azula thought possible in his state, catching her off guard.

Percy thrusted his trident, the princess dodging the blow before an explosion sent both flying. The two rolled to a stop next to each other, both shaking their heads and looking up.

A war balloon landed at the edge of the outcropping courtyard, a squad of troops offloading and surrounding them in a semicircle. General Sangen stepped between his troops, a triumphant smirk on his face. His eyes roamed over Azula briefly before his eyes settled on Percy. "And so, we meet again, Prince of Omashu," he greeted Percy casually. "When I said I would burn your city, I did not think it would be quite this easy."

Azula rose to her feet and stood over Percy with that smirk of hers. Oh, how Percy was beginning to hate that smirk, even if it seemed halfhearted.

Percy tried to rise to his feet with a growl, but his legs came out from under him, pain and exhaustion crippling him. "It hasn't fallen yet," he tried, but inside he could feel it. His home, his kingdom he had sworn to protect, had fallen. Trying again, Percy forced his limbs to lift him. His muscles screamed in pain, but he slowly rose to his feet. The prince panted as he adjusted his grip on his weapon.

"This is just sad," Sangen said before looking to Azula. "Would you do the honors, my intended? I am sure you would like to pay him back for keeping you locked up for months."

Azula's smile failed to reach her eyes. "Of course," she said, narrowing her eyes at the man before stepping in front of Percy. A ball of blue flames ignited in her hand, the flames flickering as if in a breeze. She cocked back her arm to fire and-

"Perseus!" Bumi shouted in concern, crashing into the courtyard and sending a tidal wave of stone outward. The stone knocked everyone from their feet, Percy and Azula tangling together in a mess of limbs. Bumi observed the situation before taking a new stance. "Percy," he got his son's attention. The king gave the prince a maniacal grin. "Follow the heart, my son," he said cryptically before smashing his fist into the floor.

The floor shook violently before giving away and Percy's arms wrapped around Azula as they were consumed by darkness.