The Legend of Percy: Book 1 - Finding Purpose

3. Skirting the Swamp (Annoying Evil Fiery Princesses)

Luke, that was all that was on his mind. That's what Percy was reminded of every time he saw that smirk. As soon as she said that he was brought back to his time before everything became complicated. The first true betrayal he'd ever felt. Sitting out in the wilderness of his old home of Camp Half-Blood. It had haunted him for years, the betrayal of the one who he called a friend. The first person outside of his mother he allowed himself to look up to.

'I'm afraid you won't live that long' rattled around in his head like a pinball. Never settling, never allowing him to get it out. Those words, spoken by the river, with a certain pit scorpion on him. The evil smirk turning to a sneer of a misguided soul used as a weapon for another.

He sat with those thoughts for the early hours over the night, running over the words in his head. His guilt over the sacrifice of Luke barely faded and that reminder reopened those wounds that had been closed by barely a thread. He needed to settle himself because he could feel the cell block beginning to shake. He couldn't have anyone knowing, not yet at least. He still needed the answers of this world.

His conversation with Azula had proved quite useful. His sassy comments had never failed to get under the skin of people he was against and it seemed that this new world wasn't anything different. Well, under their skin and everyone else's.

Azula was royalty, she seemed to use that to get what she wanted and always got it. She was feared by everyone and didn't take kindly to people who weren't afraid of her. Manipulative and cunning, with a vicious streak wider than he could tell at the moment, it was eerily similar to Luke's attitude. At least, the Luke under the control and manipulation of Kronos that is. Azula's father seemed to fit that description quite nicely. He could almost sense a lust for power that was in Azula's golden eyes, yet another unnerving similarity to the darker side of Luke.

This avatar, whoever he was, seemingly was the key to at least the royalty's plans. There was also a group that the avatar was with, the one that he saw go into Omashu. Based off of Azula's reaction to the fight in that city, if he could even call it that, it was the monk boy with the arrows on his head. He didn't even want to begin to have to comprehend what the reasons for those marks were, his brain was already hurting too much as it was.

So the water girl and boomerang boy were working with the avatar. That sounded distinctly like a quest, something which he had absolutely no experience with....

Boy do I hope there aren't any prophecies, I'm not sure I could handle that. Percy thought to himself.

He had to get more information, but he most likely wouldn't get it from Azula. It was much easier to confirm information through her reactions as she was much too intelligent and cunning to get anything out of her. Ty Lee, on the other hand, very much liked to talk. And Percy had always considered himself a better listener than talker, so if he could get her on a role, he could get quite a bit of information. He hoped he'd get lucky that way. Also she was just a bit refreshing to talk to after days spent alone.

He started drifting off into a deep sleep and couldn't help it. He'd gone too long on light sleeps. He felt the dreams coming on and he could sense it wouldn't be good.

"I promise...I..."

"Hello to the stars."

~~~~~

Azula sat up in her tent all night. She couldn't get that boy out of her head. She was a royal, she shouldn't have such shortcomings. He should bow to her, he will bow to her.

She was warmed by the very earliest rays of sunlight creeping over the horizon. She'd not let him settle, wake him up in the worst way possible. Then she'd get the information.