The Legend of Percy: Book 1 - Finding Purpose

14. How to Stop a Drill (Fun with Friends)

Percy, tagging along with the avatar group, arrived at the top of the massive walls of Ba Sing Se. It truly was a marvel, especially when standing on the top of it. You never truly appreciate how big something is until you risking looking over the edge. That was something Percy had gotten before, be it Olympus, Othrys or the cliffs in Tartarus. Granted, they were all much higher than this, but none of them were manmade, nor this long. Well, in Tartarus, it was hard to see the end of anything, but that was beside the point.

Percy was enjoying the serenity of having no worries of the drama queen, Mr Lightning Bolt, blasting him for being up so high. He almost missed the conversation Aang was having with the man in a dark green armoured robe. Someone who looked very much like a guard or soldier of some kind.

"I'm the Avatar. Take me to whoever is in charge." Percy smiled. Aang definitely was going to need a backbone like that to get through whatever challenges lay ahead.

The walk towards the tall arches that presumably held whatever leader of this Earth Nation army was very brisk. They were flanked by guards who appeared to be earthbenders with the way they carried themselves. Percy also felt some kind of spiritual aura from them, although he didn't really know where it came from or how accurate it was. Either way, it was relatively weak.

They came upon a desk, clearly for a powerful member of the army.

"It is an honour to welcome you to the Outer Wall, young Avatar, but your help is not needed." He said, rather happily.

Percy snorted. Even with a massive wall, where was the harm in having such a powerful bender. He'd been underestimated enough times in his life to know what it was. Adults must be equally as annoying in this world.

"Not needed?" Aang looked rather surprised and slightly offended.

The man, who Percy was now considering the general, stayed very calm. That was somewhat comforting, that he wasn't too hot-headed. The overconfidence though, that was a problem.

"Not. Needed. I have the situation under control. I assure you the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall. Many have tried to break through it, but none have succeeded." Yup, typical.

"What about the Dragon of the West? He got in." Percy laughed in his head. There you go Toph. That's what you have to do. Prove them wrong. He didn't know who the Dragon of the West was, but they sounded powerful.

The general was definitely taken aback by that comment. "Well... uh, technically yes, but he was quickly expunged." He appeared to gain his confidence back. "Nevertheless, that is why the city is named Ba Sing Se. It's the 'impenetrable city'." They don't call it Na Sing Se." He laughed at his own joke. He was the only one. Percy might've laughed, but he didn't get it. He didn't know the language. The general was also starting to get on his nerves.

"That means 'penetrable city'." Oh, yeah, still not funny.

"Yeah, thanks for the tour, but we still got the drill problem." Percy was sitting back. Partially enjoying the way Toph was annoying these adults, but also because he wanted to see how these kids dealt with this type of thing. This part of saving the world wasn't something he was incredibly used to, him commanding kids and all, but they needed to do this, without his input or presence.

"Not for long. To stop it, I've sent an elite platoon of earthbenders called the Terra Team."

"That's a good group name. Very catchy." Percy had to agree there. Terra, like terror, but also earth. Very clever.

He turned out towards the drill and the many tanks that formed an arrow formation. It was good military strategy by the Fire Nation. Percy could tell what they were doing. He was handed some kind of telescope that helped him see what was going on.