The Legend of Percy: Book 2 - Through Grief

9. Piandao's Student (An Agni Kai, Maybe Not So Cool)

Azula found herself, once again, at the base of her father's throne.

The fire raged around the shadow of the man seated there. The room was, as per usual, cold and empty. The princess could feel the disappointment emanating off of the Fire Lord.

She was bowed, deeply, as he addressed her.

"You were weak, daughter."

Azula didn't dare move. She lay, knees into her chest, arms extended forward on the floor and head pointed down. She was too numb to feel if her hands were shaking or not. Her father's words seemed to just pierce through her and out the other side, straight into the bitter, columned space behind her.

"Rise."

The princess sat up, through no thought of her own, to kneel in front of her father. As her arms came up to her sides and into her lap, she could almost feel them shaking, but her paralysed form couldn't be sure.

"The man is not dead."

He spoke with such distain for that being true that Azula could almost see herself fulfilling what her father wanted. The quiet voice, pushing her to think of the Avatar and sparing the man's life, was the barest of whispers. The fire surged even higher.

"He was dishonourable and lost, and he shall be punished accordingly. But you, I cannot have my daughter show any weakness."

Even whilst numb, the aggressive voice that always seemed to overwhelm her mind in the throne room screamed at her that her father was right.

"I will be having meetings with some advisors. You will not be coming. Not anymore."

That morning, she would've felt like she should protest, like she should tell him how important it was that she was there, by his side, throughout. But she couldn't find it in herself to do so. Not just because it would most likely incur more punishment, she wasn't really feeling anything.

She just sat there, numb to the world around her, as her father continued speaking.

"You will be on Ember Island, far away from the capital. And I hope you find some strength before you return."

He waived his hand dismissively, and Azula bowed once more, before exiting the room.

Her feet took her to her room and she collapsed. Crashing into the fur blanket as broken as she'd ever been.

~~~~~

Piandao squinted as the sun rose high enough to land on his face. The old swords master sat calmly on his cushion, drawing with ink and brush, as his butler came in with a scroll from behind him.

"It's a message from a Grand Lotus. On a messenger hawk. I believe it's from the capital." Fat said, handing off the tied-up parchment.

The sword master opened it.

Keep a look out for a young man of the name 'Percy'.

He seems to be a very knowledgeable and experienced man for his age. He practices tenets from all corners of this world.

From a short interaction, he seems well versed in the art of the sword, a master waterbender, and some other unexplained gifts. He has a spirituality to him that, again, I cannot quite fathom.

The young man sees the world with the realism of an old man, and with little of the cynicism. He sees everyone with the idealism of a parent for their child, with none of the naivety.

The order would do well with his inclusion. And I have a feeling that he might teach us a thing or two as well.

Grand Lotus Iroh