"What happened to your face?" Ty Lee chirped as Percy entered the lounge. He flopped onto one of the unoccupied couches groaning. He glanced around the room taking in Ty Lee's curious expression as she rested her head on her hands. He was unsurprised by the fact that both her legs were swinging through the air instead of supporting her lithe frame. Mai cocked an eyebrow at the swordsman sprawled out on the couch.
"Yes, Percy. Do tell me why there's a footprint on your face." She asked, amusement lacing her voice.
Before Percy could answer either of them, they were interrupted by an upset princess storming into the room.
"Um, Azula-" Ty Lee started cautiously.
"What?" She snapped at her.
"Nothing." Ty Lee quickly stammered out hoping to appease the disgruntled princess.
Percy on the other hand didn't seem to grasp the meaning of the word 'tact'.
"You look like you went through a twister and then rolled around in a dust bowl," Percy said through his laughter. Azula sent a heated glare towards him. It didn't last long before she was forced to suppress her own laughter at the foot-shaped bruise forming on his face.
"At least I don't have a footprint on my face." She retorted smirking at her friend. "What happened though?" A touch of concern entered her voice.
"What does it look like? I got kicked by a roided grandpa. I'm just glad he didn't mess up my hair." Percy quipped running a hand through his messy locks. He looked up to see an unamused Azula watching him. He sighed, "Bumi beat me. I'm sorry Azula, he got away." Percy sobered, his previous mirth forgotten. Azula had rarely seen him so dejected. Then again, Percy never lost fights it seemed, just like herself.
"Don't worry about it. This was your first time facing an earthbender and Bumi is a master with over a hundred years of training. Not to mention I was also beaten. Those two Water Tribe peasants attacked me with the Avatar's beast. They'll pay for that." Azula was furious, without their interference she was confident she would've caught the tired Avatar.
"Next time me and Mai won't be on the sidelines with a kid. We'll win for sure." Ty Lee said cheerfully.
"Yes, you're right Ty Lee. Next time they won't stand a chance. We have a new target now though. Zuko and Iroh are now our secondary objective, our priority is the Avatar." A predatory smile spread across Azula's face.
"When we win can I keep the Avatar? He was cute." Ty Lee swung her legs around and rested her chin in her hands.
"The bald kid with tattoos is your type?" Percy asked incredulously of his friend.
"No, Ty Lee you can't keep him," Azula said slightly annoyed with her friend, there was a difference between picking up strays and the Avatar.
"Princess Azula." A guard entered the room and bowed, clearly out of breath.
"What is it?" She snapped at him.
"It's Bumi, he just turned himself in. He said to tell you, "Next time you imprison an earthbender, make sure you search him for earth." The guard said fearfully as Azula barked out new orders.
"I want him back in that cage within the hour and if he has even the slightest speck of dust on him, people will burn."
"Of course, Princess." The guard made a hasty escape.
Azula pinched her nose and sighed. "Mai, tell your parents to prepare some ostrich-horses and travel supplies."
"May I ask where we're going?" Mai droned with a raised eyebrow.
