"Princess Azula," a voice called out.
Azula looked down from her seat in the control room as a scout made his way to her waving his hand. She watched as he bowed deeply before waiting for her response.
"Yes, scout?"
"I bring news, a group of warriors was sighted—"
"I don't care for the earthbenders you see in front of the walls from your perch. Bring me the news when it is important, not before."
The scout swallowed as he began shaking but remained standing in front of Azula. She raised an eyebrow as the man didn't flee from her dismissal.
"Apologies, princess, but the Avatar's bison has been sighted with this group. They're not in front of Ba Sing Se but on Fontem trail leading into the Tai Drin forest. He is with a group of girls and a male warrior in blue armor and—"
Azula cut him off again for the second time in a minute, "Blue armor, you said?"
"Yes, princess," the man quickly replied.
Azula smirked as she looked to Mai and Ty Lee, "It looks like Percy has finally made his way out of the desert girls. Let's go get him."
( - )
Suki stared as the metal monstrosity that had been creeping towards Ba Sing Se came to a stop. It didn't make any sense to her why the Fire Nation would stop the drill now. Were they going to wait until nightfall? If that was the case, it was only mid-morning. They could've gotten much closer before stopping.
The Kyoshi warriors stirred uneasily as the drill which has been constantly moving since they left the Tai Drin forest came to a halt. Percy smiled inwardly, he knew the Fire Nation protocols. The back spotter would have seen them as they left the shelter of the forest. Suki should've taken another trail further around if she wanted to avoid detection. With any luck, Azula would come and get him soon.
He didn't have to wait long. After about another 20 minutes of walking, the trail of dust coming their way was noticeable. The Kyoshi warriors all shifted into a battle formation, with Suki at their tip, forming an arrowhead around Appa and himself, the problem being that they were so focused on what was coming towards them, that nobody was even worried about him. That would be a mistake.
He watched amusedly as the dust cloud cleared, showing the cause of it; Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee astride mongoose lizards. Percy sent a crooked smirk at Azula atop her mount. Her royal facade slipped for a moment as she smiled at him before quickly composing herself again.
"What do you want with us?" Suki asked as the Kyoshi warriors deployed their shields.
"Who are you? The Avatar's fan girls?" Azula replied shrewdly.
Percy smirked at Azula's joke, which was honestly not too bad. Ty Lee smiled as she got the meaning behind it. "Oh, good one, Azula!" she laughed.
"If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck," Suki growled at the girls.
"The Avatar? Oh no, I'm here for someone far more important," Azula replied smiling.
"What? Who?" Suki questioned uneasily.
"Ah, that would be me," Percy replied easily as the girls turned in surprise, torn between turning their backs on the Fire Nation girls, and facing him.
Ty Lee laughed at the girl's obvious discomfort with how the situation was going, "Aw, Percy, are we not enough for you?" she gestured to herself, Azula and Mai.
Percy laughed, "Ty Lee, every guy dreams to be with one of you," he glanced at Mai, "Even if some of you prefer hot-headed idiots," he jabbed jokingly.
