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delightfulpisces-art · 8 months ago

Text

And here it is

Oop I love them...

Insane ramblings here:

Avatar Tanjirou - 100 years war au: If the fire nation effectively wiped out each avatar accidently until the avatar was born in the Fire Nation.

-I think the Kamado family lives in a fire nation village that is suffering due to the war. I was thinking pollution, maybe that's what killed his dad (or even more heart wrenching, his father was sent off to war and never came back) but either way when he dies it really stunts Tanjirou's and Nezukos fire bending (their father being their one and only teacher). I think these circumstances would already make them wary of their nation. Though they're wary they're just trying to survive. Maybe he and Nezuko have to do physical labor just to get by and it's not quite enough. One day they come home from a long day to find fire nation soldiers in their home. I don't know exactly why they're there (tax evasion? hiding runway prisoners? bad mouthing the fire nation). But either way it gets ugly, Nezuko and Tanjirou try to protect their family but are ultimately on the losing end. When members of their family start dying Tanjirou goes into the avatar state and destroys the soldiers. Nezuko is able to get him out of the avatar state, maybe before he's done significant damage to the forest and before he can kill any of the soldiers. That's how they discover the avatar is back.

-Tanjirou and Nezuko likely know very little about the avatar. The avatar is essentially an old myth to them. But they do know the avatar's duty is to master all four elements. And now they're enemies of the fire nation! So they gotta go. Unfortunately Tanjirou hasn't fully mastered fire bending but they decide they'll have to deal with this problem later. Thus starts the crazy journey to escape the fire nation.

-I think the order of Tanjirou's masters goes.

•Father

•Giyuu (and Urokodaki)

•Kanao

•Inosuke

•Gyomei

•Rengoku (Alongside Mitsuri, Tengen and Obanai but mostly Rengoku)

•Muichirou

•Sanemi

Zenitsu- I really struggled trying to find a place to put Zenitsu in this story. Also thunder breathing doesn't have a direct element it comes from so I decided to make him a non bender. I think it's important that Zenitsu had a distinct, singular skill that he's very good at (like the first form of thunder breathing), and for some reason I couldn't get the idea of him being an archer out of my head (Longshot inspired though he's nothing like Longshot). I think that works for him because it's a very cool skill he can hone but it's also one that makes him helpful while being awake. Like he can be mostly out of danger and be helpful, slowly but surely he'll get more confident to fight closer, maybe get brave enough to do explosive arrows and flaming arrows.

For his backstory I think his family is taken or killed by the fire nation (like everyone's backstory in alta) he's lucky to be taken to gramps, who was an archer, maybe that's rare in the earth kingdom. Unfortunately later on that town became occupied by fire nation soldiers. I think he loses gramps at some point and he has his motivation early on, but he's only one person and a coward at that so he can't get revenge on anyone. Then these disheveled fire nation kids turn up in his occupied village. One of these kids claims to be the avatar and desperately needs help (they're battered, bruised, tired and hungry). Then maybe one of the fire nation guards recognizes them. Then when the fire nation ultimately catches them, they try to arrest him with Tanjirou and Nezuko. Tanjirou enters the avatar state yet again. After that they take Zenitsu with them, and he can tell them all the things he knows about the avatar. Zenitsu fills the role of the first person the avatar gives hope to.

Inosuke- He was a lot easier to place. He's just a funny little earth bender running around the earth kingdom. I like to think Inosuke has been using seismic sense since he was child, but he didn't know that, he thought everybody could do that. I've honestly been calling Inosuke's style of earth bending freak bending so I have to imagine it looks insane. Like he's flexible, he's throwing his legs over his head, tossing rocks farther than anyone. I think his back story is essentially the same, except instead of demons it's fire benders.

I think he comes into the story after the horrors of the war have taken their toll on them (they feel very guilty over the fire nations actions, and the absence of the avatar) and they need a silly guy. I was thinking they got lost in the mountains heading north to the water tribe and Inosuke pops out of the bushes and they all get terrified, thinking it's a forest spirit. I can imagine Zenitsu yelling "GO ON SPIRIT BRIDGE!" And pushing Tanjirou at Inosuke. This leads to a tiny fight that's only stopped by a head butt and Inosuke's mask falling off. Once he wakes up, Inosuke wants to prove how strong he is so he drags the team to the nearest earth kingdom city and proceeds to wipe the floor at earth rumble 6. I think the team is pretty up front with him about Tanjirou being the avatar, but at some point Tanjirou will go into the avatar state and only then Inosuke will go "YOU'RE THE AVATAR?" Groans insue. At this point Inosuke has decided to travel with these people, finding a lot more joy in fighting fire benders. Team avatar is completely fine with this because Tanjirou's gonna need an earthbending teacher after water bending. Later down the line he develops metal bending after some lessons in earthbending from Gyomei.

Kanao- Kanao has been my favorite to think about. She has the same mentality as in Kny. I think in the northern water tribe she's considered a part of the highly regarded Kochou family. Maybe she's betrothed to the prince (much to Shinobu's dismay) (Also lots of drama for the KanaTan/KanaNezu shippers). But in secret she's receiving training from the strongest waterbender in the northern water tribe, Giyuu. Shinobu tried to teach her the healing skills she has but it didn't take well, I'm thinking she can heal basic wounds and acute illnesses but that's it (but Aoi has incredible healing skills so that's how she comes into the story). She's a natural at fighting though, like picking up everything Giyuu throws at her. I can picture her sitting at the spirit oasis often, enjoying the weather. I also think Kanao is spiritually inclined, maybe she can sometimes see spirits. I also think the blood bending arc would be cool for her. Actually terrifying for her, for one she struggles to make decisions for herself how could she possibly do it for others.

She becomes prominent in the story when Giyuu takes Tanjirou on as a student. Like she's his sparring buddy. But again Tanjirou skipped an element and water is his natural opposite so Kanao likely just destroys him for a long while. I like to think Kanao gets closer to the team, and actually has some fun with them. At some point she has that emotional awakening, likely when Tanjirou is finally picking up water bending and they all know team avatar will be leaving soon. I think her most emotional moment would be when she finally makes a decision for herself, deciding she wants to travel with the avatar and help him hone his water bending. Obviously literally everyone but team avatar is against this. That is until the battle at the northern water tribe. I think Kanao really shows off her skills, I think she and Giyuu end up defending the water spirits. After that I think she's free to travel because everyone is too afraid to stop her. Maybe she dramatically throws her betrothal necklace in the ocean idk.

Genya- Genya is also one of my favorites. He reminds me very much of Jet and Zuko so I gave him the hook swords. I think he's like Jet in the sense he struggles to contain his anger when it comes to the fire nation, and he struggles to see the difference between fire nation citizens and the empire. That stems from his origin (see Sanemi back story). I imagine my mind of baby Genya screaming for help under the fiery remains of his house, his screams can't be heard by his brother, who is currently fighting for his life against his father. I think Genya is able to escape the fire just as Sanemi is being dragged off in chains. (I know I drew both Genya and Sanemi with their canon scars but I was thinking maybe in this universe they're burns) after that he becomes a fugitive and is eventually arrested whilst he was causing trouble in the earth kingdom (see Gyomei backstory). I think he's also like Zuko, fixated on his destiny. He is convinced his destiny is to find his brother (he is also convinced that his unbreakable older brother is alive, even when everyone in his life tells him otherwise) and maybe to be a thorn in the fire nation's side. Gyomei kinda has to act as an uncle iroh to him, telling him destiny is a funny thing and all that. I think he usually lives with Gyomei but both of them are often off on their travels. Genya is often off trying to learn anything he can on air benders and looking for any leads on his brother. (Design notes, I like to think the clothes he's wearing were gifted to him by Gyomei, maybe because Genya mentioned wanting clothes without burns on them. I also think Genya ends up wearing earth kingdom clothes but he wears them in a fire nation style, not because he wants to, but because he doesn't know any better.) Maybe he admits at one point he's from the fire nation, he's quite shameful of it, and Tanjirou and Nezuko are like "We know, look at you??"

Think maybe they meet in the swamp (Genya in the swamp would kill me). Genya went there, hearing the rumors around the swamp hoping he'd get some sort of vision of Sanemi in there. Team avatar gets dragged in there because Tanjirou gets fixated on it. I think maybe the swamp gives Genya a vision of Tanjirou and the rest of the team. So when he finds them he realizes he should go with them. After that he'd take them to Gyomei for some more intense earth bending training and some spiritual help. Also Genya makes it clear his intentions, he's gonna find his totally alive, air bending older brother. Gyomei likely explains Genya's grief, the way he sees it to the team. I also think He and Zenitsu make up the brains/leadership of the group.

Muichirou- See backstory. This section is just for his involvement with team avatar. I think he meets the team in Ba Sing Se. The team goes there to maybe alert the earth king of the solar eclipse. They meet Muichirou while wandering the city. Muichirou has forgotten why he came to the city so the team takes him with them, saying he can hang with them until he remembers. Shenanigans with the Dai Lee and such occur. I think Muichirou often fights with a bo staff more often than his air bending. So the team doesn't know he can air bend until an intense fight. They're shocked, Genya is thrilled. By the end of book two Muichirou has been mostly awoken to his memories and agrees to help Tanjirou learn air bending the best he can. He doesn't master air bending until they encounter Sanemi.

Tomioka Giyuu - Northern Water Tribe

Still trained under Urokodaki with Sabito. Around final selection age there was an attempt to raid the northern water tribe, Sabito and Giyuu obviously fight against them and Sabito is killed, maybe Giyuu's sister is killed too. Prompting Giyuu to train as hard as possible, becoming the strongest waterbender in the northern water tribe. I think maybe he and Shinobu are childhood friends in this, he'd teach her how to fight (because northern sexism) and she'd teach him basic healing. Giyuu still has imposter syndrome, he feels very undeserving of his position and opportunities which is only made worse when everyone wants him to train Tanjirou. Of course he ends up taking the job and since Tanjirou is a fire avatar it's a bitter work. It takes a very long time (I'm thinking also if you don't do the elements in order it's harder). I think Giyuu and Shinobu travel with Tanjirou for a while before they head off to help the southern water tribe. I think they'll likely run into the other hashiras wandering the world, maybe they make the white lotus.

-Side note, I think Sabito and Makomo turn into spirits and help Tanjirou understand waterbending.

Kochou Shinobu - Northern Water Tribe

I think she was born to some nobility. Her family probably has great bending talents. I like to think her and Giyuu became friends because he'd get hurt when training, like a lot, maybe she's also friends with Sabito. I don't know how Kanae comes in (once again, northern sexism) , maybe she's a great healer, maybe she's an incredible engineer of sorts, using her bending for the progression of the water tribe. And maybe in the same raid Sabito died in, Kanae dies as well. Giyuus and Shinobu's friendship fall apart after that, it takes a great deal of effort to get close again. I think her and Kanao's backstory is pretty much the same. Maybe Shinobu insists Giyuu teach her how to fight (She'll be damned if she loses anyone else to the fire nation).

Iguro Obanai - Southern Water Tribe

Born in the south and taken at a young age into fire Nation custody. I'm thinking when the fire nation raid came he didn't have a family member to step in and protect him and he was taken. He's made to work and tortured. Later in his teens he's saved by Kaburamaru, maybe he's like a big sea serpent now. I think he develops a new style of water bending inspired by Kaburamaru. I also think he goes home to the southern water tribe then has to leave essentially forever (until the end of the war) to protect the tribe because the fire nation was after him. After that he becomes a pirate that takes revenge on fire nation ships. Later on during the avatar timeline he meets up with Rengoku and Mitsuri. He's very hostile and distrusting at first but they all become close. I think he's likely hostile towards everyone, hostile with Tanjirou because where the hell has the Avatar been, hostile with Giyuu and Shinobu because what the fuck has the Northern tribe been doing while the Southern tribe was suffering.

Himejima Gyomei - Small Earth Kingdom Village

I think he was living a peaceful life in a small village in the south of the earth kingdom, somewhere near badgermoles. I think he still had the orphanage, where he honed his earth bending and he used it for work not fighting. He, like Toph, uses his earthbending to see. I'm thinking his village has some sort of resource the fire nation wants so they invade, round up earth benders and send them to a rig on the ocean. I think that's where he meets Genya. They engineer an insane way to escape. Gyomei would ask Genya how he got here, being a non bender and all, and Genya would tell him he threw a rock at a fire nation soldier and they called it earth bending. Genya would tell Gyomei the tragedy of his family and insist his older brother is an airbender, Gyomei is convinced this is a grief induced delusion. Thus he takes Genya under his wing and does his best training him in combat. Maybe in his spare time he liberates earth kingdom villages?

Rengoku Kyoujurou - Fire Nation Capitol

I think his father is like a fire nation general. Or some extention of the royal family. He has incredible training and great talent. I think maybe after his mother's death his father tries to send him to the frontlines. Whether or not he goes and sees the destruction for himself or if he leaves well before he's sent off to war is up in the air for me. Like he could have a whole zuko arc of unlearning fire nation propaganda, and he's very honorable so that could work. But either way he abandons the fire nation, picking up Mitsuri on the way. I think they become big time fugitives. I think maybe on this road of unlearning things he (and maybe Mitsuri) loses his firebending source. I think he and Mitsuri go on the sun warrior arc then later on they take Tanjirou and Nezuko on the same arch. He becomes an even stronger firebender and they meet up with Tengen and Obanai, making up the pirate gang. (Obanai is likely not thrilled to be surrounded by this many firebenders). I think this team plays a big part in arcs like day of black sun, boiling rock and retaking Ba Sing Se.

I like to think before the avatar is back he makes it his mission to end the war. Like I think a big motivator for him is he doesn't want his younger, non bending, brother to be sent to war.

But everyone please imagine with me, final Agni Kai, Akaza vs Rengoku.

Kanroji Mitsuri - Ember Island

Mitsuri is so much like Ty Lee I thought she'd make a good fire bending performer. Maybe Rengoku and her are childhood friends. I think maybe either Rengoku picks her up on his way out of the Fire Nation or she goes to find him. They get to see the horrors of the war but also the wonders of the other nations. No doubt she's an intensely powerful fire bender, like her source is love, debatably the best source you can have but she cannot lightning bend at all. Like very incapable because she can't be cold blooded. I don't have much on her unfortunately, her design and character I love very much.

Uzui Tengen - Fire Nation

I think he starts as a very deadly fire nation assassin or bounty hunter. Like powerful because of his expert control of lightning bending. He gets to travel the world for his job and that's how he meets his wives. Hina earth kingdom (maybe she's a kyoshi warrior?), Suma water tribe and Makio fire nation. I think maybe he meets them briefly during his work and later finds he would really rather be a husband than an assassin. So he cuts ties with the fire nation and now he travels the world with his wives. I think he carries weapons with him so people don't think he's a fire bender but then he brings out the lightning bending if he must. I also think he doesn't really do any fire bending, just flashy bending. In his design I added a little something to rep each wife, the kyoshi warrior looking head band was maybe Hinas, the blue cord around his waist is water tribe for Suma, and the red sash(?) is for Makio.

Shinazugawa Sanemi - Northern Fire Nation (I have many thoughts) (Also in this Au the fire nation couldn't wipe out all the air benders all at once, maybe there were survivor's that had to blend into the rest of the world.)

I think Sanemi starts in the same place. Horrible home life, trying to take care of his siblings, maybe his father is a fire nation soldier, maybe that side of his family comes from a long line of fire nation soldiers. And maybe airbending is on his mother's side of the family. Thus one day shits going down at home, Sanemi's trying to protect his family from his father and he, in a desperate attempt to save his family from his father's wrath he airbends in front of his whole family. I think the father like explodes and lights the family home on fire, fights Sanemi, causes a big commotion. Other fire nation soldiers come and arrest Sanemi before he can rush into his home and save his family. Convincing him his entire family has perished in the fire. I think Sanemi escapes the fire nation quickly after his capture and flees to the northern air temple (Not before he visits his family home one more time, finding the remains of his family), then maybe he meets guru/ non bending monks and he does his best to learn airbending with what's left of the air temple. I think maybe for a moment he thinks he's the avatar but is given something like a vision telling him he's not, maybe telling him it's his destiny to teach the future avatar airbending. I think maybe the air nomad life is easy for him in the sense that he doesn't have earthly attachments anymore, and maybe really hard for him because he continues to seath with anger. In this universe the Shinazugawa brothers can have a better ending, I think their reunion is sweet. Like when Sanemi catches wind of the avatar being back he makes it his mission to find him. And to his shock he finds his somehow alive little brother traveling with the avatar. And like Genya recognizes him immediately but it takes Sanemi a second and then he breaks down. I have a vivid image in my mind of Sanemi taking Genya out on his glider and them having so much fun. Maybe their angst comes in the form of Sanemi being over protective, like he can't stand that Genya intends to help Tanjiro defeat the firelord.

Tokitou Muichirou - Small Earth Kingdom Village

Like Sanemi, somehow airbending runs in his blood, but his family is more aware of it. Like his family is the type to tell stories of the avatar and air nomads and times before the war and maybe one of his parents is a historian, specifically educated on air nomads. Eventually his little village is taken by the fire nation and the information his parents harbors is strictly illegal and they're killed for it. Muichirou and his brother are left alive for the time being, left to struggle on their own. His brother never ever wants to hear about air nomads or the avatar ever again (that is what killed their parents after all) but Muichirou doesn't lose hope. I think maybe his brother is an earthbender and has to work under the fire nation, making him more bitter. And like Muichirou was thought to be a non bender. Then Muichirou gets in trouble, maybe for doing something noble or just still having some of his family's books. Somehow his brother is able to save him from the fire nation soldiers but ultimately dies. Just like in Kny, Muichirou goes into a rage, maybe does a mixture of airbending and just fighting with weapons and does serious damage to the occupation in his home village. But I imagine he'd get some crazy head injuries and still get his amnesia. I think it would be interesting if after he hurts his head he can see spirits. Maybe they lead him in a sense, urging him to travel through the earth kingdom. I think since he's a prodigy he teaches himself air bending, the best he can that is, enough to fight. Maybe he learns a little something from the spirits. I made him a part of team avatar (Gave him a team avatar outfit that's a little more simple than his full air nomad outfit) I think they picked him up in the group in Ba Sing Se. He is Tanjirou's first airbending teacher, but since neither of them ever had a master it's very elementary. I think maybe before Tanjirou becomes known as the avatar, everyone thinks Muichiro's the avatar, there could be some funny shenanigans with that.

I also did little doodles of team avatar in their other possible outfits whilst running around the world: