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Man it seems like a lot of good stories are disappearing from archive of our own. The latest to be lost is a story called “Eight Years Later” it was a very good story but stuck in hiatus but now I can’t find it. Very upsetting

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I remember a fanfiction where Aang goes into Azula’s mind and he finds a Little Girl Azula holding and protecting a ball of flame that represents her bending, I can’t find it and it’s driving me nuts; does anyone remember this story?

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I saw a story from 2020 by Jay D (PastrixMakina_oo) based on this Pic (I don’t know the artist) It’s so sad

I really need an alternative version where Ursa accepts it and hugs her; it must be done

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Another Story Prompt for you all

After a few years of bonding with her mother over fire bending Azula’s daughter discovers she’s a water bender much to both of their disappointment (ironically Azula is more upset at herself for being disappointed) worried that they will grow apart with this revelation both of them seek others for advice.

I really hope some of my ideas end up being created

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I have a new theory that would make for interesting content, I think (besides his other reasons) Ozai took out Lu Ten and forced Ursa, Zuko, Iroh, Ty Lee, and Mai away to isolate Azula and bend her to his will

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Naturally I have a lot of thoughts about Azula's role in the live action adaptation. I'd say about 95% of them are positive thoughts.

First of all, I love that she is this baby-faced, squishy-cheeked kid (I know her actress is a little older than the character but that's okay.) At Elizabeth Yu's age, I also easily passed for 14-15, she just has a young-looking face and clearly hasn't lost all her baby fat. And that is perfect, actually. I've criticized the sharpness and angularity of the animated Azula many times over, she has always looked far too old for her canonical age. I've said it before and I'll say it again- it's a problem that so many people watched the original cartoon and thought Azula was older than Zuko. I can't even blame them for it, she's drawn to look 20 or older. So it is wonderful to see a version of Azula who looks closer to her canonical age. I think it really drives home the point.

That said, this Azula is definitely different than her animated counterpart in other ways. The animated Azula was (almost) always perfectly in control. She could become angry and snap at people- but it was fairly rare, Azula always seemed the image of perfect calm, control, and precision. She was deadly precisely because she was so cool and collected and did not get easily rankled. This was also part of what made her breakdown so shocking.

The thing is, the breakdown is not especially foreshadowed prior to season three. There are a few moments that show the chinks in Azula's armor, but most of them don't come until "The Beach," and then after Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal. I've always believed that betrayal was the real inciting incident for her eventual psychotic break- I've argued before that it sent Azula into what's called a prodromal state, which is like a sort of "pre-psychosis."

More on the animated version's mental state here

Point being, there's really only one instance in season two that suggests any flaws to Azula's cool exterior, and it's one of her very first scenes. You know the one: "almost isn't good enough." It makes for a very subtle build-up to the breakdown and her eventual fall. But it comes at the cost of depicting her predominantly as a capital-V Villain prior to it. You're not really supposed to sympathize with Azula until "The Beach," arguably not until "Into the Inferno." For most of the animated show's run, you're supposed to find her scary and threatening.

And this is done effectively- almost too effectively. She's an obvious foil to Zuko, and serves as such a good primary antagonist that they had to neutralize her in the finale by giving her the breakdown. It's like they knew there was no way a healthy Azula was going to be beatable during Sozin's Comet. She appeared to be an effortlessly talented fire bender, a brilliant strategist, and a more dangerous opponent than even Ozai.

Live action Azula does not have this same feeling to her. There is still something "scary" about her- we see her watching people being burned alive with little to no reaction, and her face is quite blank at Zuko's Agni Kai. She's still cunning and still willing to manipulate things to her advantage- we see this in how she plays Zhao. So if this version gets a season two I have no doubt that this Azula will still serve as a dangerous antagonist to the Gaang and I don't doubt this is still an Azula capable of bringing down Ba Sing Se.

But she's not quite the calm, collected character she first seemed in the animated version. This Azula is a little less hinged. She has more moments of snapping and losing some of that perfect control. She's more frustrated and feels more at the mercy of her father. She reads far more like the Azula we saw in "The Phoenix King," the one who talked back and protested that her father couldn't treat her like Zuko. That Azula, however, was about one bad night's sleep away from a psychotic break. This Azula, presumably, isn't there yet.

I can agree that something of her original character gets lost when you essentially start foreshadowing the breakdown from the jump. It's not gonna be a surprise to any new audiences. She's not gonna be quite the same. But it does humanize her much sooner than the original show did, and it asks the audience to consider her circumstances from the jump- is this a sympathetic character or not? I obviously think she is in the original, and I do think in the end she was meant to be. But it's much more of a debate. The live action show unequivocally says "yes" and does not make it a debate at all.

I'd be tempted to say it's not trusting the audience to read between the lines, but given all the Azula discourse...they might be right to take this more direct approach.

Anyways. Live action Azula also feels more like a real teenager. She's petty, she's irritable, she's desperate to remain in her father's favor and beat her brother in the artificial competition her father has set up between them and will go to any lengths to do so- lengths she probably wouldn't have in the cartoon. She has a strong drive to prove herself and to protect the image she constructs about herself as the "perfect daughter." But that image also feels far more fragile than it did in the animated version.

This Azula doesn't say that "almost [perfect] isn't good enough." She says that "it [perfect] isn't good enough." It's a subtle but meaningful difference.

(Side note- I think the reason this Azula is fine shooting lightning in the direction of her father, seemingly in defiance of his orders, is a direct result of the change to the Agni Kai- she watched as Ozai berated and burned Zuko for not giving him his all, versus in the original where Zuko's sin was in not fighting back period. So here she's showing Ozai her "all", she's giving him everything she has to prove she's capable of doing more than Zuko running drills and smoking out resistance rings.)

I like this change. I like this more desperate, more grounded take on Azula. She feels like a real girl in a horrendous home environment. This Azula was raised in a family where it's expected you be cool with setting people on fire in the throne room and where there's a tangible symbol of Daddy's love sitting beneath him at all times. This Azula was forged in the fires of competition and manipulation that's more subtle than the animated Ozai ever seemed capable of. (More on Ozai later, but he's a much more subtle character than his animated counterpart despite still being...pretty blatantly Evil). So I think it makes sense that she's not quite as calm and controlled and perfect as the animated version.

I don't know yet which version I'll prefer when all is said and done- she was ultimately a minor role in this season. Animated Azula is iconic and always will be, but there's a lot I've always been critical of about how she was depicted in the original show. I think a lot of us that love and empathize with Azula do so despite the way she was written, not because of it. This version might change things a little.

But it also might make it seem infinitely more cruel if she isn't given some kind of redemptive ending (or at least one that implies some hope for her.) The bleak ending of the original show might feel really bad for this more sympathetic version of Azula. So if they stick with that...I dunno. It could hit or miss.

For now, I like what I'm seeing. And Elizabeth Yu understood the assignment.

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Little snippets of dialogue, showing what I think postwar redeemed Azula would look like:

AZULA: Admiral Asahi seems to be convinced that a return to the old regime would be in the best interests of the Fire Nation. He recently gave a speech where he accused the Fire Lord of being an impotent, cowardly puppet who was leading the country to ruin. Well, if he misses the old ways so badly, we should slather him with tar, put him in a boat at sunset and light the boat on fire after Agni's last rays have left the world, so his spirit will never feel the warmth of the Sun again!

EVERYBODY: [looks at her]

AZULA: But... we won't. Because. We're very moral.

SOKKA: Yyyeah, good save. Not creepy at all.

---

ZUKO: Princess Azula, what do you think we should do about the war orphans?

AZULA: We should train them to be an elite fighting force. They've already lost everything, so their feelings of hate and grief would be easy to twist to serve us.

ZUKO, sighing: Let's try that again. Remember that the Earth King's delegation is going to be at this meeting, so maybe try to avoid saying anything that could restart the war.

AZULA: ... give them jobs?

ZUKO: Child labor is bad.

AZULA: Even if it's-

ZUKO: Even if it's peasant children, yes. And don't call them peasants.

AZULA: What do you want from me? Should I say, 'oh, poor babies, we should fund luxurious orphanages where they can get the best education and care, and many hugs and kisses, where they can weave flower crowns and roll around in meadows of fire lillies?'

ZUKO: Yes.

AZULA: Oh. Well, that one, then.

---

ZUKO: Azula! What did you do?

AZULA: You're going to have to be a little more specific.

ZUKO: Admiral Asahi's estate burned down!

AZULA: That's unfortunate, but I don't see what it has to do with me.

ZUKO: So you're saying you didn't do it?

AZULA: Of course I didn't.

ZUKO: ... really?

AZULA: I hired someone to do it. I am royalty, after all.

ZUKO: Azula!

AZULA: Oh, lighten up, Zuzu. My operative made sure that everyone got out.

ZUKO: Everyone except for Asahi, who was trapped in his outhouse.

AZULA: Yes, well, that was unfortunate.

ZUKO: In his outhouse, where the fire started.

AZULA: A very tragic accident, but he survived, didn't he?

ZUKO: Yeah, but he was covered in... anyways, who did you hire?

AZULA: You know, I'm not entirely sure. She wore a mask, but I think she's called the Red Spirit.

ZUKO: What? You can't steal my secret identity!

AZULA: What are you talking about?

ZUKO: The Blue Spirit!

AZULA: The Blue Spirit was a myth, made up by Zhao to explain the Avatar's escape from Pohuai. Sure, there were some copycat bandits in the Earth Kingdom, but our own intelligence has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of the Blue Spirit being an actual person. Haven't you been keeping up with the reports?

ZUKO: I- you- argh! [stomps off]

AZULA: Bye, Zuzu.

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I still what whoever to put there own spin on it, but idea is that Toph and Azula find her mother

After years of trying to go on a famous “life-changing field trip” with Zuko, Toph decides to take one with Azula instead

HAVE AT IT

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While in the Asylum Azula is abused and has her head shaved (a Major insult for a member of the Royal Family). Livid, Zuko punishes those responsible and brings an utterly broken (child like) Azula with severe separation anxiety (practically staying glued to Ursa) back to the palace to heal her broken mind and relationships

This could be one of those stories that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time

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Anybody know of any

Yearly Reminder that C.S Lewis encouraged his fans to write fanfiction about Susan Pevensie becoming a friend to Narnia and reuniting with her family once again.

Literally inviting his fans to write Susan’s adult, angsty character development with a happy ending.

Do your duty fans. Write that fanfiction.

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Azula finally is able to leave the Asylum with hopes to reconcile with her mother only to find out that she recently passed away, Azula loses her ability to fire bend after hearing the news and becomes inconsolable from the loss of her mother (and eventually for her bending). Worried that Azula will relapse, Zuko sends Azula to the South Pole as an Ambassador of the Firenation and to be with Katara (who recently amicably broke up with Aang) hoping they can bond over the loss of their mothers and to have a father figure in Chief Hakoda.

Other events that take place:

Aang helps Azula go to the spirit world to commune with her mother

Azula learns from the Masters

Azula reconciles with Mai and Ty Lee

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It’s been a couple months since Kuvira was sentenced to house arrest at the Beifong estate and though she continues to reconcile with her adoptive mother and the rest of the family, she spends most of her time in her room riddled with guilt and fear…

Suyin- Thanks for coming Korra

Korra- Sure Su, you know I’m happy to help, it’s just Asami isn’t exactly happy that I’m helping out.

S- I understand hopefully time will heal those wounds, but that’s fine I actually have someone else coming

K- Really who

(Knock knock)

S-Oh that’s them now

She opens the door and gets assaulted by a flash of pink embracing her

S- Hi Aunt Ty Lee it’s good to see you but, can’t breathe

Ty Lee- oops sorry

K- what

Azula- hello young Avatar

K- AZULA, what’s going on

S- Aunt Azula is actually here to help out

K- While I do see the resemblance of the situations, what made you think about Azula to help with Kuvira

S- To tell you the truth what few people know is I was actually sent to the Fire Nation to stay with Aunt Ty Lee and Aunt Azula after that incident with, where I scared Lin.

I think this is a good mini-prologue to a potential couple stories about Azula helping Suyin turn her life around (Including joining Ty Lee Sisters Circus for a bit) and in present day Azula and Ty Lee helping Kuvira cope with her crimes and moving forward with her life

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After years of trying to go on a famous “life-changing field trip” with Zuko, Toph decides to take one with Azula instead

HAVE AT IT

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Forgive me for being political for a moment but this needs to be said

Netanyahu should be impeached, HAMAS should be ousted, hostages released, prisoners either tried or released, and War Crimes by all parties punished.

WE AS HUMANS SHOULD HONOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATES OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN WITH 1967 BORDERS #CeasefireNOW

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If anyone has better means to afford to support this product that would be awesome

Azula In The Spirit Temple

Okay okay! I have seen you blowing up my inbox asking for my thoughts! I honestly hadn’t had a chance to sit down and write down my thoughts.

The comic is pretty much confirmation of things we already knew.

⁠Azula wasn’t born a monster and doesn’t like being one. She was made this way and never taught any other way to be.

She’s made a lot of mistakes and has done bad things but is so overwhelmed that she would rather deny and avoid. She needs help. Is desperate for it even. But all she has is her pride to protect her for now.

While many Azula fans may feel some vindication over this, it also seems others are quite frustrated that this comic didn’t move her forward in either direction. And while I can understand that frustration after 15+ years waiting for a redemption or confirmation of her villainy, I think the trouble is that this story was never intended to add anything.

It was intended to subtract.

That’s why there’s no mention of Kiyi or Azula’s plan to make Zuko a better Fire Lord. That’s why the Kemurikage are gone now and Azula suddenly declares she wants the throne against everything she has said and done previously.

Because this comic, while a fascinating primer into Azula’s psyche, was never meant to further the story.

It’s mean to be a soft reset. A way to place Azula back to where she was at the end of the show so Bryke can ignore the convoluted and contradictory mess that’s been made in the comics and just pick up where the show left off.

This also fixes the issues that they have two different demographics to appeal to now: show-onlies (the bigger group) and extended material fans (the more dedicated group).

Now they can freely write new animated content without having to recap the show-onlies on what they missed or having the extended material fans feel betrayed if they completely ignore or decanonize the comics.

Cynical and unfair for fans? Yes.

Predictable business choice? Also yes.

Hopefully this means they have big plans for her in the animated content.

The art was lovely. Wartman continues to improve and deliver.

Just my take on it.

For fans of @book4air? We will continue working on our own content regardless. We have big plans for Azula, don’t you worry!

If the comics disappointed you and you’d like to help us create our content? Consider supporting us on Patreon.

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This is different than my usual prompts and ideas, but I was reading “For Names Sakes” by Caelum_Blue and a line stood out to me

“All our other family members are war criminals!”

“Ha!” said Azula. “Uncle was also a war criminal! You should have named him after me.”

“Aunt Azula, you - ”

“Never attacked civilians, overthrew the Earth Kingdom government with a bloodless coup, and took Ba Sing Se with a single shot that only killed an acceptable military target?”

Azula though cruel and manipulative actually never committed a war crime to my knowledge

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I don’t know how it would be done but it would be interesting if there was an event or scenario where Azula calls Ikem Dad and starts considering him her father