#Agni is best boi forever

[botherkupo]

The tragedy of watching a show with your normal sister who wants to go to bed at normal times so no we can’t watch the last 2 episodes of Netflix live action atla

Now I’m just sitting here with big eye high what’s definitely overtaken my being like OHFFFGNXVDBHNFGGHG

I just LOVE THIS ADAPTATION SO MUCH

I’ve laughed (lots), I’ve cried (lots), the way they have explored deeper into the characters which will ultimately make those character arcs so much more satisfying (like Sokka and that scene with Hakoda and Bato? YES YES YES, so goooooood)

I just have so many thoughts, and like hot dang the choice t have Zuko actually fight in the Agni Kai but then hesitate to hit Ozai was just YGHHCHCHAtfudgdtvSCREECHES FOREVER

Ozai feels weirdly more human (still a jerk), but like it felt like he truly believed he was going to fix his son into being stronger by banishing him. I like we got to see him visit Zuko after the match, even if it ended dramatically. Like of course the kid is trauma poster boy right now, but big daddy fire lord still came to check his son’s health and the learnt had been learned (it hadn’t). And that’s when the banishment hits

And you know what, it does genuinely feel in this adaptation that Ozai is testing Zuko rather than just sending him on a hopeless mission. I think he wanted to see if Zuko could do the impossible, and sometimes he likes to make it trickier for Zuko because he’s twisted like that.

Anyway this why Ozai still playing mind games Azula hit her harder. Ozai makes a point to praise Zuko’s resilience and dedication to his task in front her . The thing that will Azula most paranoid about is whether it is she or Zuko who will be expendable and unfavorited should Zuko actually succeed and return home

Omg I took a sleeping pill before to join the normal person sleep hours, but I want to oeep talking. Pleaww bear with the typo nonsense

Crap never mind damn forgot what I wanted to say

Oh yeah blue spirit and and Aang bro moment after the great escape from zhao was the bested thing ever. I love their conversation and ir ended

Also June. Love June

Okay should try wrap up sobtmsjr tags

Watcgvthevagowvwarchvwwtxgv watch

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Purely scientific question, how many of Agni's babies would it take to cutely pine small Agni. Like the babies decided they all wanted cuddles and so they decides to dog pile small Agni into a pile of pillows and soft mats

"MUMMY!" Esme cried and ran towards her mother as soon as she opened the door to their home.

There's Es. Now I wonder how quickly the rest will appear...

An additional five children and a crawling baby Sylvaine scurried to Agnes in approximately two minutes.

"Hello my little loves! As you can see, I had to go undercover again, which means I'm a lalafell for the day or so." She explained, picking up Sylvaine and kissing his adorably chubby cheeks!

"Does that mean we can still cuddle, Mummy?" Celestine asked, twirling some of her long dark red hair around a small finger.

"Oh darling, of course! In fact, everyone grab pillows and let's have a little cuddle party on the floor right now!" She watched happily as the children ran and grabbed every pillow in sight along with a few blankets.

"Is there room for Bapa in the cuddle party?" A deep voice rumbled from the kitchen. ALWAYS ROOM FOR MY GRUMPY DRAGON!

"Yes!!!!" Hami shouted before he threw himself on some pillows. "Bapa has to cuddle too!"

"Yes, Bapa deserves it!" Marcelin said, laying down next to Pip. The other children nodded as Agnes very carefully sat herself and Sylvaine in the middle of the pillow pile.

"I'll be there in a moment, children. Just a few more dishes to be cleaned from lunch."

Laurent crawled on the pillows and lay his head next to Agnes' little lalafell legs. "Mummy, did you miss us?" He asked in a small voice, pushing his glasses up.

Agnes ruffled his hair. "Every time I must be apart from you all it makes me sad, because I want you to be with me. But I'm so glad that when I return, you're all happy and safe and having a good time with Bapa or Granny, when she's here. And your wonderful aunties and uncles!" Gods, how I wish I could bring you all everywhere I go. Too dangerous though...someday when you're all older... Sylvaine whined, and Agnes let go of him and let him crawl on the pillows. "Oh come here, all of you!" The six elder children instantly yelled happily and surrounded their for now extremely small Mummy and hugged her as she hugged them. "Never, ever doubt that I miss each one of you when I'm gone. My little loves, you are the best children...and I love you all so much."

"Mummy," Pip said. "we love you too! Even when you're small like Granny." He wrinkled his nose and giggled just like me. My little song and dance boy.

"Is it very funny when Mummy is small like Granny?" She asked, tickling Pip's sides. "Just because I'm small doesn't mean I can't Assize like I normally can!"

Celestine giggled. "But Mummy you're so SMALL! Like me!"

"Aye, Mummy is small like Granny for now but won't be forever. She'll be back to being Big Mummy very soon." Estinien chuckled, sitting next to Celestine and holding Sylvaine.

"BIG MUMMY!"

"BIG MUMMY!"

"BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG MUMMY!"

Agnes shook her head and smacked Estinien's arm. "Oh you naughty man, look at what you've started!"

Estinien winked at his wife and laughed.

I suppose I'm Big Mummy now!

[peeporoons-notes]

back to MSQ | part 1 —— part 2 —— part 3 —— part 4

💬 Flavor text in Ul'dah - Steps of Nald from East to West (part 3, Emerald Avenue)

About halfway around the street

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* Wymond's flavor text is available only after you take his sidequest 🟠"Due Diligence." Wymond "Keeping that coinpurse bulging, are we? They say the streets of Ul'dah are made o' gold, but it's piles o' gil what pave your way."

💬 Proximity dialogue (1) Female Twin: "All hail the sultana!" Male Twin: "The city's alive once again!"

💬 Proximity dialogue (2) Shop Crier: "Custom embroidery on all purchases! Shop attendant: "One size fits all or half your money back!" * Amusing because with the player clothes for sale, one size really does fit all.

————————————

* Now passing the aetheryte plaza - ◾back to MSQ?

————————————

Skywatcher "A wise woman once said that she who does not pay heed to the skies will most surely get wet. Sound advice if you ask me. Would you like to hear what the skies tell us this fine day?

* An expansive weather forecast for the realm is displayed.

————————————

* At the Hall of the Immortal Flames

Mimio Mio "The flame is not the fuel, praise the Traders. The Immortal Flames depend not on any one soldier—not even Raubahn Aldynn. Low it may burn at times, but as long as there are men willing to serve, it is forever."

Hunt Billmaster "The marks posted on the Hunt board are not for the faint of heart or slow of sword-arm. Only those of proven ability to dodge death need apply."

Flame Mage "I am the official charged with the bestowal of sanction upon our members. As you are not one of us, I am afraid you cannot avail yourself of these services."

Swift, Flame Commander "We Immortal Flames fight to protect Ul'dah from all who would threaten her.

Ever do we swear to uphold our oath: for coin and country!"

* Behind the important-looking desk.

Flame Quartermaster "Only members of the Immortal Flames are allowed to exchange flame seals for goods and services."

Flame Personnel Officer "You stand within the Hall of Flames, the burning heart of operations for the Immortal Flames. We're always seeking kindred souls possessed of unquenchable spirit to join our cause.

I sense something of a fire within you, but it flickers as candlelight. Stoke this inner fire till it becomes a raging inferno, and we can speak again of your part in the Immortal Flames."

* System: In order to join a Grand Company, you must progress further in the main scenario.

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💬 Proximity dialogue Young Boy: "I want another honey cake!" Male Guardian: "And I said no!"

Agnys "I had no idea that the Platinum Mirage was such an exclusive establishment. That they can afford to turn away wealthy individuals like myself speaks volumes.

It's probably for the best, though. An old acquaintance of mine lost everything in the gambling halls. Last I heard, she had run afoul of some dangerous people─or was it that she had fallen in with them? I can't seem to recall…"

Rand "Can't say I much care for the ridiculous uniforms those blokes over there at the Hall of Flames have to wear.

If you fancy sporting the same blue duds, though, you could always enlist. The Immortal Flames take everyone—even foreigners."

————————————

* At the Platinum Mirage

(Across the street from the Hall of the Immortal Flames.)

💬 Proximity dialogue Peacocking Man: "Took down three opponents today, I did." Girl-simp: "How would you like to take down one more...?" Gullible Babe: "And not a single scratch? Incredible!"

💬 Proximity dialogue Monocled Attendant: "Lookin' to borrow some coin, maybe?" Mammet: "BlOoD! MaImInG! FuN fOr YoUnG☆aNd☆OlD!"

Essylt "The gambling halls of the Platinum Mirage are as an oasis of fortune—a glimmering, silvery dream to which one cannot help but be drawn.

Beyond these doors are found fantastical amusements and thrilling games of chance to delight and entertain…assuming you are part of our exclusive membership.

I regret to announce that this most privileged club is not currently open for applications. But do not lose heart! Hoard your gil and pile your precious stones in preparation for that day when a position opens, and you, [sir/miss], might purchase the right to stride across the threshold into paradise itself."

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* Pugilists' Guild

* Under the same street-front as the Mirage, the entrance to the Pugilist's guild sits in a deeper recess, down some stairs.

💬 Pugilist's Guild flavor text TBA

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* Jajakuta's flavor text is available only after you take his sidequest, 🟠"Tougher Than Leather." Jajakuta "Did you ever wonder why the Pugilists' Guild is found next to the Platinum Mirage? The casino hires the members to watch over their elite clientele. But not to keep them. No, they are there to see to it the wealthy patrons do not cheat the house."

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back to MSQ | part 1 —— part 2 —— part 3 —— part 4

[lady--dis-dain]

I love how people’s explanation for liking Zuko is usually “the bad boy aesthetic” but if you think about it the real bad boy is Aang

- got imprisoned and trialed for murder

- solved a 100 year feud between two clans by lying, wasn’t even sorry about it

- scammed the crap out of a random town in the fire nation

- nearly destroyed the entire city of Omashu while illegally using the mail system as a slide

- destroyed someone’s merchandise multiple times

- actually ran away from home, Zuko’s pathetic excuse of an emo boy just got banished

- stole farmlands to build a zoo in broad daylight

- lied to an all knowing spirit and IT WORKED

- entered ba sing se illegally (he didn’t have a passport)

- lifted the robe of the Earthking’s advisor without permission to find a bite mark

- FUCKING BROKE INTO THE EARTHKING’S PALACE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT BY FIGHTING LITERALLY ALL THE GUARDS

- was an undocumented citizen of the fire nation the whole time they were undecover

- broke through the fire nation’s blockade twice, once completely by himself when he was wounded

- cheated in an earthbending tournament to defeat the champion and win money (and a fancy belt)

- illegally entered a fire nation school, uncovered certain things about the fire nation that way, got into a fight, had to have a parent/teacher meeting, organised a secret dance party, got discovered and fled with the help of his fellow students, and at the end earthbent in front of them nearly blowing his cover

- DESTROYED AN ENTIRE FIRE NATION FACTORY IN ONE NIGHT WITH KATARA’S HELP ALONE

I could probably think of other things but my point is Zuko is pathetic and weak and stupid and only Aang has the true bad boy aesthetic you’re welcome

(idontactuallythinkzukoispatheticandweakhesanamazingcharacterandilovehimbutmypointstillstands)

[sparkles-and-trash]

The Gaang are Roommates AU ~

note: this is a rewrite and repost of my old roommates au, there was some stuff I wanted to change, and I wanted to make the parts a little longer, so yeah, ta-dah! 

- think modern setting in the canon universe, bending is still a thing 

- the Gaang are all in going to Ba Sing Se University 

- I’m gonna change the ages a bit to make it easier for myself, sorry 

- Zuko, Sokka, Suki and Mai are 20, Katara, Ty Lee and Azula are 19, Aang, Toph and Yue are 18

- so, Zuko, Sokka, Katara, Aang and Toph end up living together in a big loft type apartment 

- Sokka and Aang are old best friends, they met Toph in Middle School, and Katara is a natural part of the group 

- until now Sokka and Katara have both been living in the dorms, and they both hate it intensely 

- but now that Aang and Toph are also in uni, they all decide to move in together!

- …but the only problem is that the only place they find that they like is just out of their price rage (Toph’s parents aren’t supportive of her major so they’re not helping out much)

- enter: ~ Zuko ~

- so, Zuko has been living with his uncle Iroh since his Father, who’s a high up in some big and important company the Fire Nation, disowned him for speaking up against the company’s shifty treatment of workers and ruining a lot of sacred land etc 

- they’re still firebenders and the scar still happened, not in an Agni Kai, but it happened 

- but after Zuko started uni, Iroh really tried to push him to meet some people his own age and make some friends

- the only people Zuko talks to on the regular besides Iroh is Azula, Ty Lee and Mai, and Mai is the only one who is like, his friend yanno?

- the last year the deal was that if Zuko didn’t branch out, Iroh would have him live one year with other students

- it’s his idea of tough love 

- Zuko tried to do some random kid’s homework to have them pretend to be his new friend in front of Iroh so he wouldn’t have to, but Iroh can tell he’s lying so easily 

- so, Zuko ends up hearing about the Gaang through Mai, who heard from Ty Lee, who plays field hockey, Suki, who’s best friends with Sokka

- so, he goes to meet them, and it’s so awkward mY GOD

- Katara is a B I G environmental activist and HATES Ozai and his company, with good reason

- she eases up a tad when Zuko admits to being turned away from as a teen, but she is still suspicious

- Aang loves him right away, ofc, and that makes Katara even more suspicious because she’s pretty protective of Aang

- she claims it’s because he’s so kind and believes everyone but she totally liikeees hiiiim

- Toph is just like, sure, as long as he pays his rent idgaf

- Sokka is weirdly quiet, because he’s had a huge crush on Zuko forever, and the only one who knows is Aang (and Toph but she ain’t no snitch)

- so, ya boy makes the cut, and before they know it, it’s move-in day!

- but, the idiots didn’t think through the facts that it’s only three bedrooms oops

- and Toph is NOT afraid to pull the “I’m blind and I need my space” card

- and nobody’s up to fight her on it, so 

- let’s just say there is A LOT of back and forth, but with Katara refusing to room with her brother again, and Zuko being rightfully scared of Katara, it ends up with Zuko and Sokka sharing a bedroom, and Katara and Aang

- they have separate beds ofc

- but still, tension, man, so much tension

- it takes a while, but the dynamics starts working out really well

- Zuko is good at grocery shopping and likes to clean, and Aang is always happy to help him out

- Sokka loves cooking, so he does that a lot

- Katara is always on top of the others with schoolwork and making sure everyone is okay, and she usually does it in genius, sneaky ways so people doesn’t even notice that she does it

- Toph is clearing the air off bullshit

- like, she will call a bitch out

- but because she cares about said bitch

- so, Aang knows that Sokka has a crush on Zuko because Sokka told him in a weak moment, and Toph knows because she just knows

- Aang is a good friend tho, and he tries to like, ease them together

- but he is so awkward about it, the poor thing, and Zuko doesn’t understand AT ALL

- Toph is just sitting back and sighing a lot

- Katara doesn’t understand either but she just stays out of it (smart girl)

- but okay, we know how oblivious Zuko can be right?

- Sokka can give him googly eyes and blush and stutter around him so much and he still has no clue at all

- Zuko starts thinking Sokka just doesn’t like him at all

- but then one night Zuko has this really intense nightmare

- okay and quick addition, his scar is… handshaped? Like, you can clearly tell what happened to him

- but nobody talks about it, yet

- but then he’s having a terrible nightmare and is talking and begging and pleading in his sleep

- so much that Sokka wakes up

- and he catches on pretty fast, but had no idea what to do

- so he just shuffles over to Zuko’s side of the room and starts tapping his shoulder rapidly

- but nothing happens

- so he just… gently and awkwardly pats his head until Zuko wakes up

- and Zuko is like… wat u doin there bro

- and Sokka is like… just patting ur head to wake you from a nightmare bro

- and they awkwardly just mumble and go back to their beds

- but Zuko is smiling a lot because someone who’s not his family or a family friend really cares about him

- after that, Zuko slowly starts opening up to all of them, but Sokka especially 

- he never really tells them about being cast out and burned tho

- until one day he kinda casually slings it into a convo all fast and awkwardly

- it’s just Toph, Aang and Sokka there

- Toph yells so WHAATTT so loudly and just metalbends the whole fridge into a clump in rage

- Aang cries lmao but he tries to hide to and be supportive and not awkward

- Sokka is kinda quiet, but he carefully asks about it that night when they’re in their beds, and they talk a little about it

- Aang tells Katara (with permission) and she awkwardly, but wholeheartedly tells him that he can always talk to her

- they do that «awkward sibling hug» from Gravity Falls after

- *hugs stiffly* «pat, pat»

- but okay, Toph and metalbending when angry, it happens quite a lot 

- this was the first time it was the fridge, but the toaster, the microwave, and several other appliances have met the same fate

- everyone is kinda used to it now, and she always replaces it

- except Zuko, who’s still kinda new to them all

- but what are you supposed to say when your new friends is so outraged by the abuse you went through that they crush a whole ass fridge?

- it actually reminds him that he’s cared for here, by these people who owe him nothing, and is not related to him, and it makes him a little dizzy to have people care this way

- he casually mentions it to his Uncle Iroh the time he’s in at work, that his new friend is a metalbender and squashed their whole fridge when she was pissed on his behalf

- Iroh is thrilled

- to the point of offering Toph a job lmao

- Toph, desperate to cut of as much ties with her family and be as self-sufficient as possible, agrees

- and now Iroh have two formerly rich kids with no clue about any sort of customer service and basic stuff like that working for him

- Toph is a hard worker tho, and she and Zuko work surprisingly well together

- Katara is a little relived, because the more those two work, the less are the chances of either of them trying to cook or do too many chores around their apartment

- they mean well, or, Zuko does, but he does so much dumb shit when trying to help lmao

- Sokka starts spending a lot of time over at The Jasmine Drago too

- Aang is still trying to keep the fact that Sokka likes Zuko a secret, but he is having trouble

- Katara is his biggest weakness, and now they’re suddenly alone with her a lot

- someone else who could always read Sokka really well is Suki

. whom he used date in high school, but they parted as friends and everything s cool

- but Sokka is a little taken aback when she comes into The Jasmine Dragon one day, hand in hand with Sokka’s childhood crush obsession, Yue

- for the first time in man’s memory, Sokka is a little speechless

- and Suki’s like “lmao dude I haven’t seen you like this since the first time you saw Zu-”

- cue Zuko popping out behind them like “WELCOME TO THE JASMINE DRAGON FRIENDS OF SOKKA :D”

- Sokka is so fucking red, poor boy is just about having an aneurism at this point

- but luckily something happens and Zuko gets distracted

- Suki is having the time of her life tho, Sokka always used to tease her for her crushes before and after they dated, and suddenly, here they are

- at the apartment, Aang decides they need some apartment traditions

- they’ve been living there for almost three months, after all

- so he decides that weekly movie nights are mandatory

- so are pillowforts

- Katara is actually really excited for it, she loves all things cozy and fall-like

- also… she is weak for Aang, y’all, and she loves seeing him all excited

- Zuko barely knows what a pillowfort is, he didn’t think real people actually made it

- but imagine these dorks in a pillowfort with hot chocolate and lot’s of pillows

- Toph claims that she thinks it’s soo dumb, but she will always make sit in the middle of the group all wrapped in her blanket and laughing when the others jump and get spooked from the horror movies Sokka always wants to watch

- and she will make sure the fort is right and perfect lmao

- Zuko is a little awkward about it at first, but he likes it too

- Sokka always manages to plop in next to Zuko lmao

- they haven’t talked about the head patting incident yet, but Zuko is def starting to feel the butterflies

- one time after a movie night Sokka falls asleep on Zuko’s shoulder, after the others have left for the night

- Zuko can’t resist waking him up with awkward head pats similar to the one Sokka used on him

- Sokka thinks he died and went to heaven lmao

- but then he fully wakes and sees Zuko’s shit eating grin and can’t help but laugh at the whole thing

- and Zuko has his “oh no he’s hot beautiful and I really adore him” moment

[pain-in-the-butler]

The time has come once again

The Bloodbath

“I’m simply one hell of a butler” says Sebastian as he starts cleaning as usual

Okay so Agni’s taking no prisoners

Work Nerd, Science Nerd, and Jock Nerd team up to form the Nerd Trifecta

Team One Brain Cell joins up with Phipps, who is quite possibly their only chance for survival

Ran-Mao remembers how Harcourt beat everyone in the unfortunately deleted round and said “Not in my backyard”

So far, everyone else has simply run away unscathed or grabbed a weapon they won’t use because the game doesn’t record weapons. Rip Tanaka

Day 1

Ran-Mao bringing the canon energy by adding a second weapon to her arsenal

Phipps somehow always turns into Team Dad during these, so I’m glad to see he’s finding time for his favorite hobbies

Undertaker up to his usual Sneaky Antics

It hasn’t even been twelve hours yet. Kind of impressive honestly

Considering Harcourt lost his mace, I’ll just assume the attack Grell “escaped” from was the vicious stabbing of his trim little schoolboy fingernails

Bad vibes

It appears that Lau also brought his canon game

Sebastian in the most recent chapters be like

I’ve actually never had this event come up before and it has to happen between two of the more innocent characters in the series;;;; god Lizzie you deserve better even in the Hunger Games Simulator

Where’s a Safety Nerd when you need one

What’s better than this? Guys bein dudes

This is probably what happened after Ciel left Weston

Sebastian will take care of this for ya, huh bud

Other events:

Agni practices his archery

Wolfram goes fishing

Othello finds a cave

Soma goes ‘splorin

Edward goes huntin

Day 1′s Deaths: Tanaka, Sieglinde, Lizzie, and Macmillan. Someday one of the ladies will win

Night 1

Butler slumber party in the woods, BYOYM (bring your own young master)

It takes a lot of energy to be this blond

I’m happy for her :)

Yeah I’ll bet you probably do Lau

A tonal shift so abrupt I got mental whiplash

Can we go back to when Grell was looking at the sky pls

Thought about science too hard. Got a concussion

Thought about Ciel dying too hard. Got an infection

Aww dad :( Hope you caught some fish tho

Looks like Harcourt won’t be winning this one, gang

I stg the hunger games simulator is misogynist because the ladies always DIE /j

Ran-Mao is hopefully here to prove the previous statement wrong

Other events:

Bard gets a hatchet

Undertaker also passes out from exhaustion

R!Ciel goes to sleep in a tree

Day 2

Oh you five are SO going in my burn book for this. It’s what Grell would’ve wanted

Ahaha just like in the real manga... right guys (;

Idk about you but I’m rooting for her

I don’t think the simulator could’ve picked four people who were less likely to team up than this

I would too if I saw my best friend was palling around with an opium dealer, a grim reaper with a lawn mower, and another grim reaper that the first grim reaper doesn’t like

Other events:

Othello chases Wolfram

That’s the only other event actually

That means today we lost O!Ciel, Mey-Rin, Harcourt, and Grell. ffs, I hope Ran-Mao kills all of you

Night 2

I’ve missed you, rare pair simulator

The “unknown sponsor” was Undertaker and the “fresh food” was O!Ciel

Confirmed: Lau doesn’t get high off his own supply

Once again a ceasefire between the strong hungry boys is formed

Girl, you don’t have to do that

“Did you kill Ciel?” Sebastian asks

“No that was William,” Othello says

Sebastian punches a tree so hard that it combusts. “God damn. Fuck” Sebastian says

Wolfram just realized I put him in the Hunger Games simulator

Other events:

Phipps thinks about “Are you winning son”

Undertaker gazes at space

Ronald becomes Lost Ronald

Soma passes out

Bard gets some water

Day 3

Damn Agni who haven’t you flirted with

Finny sees that Bard has water and thinks Bard cooked it himself, so he wants no part of that (might be burnt)

What did he even have that was worth stealing? A fish?

Well I can tell you who isn’t creating that smoke: Lau

“What’s worse than two young masters? No young masters. Now get over here and make a contract”

Everything about this sentence is a fever dream

Other events:

Undertaker decides he wants a slingy shot too

Edward chases Dad I mean Phipps

Othello gets some ouchies from picking berries

Night 3

When your young master dies, you just get an infection apparently

damn Finny’s playing hardball

I don’t think anything bad has actually happened to Bard yet. It’s just been a grand frolic the whole time

I barely remember reading the first Hunger Games but Ran-Mao’s the Foxface of this journey: she deserves to win and I just know she’ll die in the stupidest way possible

Sebastian’s like a cat that can’t reach the bird it wants to attack, so it attacks the nearest other thing instead. Poor Dad

Two white-haired anime boys and a not-white-haired anime boy talk about who will die tomorrow. Anime doesn’t exist yet so the white-haired anime boys don’t know their hair color automatically spells their doom

Other events:

Edward starts a fire, which means he’s capable of smoking opium

Ronald gets some medical supplies

Othello gets a hatchet

R!Ciel thinks about winning

Lau gets an entire explosive, but he won’t be able to light it, so no it’s no big deal

Day 4

In Soviet Hunger Games, white-haired anime boy kills you

But why murder someone when you could just mess with them

Other events:

Grey scares Bard

Finny goes hunting

Night 4

Have you four even killed anyone yet

The list of “people who didn’t start the manor fire and also don’t smoke opium” now consists of Lau and R!Ciel

The mood is too light now. Someone needs to die and it better not be Ran-Mao

At last, Father Phipps has chosen his son for this round

Agni gushes about all the hot guys he’s simultaneously in love with, giving Ran-Mao a clearer idea of who’s still alive

Day 5

Girl, it’s about time, go claim some trophies

Finny’s easily got the longest kill streak and it’s a little unnerving

Father Phipps finds a new secret fishing hole

Othello doesn’t

Lau continues to put in all the efforts of a kindergarten bully

Oh no. He’s a yandere

Other events:

Sebastian fucks around and explores the arena

Bard fucks around and hunts for tributes

Undertaker fucks around and sleeps

R!Ciel fucks around and picks flowers

Night 5

I’ve never met anyone who ships Sebastian/Undertaker but I know you’re out there

Okay, maybe these four are even less likely to team up than Phipps, Ronald, Undertaker, and Lau

Edward sees I’m making jokes about people who build fires and stays hidden

Day 6

Canonically, that is the only way R!Ciel would win a fight, so

I probably could have predicted this

I hope these are the faces they made when it happened

The “unknown sponsor” is R!Ciel and the “fresh food” is an ear that fell off his own head

I’m not sure if I should be concerned or unsurprised that Bard’s Hunger Games life is more chill than his canon life

the “unknown sponsor” was the fish and the “clean water” was “fish water”

Other events:

Ran-Mao gets her third weapon that she doesn’t want to use, which is a hatchet

Finny finds a river

Agni practices archery again, but he doesn’t kill anyone because he wants this to go on forever

Night 6

Ran-Mao I beg you please. Release us from this purgatory of mediocrity

And suddenly we’re back to canon Bard

I guess not everything can be canon

Other events:

Both Agni and Phipps pass out from exhaustion. It’s 2:50 a.m. so I should really be taking a page from their book, but unfortunately everyone refuses to die

The Feast

Finny has been a stone cold killer this entire match, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the girl I wanted to win would get eliminated by him, but it still hurts ✌️😔

If you cheat on Othello, he will overpower you, killing you

Everyone else decided not to go to the Feast. Honestly, I don’t remember what the Feast is, but everyone who did go either murdered someone or got murdered, so I guess that was probably a good call

Day 7

I’ve had enough of this dude

Jesus Finny I can’t wait to see how many kills you got, I feel like you and Agni were the only two who took anyone down

Bard, Undertaker, Sebastian, and Phipps all hunt for other tributes but they’re useless and don’t kill anyone

Arena Event: Volcano Eruption

In one fell swoop, we lose Sebastian, Undertaker, R!Ciel, and Finny, jeez. But... that means it comes down to.............

FATHER PHIPPS VS. BARD

FATHER PHIPPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow... Unlike his manga counterpart, this boy coasted the whole time and won... He basically went on vacation and he actually won... But then again, it’s Hunger Games Simulator and nothing is sacred

Well I hope you learned a valuable lesson today. I hope you did at some point before you read my post, because you sure as hell learned nothing from this. Thank you for wasting precious minutes of your life with me 😏

[melzula]

Come What May

third and final installment of the Fire Lilies series

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

warnings: fluff, angst, some mean Zuko, forbidden lovers au

notes: thank you all for the love & support you’ve given this series. although it’s over, if you still have any questions or are curious about what happens to Zuko and the Princess along the way feel free to ask me and I’ll be happy to elaborate! enjoy!

summary: you put your trust in Zuko and agree to run away with him. But have you made the right choice?

part one | part two

“I’ve been challenged to an Agni Kai.”

“I’m engaged.”

The two of you stare at each other stunned, eyes wide and stomachs immediately filling with dread.

“What?” Zuko breathes quietly. His voice is barley above a whisper and he refuses to make eye contact with you, but you don’t miss the way his body begins to tremble with emotion.

“With my father gone and my mother growing older I need someone to provide and take care of me,” you explain weakly with guilt present upon your features. “I’ve been given away to the son of my father’s most trusted advisor.”

Zuko’s eyes widen in horror as you carefully tug the collar of your coat away from your neck to reveal your betrothal necklace. The jewelry rests daintily against your skin, the carved stone almost shimmering underneath the light that reflects across the ice that surrounds you, and it takes every fiber of his being to restrain himself from ripping the thing right off of you. You were meant to be his fiancé, his wife, and yet here you were claiming to be the promised bride of a boy who wasn’t Zuko. A part of him felt sick, and though he knew it was beyond your control he couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

“Tell me you’re not going to marry him,” Zuko demands, his voice calm and unwavering despite his aggravated state.

“Zuko...”

“Tell me you’re not,” he urges you now as he grasps at your forearms and pulls you closer to him. If you didn’t know any better you’d assume he was furious by the way he was holding you, but in reality he was just desperate and afraid. “Y/n, tell me.”

“It’s not that easy,” you try to reason, “it wasn’t my choice.”

“Exactly, it wasn’t your choice! So don’t marry him!” Zuko insists firmly.

“If I don’t marry him I risk bringing dishonor to my family and to my people. I’m the Princess, Zu. Even if I tried to say no it wouldn’t matter. Becoming a wife to a member of our tribe is part of my duty as Princess. I’m so sorry.”

Your heart aches for Zuko as he slowly removes himself from you, and both of you choose to ignore the handprints that have been charred into the fabric of your coat from where he had once grabbed you. He was good at controlling his temper around you, but his temperature was a completely different story; it was a wonder that he hadn’t somehow burnt you yet.

“What about your Agni Kai?” You press gently, taking one of his hands in both of yours before bringing it close to your chest and over your heart. A small sigh accompanied by a breath of fire escapes Zuko at the action and warms your cool cheeks.

”One of the war generals at the council threatened your life,” Zuko explains dully. You squeeze his hand tightly in response. “I spoke out of turn in your defense, and now I’ll have to duel him. I know I can take him, but what I can’t take is someone who isn’t me being able to call themselves your husband.”

“I’ll always be yours, Zuko.” He says nothing as you wind your arms around his torso and nuzzle your face against his chest, but he can’t help himself from returning your embrace and holding you impossibly tight against him.

“Then run away with me,” he says. A small gasp escapes you as you pull away to look up at him with wide eyes.

“Run away?”

“Yes, run away. As soon as the Agni Kai is over and I win, I’ll come get you and we can leave. We’ll go wherever you’d like, it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together. Please, Princess.”

“I... I’ve heard Ba Sing Se is the place people go to get a fresh start,” you reply with an uneasy smile. Zuko rewards you with a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“We’ll leave in three days. Meet me by the docks at midnight and bring only what you need,” he instructs before gently cupping your face in his hands. “We’re going to be so happy together, y/n.”

You smile as he pulls you in for a passionate kiss, but you can’t help the uneasiness that stirs in the pit of your stomach. The thought of running away with Zuko is exhilarating, yet something in the back of your mind is begging you not to go, warning you that things will not be as you planned them to be. But your body succumbs to the sensation of Zuko’s lips against your own, and before you can stop it you find yourself sinking further and further into his warmth.

~~~

It’s not easy having to turn your back on your people and leave the only life you’ve ever known behind, but the journey that lies ahead of you is enough to convince you that leaving the Southern Water Tribe behind is for the best. You’d never be happy in a marriage with someone you didn’t love, and you’d forever resent your parents and your people from keeping you tied down to one place forever. You would be happy with Zuko, there’d be many new sights to see and so many new experiences to have. It was for the best.

You arrive at the docks by midnight per Zuko’s instructions, a backpack full of what little belongings you could bring along with you resting upon your shoulders. This is most likely the last time you’ll ever see the South Pole again and a sense of bitter sweetness washes over you as you take one final look at your home. When the sun rises your mother will find the note you’ve left behind and Princess y/n of the Southern Water Tribe will be no more.

A ship slowly emerges from the distance, the Fire Nation emblem displayed proudly for all to see, and nervous excitement tingles through your body as you prepare to leave your home once and for all.

The Zuko that descends from the ramp of the ship to greet you is not the same Zuko you had seen just a few days ago. The boy before you now has completely transformed both physically and emotionally. The long hair you loved to comb your hands through so much is gone with only a ponytail of hair remaining at the back of his head. You try not to stare at the patch tied securely around his head and over his left eye in fear of upsetting your boyfriend, but he doesn’t even bother to explain it.

When he approaches you it is with purpose, a seriousness and sense of formality that had never been there before- not when it came to you. There’s a coldness to him that frightens you, but you do your best not to show it. Something is wrong, you know this, your superstitions had warned you so, but until you find out what it is you will do your best to act as if everything is fine. You offer him a smile that doesn’t reach your eyes, and Zuko doesn’t meet your gaze.

You watch with bated breath as he reaches out and tugs your collar down to reveal the betrothal necklace around your neck.

“Why are you still wearing this?”

“I was in a rush and forgot to take it off,” you explain quickly. Zuko stares at you for only a moment before quickly emitting a heat from his palm so great it melts the carved stone of your necklace right off. The choker that held the stone falls limply from your neck and onto the snow below you. You’re bewildered by such a harsh action from the boy who had always treated you with the utmost care and respect. A part of you wanted to turn around and run back home to your mother, but you knew there had to be a reason for Zuko’s sudden change, and so you stay.

“Let’s go,” Zuko says gruffly, taking your bag from your shoulders in one hand and holding your hand in the other as he guides you up the ramp and onto the ship.

He stands beside you with an arm around your waist as the ship pulls away from the docks and out into the open sea. Your home grows smaller and smaller until you’re no longer able to see it, and then it is just you and Zuko together in silence.

“You’re going to be happy with me,” he says quietly, but the statement does nothing to ease your nerves. “It’s late, you need your rest. I’ll escort you to your quarters.”

You say nothing as he guides you to the ship’s deck below, only glancing once at the moon before you before the night sky is replaced with a steel roof over your head.

~~~

Zuko doesn’t tell you much about the Agni Kai; you’ve learned it’s best not to bring it up. But from the vague answers he’s given you along with the tiny details his Uncle has let slip out, you find out that Zuko had not won the challenge and was now an outsider of sorts to the Fire Nation. But that shouldn’t matter now considering you both had wanted to run away, right?

You have separate quarters on the ship, but you always find yourself winding up in Zuko’s bed. Homesickness hits you more often than you had presumed, and Zuko is the only warmth you find in your new life abroad. You hope that will change once you settle down in Ba Sing Se. The thought always bring a sense of comfort to you- the idea of starting over, settling in a new home, eventually getting married, and having children are images that keep you sane on the moving metal death trap.

When you wake you find that the spot beside you in bed is empty and cold, proof that Zuko has been gone for a long while now. With a sigh you force yourself up and ready yourself for the day ahead. If your calculations aren’t off and if you read the map correctly, you should be arriving in the east end of Earth Kingdom some time today.

However, when you ascend onto the top deck you find that you are nowhere near Earth Kingdom territory at all. The air is still frigid from the cold, and you’re regretting not bringing a coat up with you to wear.

It is Iroh who notices your trembling form first, immediately sitting you down at his tea table and calling for one of the crew members nearby to fetch you a blanket.

“Zuko, the poor Princess is freezing,” Iroh states whilst pouring you a nice, warm cup of tea. “Please forgive my nephew for his lack of hospitality.“

You only give the General a weak smile in response as you quietly sip your tea. A warm blanket wraps itself around your shoulders accompanied by a chaste kiss to your cheek.

“Why is it so cold?” You frown, glancing up at Zuko who stands before you. “I thought we’d be near the Earth Kingdom by now.”

Iroh guilty looks away from the two of you and quietly excuses himself in order to give you privacy. Zuko is silent for a long while.

“We’re not going to the Earth Kingdom,” he replies bluntly.

“But what about Ba Sing Se?”

“I have to tie up a few loose ends before we can settle down together. But don’t be sad, Princess. I’m sure you’ll like where we’re going instead.”

It’s then that you truly notice your surroundings, the familiar gray skies and calm ocean waters, the frigid temperatures. You’re going back home.

“The South Pole? But that can’t be!” You exclaim. “I just ran away and now you’re taking me back?”

“We’re not going there for you,” Zuko responds harshly. “They have something that I want.”

“I don’t understand...” you frown, rising from your seat at the table to meet Zuko’s fiery gaze.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he mutters, brushing past you in order to stand along the railing of the ship.

“Zuko, if we go back there’s a chance my people will try to take me away from you. They’ll blame you for my disappearance, returning would be nothing but trouble. What could the South Pole possibly have to make you go back?!”

You love Zuko with all of your heart, you really do. But if you had known the severity of the situation you’d find yourself in once you decided to run away with him, you would have listened to the voice at the back of your head that begged you not to go. But now, as the banished prince turns back to meet your eyes, you realize that it’s much too late.

“Your people are hiding the Avatar.”

| tags: @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @multi-fandomstan @eridanuswave @royahllty @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @kittenthekat1234567890 @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @coldlilheart |

[zukka-dyke]

a concept:

when zuko goes back to the fire nation, after ba sing se and before the day of the black sun, mai sneaks into his room every night and they sleep together. not in a sexual way, they’ve both come to the conclusion that neither of them are at all into the opposite gender, but the idea of being together, just the two of them, for the rest of their lives, well that seems better than being in a loveless mariage with someone that they don’t even know.

that’s the thing, about mai and zuko. they love each other, they really do. just not in the way that people want them to love each other.

because of this, this love, this solidarity, mai sneaks into zuko’s room in the palace every night, and she lays with him until they both fall asleep, and she comforts him when the nightmares come.

the nightmares still come, of course they do. mai thinks it’s something about being back in the palace, being in the room that he was in when his life changed forever, every single day. she was there, on the day of the agni kai, she saw what happened, she can understand why zuko still dreams about it.

she dreams about it too.

so they both still have nightmares, zuko almost ever night and mai maybe once or twice a week. it’s still too much; no kid their age should have as much trauma as they do.

but they have their trauma, and they can’t get rid of it, so when zuko wakes from his nightmares, mai wakes too, and they brew a pot of tea and sit together on the balcony, soaking in the night time breeze and refilling their cups until there’s no tea left. then, they’ll go back to bed, and mai will lay with zuko until he falls asleep, and then she’ll go back to her own room, right next to ty lee’s, and they’ll keep up the charade for another day after that.

the night before the day of the black sun, zuko is more restless than usual. mai can tell; he’s usually still in sleep, but that night he tosses and turns until mai herself gets fed up with his constant motion and pulls his restless limbs towards her body, purposefully cuddling someone of her own acord for what may be the first time in her sixteen years of life.

she doesn’t see zuko at all, the day of the eclipse, and when she sneaks into his room that night, all that’s left for her is a letter, no prince in sight.

and mai- mai is mad. she’s mad because zuko didn’t tell her, and they promised each other that they wouldn’t keep secrets, and if he’d just told her, then she would’ve gone with him, and then they could still be together.

not be together be together. mai might not have loved zuko like that, but he was her best friend, and she did love him, and her heart aches with the idea of him being gone.

people think that ty lee is her best friend, mai herself tells them that ty lee is her best friend, and she tells them that zuko is her boyfriend because that’s what’s expected of her. 

but that’s not who she is, not really.

so she reads zuko’s letter, and then she reads it again, and then she runs down the hallways with it grasped tightly in her hands, and she fligs open the door to ty lee’s room and she sees her friend there, drinking a cup of some herbal tea, and she holds her cup just like zuko does, with her pinky fingers balenced on the bottom, and mai sees her and she breaks. she manages to fling the door shut behind herself, and gives ty lee enough time to shoot her a concerned look before she collapses to the floor and sobs, actually, really sobs.

she hasn’t sobbed like this since zuko was banished.

ty lee is concerned, of course she is, and she’s on the floor with mai in a second, prying the letter out of her trembling hands. she reads it, and then she’s crying too, albeit softer and quieter than mai.

with shaking hands, ty lee pries mai up off the ground and onto her bed, and they sit there together, crying, for who knows how long.

mai gets over it, she thinks. she’s pretty sure that the avatar will win the war, when it comes time, not that she’d ever say that, so she thinks that zuko will survive, even if she won’t. she hates the idea of her living while he dies, and really, living without zuko isn’t really living anyways. 

but she makes due. without zuko to share a bed with now, she shares with ty lee, the two of them staying up late with their pot of sweet, herbal tea, and their pinkies resting on the bottoms of their cups. 

mai is the little spoon.

(they don’t talk about it)

then she gets the letter from her uncle. the hawk arrives at the window of ty lee’s room, early in the morning, and together they run until they find azula, mediatiting alone in one of the pavilions. when they get to the boiling rock, mai tells the other two to stay on the airship, and she goes into the prison and she finds her uncle, who takes her to zuko.

mai tries to fight. she tries to play the part of the girl that she’s supposed to be, hreatbroken by the betrayal of her love. but really, the only tears that she’s crying are that of relief, because zuko is alive, he’s alive, and that’s enough for mai. to know that he’s doing what he set out to do, that’s enough for her.

and later that day, when she sees him fighting with the water tribe boy up on the gondola, sees that sparkle in his eyes, that all too familiar look, she knows that he made the right choice. 

now she has to make the right choice too.

so she stops the guards. she knows that azula will try to kill her, but she means it when she says “I love him more than I fear you,” and that’s enough for her. she’s willing to die if zuko gets to live.

but then ty lee saves her. and they both go to prison, but it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter, because they’re together, and zuko is safe, and mai can finally rest easy knowing that zuko is safe, and so is ty lee, and everything will be okay.

they break out of prison within the week.

mai doesn’t really know where they should go from there. she’s been around the world, but she really doesn’t know where she and ty lee, the daughter of a fire nation noble and an ex circus performer, will be welcome. after a week of camping around the fire nation, they reach the earth kingdom boarder, and mai can see the coastline, maybe a day’s walk from where they are. they still have some money, just enough for two ferry tickets to kyoshi island.

the girls don’t welcome them at first. they take one look at them, their pale skin, their fire nation eyes, and they arrange themselves into fighting stances, but mai bows so low that her nose brushes the ground and ty lee does the same beside her and for the first time in years she takes the knives out from under her sleeves and lays them on the ground in front of her.

she’s unarmed, unprotected, and honestly afraid for her life, but ty lee’s there next to her, and there’s a little voice inher ear that sounds suspiciously like zuko saying “breathe mai, just breathe” and so she does.

the warriors take them in, promise them a meal in exchange for their story. after that, they’ll decide if they get to stay longer.

and for a minute, mai is tempted to lie, to say that they’re just travelers, just refugees hiding from a war that they don’t want any part in.

but zuko always told her to be honest. 

so she is.

she tells the warriors everything, from meeting azula and ty lee at school to being gay. one of the girls asks her if she and ty lee are a couple, and they both go red in the face but mai finds that she really isn’t against that idea. she tells them about ba sing se, and how sorry they are for stealing the uniforms, and she talks about zuko coming home, and the nightmares, and then him leaving all over again.

she tells them about the letter.

she tells them about boiling rock, and saving zuko, and ty lee saving her, and then she talks about prison, and camping, and the smallest, dimmest hope that they’d be welcome here.

and they are.

after hearing her story, and giving them dinner, the warriors welcome her and ty lee with open arms and warm hearts, and mai has the most amazing month of her life training with the warriors and spending her every waking moment with ty lee, and time passes so quickly that before she knows it it’s the night before the comet and she’s taking ty lee on a walk along the beach, and then they’re kissing under the stars.

the comet is horrifying, and the sky is red, and mai hates herself for not being with zuko, but she and ty lee are safe on kyoshi island, and they stand with the rest of the warriors on the beach and watch silently as the comet comes and goes, and mai and ty lee are alowed to have the war paint and armour on, for real, for the first time. 

word reaches the island the next day that ozai has fallen, that zuko and azula went up against each other in an agni kai, that zuko is set to be the next firelord, and mai knows that they have to go back to caldera.

some of the warriors come with them, and mai’s hands shake for the entirety of the ferry ride, but then she’s there, and she sees the same water tribe boy from the prison, and a girl who looks just like him, and another girl in green, and a kyoshi warrior who the girls tell her is named suki, and a bald kid who can only be the avatar, but she doesn’t pay attention to any of them, just follows the water tibe girl’s directions and grasps ty lee’s hand tight in her’s as they fly down the hall, towards the infirmery.

towards zuko.

they get there, and zuko is standing on shaky legs, trying to get his arm through the sleeve of his robe without pulling too much as the skin around his injury, and ty lee stands in the doorway, a respectable distance away, while mai crosses the room and says, just a hint of her usual snark in her voice,

“need any help there?”

and zuko turns, and he smiles, a real, full smile, a grin even, and it’s something that mai hasn’t seen on his face since they were children, since before his mother died, and mai can’t help but let a smile sneak onto her face as well. she guides his arms through the sleeves, and notices that he smells like ink and the sea.

“so the water tribe boy then,” she murmurs, and zuko goes red as a tomato but doesn’t deny it.

“so ty lee then,” he counters, and ty lee goes red where she’s still standing in the doorway, and so does mai, but neither of them deny it either.

it’s over, mai thinks to herself that night, laying in an unfamiliar palace guest room with ty lee curved around her. it’s all over.

zuko will be firelord, and ozai will be in prison, and azula will finally get the help that she needs. mai and ty lee will go back to kyoshi island, and they’ll train with the girls, and open a flower shop, and they’ll come back to visit zuko sometimes, in the palace, with his friends.

mai will learn that the earth kingdom girl’s name is toph, and the boy from the prison, the one that zuko smells like, with the boomerang, his name is sokka, and his sister is katara, and the avatar is aang.

she’ll become especially close with suki and sokka, suki because ty lee will become a warrior, and even though mai is just an honerary member she still holds the girls near and dear to her heart. sokka because he’s one of the only other people in the world who knows what it’s like to love zuko the way that mai does, and mai will never, ever take that forgranted.

[comradekatara]

people keep saying they want this AU so okay here you go here’s the AU

I call it: grandpa aang

imagine that dumbass roku actually did his job and convinced sozin not to commit genocide against the air nomads and colonize the world

sozin’s still a terrible person, but maintains that shittiness to within the borders of the fire nation, wherein he bleeds the lower classes dry, defunds the arts, kills dragons for sport, privatizes healthcare and education, etc. his notions of imperialist conquest remain a long-forgotten pipe dream by the time he dies

azulon carries on his father’s legacy of being a power-obsessed dickhead, but he doesn’t wage war

his second son, ozai, wants the throne, clear as day. he thinks the world deserves to know their nation’s glory

crown prince iroh’s son, lu ten, dies. ozai uses this opportunity to put promote himself in front of his father. it does not go well. then it does. he is crowned firelord shortly after

his son speaks out against the war his father has begun waging on the world. he is challenged to an agni kai and banished.

the avatar is a jolly old airbender named aang. ozai tells zuko “bring him to me in chains, and only then can you come home.” zuko, being the traumatized 13 year old that he is, believes him.

iroh advises him against this plan. he tells zuko he does not have the proper training to go up against the avatar. he tells him that even if he did, what would it accomplish? zuko yells at him for being a fat, lazy old man who doesn’t understand honor. iroh sighs.

zuko shows up at the southern air temple barely a week after he can get out of bed again after the injury. there’s a huge bandage covering his eye and ear, and he’s embarassed about the fact that he stumbles when he walks. he can’t even firebend properly anymore because he finds the slightest provocation of a flame terrifying.

no matter. he needs to capture the avatar. that is what his father said would redeem him, so that is what must be done.

he demands to see the avatar, so that he may fight him. iroh ...questions this tactic, but zuko insists that this is how one should capture the avatar—with honor. the air nomads are just like “who is this strange lost child and how did he break into the southern air temple which was heretofore inaccessible to non-airbenders?”

they take him to see aang, 109 and fit as a fiddle. aang’s like “oh have you come here because you want me to heal whatever happened to your head, considering the size of that bandage?”

and zuko’s like “what???? no???? I’m absolutely FINE. GREAT, EVEN. I’ve come to FIGHT YOU.”

aang’s like “oh no I don’t do that. I’m a pacifist. also you’re like..... a baby?”

meanwhile, iroh is totally geeking out because he’s never actually been to an air temple before and it’s so beautiful and lively and full of joy and spiritualism, so unlike the culture of the fire nation.

zuko is very mad that aang won’t fight him. if aang doesn’t accept his challenge then it’s not a fair match. and he’s like “no you don’t UNDERSTAND I have to kidnap you FAIR AND SQUARE.”

he says fuck it, azula would probably just shoot a fireball at the old man anyway, so he does. it’s a pretty big fireball, all things considered (he is very angry). nonetheless, aang blocks it easily. zuko keeps attacking him, but aang just walks over to him and is like “okay that’s enough of that.”

zuko is distraught because without aang he can’t go home and he’ll be banished forever. aang’s like “wait what?” and gets zuko to explain to him what happened. so aang’s like “okay then, change of plan: you’ve captured me. let’s go to the fire nation.”

zuko is so relieved that he actually gets to go home, he doesn’t understand why aang just surrendered to him, but he doesn’t really care. the fire nation is pretty heavy on the anti-avatar propaganda so zuko gives him the smallest room on his ship and makes half his crew guard him so that he doesn’t escape. aang doesn’t mind. he’s ready to have some Words with the firelord.

on the journey home, he tries to talk some sense into a very angry and traumatized zuko. zuko’s laments that he’s even worse than uncle

zuko shows up with the avatar in chains (aang could break free at literally any moment but none of them need to know that). ozai’s like “what the fuck.” aang’s like “WHAT THE FUCK IS RIGHT.”

“this boy is twelve—“ “thirteen, actually, and practically an adult??” “okay, fine, this LEETLE TEENY BABY BOY is THIRTEEN, and you BURNED HIS FACE OFF???????”

“there is a perfectly logical explanation for that,” says ozai, “and that is because. I hate him.”

aang asks if there were any witnesses to the affair. he soon learns that “of course there were, the entire court was there to spectate the event!” he knew that agni kais were a thing, but only as a vague idea. he didn’t realize people actually maintained the practice, to this day, frequently. he likes to think of himself as a pretty open-minded guy who understands and values cultural differences, but that’s totally barbaric and definitely crosses the line.

he declares that as the avatar, as it is his job to maintain balance, he cannot allow for ozai to keep the throne, as his quest for power would clearly harm the whole world. his new best friend/adopted son iroh takes the throne instead. he doesn’t particularly want it, a changed man ever since his son died, but if it is what must be done.

aang stays in the fire nation for a while, helping to oversee a peaceful transition between firelords. he becomes zuko’s (and azula’s) honorary grandpa, and they feed turtleducks in the garden every day.

[saby-chan]

Why the ATLA comics fail when it comes to Zuko and his family

To whom ever took their time to actually stop and read this post, thank you in advance for not skipping my post and willing to stay and read my humble opinion! I hope I won’t disappoint you!

As a relatively newcomer to the ATLA fanbase since 2020, I’ve come across a lot of interesting debates, comments and rants about the show, characters and fandom in general, but nothing has captivated me as much as the dumpster-on-fire that are the ATLA comics, more specifically: The Promise and The Search. 

On one hand we have the hardcore fans who want them to be animated or serialized into the Netflix live action, praising the comics for the new views and subject matters they’ve brought into the show’s lore, while on the other hand we have the furious Azula fandom who is really angry for the fact that best girl didn’t get the redemption arc she rightfully deserved so much after the painful event that was the Last Agni Kai and the even more angry fans of the Urzai ship (yeah, the people who actually ship Zuko’s parents unironically) who hated the retconning of the show’s cannon since the comics basically took a huge fat dump on what was previously established as official cannon, when the Search entered the scene, but between these two sides, who has the more valid point? In the end, are the comics good cannon or bad written fanfiction?

Well... Here are my two cents on this matter since I myself happen to be an Azula and Zuko fan and had huge expectations from these comics (since I wanted more from my fave hot-headed fiery siblings duo) but ended up disappointed: the comics are indeed a huge mess and actually bad written fanfiction when it comes to Zuko and his family! Don’t click off yet, because I actually documented the reasons why exactly the comics fail in this area:

1. The author of these comics is not part of the BryKe duo

Yes, I would like to start with the fact that if you actually take a second to look up who in the heck took the time to write these two books, you won’t find Bryan, nor Mike, but a fellow man named Gene Yang. This is important because while the wiki of both The Promise and The Search state BryKe as the creators, that doesn’t mean that they were the actual minds behind these comics, but rather because ATLA is their “baby” and these comics involve their characters, over which they have copyright. Mr. Yang here is the actual brain behind the plot, as the main writer, which explains why we find huuuuge inconsistencies between the show lore and the comics, especially Zuko wise.

My main issue with Mr. Yang isn’t that he isn’t BryKe specifically, but because he did an unforgivable mistake in his writing process: He projected himself into Zuko’s character, based on the relationship Zuko had with his father. This is a documented fact from an interview in which he explains that he sees himself and his dad’s relationship into Zuko and Ozai and used that when writing their interactions and built Zuko’s character in the comics. And this is wrong because when you have an already very developed and complex character such as Zuko, you can’t just come in and be like “Oh, I was an angsty teen just like him in my teenage years, fighting with my dad and whatnot, so he must have the same thought process as me!”. NO! This is bad fanfiction writer behavior! Zuko has his own personality and philosophy, which he developed over the course of 3 seasons and is not defined by only 1 unfortunate aspect of his past, so you can’t just base his whole mindset and actions off of your own personal experience just because you had the same daddy issues he had!

2. The whole “Promise that you will kill me if I turn out like my dad!” nonsense in The Promise

Reason number 2 why these comics fail and go under the category of “bad fanfiction” is because they fail to convey the core essence of the source material. The whole point of Zuko’s redemption was that he realized the wrongdoings of his ancestors and his own mistakes. He outgrew his desire of gaining his father’s acknowledgement in favor of choosing his own destiny. Having him worry that he’ll turn into his father is utter nonsense and feels like poor angsty drama material for the sake of angst. At this point in time, Zuko has overcame that obstacle in his life a long time ago and should be at the level where he himself is the “Uncle Iroh” for other people and in no way someone concerned of becoming their own worst enemy!

Not only that, but the whole point of Aang’s journey and the story of the show as a whole was to teach us, the viewers, the importance of forgiveness, empathy and love in life. Aang didn’t spare Ozai, aka “the ultimate evil” just to flex in front of his pals or because he is a “ 12 y/o vegan pacifist monk kid”, but because he knew that killing someone, no matter of what they did or wanted to do, wouldn’t restore balance into the Universe, on the contrary, him killing the villain would have meant perpetuating the “endless cycle of hate” that plagued the world. So having Aang promise to kill his best friend in case “they turned into an evil maniac like their dad” contradicts Aang’s whole character and it’s a nonsense that throws into the trash what we’ve learnt throughout the entire TV series.

3. Azula deserved (and was supposed) to have a redemption ark

This might still be pure speculation, but I count it as a documented reason because I’ve heard quite a few people saying that there should’ve been a book 4 in the show, aka “Book 4: Air”, and no, it wasn’t The Search, but actually Zuko and Azula’s journey as Zuko helps his younger sister heal her broken mind by being her very own “Uncle Iroh”. Sure, they prolly were going to end up looking for Ursa, but the journey should’ve ended with them actually being happy and a family again and not the bs we got in The Search where a still very unstable Azula runs away and becomes the “Next Joker”! The only problem is that M. Night had to pop up and curse the world with his movie, which forced BryKe to delay the project (and eventually abandoned it in favor of Korra).

All in all, either if BryKe had this preplanned or not, it made sense for Azula to get a redemption ark, she deserved it because she was just a broken 14 y/o child! If Katara’s mom’s murderer deserved to be forgiven, so did this poor child who had no fault for what happened to her since she had a dysfunctional family! What Gene Yang did in his poorly written fanfiction was to just antagonize a broken child, turning her into a monster for the sake of friggin angst!

4. The Search is the worst of the two, being flat af character wise

And finally, getting to the point that I personally find the most annoying about these comics: The Search. This one... This one is a mess on a hella lot many levels, and just to list a few: characters are flat as fudge, being either black as vanta black (like Ozai and Azula) or pure white like Gene’s Gary Stue OC, Mr Ikem (or how I like to call him, IKEA man) and his ‘victim’ rendition of Ursa, Azula gets to suffer more for no reason (see reason number 3 to why I find this as a no no), Ursa’s whole character sucks ass (man, I could write a whole thesis on why Yang’s version of her is terrible and doesn’t match the strong woman we got in the show) and Zuko does morally wrong stuff (my man literally used his unstable sister to bribe their dad into spitting info about Ursa... Show Zuko would never do that!;-;)

Oh boy, as a person who’s seen a ton of anime and other media and read many books, I can’t begin on how much I despise this type of writing: flat characters are the worst!

 ATLA characters in the show are nothing close to being flat! What I mean by that is that none of them fall perfectly into pure white (aka goodest of good characters with no imperfections) or vanta black (aka lowest and darkest twisted monsters out there), each of them are various shades of grey (like Aang who is a very light grey because despite being a very kind and nice character, he still isn’t a “perfect hero” since he ran away from his duties, practiced tax fraud with Toph, had insecurities and even threatened to kill people on ocassions like with the sand benders who took Appa) and this is a good choice because that prevents them from becoming what’s globally known as Mary Sues and Gary Stues (aka those either “perfect” characters with no flaws and/or unlimited power, or the twisted monsters full of flaws).

And the other reason why many other people hate The Search: it literally negates previously established cannon. And here comes my short essay on why this comic fails Zuko’s family (since we’ve already talked enough about Zuko himself).

In cannon and even interviews with BryKe, it was clearly stated that Zuko’s family was “once happy”. Where is this “once happy” family in The Search? All I see is pain, deception, lies and betrayal, nothing close to anything that resembles happiness. Okay, some of you might come in and say that “It’s because it was never the case! It was only lies and Zuko trying to convince himself that he didn’t live in hell forever!” and here is WHERE YOU WERE ALL WRONG! And why? Because, my dear fella, where were depicted the flashbacks of Zuko’s “happy family” in The Beach? Ember Island. And what do we know and had been even quoted in the show?  "Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate. Ember Island reveals the true you." (direct quote from the show). Exactly, no matter who you are or how hard you try, you can’t hide your true self when you are on the Ember Island, best example being Azula, who’s impenetrable though shell cracked and revealed the true vulnerable child that was underneath. If Azula couldn’t resist the “spell of the island”, no one can. So this means that Zuko’s family was indeed happy once and yes, Ozai wasn’t always the douchebag we got to know in Season 3 (I have a whole nother essay on my theories regarding what could be his real past story and why he’s actually the “Zuko” of his generation, based on stuff I gathered from old wiki entries and character analyses I made, but that’s for another time, lemme know if ya’ll are interested).

And what I guess is the biggest proof why The Search did this family’s past trash is comics Ursa herself. My dude, if this woman were indeed the victim of years of endless abuse and never loved her husband, I guarantee you that she would’ve been closer to what we saw in Todoroki’s mom from BNHA and Zuko would’ve gotten that scar or even worse long before the Agni Kai, not from his “daddy dearest”, but from “mommy dearest” herself, because no sane woman would be soo affectionate and attached to a child that’s the perfect copy of their abuser, sepecially appearance wise (again see Todoroki’s mom’s case from BNHA because the stories are really similar) and in no way would’ve she been willing to sacrifice her life for said child’s sake. With this ocassion, I remind ya’ll folks that according to the ancient ATLA cannon wikis on Nick’s site, Ozai was designed with Zuko’s appearance in mind, being meant to be like a “grown up scarless version” of Zuko. So yeah, remember this with a grain of salt that whenever you simp over grown up Zuko, you involuntary simp for Ozai too.

So yeah, I guess this kinda concludes my “not so short” rant about why the comics fail and are bad fanfiction. Lemme hear your thoughts in the comments and if you agree, feel free to leave a like and even reblog.

Bye bye and remember that Momo is the true strongest character of the show!

 Saby out.

[queenangst]

a quick atla fic rec list

this atla fic rec list is mostly gen and zuko, gaang, and iroh centric.

Daybreak gen, 2.8k, chapters 1/1 complete; zuko & gaang, iroh & zuko

The final Agni Kai, and the immediate aftermath.

brave little soldier boy  gen, 1.7k, chapters 1/1 complete; zuko & katara

“Let the children sleep,” Iroh says softly to Hakoda. “And let us carry the weight of the world for a while.”

Or: the night after Ozai’s defeat

these little things define you forever, forever  gen, 2.8k, chapters 1/1 complete; mai/zuko (background)

Iroh hasn’t been the feared Dragon of the West for decades, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has forgotten his past. Years after the war has ended, Mai sees a different side of Iroh.

We're Home  gen, 3k, chapters 1/1 complete; iroh & zuko, zuko & gaang

Things have changed, but not much. Zuko and Iroh are grateful for their bond, especially now when the quiet moments matter the most.

Rigid and Stale  gen, 3k, chapters 3/3 complete; zuko & gaang

Zuko and his incorporations of the other elements in his bending.

Classroom Lessons  gen, 1.3k, chapters 1/1 complete

Sokka never would have thought he'd be pretending to be a Fire Nation Colonial Citizen, going to a parent conference about his fake!son who was an airbender, but here he was.

At least life wasn't boring.

Sokka turned on Aang, fake mustache and beard bristling. "Young man, as soon as we get home, you're gonna get the punishment of a lifetime."

The headmaster smirked, smugly, evil-y, Fire Nation-y. "That's what I like to hear. Really Zuko him."

bitter work (dig your heels into the dirt)  gen, 6.3k, chapters 1/1 complete; iroh & zuko, zuko & gaang

With her back against the wall, Azula decides that the best way out is to kill a dragon. It's a daunting, but simple enough task. One swift strike, right through the heart, and it will never move again.

In which Azula shoots her brother full of lightning to make her escape, and Iroh has the desperation and humility to ask for help before it’s offered.

something about grace  gen, 8.9k, chapters 1/1 complete; toph & zuko

Growing up, Toph never had any siblings. Zuko doesn't have a good relationship with the one he does have. Together, they discover in each other what they were missing.

five times zuko impressed toph and that one time he impressed everyone gen, 3k, chapters 1/1 complete; toph & zuko, zuko & gaang

In which Toph has a great time just experiencing the train wreck that is Zuko

The Firebender Hunters gen, 5.6k, chapters 1/1 complete; zuko & gaang

Zuko goes missing, and the Gaang looks for him and talks about some Firebending culture.

The Warmth of My Heart  gen, 1.6k, chapters 1/1 complete; zuko & gaang, sokka/suki

Caught in a storm on Ember Island, the Gaang returns to Zuko's old family home, cold and wet. There, they make a welcome discovery about their fire bender companion.

[aceofwhump]

Ace’s Massive Zuko Whump FanFic Rec List

My Must Reads:

Second Chances by lazyartisen

Summary: Destiny is a funny thing-Zuko's season 2 story arc takes a radical turn after he is captured at the North Pole. One event can change so much- and so little. 

Becoming Zuko - A Prince's Demise by ystv.

Summary:  After escaping Azula with the help of Iroh, the team seeks out a town to recuperate. Toph talks to a mistreated captive at the marketsquare, not realizing his identity as the missing Fire prince. without the others consent, she brings him along. He won't be able to hide forever though. 

Holding this Breath by attackfish

Summary: The problem with Zuko's exile is that every ocean has become enemy waters for a Fire Nation Prince, and when his ship is captured by the Northern Water Tribe, he has nowhere to turn for help.

Stealing from Pirates by Dyce

Summary: Without Zuko to rescue her from the pirates, Katara is captured... and finds that they already have a prisoner in desperate need of her help.

A Misunderstanding of Sides by Somariel

Summary: When the Gaang takes a trip to the Earth Kingdom after EIP, Zuko gets captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers while away from the others.

Hope in the Dark by Lazy8

Summary: A mere year after the end of the Hundred Year War, an assassination attempt leaves Zuko fighting for his life and his friends fighting to save him, but this time, his luck may have finally run out...

Do No Harm by Lazy8

Summary: Sequel to Hope in the Dark. The crisis might be over, but the work is far from finished. Zuko is still recovering, and his best hope of doing that is with Katara's aid... but before she can help him, she has some demons of her own to face.

Grounded by Danny Phantom SG-1

Summary: Injured in a battle, Zuko must rely on Toph to keep him grounded. 

Dreams of Nightmares Past by Automail-gHost

Summary: When the Assassin attacks, Zuko takes a hit meant for Aang. Shortly after, he collapses. As a horrible fever ravages the Firebender's body and he begins to hallucinate, they know that this is no ordinary sickness. When the poison begins to make Zuko see his worst fears and relive his tragic past the Gaang realizes...Maybe Zuko's a victim of the Fire Nation too.

The Monster That You See by SoBadAtBeingGood

Summary: AU. A hundred years after the genocide, Anil is an airbender just trying to protect his enclave. His only family is his son, Aang, for whom he'd do anything for. However, his life will change forever when he saves a Fire Nation boy from the torturous hands of his Earth Kingdom captors. 

Illusion by Abandonedrry

Summary: Zuko is captured by a group of ruthless Earth Kingdom soldiers, and when he is retrieved by the Gaang, Sokka can't help but notice the change in his personality. 

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My Other Favorites:

In Darkness by prepare4trouble

Summary: Zuko was blinded during the Agni Kai against Azula. As he considers refusing the throne, he is given hope that the healers of the North Pole might cure him, and together with his friends he makes the journey.

Little Soldier Boy by chiaraherondale

Summary: The day had to come eventually. Iroh's funeral takes place at the Royal Palace and the old Team Avatar along with Mai are there for Zuko, trying to help him on this sad day.

Antebellum by Lise

Summary: Zuko doesn't understand any of this. A scar, an Avatar, and a slightly concerned Firebender.

Li by Dracze

Summary: Everyone knows the old story about how the five-year-old Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation went missing. Hakoda knows it too and doesn't particularly care. Not until he finds a young golden-eyed boy in a brothel in Ba Sing Se.

A Matter of Trust by Somariel

Summary: After their escape from the Boiling Rock, Hakoda must decide if he can trust Zuko

Fever by Amy Cherryclaw (ameliette)

Summary: In which nothing goes according to anyone's plan because Zuko was an incompetent firebender right after the eclipse and gets Katara's sympathies first.

Perspective by waterandsilver

Summary: Events at the Boiling Rock put Zuko in a different kind of danger, and force to light a secret that he's been holding onto for far too long.

Rising Phoenix by deathmallow

Summary: Zuko tries to fit into 'The Gaang'. Meanwhile, his arrival means Aang starts firebending lessons, Katara takes up stalking, and Appa stays slobbery. Gone AU as of 3x13, "The Firebending Masters".

Twilight's Edge by inkcharm

Summary: An innocent training session leads to grave misunderstandings with dire consequences for Zuko.

What You're Seeing On That Stage by knittedace

Summary: ‘The Boy In The Iceberg’ runs five minutes short. Fortunately the playwright has plenty of material for a flashback to Zuko’s banishment.

The Chains of Honor by inkspot_fox

Summary: If the Yu Yan had not stopped firing, if Aang had been a little slower in deciding to take Zuko with him, and if Zhao's garrison had been a little quicker on their feet, then Zuko's rescue of Aang in "The Blue Spirit" might not have gone quite as well.

Understanding the Enemy by TheTimelessCycle

Summary: Because understanding is the first step towards forgivness. Set post the Boiling Rock. AU to the Southern Raiders

No Sleep When it's Wicked by Pilsur

Summary: Zuko wakes screaming and the gang want to know why

The Thing About Fire by Dracze

Summary: The Boiling Rock is a horrible place

That Intangible Feeling by joyster

Summary: Zuko is plagued with nightmares but this time it's different.

A Lover of the Lights by euphorella

Summary: Zuko comes to terms with the aftermaths of the war.

The Most Ragged Edges by twinfinite

Summary: In hindsight, Zuko really should have seen this conversation coming. He can almost hear Li and Lo chanting wickedly about the magic of Ember Island, about waves smoothing away rough edges…

Suspension by Somewei

Summary: My heart dropped into my stomach as his body collapsed to the ground, the lightning disappearing into him. Zuko was not moving and could be dead. That was a heavy weight to carry.  (Katara witnesses Zuko's fall to Azula's lightning)

Pulse by isnt_it_pretty

Summary: Everybody is faced with decisions that can change their life. For Zuko, it was a crumpled suicide note, a bottle of pills, and a call to 911. Now, with the help of his caring uncle and new friends; the disgraced son of Senator Ozai must learn to cope with the after math, along with the years of abuse and suffering he has endured.

One by AvacadoLove

Summary: Chained and imprisoned, Zuko’s only escape is in his own memories. 

Friends or Acquaintances? by MastaDrumma22

Summary: Post Firebending Masters. Zuko struggles to find friendship in the gang. 

Only One Word by Arielen

Summary: After the flight from prison Hakoda has to decide, if he could trust the son of the firelord so easy as his children. But only one word can balance the scales. Set shortly after Episode 3.14/15 “The Boiling Rock”.  

Giving Back by AvacadoLove

Summary: When Zuko takes what should be Sokka’s punishment, it’s up to Sokka to heal him again. 

Scars by Luna Maria Boulevardes

Summary: "Maybe next you to feel like doing that, we could, I don't know, talk. Or something." Zuko has scars. Sokka has questions.  

Zuko: The Traitor's Story by Thomson

Summary: When the Gaang goes to see the Ember Island Players, Zuko faces an unpleasant surprise: The play includes the story of his burning and banishment, still unknown to the others. The past is back to haunt-and mock-him. 

Scars That Do Not Heal by XrhiaX

Summary: Set between The Southern Raiders and The Ember Island Players, where the gang find out how Zuko got his scar. If Ozai doesn't suffer at Aang's hands, Zuko vows he will at his own son's. 

Sorting the Skeins by Absenthe Wrae

Summary: In Ba Sing Se, while caring for Zuko during his metamorphosis, Iroh recollects the past and discovers one of his son's secrets while sorting through the skeins of his memories. 

Stories Around the Fire by FirePony16

Summary: I pretend not to listen as they laughed around the fire...' Zuko is feeling disconnected from the gang, he envies their close friendship with each other. Set after Firebending Masters but before Boiling Rock. 

What If by XrhiaX

Summary: What if Zuko hadn't betrayed Katara in Ba Sing Se? 

A Voluntary Prisoner by Somariel

Summary: What if the Gaang had accepted Zuko's offer to become their prisoner? 

Fever by Written Parody

Summary: A slightly AU moment that takes place between Zuko and Katara between the Ember Island Players and the finale. Zuko's feeling a bit under the weather and Katara, being Katara, is there to help. 

Straight Answers by Em Dixon

Summary: All Hakoda wanted to know was why his daughter was so mean and nasty to Zuko. Why was it so hard to get a straight answer from that boy? Set after The Boiling Rock. 

One of Them by TheOneHope

Summary: Life at the Western Air Temple was hard enough, or so Zuko thought. Until one day a mysterious man abducts the injured prince. The Gaang will need to race against the clock if they are to save their friend in time.

Fragile by Galimeril

Summary: He was Fire Nation. The enemy. Something made of nightmare that deserved everything he got, right? Then why was Toph acting like he was...a person?  

Lost Boy by Mynerva

Summary: Takes place after the episode "The Western Air Temple". Zuko is eager to please but runs into some trouble and ends up being taken prisoner by a group of men hired by the Fire Lord himself. 

Healing by ShenYue

Summary: Training at the Western Air Temple goes wrong and Zuko is injured. Katara is forced to examine her feelings before she is ready and the rest of the GAang continues to struggle coming to terms with the realities of war. 

Night Terrors by ErgoMaria

Summary: What if Ozai's abuse of Zuko went beyond harsh words and a burned face? What if the abuse occurred every night, with atrocities committed beneath the cover of darkness? Zuko's tale of anger, fear, frustration, and perhaps even moving beyond. 

Bitter Taste by paracosim

Summary: What if the Agni Kai hadn't just scarred Zuko, but took his sight away almost completely? 

Stuck in a Hole by VickyVicarious

Summary: Mid-season one Zuko and Sokka are trapped in a hole by corrupt Earth Kingdom soldiers and have to work together to get out. Only problem is, they're feeling less than cooperative. ...Especially Zuko. "Make no mistake, Water Tribe; the enemy of my enemy is still my enemy." 

Long Live The Prince by Julia451

Summary: Set just after "The Boiling Rock." Aang and the others learn the story of how Zuko got his scar from the newcomer Chit Sang, who thought the prince had been killed three years ago. 

Not Your Enemy by FireLordFrowny

Summary: After a battle gone wrong, Prince Zuko finds himself stranded, hideously and helplessly injured, and the only person around or willing to help him is the Avatar. This is a story of conflict, compassion, and understanding, as the two boys each learn to appreciate the other's motives. 

Scarred and Accepted by theoriginalbookthief07

Summary: Set later in the night during the episode The Ember Island Players. Zuko opens up about his past and Sokka is there to listen...and give a surprising offer. 

In Silence by Floranna

Summary: The young man was standing in the back with Chit Sang while he and Suki greeted the others. 

Falling Slowly by Relik

Summary: AU season 2. Katara finds that it is difficult to hate someone when you know them, and harder still to hurt them when you are responsible for healing them. Zuko discovers forgiveness and understanding taste sweet, even coming from an enemy. 

Dona Nobis Pacem by SoBadAtBeingGood

Summary: The Fire Nation Royal Family is hated around the world. Princess Izumi knows this. But will she be able to handle the pressures and dangers of her position, especially when so many want to attack her father through her. 

Melting Fire by Gbuggie

Summary: "He doesn't care!" Zuko roared, his voice echoing around the temple. "He doesn't care that you're the Avatar, and he doesn't care that I'm his son!" He shocked himself as well as the others at his outburst. Katara suddenly realized that the conversation wasn't just about war.

Burns by Slumberdore

Summary: The Gaang investigates the mysterious burns on Zuko's chest. Set on Ember Island, just after they arrive and settle in.

Burned Roots by DWGolondor

Summary: When Sokka and Aang one day finds a portray of Zuko's family, they can't help but wonder what happened to them. With this thought in their minds the gang finds out about Zuko's darkest secrets. 

A Prisoner of Your Own Mind by pearlynn

Summary:  After becoming Azula's prisoner, Zuko finds himself losing all sense of anything. When the Gaang rescues him and see the damage inflicted, can Katara help him regain himself?

A Prisoner of Your Own Mind: Continuation by Ahnnxah

Summary: My take on what happened after PearLynns story A Prisoner of Your Own Mind. In her story, Azula captured Zuko and Uncle after the battle in the Earth Nation town. This picks up where that one left off. 

The Crown Hangs Heavy by mon-petit-pois

Summary: "They asked if we'd heard the news... about the Fire Nation prince. He was thirteen. Sokka's age. I was... fascinated." Hakoda does not know Zuko, but he knows of him. 

Come Marching Home by SoBadAtBeingGood

Summary: Modern AU. After the death of his son, Iroh decides to become a foster parent. But when he takes in a troubled young teenager named Zuko, he may find that it was more than he bargained for.  

Aftermath of War by Melting Angels

Summary: In the aftermath of war, Zuko is unable to celebrate the victory over the Phoenix King. Lying in a comatose state, Zuko is watched over by Katara, who cannot help but feel guilt, after he shielded her from Azula's fateful lightning strike. Recalling the event, she vows to bring Zuko back to health, no matter the cost. After all, he had been ready to die for her. 

Escape From the Boiling Rock by TheKingsHorseAndTheKingsMen

Summary: Zuko attention was pulled from his sister for just a second, which he knew was one of the worst mistakes he could have made at that moment. When his eyes when back to his sister, the first thing he became aware of was blue fire hitting his chest and burning through his clothes and skin as he was thrown back. 

Another Brother by: AvacadoLove

Summary: It was a mission of revenge. There weren't supposed to be any survivors, but Chief Hakoda couldn't bring himself to kill the Fire Nation boy. Against his better judgment, he brought him home. A Zuko joins the Water Tribe story. 

[hello-nichya-here]

Why does comics!Zuko keep trying to show Azula sympathy/care when Azula hasn't really reciprocated and he himself have taken actions that indicate that he still hates Azula for abusing him, or at least partake in Ozai's abuse of him, thinks Azula's birth has made his life harder, and thinks of her a ghost of the past? In light of Iroh's "She's crazy and needs to go down" line, wouldn't it be better for everyone if Zuko cut Azula out of his life, or at least until she starts trying to act better?

Disclaimer: Comics!Zuko is an insult to the character because his “kindness” to Azula involved abandoning her in a institution that neglected and abused her, and didn’t even think about her until he needed her help. I refuse to accept that Zuko, after all the growth he went through, would accept such a place even existing in his nation, let alone send his sister there, regardless of whether he still had any love for Azula. But I’m going to pretend the comics didn’t botch him (which meant that Azula had every reason to mistrust his “kindness” considering it brought her nothing but misery) so I can clarify some important things.

“Why does he show her sympathy/care when she doesn’t reciprocate it?” Emotions aren’t rational. You don’t need someone to show you sympathy and care to feel that way about them.

“Why does he show her sympathy if it’s shown that he still resents/hate her on some level?” Feelings are complicated, messy and often contradictory, especially for someone as young and traumatized as Zuko (seriously, get that boy some therapy). He and Azula were taught to see each other as enemies, and have acted as such for a long time. Her breakdown after their Agni Kai humanized her in his eyes again and made him want to give her the same chances he was given, but that doesn’t mean all that baggage would suddenly disappear. It isn’t weird for him to care about her, but still have negative feelings towards her (Important: resenting or even hating her doesn’t mean he would be okay with her being a victim of any kind of abuse, and he sure as fuck wouldn’t be the one responsible for her suffering said abuse in the first place).

“She's crazy and needs to go down" That line is a “funny” (in 2005 logic) joke Iroh made about the character who could have killed him. It also gets a gross, dangerous conotation once the finale happens and Azula has a mental breakdown - the sadly still common idea that the disabled and mentally ill are fundamentally broken and need to be locked away or killed. It could have been seen as a moment that aged badly in a mostly great show, and most people would see it as a unfortunate case of the writers not thinking of the implications of saying something like that about a character that was then shown to be mentally ill. Unfortunately, it was said by Iroh, the character fans refuse to admit is also flawed and can be unfair to others - especially to Azula. So, they act like that bullshit is another case of “Wise words from uncle Iroh” instead of seeing it for what it is: a bad joke/Iroh pulling a Zuko and saying something horrible when he is angry. Don’t repeat that kind of ableist shit like it’s some kind of gospel truth.

“Wouldn't it be better for everyone if Zuko cut Azula out of his life?“ There are only two people being affected by Zuko still having contact with Azula: Zuko and Azula themselves. She has no political power anymore, she can’t fight the whole world by herself (and trying to do so could lead to Aang taking away her bending), and she is in a fragile mental state, meaning she is completely dependent on Zuko since he is the family member taking care of her. She isn’t a treat to anyone around her anymore, so their opinion on the matter doesn’t mean shit. Which leads us to:

“Wouldn’t it be better for Zuko if he cut her out of his life?” In my interpretation of Zuko, no. He thought that he had no choice but to his sister enemy forever, or until one of them died (possibly by the other’s hand), but the Agni Kai changed everything for him. On that moment, he saw that this rivalry Ozai forced upon them hurt her just as badly as it hurt him. He saw how Azula destroyed herself to gain Ozai’s approval, and he saw himself in her, because that would have also been his fate if he had not been banished and found people who cared for him and taught him to be better. He loved Azula when they were little, and wishes things had been different. And now he knows that things can still be salvaged between them. He made horrible mistakes too, but he managed to turn things around, so it makes sense that he would want to give Azula as many chances as she needed to become a better person - just like Iroh did to him. Giving up on his “evil” sister, would be giving up on the family they once were, and on the family that he now knows for a fact that they could still be.

“Would this radical decision from Zuko “teach her a lesson” and make her change for the better?” OF COURSE NOT! Why would it? Not only did every adult in Azula’s life fail to protect and guide her, the one defense mechanism she was taught by Ozai was to always find a way to be above everyone else, which meant she couldn’t truly connect with her friends and her brother. Azula ended up becoming such a cold and even cruel character because all she ever knew was isolation. Zuko turning his back on her would just confirm her fears that is fundamentally broken and can never change, meaning she wouldn’t even try because what would be the point? Zuko changed because he always Iroh by his side, even after his betrayal - the most he ever did was give him the cold shoulder for a few episodes, then he went right back to helping him, going as far as to tell him about Sozin and Roku. No one can change if they don’t have someone to help them see what they did wrong, why it was wrong, how to do better, and to support them, even on their bad days and relapses. Especially on their bad days and relapses. Zuko knows that better than anyone, so once he decided he wanted to help Azula, he would keep on showing her that he believed in her, even when he got frustrated, sad or angry.

“Until she starts trying to act better” I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you mean that she should act like the best version of herself while still being a complex, flawed human being, like Zuko did, instead of becoming a hollow, empty shell (like Zuko was trying to be in his false redemption in Ba Sing Se, where he went from trying to be whatever Ozai expected of him to trying to be whatever Iroh expected of him, which wasn’t healthy at all). Should Azula try to be better? Obviously, but remember: she is a literal child-soldier who was taught that she doesn’t have to be kind or even see other’s as humans at all. “But so was Zuko!” some people will say, completely forgeting that Zuko spent three years away from Ozai, getting advice from Iroh, and he still was a complete disaster of a person until the second half of book three. Zuko spent 5/6 of the show failing to be better, yet the fandom as a whole loves him. Why is Azula expected to just magically heal when Zuko spent literal years refusing to cooperate? Why does the same fandom that sees Iroh’s attempts to save his nephew from himself as something noble, see Zuko’s attempt to do the same for his 14 year old sister as completely incomprehensible?

[is-that-another-soulmate-au]

I may or may not be a sucker for soulmate AUs

But hear me out. An eye soulmate au, like everyone has their natural eye color to start out, but when they make eyecontact with their soulmate one of them changes to match. But let's also mix in the painsoulmate au.

Basically Sokka at the age of 13 is screaming in pain in the middle of town holding his eye as the tribe tries their best to help him. All the while he's screaming "it burns! Oh God! It burns" and the sheer pain alone causes him to pass out in a slump against the cold snow. He knew then that noone in his tribe was his soulmate. It was very obvious.

The pain eventually subsided but he still couldn't get the memory of the pain out of his head, what happened to his soulmate. He could only wonder in fear.

The day that they found Aang in the Ice Katara's right eye and Aangs left switched to mirror eachother.

Not long after there was a firenation ship on their shore and Sokka was facing the man leading the group out. He himself hadn't noticed until the man was hit in the head by the boomerang Sokka threw. Knocking his helmet off and causing them both pain. They stared at eachother for what felt like forever, the man had a scar over his eye that made it hard to see that it had changed to a bright blue mirroring his own. However, Sokka, didn't even realize it was his it was mirroring. Until after they rescued Aang from the ship and Katara was staring at him

"Your eye, its gold"

"What!?"

He looked the reflection of his boomerang and looked up at Katara in horror "he got that scar at 13 katara, remember when I was screaming, it felt like someone was digging into my eye with hot coals for a solid 5 minutes"

They both shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to him. Swearing that they'd soon enough snag him up and adopt him.

(Boutta be skme divergence from the Canon here because i can )

They'd run into eachother multiple times but when they were caught in the fire sage temple Katara and Sokka were thrown into a cell with Zuko. All three in shackles, the siblings shackled in front and the firebender in back. Zuko seemed to just want to be away from them by curling further into the corner "Zuko..."

"What do you want?"

"Tell me how you got your scar" Sokka demanded

"Why do you care?"

"Uhm, maybe because at 13 I was overcome by the worst feeling of pain I've ever felt, my eye felt like someone was stabbing a torch into my socket and it hurt so bad to the point I was screaming bloody murder in the middle of my village for 5 minutes until I passed out from the pain alone. Oh and our eyes are mirroring?" He raised a brow "so tell me, how did you get it. I'd like to know who put both of us through that bile inducing pain"

"My dad did, I was..." he paused, realizing who he was talking to "you know how old I was... I spoke out in a war meeting and was challenged to an Agni kai, thats a fire battle to the death for honor thing, I thought it was the general, but it was my dad. I didn't fight, I begged him to spare me, and he.. well.. you know, then he banished me right after and now I'm here in fire nation waters, captured and likely going to be killed because well banishment means if i step foot in fire nation land or waters, ill be killed he gestured "now Mr. Mirror boy, does that satisfy your question" his voice was like venom, not potent venom but angry 'I'm big and bad' venom

"No, not really, but it does solidify my desire to off the firelord" he said in an absolutely enraged voice catching Zuko off gaurd

"What"

"And it confirms that you should totally join us" Katara cut in hoping to finally adopt Mr. Fire Jerk

"What would I do that?"

"Uh... maybe because your dad is a piece of shit and from what I'm guessing wouldnt think twice about killing you."

"Neither would you?"

"Wow, you wound me. No we won't kill you" Sokka spoke up with a playful sarcastic tone

They sat in silence for a while but Katara spoke up "its nice you two bonded and all, but like, we should probably get out of here, Sokka grab the pin from my hair"

Doing as instructed he grabbed it and handed it to Katara who picked the lock on Sokka's shackles who returned the favor and moved towards Zuko "stay away from me pea-"

"Shut it will you? I'm helping you, just because you've chased us all over doesnt mean we're gonna leave you to die"

After running for their lives and convincing Aang to help him they fly out and Katara Aang and Sokka sit further to the front discussing the situations and Aang nearly cries until he looks at Zuko. And then he does "Zuko, I can tell from how you act you probably blame yourself-"

"Of course I do! It was to teach me respect"

"But you were just a kid Zuko, you still are just a kid, we're all just kids."

"Obciously, but I still ne-"

"No Zuko, listen, I know it'll take time to settle in the right mindset but, what he did was wrong. And you've been chasing me for 3 years right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"I only resurfaced like a couple months ago Zuko, he sent you out on a mission searching for someone who didn't exist. That's one horrible power trip for him to pull on a child"

Of course he didnt take kindly to the words at first but soon enough, by the time they made it to the north pole Zuko was integrated into their group fairly well.

(This was not meant to turn into a sort of fic, but I honestly like it too much to not post it so here, have my brain dump)

[storydays]

Season 1, ep3, p2

"Your best friend is a.....polar bear dog." Mako started wearily, before smiling fondly at Neo, who grunted. "Somehow that makes perfect sense, considering." "I'll take that as a compliment, city boy." A few minutes later, they arrived to town square, looking around and didn't see a sign of you or Bolin. Neo stopped near Firelord Zuko's statue from his early days, looked up and barked. "Well, this is Bo's normal hang out spot, and Neo seems to have missed (Y/-" Mako was cut off by Neo running over to the kids playing nearby, licking one of the boys. 

Laughing, the kids crowded around him and Naga, who followed her brother, ignoring the two approaching figures behind the two animals. "You guys seen my brother around here today?" Mako called, as the oldest turned towards them. "Perhaps. My memory's a little...foggy. Maybe you can help clear it up." The child sniffed, before holding his hand out. "You're good, Skoochy. A real pro." Mako chuckled, before handing the child a few coins. "Yeah, I've seen him." "When?" demanded the firebender. "About noon." "What was he doing?" A frown came onto Skoochy's face, as he recalled the earlier event. "He was performing some kind of monkey-rat circus, and then..." Turning, the kid held his hand out for more. 

Skoochy yelped as a giant water hand picked him up, and brought him face to face with an unimpressed you. Chuckling sheepishly, he grinned at your raised eyebrow. "H-Hey, (Y/F/N)! How you doing?" "Skoochy, take the kids back to the Rosario, and do not come out without Mika." You said sternly, placing the child down and watching them run off. "Hey, come back here!" Mako called, before glaring up at a casual you, Korra laughing at you shrugging carelessly. 

"I got a lead on where Bolin is," you jumped down in front of the two, sliding your glider into your holster on your back. "The Triple Threats, the Red Monsoons, the Agni Kais..all the triads are muscling up for something big..." "Meaning there's a turf war brewing, and Bolin's about to get caught right in the middle of it." Mako frowned, rubbing his forehead. "Yup, follow me. I managed to track him down, but it wouldn't hurt to have some backup; let's go."

Hopping onto Neo, you told him to go to the Triad's hideout, waited for Mako to get on, and the three of you take off on the Water Tribe animals, and cross the river, when Naga stopped and starting chasing a small animal. "Wait, Naga!" "That's Pabu!" Korra and Mako said at the same time. "No, Naga, Pabu is a friend, not food." Korra said sternly, as the two bumped noses and Pabu crawled onto Mako's shoulder. "We gotta hurry." reminded the firebender. 

*At the  hideout*

"Something's not right..there are usually thugs posted out front. We need to be--" Mako trailed off as Korra kicked the door in. Mako deadpanned as you strolled in, hands behind your head,  looking around curiously at the trashed hideout. "Bolin? You here?" Mako called, looking around. You sensed Bolin's presence outside, and hurried outside, with water skin arms forming around your arms. You called out to the other two. "I've got visual on them! Let's go!" You realized that following them in plain view wasn't the best idea. "Neo, help Korra and Mako! I'm going solo!" 

You veered right heading towards the rooftops, keeping an eye on the van and your surroundings. Mako fired a blast of fire towards the bikes, Korra used her earthbending but the kidnapper jumped over the earth, and another fired two ball traps toward the polar bear dogs, making the animals trip and send the Avatar and firebender to the ground. "Oh man." You stopped chasing Bolin and jumped down to protect Korra and Mako from the incoming enemy. 

It was three on one with Korra getting neutralized early in the fight followed by Mako getting knocked down. You stood in front of them protectively, before using your waterbending to make a ice barrier, making the enemies send out canisters of gas and got back on their bikes zooming off. 

Korra groaned, Naga helping her stand up, before trying to firebend. "Ugh! I can't bend! I can't bend!" She panicked. "Calm down, Korra." You stated, helping Mako up before Neo cuddled into your back. "It'll wear off. Those guys were chi blockers. They're Amon's henchmen." continued Mako stretched his arm out, as Korra did the same. "Amon? That anti-bending guy with the mask?"

You sat down on Neo's back cross-legged, closed your eyes and began searching for Bolin's spirit. "Yeah, he's the leader of the Equalists." "But what do they want with the Triple Threats?" wondered the Water Tribe girl.  "Whatever it is..it can't be good. I can't believe Bolin got himself into this mess. " Mako pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed in annoyed concern. "Mako, we're going to save your brother, I promise you that."  Korra and Mako stared into each other's eyes.

Neither noticed (e/c) eyes staring at them, before their owner smirked. You grabbed Neo's reigns, and coughed. They turned to him. "If you two are done with your romantic stare down.."They sputtered at him as he continued breezily. "I've found Bo again, but we need to go." Mako cleared his throat and hopped onto Neo's back. "Neo, let's go." You urge, heading towards the other side of town. 

*timeskip*

You let Neo, Naga and Pabu rest near the warehouse, and threw clothes at Korra and Mako. "Hey, what are these for (Y/N)?" Korra asked, just as Mako asked, "How'd you get our measurements?" You scoff, tying your hair back, and pulling a headband on to hide your arrow. "Please, have you guys met hyper active airbenders? Instead of chasing them,  I learned how to take measurements discretely. Anyway, we need those to get in to where they're keeping Bolin." They shrugged and went to go get change. 

"You guys go first, and wait for me near the entrance. I'll enter after you guys." You watched as Korra wrapped her arm around Mako. You starred at them, looked at Neo, before laughing at the scene in front of you, your polar bear dog laughing aside you. "O-Okay," you snickered before sobering up. "Wait here for me boy, we'll be back." Neo nudged you, as you adjusted your coat, and heading towards the entrance. 

"This is a private event, no one gets in without a invitation." The guard crossed his arm before you showed him a flyer you grabbed from the man in the park. "The revelation is upon us my brother. Enjoy." He stepped aside and let you in. You walked towards Korra and Mako and gasped at the insane of amount of people gathered. 

"I knew a lot of people hated benders but I've never seen so many in one place." Mako mumbled. "Okay, Korra, you know what to do. Mako and I will go into the crowd and watch for Bolin. Stay safe." You all nodded, before splitting up.  "And now, please welcome your hero, your savior, Amon!" an announcer called out, as said figure rose up from below the stage. You felt tremors running down your back seeing the masked man again. 

'I'm not afraid of him. I'm prepared for him this time.'  "My quest for equality began many many years ago. When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich, and none of us were benders. This made us very easy targets for the firebender who extorted my father. One day, my father confronted this man, but when he did, that firebender took my family from me, then he took my face." 

Amon turned towards the crowd in front of him. "I've been forced to hide behind a mask, ever since. As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." Suddenly everyone began booing and jeering at the mention of Korra. "And if she were here, she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world, but she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering." 

You clenched your fists at this accusation. "It has been the cause of every war in every era, but that is about to change.I know you've been wondering what this whole 'revelation?' You are about to get your answer." You and Mako looked at each other in concern, before turning back to the stage. "Since the beginning of time, the spirits have acted as guardians of our world, and they haven spoken to me." 'Pfft, what a load of bison crap.' You snickered to yourself. 

"They say the Avatar has failed humanity, that's why the spirits have chosen me to usher a new era of balance. They have granted me a power that will make equality a reality--The power to take away a person's bending away.....permanently." You couldn't help but gasp along with the crowd. "T-That's imp-possible. T-This guy is insane!" Mako raised an eyebrow at your stuttering, and wrapped an arm around your shoulders in comfort, like he does with Bolin. 

"Now for a demonstration. Please welcome, "Lightning Bolt" Zolt leader of the Triple Triad, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City." You watch as said criminal scowled at the crowd. The normals began booing him which resulted him saying back, "Ah, boo yourself!" You laugh at his sarcastic attitude. You watched as other members of the Triple Triad and Bolin be forced to kneel. "There's Bolin." You muttered to Mako. "What's taking Korra so long?" Mako muttered. 

"Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders but his reign of terror is about to come to an end. However, in the interest of fairness, I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending." The two backed up to give each other space, for a proper battle. "You're going to regret doing that, pal." Zolt smirked before they began fighting back and forth with Zolt getting more and more frustrated and finally began shooting lighting at Amon who moved quickly. 

Amon grabbed Zolt by the back of his neck, and began doing something to him, you started shivering under Mako's arm. The lightning died down, and a burst of flame came from Zolt's hand, before he collapsed. ' W-what  was that?' you thought as Zolt staggered to his feet. "What did you do to me?" he demanded. "Your firebending is gone...forever." Amon turned to the crowd and said strongly: "The era of bending is over. A new era of equality has begun." He raised his fist as the crowd around you begun shifting uncomfortably. "Not yet, (Y/N). We need to wait for Korra." Mako whispered, grabbing your hand stopping you from exposing yourselves. "B-But I can't just sit here and watch these other benders lose--" "I know, but unfortunately we have no choice,"  he hissed, mentally cursing your need to help others at this moment. 

It was at that moment that steam entered the room, causing people to freak out. "Let's go." whispered Mako before you took to the stage, making icicles pop up entrapping Amon and his guards in place. Mako grabbed Bolin while Amon called to you, "You can try and resist all you want (Y/N) but I assure you, you will see things my way." You didn't reply but bended the steam to hide your escape. 

You all run into the alleyway, discarding your clothes. But then heard Neo howling in pain and growling aggravation at the Equalists trying to tame him. You were torn between helping your friends, and helping your animal buddy. Then an Equalist slashed Neo with a knife and that was when you made your decision. You used nearby water to push yourself into the air and used the momentum to kick the enemies away and encased them into ice before sending them into the empty building nearby, effectively knocking him out. You exhaled sharply before turning to Neo's whimpering form, and your friends approaching you, from atop of Naga. You pulled water from you emergency pouch and began moving it across the wound. 

Neo whinned in annoyance and you hummed in acknowledgement. "Sorry boy, I'm almost done. Are you guys okay?" You asked, not allowing yourself to stop healing. "Yes, we're fine. These two are a little fried but otherwise we're good." Neo licked you and stood up, stretching his leg carefully. Naga nudged him with snout before the two were ready to go. "Bo, you can ride with me." You offered a hand to the weary Earthbender. "Thanks for finding me (Y/N)." he mumbled sleepily, as you all escaped. 

*Timeskip*

You walked wearily behind Korra, shaken from what you witnessed. "Thank goodness, I was just about to send out a search party. Are you two all right?" He placed a hand on both of your shoulders. "Mm-mm." "N-No Uncle." You looked over the ledge before jumping down, using the water to soften your fall, and running off to your mother's tree, exhaling heavily. You didn't blink when you felt the air move behind you. 

"Uncle, when Amon took away the other's bendings, I felt their pain, surprise, and their sorrow, like nothing I've felt before." You turned around and sunk to your knees, feeling small. He sat next to you, draping his cloak over you. "That is because you are an empath, like your mother. She was connected with the spirits in a similar manner. Perhaps it's best if you talk to your gran-gran about this, try and get your mind back in the right place." You peek at him from under your bangs as Nevermore landed near you, and tilted her head curiously.

"Yeah, maybe."

[olivieblake]

KSIGJICNRJCNEHCBD HELLO HELLO WELCOME TO THE HELL THAT IS KNOWING ZUTARA IS EVERYTHING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AS SUCH !!!! wow i love that you are as angry as i was (and am every rewatch? yikes) this is amazing i knew you're my favorite but yeah wow man this really. confirms it whew high five

yeah it’s pretty wild how I knew this was what happened and was already bracing for it and yet STILL got completely misled by the narrative??? MEN I tell you MEN. I’m also going to use this ask as a method to reply to some of the other commentary if you don’t mind since this seems like a good place for communal frustration (here is my original post for anyone scrolling around lost)

@meg-hemmings: I agree with all of ur thoughts and I would TOTALLY read anything you wrote for Zutara … your writing is among my absolute favorite ever and I think you would write the Zutara dynamic so beautifully!

@one-man-propaganda-machine: I am - begging - you to write it yourself.

I... am not going to make promises, but I may have to. I want something very specific and that never bodes well for me. I doubt it would be more than a one-shot, but there are multiple scenes that could have occurred between episodes that would flesh out what was there (and of course I’d cut the final 15 seconds of the show, much like another epilogue I loathe and ignore)

@deifiliaa: omg atla discourse in 2021; olivie, i’d love to see what your character tier list looks like now that you’ve finished the series 👀

I’m going to put azula at the top. not because she’s a good person obviously but she’s FULL. OF. HITS. every time she’s on the screen the narrative gets immediately more interesting. she’s savvy and self-assured and I love it. her ending depressed me although I like that it was kind of about the loss of her two best friends? if that had been more of a focus I think I would have enjoyed it more but yeah, losing mai and ty lee could have been rightfully devastating. who among us is not totally obliterated by friend breakups. I also really loved uncle iroh; if anything that’s why I wasn’t invested in zuko’s storyline until close to the end, because watching him disappoint his uncle was very difficult (I get it, he’s a teenager, he’s growing and evolving and whatnot, but also I am closer to being his uncle than to being him so like, yeah). I also hope the peter pan revenge guy (JET that’s his name, sorry pregnancy kills my brain cells) did hook up with both katara and zuko. I love that journey for all three of them. I wanted more time with mai than we got, so there wasn’t quite enough there to love... but I was very down with ty lee interfering on her behalf. what a pivotal moment

of the core characters I think I was quickest to love sokka; the episode where he apologizes to suki and asks her to train him cemented it for me. I think it’s a big deal to show boys apologizing on-screen and owning their misconceptions. I like katara a lot—she’s what a lot of people do with fanon hermione. toph is also great, and part of me feels there is a strong basis for a ship with aang that balances their opposing energy, though I also like the idea of them being platonic besties. aang is... twelve. pretty much every time he was on the screen mr blake (a teacher) was like “man, aang is such a seventh grader,” so it was nice how convincing that was for his emotional journey, but at the same time it was hard to forget he was in seventh grade. appa and momo are STARS. I am sure I have mentioned this before but mr blake really loves animals and he was devastated by appa’s kidnapping; he hugged our dog for about ten minutes after aang found appa. after he decided I was zuko, he speculated that he is closest to aang but he’s not happy about it lol. “ugh, aang and I are such boring pacifists” was I believe his take on the subject

@libbynico, who for some reason I can’t tag: so true! katara was literally something like a mother/older sister figure to aang the entire time, but whatever

yeah, I think it really sucks that katara, as the emotionally nurturing character, felt shoved into the role of love interest. it’s everything wrong with the distribution of emotional labor in male-female relationships but sure, WHATEVER, apparently nobody thought to ask me in 2008

@touslesnoms: I liked “such selfish prayers” by andromeda3116 if you ever decide to read zutara after the series; the worst prisoner by emletish is super funny too

thanks for the recs! I will take them. I do want something very specific so I will be accepting recs until I find it lol. or until I lose composure and write it (yeah this is me WITH my composure, no wonder mr blake thinks I’m zuko, “I’m never happy” indeed)

@gaeleria: THANK YOU!!! Ugh omg that “I’m confused” kiss scene made me actively hate the ending. I knew ahead of time they were endgame, so I tried to make myself accept it early on. Like, I really didn’t like the pairing, but I wasn’t going to be emotionally invested in the romance and it was just going to be like, whatevs. AND THEN THEY WROTE THAT SCENE??! 1000% no. What was even the point of that scene? If they had written it to make Aang have some introspection and realize it’s not all about him, Katara’s feelings matter too, or even apologize, or anything… but no, there was literally no point to that scene. No character growth, it was never mentioned again. Ugh.

this is in answer to both you and beloved @zabbini: yeah this was a fuck-up for sure lol. I think it may come down to editing for time; the series is very irregularly paced, what with the majority of the action taking place in the final three episodes of a 16 episode season. or maybe it’s just because MEN CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO WRITE ROMANCE but either way yeah this was a real misstep and just truly, truly reeked of a particular (white) male attitude about how women think and what they owe. had a bad day, dudes? buy a gun, kiss your forever girl, do whatever you want and it’s fine! (I’m exaggerating but barely)

in terms of what’s so angering for me: a character like katara who previously had tons of agency was robbed of it when it came to her romantic arc, which is just really upsetting. and to be fair, I was equally upset when zuko instantly agreed to the agni kai with azula because it was like okay well katara’s extremely valuable, as you know, but now you want her to just sit on the sidelines...? (more of a story flaw than a relationship flaw, but my chest sunk a little at the idea that katara was going to sit by and watch as an accessory to zuko’s story when she’s a crucial weapon in their collective fight. what a waste, right?) 

it’s also especially hard to buy into the aang thing when zuko’s method of problem-solving on katara’s behalf is there for comparison. he asks her what she needs in order to find closure and then from there, does everything necessary to get it without having to be asked twice. versus aang, who is a twelve-year-old pair of rogue lips who never wins any of his fights without the aid of phenomenal cosmic powers...? ugh I’m getting off track but in the end there’s just a complete lack of understanding what female audiences want, though again, I don’t think they were really considering that at all. which I guess is... fair, it’s not the point of the show, but then why make the ending romantic at all? to show that their brand of hero gets everything he wants, I guess

in conclusion in 2008 I’m not sure the industry was capable of doing better, which sucks but isn’t surprising. still, it does fit the components of “stuff I write fics for,” which is I enjoyed most of it but find myself enraged by slivers I compulsively need to fix—WHICH IS STILL NOT A PROMISE but ugh I can already feel myself giving in