#katara of the southern watertribe

[insensitiveroses]

save me woc characters who are still hated in 2024 for having emotions save me

[zukkaart]

Azula writes lesbian smut but cannot handle looking Katara in the eye for a single second

[sapphic-agent]

Why & How Katara is the Strongest Waterbender

The ATLA fandom is funny. Because if there's one member of the Gaang whose skills are continuously doubted, it's Katara's.

No one hesitates in saying that Toph is the strongest Earthbender in the world. Aang has always been maintained as a natural prodigy. Sokka's strategic intelligence and cleverness are never in question. Most people are positive that Zuko would have beaten Azula if she hadn't targeted Katara and hail him as a swords master.

But for some reason, it's always Katara whose proficiency is either called into question or severely downplayed.

Some are skeptical about the legitimacy of her becoming a master in a short time. Others are certain that her victories are due to plot manipulation. Both of these arguments that ATLA is a kids' show which pushed it into giving her the win.

(Funny how ATLA is the greatest piece of media ever read until it comes to anything pertaining Katara's character lmao)

So I wanted to take a minute to talk about the progression of her waterbending skills and how she became Master Katara.

Pre North Pole

The first time we really see Katara practice waterbending is in The Waterbending Scroll when she decides to show Aang her limited very skill set. She noticeably has a difficult time with her bending, whereas he seems to pick it up rather quickly.

As we know, Katara has never met another waterbender before. She has no idea what their bending is supposed to look or feel like. And that's reflected in the moves she shows Aang.

I want to draw attention to Katara's stance here. She's stiff, even a little awkward. She's standing where more like an Earthbender. We see this repeated when she's practicing the Water Whip.

Even later when she does perform the Water Whip correctly, there are still traces of this.

You know how Iroh learned to redirect lightning watching Waterbenders? Well, my assumption (at this point I'm 80% sure it's meant to canon) is that Katara learned most of her bending by watching Aang and the Earthbenders they met around the world.

It makes sense, right? They would have been the closest thing to Waterbenders she could have learned from. She even asked Aang to teach her in the first episode. So the start of her bending began with incorporating the forms of Air and Earth.

And we see the results of that in her fight with Pakku.

Fighting Pakku

Katara's fight with Pakku is a great demonstration of his visually. He's a master, so he's already proficient at "push and pull." Katara is not. She's done it before, but it's not her go-to style when she's fighting. And we can see it in this fight.

Again, her stance is firm. She either blocks his attacks or bats them away. She doesn't reinforce and redirect them like he does hers. She isn't fighting like a Waterbender, she's fighting like an Earthbender.

Not to say this is a bad thing. Pakku himself even admits that she's good even though they both know she can't beat him.

Why am I bringing this up? Because one thing about Katara that's overlooked is her adaptability. When she didn't have a waterbending teacher, she made do with observing Earthbenders. She picked up Pakku's teachings even better than Aang had. And going forward from here it really begins to shine in her bending.

She completely dominates Pakku's other students and Zuko (twice). Why? What makes her so special compared to men who have been training their whole lives?

Because water is the element of change. By being so proficient in adapting (not just in her bending, but openly embracing different things and experiences and people), Katara unknowingly embraced the mentality of her element.

(It's actually a funny twist of fate because you could make the point that the North held its other Waterbenders back by being so bound to and unflinching in their traditions. It would explain why none of Pakku's students even stood a chance against her)

If you think about it, you could draw parallel to Yue explaining the history of Waterbending to Katara to the Sun Warriors explaining fire as an element to Zuko. In both cases, you can see that they're able to see and understand their element in a new light. Although it's more of a realization moment for Katara as she already knew about pushing and pulling and it's more of a lesson for Zuko who was taught something completely different.

Katara vs Azula (Round 1)

You know how I said people attribute her wins due to plot manipulation because ATLA is a kids' show? Well it seems like Katara vs Azula is the scene they focus on the most for that.

But let's be real, this isn't a fluke. The show purposely draws attention to Katara prowess and skills during this fight.

Azula is someone who's always in control. She's someone who goes into fights with full confidence. But she is completely thrown off by Katara's abilities here.

And this is something that persists throughout the entire fight. Katara completely overpowers her. At no point during the fight did Azula have the upper hand against her.

And remember, this is Azula's fight. She's the one who imprisoned Katara and Zuko. She's the one who attacked Katara and Aang to begin with. Sure, she was probably counting on her manipulation of Zuko working and him backing her, but there was no guarantee that he would be able to get away from Aang long enough to help her.

And right after this, Aang really struggles against Azula. He doesn't own the fight nearly as well as Katara does.

So, we know it isn't a fluke. The creators intentionally made Katara outclass Azula here. She's canonically the superior bender between the two of them. And that's not a small feat by any means. Azula at this time is one of the best Firebenders alive, probably fourth (after Ozai, Iroh, and Jeong Jeong (she could possibly be above Jeong Jeong)).

So what was the reason for this? Why was Katara able to outclass Azula so effortlessly?

Well here's where Katara's mastery of the meaning of her element comes into play again. She understands and excels in the concept behind water. Always changing, always adapting. She embraces water to its fullest capabilities (which also includes incorporating other elements into it; water would actually be the best element to do this with). The entire fight, she's switching stances and forms and keeping Azula on the evade. Whatever Azula throws back is dealt with without an issue.

And as we know, Azula (and most Firebenders) misunderstand fire as an element. She uses it solely as a destructive force, but it's also energy, life, and passion. This is also part of the reason Zuko lost so easily in the Northern Water Tribe; he also had the same issue. Katara's proficiency in water as not just a weapon, but an element, gave her the advantage over Azula she needed.

Katara vs Hama

A debate that comes up a lot is who's the better bender between Katara and Amon. To that I have always said Amon was taught Bloodbending, Katara just did it.

Let me reiterate: NO ONE TAUGHT KATARA BLOODBENDING. Hama explained the concept to her, yes, but never actually taught her. In fact, she did not expect her to pick it up without guidance. In her own words, "You should've learned the technique before you turned against me."

This was a technique that took Hama decades to learn. Tarrlok and Noatak were trained relentlessly. And Katara just... Did it. No guidance and no build up. This supports that Katara's adaptability and versatility in her bending is unmatched. She's able to comprehend and perform advance concepts with no training or teaching.

Now that we got that out of the way, this fight is so comprable to Katara vs Pakku. This is the second time she's fought a master and we can see how much she's improved. So much so that she doesn't even struggle against Hama.

At this point, she's mastered "push and pull." She's able to take everything Hama throws at her and send it right back with little to no effort.

But she takes it a step further.

Instead of redirecting, Katara completely stops Hama's onslaught. This undoubtedly is something she picked up from Earthbenders. It certainly isn't a Waterbending technique, yet somehow she made it into an effective move.

Look at Hama's face. She's completely thrown off by this. This was not something she ever expected out of any Waterbender. She was completely unprepared for Katara to be able to outmatch and overpower her.

Katara completely surpassed her, solidified by using the technique she invented against her.

I was going to talk about Katara and Azula's second fight, but there isn't much to add there. I already compared the difference in their skills talking about the first fight, and the Agni Kai is an escalation of that. The outcome of the Agni Kai was already decided and confirmed in the catacombs.

And that my friends is how and why Katara is the best Waterbender in the world

[linnoya-writes]

Zutara “Childhood Friends and First Kisses” No-War Canon Divergent AU

Katara and Sokka spend six weeks of every summer at the Fire Nation palace after their father becomes the newly appointed head chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe.  The trip is mainly for a summit -- for the worlds’ leaders to meet and discuss civics and trade and foreign policies... but it was also Fire Lord Iroh’s idea to invite the children of these heads of state, so they could all go to school and interact together... children who would one day be expected to set a strong example of peace along with the young prince Lu Ten.  Hakoda agreed , as he believed it wise for his children learn about another part of the world.

When they begin these travels, Katara is 10 and Sokka is 11, and the harsh waters on the journey to the Fire Nation capital make the siblings unpleasantly seasick.  When the open sky and the sun compels them to remove their thick parkas, and they notice the first peak of a volcano in the distance... Katara gets apprehensive about this new place they must call home for six weeks.  She becomes particularly uneased by the pristine the open space of the Fire Nation Palace in general, as she is so used to the comforting, cool, very lived-in quarters of her huts in the South Pole.  Nevertheless, she is polite and smiles courteously to every kid she meets -- especially the 8-year-old boy from the Southern Air Temple, with glimmering silver eyes and the joyous smile that paints his entire face... the one her father points out “is to be the next Avatar.”

It only takes a week into settling into their summer trip for Sokka to start getting chased from girls from various parts of the world, it seems -- Yue, from their Northern WaterTribe... Suki from Kyoshi Island... Toph from the Earthkingdom city of GaoLing... Ty Lee from the Fire Nation’s capital of Caldera.  Katara rolls her eyes at this kind of attention, but cannot help but admit it’s tough not having her brother around to talk to between tutoring lessons.  She manages to talk to the boy with the silver eyes, the future Avatar, only on the handful of moments when he too is not being bombarded by the attention of so many other kids, and adults, and councilmen about the cool air bending tricks he can do.

One particular afternoon, at lunchtime, Katara watches the Fire Nation princess Azula pinch Sokka’s ear affectionately and chase him around the courtyard with her fire-bending.  Katara ignores the yelping of her brother (knowing full well he’s eating up this attention like fire-flakes) and decides to pack up her lunch to eat somewhere else around the Palance.  She wanders into the Fire Princess Ursa’s private garden... seeing a set of willows draped over a turtle-duck pond.

Water.

Katara had never been more happy to find a pool of water, with the bonus of little turtle ducklings bobbing and quacking on the surface.

She makes her way to the edge of the pond, drops her lunch basket... bends a knee forward, pulls up the sleeves of her robe just past the wrist, closes her eyes... breathes deeply... and through joyous muscle memory makes the same tai-chi movements taught the moment she’d been able to walk.

The little waves of push and pull soon appear at the edge of the pond, and Katara smiles with her eyes closed, hearing the little ducks quacking in reaction.    She imagines them having fun with these unexpected waves in their---

“HEY!”

The unfamiliar voice of a boy promptly opens Katara’s eyes.

She locates that voice immediately to a young boy with a pony tail, jumping out of the willow tree shade, golden eyes frowning appallingly at her.

Katara freezes in movement.  The boy is probably Sokka’s age, but wearing Fire Nation royal garb.

“What are you doing!?” is the second thing he says, his breath panting as his face turns over to the ducks.  “They’re ducklings!  They’re not strong enough to swim against currents like that!”

Despite his royal garb, the boy crouches down to the level of the quacking turtle-ducks, one of his hands held out-- as if to lure the ducklings back to shore and assure them that they are safe.  The little waves fade on their own, and the turtle-ducks quiet down.  All Katara can do is watch.

When the boy stands back up and faces her, his frown is not there, but his stern face remains.

It’s as if Sokka were giving her that look-- the ‘I can’t believe you did something stupid’ look, and Katara returns a frown back to this boy, despite the royal garb.

“I’m sorry!” she retorts, arms crossed in defiance. “But I wasn’t going to hurt them. It was just ripple movements.”

The boy stares at her, then at the pond with his unharmed little friends, then back at her.  He sighs.

“Fine. Whatever.”  He then heads back towards the shade of the willow tree, and it’s then that Katara notices his basket of lunch-- the same food served to all the children in the royal palace.  

Except lunch is always served in the dining hall with all the kids, and the boy is eating his here, in the royal gardens. Alone.

Now she needs to ask.

“What are you doing here?”  She doesn’t say it accusingly, but rather, curiously.

“What’s it to you?” he snaps back while he picks up a dim sum with chopsticks.

Katara is once again taken aback by this kid’s manners, despite the royal garb.

She pictures Sokka, getting chased by so many girls... and Katara cocks an eyebrow. 

“Are you... hiding from someone?”

All it takes was the boy’s golden eyes to blink fiercely at her, his cheeks blushing mid-bite.  Katara laughs.  She can’t remember the last time she has laughed so hard.

“Who is it?” she snorts in laughter, forgetting herself.  “One of the pretty Earth Kingdom girls?”

“No...ugh..” the boy sinks his head into his shoulders. “Could you please not be so loud?  I don’t want her to know I’m here!”

“Okay-- I promise, your Majesty.” Katara manages in her last giggle. 

“That’s not my name.”

“What is it then?”

“Zuko.”

Katara’s voice quickly gets quiet.  She knows that name-- the name of the other Fire Nation prince-- the one Fire Lord Iroh had sadly mentioned was occupied training in complex fire-bending techniques this summer, so much so that he might not have time to interact with the other children in the palace.  This whole time, Katara had imagined Prince Zuko to be an older, mature-looking teenager, like Prince Lu Ten.

But no; Zuko was a kid, too.

Katara didn’t know what to say next, but nervously, she smiled.

“Um...” Zuko swallowed under the shade.  “What’s your name?”

And that’s when her smile widened, and she approached the tree.

“I’m Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe.”

The boy grins, then shifts his seat a little to make room for Katara to sit under the tree, too.  She obliges sweetly, picking up her lunch basket before meeting him there.

“I liked your bending,” he mutters awkwardly as she opens her lunch basket for some fruit.

“Thanks,” Katara says simply and sweetly.  No hard feelings, indeed.

And the secret little turtle-duck pond becomes their refuge at lunchtime, always ending the hour with crumbs on their palms to the ducklings.

It’s only two years later... in that same turtle-duck pond... that Katara asks Zuko if he’s ever kissed anyone.  She already had to hear the dramatic retellings of Sokka’s first kisses all summer-- from two girls, nonetheless.  Considering that her brother was the same age as Zuko, well, Katara could only be curious.

“Um… yes.” 

Katara blinks under the tree. “What!!?!? Who? When!?”

“It doesn’t matter!”

“Tell me!” her face inches closer to his while he’s chewing on rice.

“Why? So you won’t shut up about it?”

“No, because I’m your friend, you idiot. I just wanna know!”

The boy grunts, looking away.  “Promise you won’t make fun of me?"

“Promise.” Katara takes a bite of her chicken skewer.

After a short pause, the name softly comes out of him.

“...Mai.”

Katara blinks, staring at him for a long second.  Mai?  The gloomy girl he’d been trying to hide from, that day?  ...Did something happen when she wasn’t here?  Did Zuko actually come around, and start to notice Mai... differently?  

She can feel her eyes glimmering, so she looks away, towards the pond.  As if indifferent. 

“I see,” Katara smiles, swallowing her chicken quietly. “When?”

“Two months ago.  She snuck up behind me from a pillar, in the Great Hall.”

She bravely turns to him again. “Was it nice?”

Zuko’s looking at the pond, his shoulders shrugging. 

“I guess.  It was pretty quick. I don’t know.”

“Hmm. She must really like you to have thrown herself at you like that.”

“She needs to get a life.”

The girl can’t help but laugh, and when Zuko grins at that, Katara takes another bite of her chicken to ease tingling sensation behind her ears.  

She looks down at her food,  when she bravely and nervously but casually speaks again.

“Would you… um… would you ever kiss me?”

“…What?”

Zuko speaks with rice in his mouth.  Katara feels the blood draining from her face, and she speaks again, quickly.  Urgently.  Defensively.

“I’m just curious!  I’ve never been kissed before. I’d like to know how it feels.” 

“…oh. Probably not.”

There’s a frown on his face when he looks at his food, and Katara’s lips thin.

“Oh-- Never mind, then!” She snaps, getting up. “Sorry I asked.”

Zuko doesn’t waste a moment as Katara takes her stance in front of the pond.

"Excuse me that I wouldn’t want to kiss anyone just to know how it feels!”

"Good to know!” she closes her eyes, takes small breaths and proceeds to move her gracefully. “Kissing you would probably be gross anyway.” 

“Forget it.” Zuko mutters from the tree. “Good luck with that first kiss.”

She fights the urge to say anything else to him while she concentrates... breathing in and out... hearing the little quacks of turtlenecks in the afternoon.

It takes another four years for Katara to finally know how it feels to kiss Zuko, under that tree, near the turtle-duck pond, in the middle of a quiet lunch.

It wasn’t her first kiss, but still... it was theirs.

[the-air-nomad]

Fire lily

           You were the daughter of one of the world's most ruthless pirates. In his youth, your father had been Fire Lord Azulon's right-hand man and had led the fire nation's navy to victory. He had conquered the most important port cities of the Earth Kingdom. Following a political dispute and an Agni Kai that your father won with great difficulty, he chose to betray the Fire Nation. Many powerful men of the navy joined him and formed the Ruby Claw, a ruthless and greedy crew that generally preyed on fire navy ships and sometimes Earth Kingdom ships. 

          You inherited cunning, intelligence and hatred for the Fire Nation. This very hatred made you start a suicidal fight with more than 50 enemy ships. You led your men to victory but you were seriously wounded and taken prisoner. The 3 remaining ships immediately set off for the Capital to surrender you to the Fire Lord. On the way you lost consciousness due to blood loss. You woke up with a bad headache. You got up from the bed you were sitting on and laughed at the stupidity of those who captured you, what idiots! They didn't even tie your hands! Then you looked at the room you were in and froze. Furs and wood, blue and brown everywhere, those idiots lost you to a crew of water tribes! Now you understood why your father said that without his iron hand the fire nation's navy would not have been able to withstand even some wooden ships.You got out as easily as you could on the deck trying to beat the dizziness and the headache. You didn't get to analyze the ship and the crew very well because the captain appeared in front of you instantly. You got scared and almost hit him in the face but you calmed down quickly. The man was not much taller than you and he looked extremely worried. 

Hakoda: are you ok miss? You were unconscious for 2 days. You were captured by the Fire Nation, do you remember how or why? 

Y/N: 2 days? I feel like I haven't drunk anything in ages! I don't remember for sure how, I think an idiot managed to hit my head on the deck. They probably wanted to organize a beautiful public execution for me. You know, the presence of the Fire Lord, the sages and all that. It would have been a real honor to know that I will be executed by a coward who hides behind his 14-year-old daughter.

 Now both the captain and the crew members who heard your little speech looked at you terrified. You chuckled and grabbed the first bottle of alcohol you could find then drank it all in one gulp. 

Y/n: Oh! where are my manners, if it can be said that I ever had any. I'm Y/N, Y/F/N's daughter. Thank you for saving me from those coal heads. 

Hakoda: I am Hakoda, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. There is no need to thank us, the enemies of our enemies are our friends. Also, I couldn't have sat and watched you die at the hands of those monsters.

 Y/N: how sweet of you.

 You notice another water tribe ship approaching you. A tall man steps down from the side of the ship and hugs Hakoda. You looked at his arm covered with burns, sighing. You hated the Fire Nation more every day, those bastards deserved every robbery and attack you led against them. Someone had to give them a taste of their own medicine. Your train of thought was interrupted by your new savior who introduced the man as Bato, his best friend. You were invited to dine with them and listen to Bato's stories. It seems that Hakoda had children and that they were traveling with the avatar. So goodbye chances to have a good time with the handsome man next to you. Why are all handsome men taken and you only attract idiots like Zhao?! If that tin head tries to offer you the honor of marrying him one more time, I swear that one of you will die in agony, and it won't be you.

Bato: I don't mean to be rude but are you a firebender? only that the style in which you tie your hair, your name and your clothes are common in the Fire Nation.

 Y/N: good observation, yes I am a firebender. I belong to a noble family but my father betrayed the Fire Nation before I was born. Now I fight the Fire Nation in a less traditional way.

 Bato: how do you mean less traditional? 

Y/N: I'm the captain of the Rubin Claw.

 The two men laughed heartily for a few moments then realized that you were as serious as possible. Hakoda looks at you in absolute terror.

 Hakoda: Don't you think it's a bit dangerous? You could die for La's name! The Fire Nation is ruthless! 

Y/N: oh! Seriously? I didn't know that at all! 

 You point at Bato's arm unimpressed. Hakoda sighs deeply and goes to his mattress to sleep. 

Y/N: not that I don't think he's cute, but what's the deal with him? Does he have a savior complex or am I too irresistible? 

Bato looks at his friend knowingly.You notice that the taller man is lost in his thoughts. You look at him with a raised eyebrow.

 Y/N: Listen Bato, I know I may seem rude and uncaring but I really like your friend. He is different from all the men I have known.

 Bato: why do I have the impression that you only knew pirates and captains of the Fire Nation Navy? 

Y/N: ok ok. You got me. But I was serious when I said that I like him. I want you to be honest, do you think I have a chance with him? I know he has children but you haven't mentioned anything about a wife or girlfriend. 

Bato: His wife died a few years ago in a raid, we don't like to talk about her because her death is still an open wound. 

Y/N: I'm really sorry, good people don't deserve to die or lose their loved ones like this. Please send your condolences to the children, I know what it's like to lose your mother at a young age.

 Bato: I will Y/N, I will. 

You went back to the cabin where you woke up and quickly fell asleep. You were woken shortly after sunrise by some urgent knocks on the door. You opened the door only to see Bato looking panicked. You went out on deck and noticed that the water tribe ships were surrounded by your own ships. You grinned dangerously when you saw Akain, your right hand and also your half brother, coming towards you. 

Y/N: what took you so long to find me son of a rattlesnake?

 Akain: I would have found you sooner if you had stayed on the fire nation ship and we have the same father little viper. 

Akain playfully hits you on the head and Hakoda immediately comes towards you. Your brother looks at the water tribe man amused. You roll your eyes and put the firebender back on his ship telling him to wait for you. You return to the watertribe ship and hug Bato. You notice that Hakoda is trying to convince you to give up being a pirate and you laugh briefly. You pull the captain into a passionate kiss. He is frozen for a few seconds and then he responds to your kiss. 

Akain: so when you told me that you befriended the watertribe captain, did you mean friendship with benefits? 

You break the kiss and pull away from Hakoda blushing furiously. 

Y/N: I'm ashamed that we have the same blood, you mentally retarded idiot! 

You return to your ship and kick your brother because he collapsed from laughing so much. While your ships are moving away you look at Hakoda who seemed to want to swim to you. 

Hakoda: You can't kiss me and walk away like that! 

Y/N: Then come and get me my love! 

You giggle at his disappointed look and at Bato who tries to hold him in place. You hope that you will see each other again someday and that maybe, just maybe, you will be able to continue what you started without your annoying brother bothering you.

Let's say you had a big surprise when you snuck into Boiling Rock to help your brother escape and that Hakoda will not lose you again. This world is far too dangerous for a fire lily like you.

Although I do not own the characters from avatar the last airbender, this work belongs to me! I sincerely hope you liked it. please rate it and leave a comment! follow me to see my next posts! Don’t forget that the request are open💖💖💨

You can buy me a coffe if you want to support my work :  buymeacoffee.com/TheAirNomad

this work is for : @mochminnie​  . I hope you like it!

[aangarchy]

Incredibly specific moments in atla i think about ALL the time (i am Not normal)

Zuko's eyes slightly widening when witnessing Katara's bloodbending for the first time

Aang and Katara just missing each other looking back at the other after their argument in The Warriors of Kyoshi

Toph holding onto Sokka's arm once on Appa when he didn't have a saddle and once on the boat bringing them to the lake town

The moon being in full view as Suki tries to kiss Sokka in the Serpent's Pass, and the shadow returning as Sokka leaves

The "four seasons for love" motif coming back throughout the episodes of the Northern Watertribe and specifically as Sokka gives himself up to serve in the battle against Zhao's seige and Yue turns away and quietly cries as she watches him walk off

Longshot talking for the first time ever as Jet lay dying

In that same breath, the way Toph says "he's lying" as they walk away from Jet knowing that he's going to die

Aang looking back at the Southern Airtemple ruins along with Momo as they fly away from it, seeing it disappear behind the clouds (this one specifically makes me cry so much)

The chants as Aang gets summoned by the Lion Turtle in book 3 being the SAME as the chants when Aang fuses with the ocean spirit in book 1 (there's other moments with these chants i think but i can't remember them off the top of my head)

Aang taking down Ozai's airship in the finale as his first attack and Sokka cheering him on like a proud older brother

Katara immediately without a shadow of a doubt responding "Aang won't lose" when Zuko questions if he'll be able to take on Ozai

Aang knowing Zuko was gonna fire at him in the crystal catacombs as soon as Zuko laid eyes on him (he gasped before Zuko even made a move) when even Azula wasn't sure what Zuko was gonna do in that scenario

[marymary-diva17]

A marriage for peace and political

zuko x water tibe reader x male mai

This is story had been published on my wattpad, and I decide to bring it over here.

The war of the nations had been going on for 100 years and the fire nation kept on gaining ground and power, all over all the other nations. There had been a time of peace that came in the war and that peace was made through a political marriage or arrange marriage. That marriage was your marriage the second daughter of Hakoda of the southern watertribe you had been given away in marriage. As you were not just marrying the fire lord son, but also another Nobel man that is an ambassador. All the other nations and everyone thought this will be for the best as no wanted anymore war to happen. 

Y/n " dad" 

Hakoda " listen I know you must hate this idea but it need to be done" 

Y/n "......" 

Hakoda " I can't send your brother or sister they are to much of value and importance to all of us ... they are part of avater team we can't lose them" 

Y/n " i know that dad but have you heard about the stories of the fire lord he cruel and scary man ..." 

Hakoda " yes I have heard them y/n but sacrifices have to be made and this is one of them you are one of them" 

Y/n " please father o will do anything for my people but I'm scared" 

Hakoda " think about your people think about all the all other nations and all innocent lives that will be lost of you don't do this .... You can't be selfish" 

Y/n "  father ..." 

Hakoda " leave now I need to speak with my council and elders Wes most think for battle with three other nations, a war will come and war " you wish to say something else but your father had you escorted away from his office once words got to your siblings and their friends it didn't get better. 

Katara " please y/n we need this war to end we can't have aang go he not ready he hasn't master fire yet" 

Y/n " I'm just overwhelmed and scared that all this major decisions" 

Sokka " don't you think we all feel that you haven't been doing anything but stay here and healing, while the rest of us have been risking it all" 

Toph " I can sense many emotions right now" 

Sokka " if we don't have an answer by the end of week the war the fire lord wish for answers" 

Y/n " I ...." 

Aang " y/n I make a promises as an avatar and air bender if anything happen I will come help you, as you have my oath as avatar and all those that came before me" 

Y/n " I just need some time alone" 

Katara " fine go while we stay here and think about a back up plan" you could feel you were not welcome so you had soon taken your leave right away. As you were walking you had been getting cold shoulder from many people as they were all in fear. 

Gran gran " my dear" 

Y/n " hey gran gran" 

Gran " I came to see you I have heard the news" 

Y/n " I want to say yes for my people and everyone else but I'm scared" 

gran gran " it okay to be scared my dear whatever decision you make it will always love you and be with you in personal and spirt" you had hugged your grandmother as your cried, you had made your decision that night. 

Y/n " father I have made my decision" 

Hakoda " what have you decided my father" 

Y/n " I will take the marriage for safety for my family and everyone" everyone was happy about the news a hawk had been sent, and I'm days a fire nation ship had come with your future husbands. 

Iroh " lady y/n I will love to present my nephew prince Zuko and mister mao" 

Y/n " hello it good to meet you both and I hope our lives together will be good" 

Mao " hello it good to meet you"

Zuko " yes what you have done is honor and we hope to show you were are not that bad" this marriage will not be bad after all as you had thought, as the others around were either good and bad. Maybe you should give your future husband a chance and see their true selves. Celebrations had been held in your tribe you had tried to speak with your sibling and friends but they were with everyone else. You had been given the opportunity to get to know some of future family better. That next day you had left your home. 

Y/n " take care everyone I hope to see you soon" 

Katara " we will meet again" 

Y/n " yes and now we have peace life will need to be rebuild" 

Fire nation solider " lady y/n we are rests to leave" 

Y/n " coming goodbye everyone and please take care all of you" you soon got onto the fire nation ship, looking down to everyone and waving goodbye. You soon saw your home getting smaller and smaller as you head toward your new home. 

Iroh " I know you have heard bad stories about the fire nation and my family, and I don't blame you for being scared but we are all not that bad ... my nephew and mao might seem a bit scary but he a good young men and I have raised taught and many other well to be good and not to, follow their parents path"'

Y/n " thank you iroh I'm happy to know I will have friends there for me I, hope I can be a good addition to the royal household and ambassador household as well" 

Iroh " you will be amazing"

Zuko " uncle may I and Mao have some words with our wife" 

Iroh " yes" Iroh soon left the young couple to talk together, knowing it was going to be a long trip home.

Mao " we know you fear what life will be like in the fire nation but we will not be living there"

Y/n " huh why you are royalty and noble born"

Zuko " yes but I made a deal with my dad will be living on ember land it will be good for us all, and we get to know each other and live the lives we want if that fine with you"

Y/n " I'm fine with that if can keep bending and healing, and keep some cultures I have"

Mao " yes it will be good as we all should keep what we love most close to our hearts" this marriage was not going to be bad after all, you had been able to get to know your husbands better and their created famiky good as well. Life is going to be hard away from the water tribe but you know you will adapt to your new life and home.

[the-badger-mole]

Love your posts! Could you go into more depth on how Aang disrespects Katara’s/Watertribe culture?

There isn't much depth to go into, because the show doesn't touch on the Southern Water Tribe culture very much. And why would they, am I right? It's only 40% of their main heroes' culture. But what little they do give us is mostly shown through Aang's perspective, and Aang makes it clear that he isn't a fan of some of the most major components. He's disrespectful about the food and about the artifacts that come from a culture that mostly hunts their food. Bato of the Water Tribe is the most egregious display of his contempt, when he goes into Bato's tent as a guest and is sly and snide about the furs and antlers on display. That honestly bothers me more than Aang's reaction to the sea prunes.

There are a lot of people who defend Aang because he's young (his age as a defense is carrying a lot), but here's the thing. As with so many other things that he does, it's never walked back. We never see him come back to his attitude about the culture the girl he allegedly loves comes from, and think, hm...well, they are different from what I'm used to, but that doesn't make them less worthy of respect. I would not be surprised to hear that at some point in the comics, Aang makes a big show of loving the SWT culture, but first of all, Legend of Korra exists. I've already pointed out how so many things in that series points to Aang playing favorites among his children, and to the Kataang family dynamic being really unhealthy. I've also probably already pointed out how divorced Tenzin is from anything pertaining to his SWT heritage. There is no sign anywhere on Air Bender Island that he's mixed heritage. And why is that? Because his father never embraced his mother's heritage. Secondly, at one point in the comics, Aang is in support of the NWT soft colonizing the SWT in the name of "unifying" the two tribes...even though they sit at literally the opposite ends of the world from each other, so how does that even make sense? Still, even in the main series, he shows a lot more respect for the NWT culture than the SWT (or at the very least, he isn't as blatantly disrespectful). Bryke can do whatever they want to in the comics, it still ends with LoK happening.

[highfantasy-soul]

Katara - NATLA Edition: Southern Watertribe Culture

Something that I LOVED that the live-action added to Katara's character was actually something they added to the entire culture of the Southern Water Tribe: they made them resistors (even the ones who stayed in Wolf Cove) rather than complete victims of the Fire Nation like the cartoon showed them.

The culture of the Southern Water tribe was attacked and the Fire Nation attempted a complete and total cultural genocide against them. They killed or captured all the waterbenders and forbid any from being trained again. All that is in line with the cartoon, but what the live action added was how the SWT actually fought back against that.

Just as with so many cultures invaders sought to destroy, they hid important artifacts, they kept alive the traditions in secret even from the younger generations, and they told the stories of the times before the colonizers brought their violent and oppressive ways.

I love that they emphasize that Gran Gran is the one who told everyone the story of the Avatar disappearing from the world - and what the Avatar had done before their disappearance. In the animated version, Katara just nebulously knows about the legends - it's not really shown how she knows and one would be forgiven for just assuming she knows because the plot demands it. In the live action, they show an elder keeping the knowledge alive.

Not only that, but they kept knowledge forbidden to them by their oppressors hidden until the time was right to teach one of their own the ancient ways. While I understand that Katara stealing back a part of her culture that was stolen by the pirates is a great story line, I think an equally great way to include the scroll is to have it be preserved by her own people in defiance of the Fire Nation attacks and threats to be handed to her when the time was right.

It shows that the SWT were not complete victims until our protagonists decided to change things, but rather they were actively keeping their culture alive and fighting back in the small ways they could, even if it wasn't direct combat. It gives the SWT agency as a people in that they were STILL fighting back, in their own small ways, and the entire history of Katara's people were ready to have her back once she needed the resources to fully stand against their oppressors.

I think there's too much emphasis on individual power in so many stories and community support is seen as 'weakness' or the character 'getting everything handed to them'. Community support - especially from a community who has suffered from oppression - is an incredibly powerful thing to see. I love how the live action Avatar adaptation really leaned into that.  It's Katara's culture embracing her and letting her know that they'd never stopped fighting, that they were here to support her and help her learn once the time was right.

This is echoed in the women of the North standing with Katara, ready to fight. It wasn't Katara alone who broke the sexist views of Pakku - it was ALL the women in the tribe who looked to have been organizing and subtly planning for this time for awhile. They just needed a catalyst and the fire nation's siege was that moment. Katara isn't the token 'feminist' among the tribes - she has the support of many within her own culture.

The live-action took a lot of time with Katara to explore what it's like to try to hold onto your culture when oppressors tried to wipe it out - the struggles people face when trying to decide how to fight back without being wiped out as a whole people.

It's not an easy decision to fight against oppressors who have no problem with killing ALL people in a culture, not JUST the ones who stand up to them. You have to weigh your actions so carefully when an entire people rests on your decisions - right or wrong as that responsibility is.

Katara's arc was about embracing her culture and healing from the trauma caused by the fire nation as they sought to destroy it - killing her mother and punishing all waterbenders in the process.

Katara had to figure out how and when to fight back so that her culture could survive - not be slaughtered because she revealed herself too soon or didn't have the resources to back up her defiance of her oppressors.

She fought against both the outward, physical manifestation of that trauma in Zuko and the fire nation fleet of ships in the North, but also the internal trauma plaguing her mind and spirit that suppressed her bending - the physical manifestation of her culture.

To me, the live action added so much depth to Katara's waterbending journey and her characterization as a whole.

Yes, she's angry - so, so angry. But she's also hurt. I think the live-action really SHOWED her hurt better than the animated show where the only time she mentioned her hurt (in Season 1) was in an effort to connect with men. The live action showed how her hurt affected every single aspect of her being and also showed her overcoming it with the help of herself, her friends, and her community.

To me, she and Zuko both embody the quote by C.S. Lewis "I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief."

[insensitiveroses]

zuko: guess what i’m about to get

katara: on my fucking nerves

[zukkaart]

One thing I missed arguably more in natla than Katara’s feminine rage was her feminine grief.

We didn’t get to see her struggling to shove all the rage back into her bones, to come down from battle only to realize that it didn’t matter. That the rage didn’t make the pain go away.

[sapphic-agent]

Rewriting the Gaang in LOK

Basically how I would have written the adult Gaang. Pretend the comics as they are don't exist.

Katara: Breaks up with Aang sometime post-finale to do some soul-searching. Travels the world on her own and sees how people are struggling after the war. After talking (beating) some sense into a few government officials, she realizes that the best way to help people post-war is through politics. She becomes an (unofficial) ambassador, helping and negotiating aid for small villages that tend to get overlooked and does this for a number of years. She joins up with Zuko and Aang after they found the United Republic of Nations and becomes Councilwoman Katara, representative of the Southern Water Tribe. She eventually gets voted chairwoman due to her passion to improve the lives of the citizens (and because her fellow council members are too scared to vote against her). She heals on the side when she needs to, but only out of obligation since she can't stand to see people suffer; she puts much more effort into getting raising funds for a hospital full of healers. A few years later, Haru moves to Republic City and is just as awestruck by her as he was the day they met (the pornstache has been removed by divine intervention). They meet up a couple of times; for drinks after work, walks around the city, and they even attend a few galas together. They eventually start dating and get married two years later. They have their first daughter Kya (who's an earthbender), a son- Tyro (who's a nonbender), and another daughter Suma (who's a waterbender). They live a happy, peaceful (if you could call Katara stopping the occasional criminal before the police peaceful) life together where their children are well-loved and as part of the Southern Water Tribe as they are the Earth Kingdom. Aang's death hits their family hard, but they all come together and support each other. Katara personally mentors Korra, even convincing her family move to Republic City so that the Avatar knows the people she's meant to protect (the White Lotus protests, they fail❤️). She teaches Korra Waterbending, but also teaches her empathy and appreciation for other cultures (and that sometimes, selfish world leaders need a good punch to the face, a lesson Korra took to heart even though she absolutely wasn't supposed to see it).

Aang: Is torn up after Katara breaks up with him. He's hurt and confused and doesn't know what to do with himself. He retreats to Ba Sing Se where he talks with Iroh and learns that he unfairly pushed his feelings onto Katara. Wracked with guilt at hurting someone he cares about so much, Aang realizes that he has a lot of growing up to do. He focuses on his job as the Avatar, working closely with Zuko, Kuei, and the other leaders to heal the world after the war. The first time he sees Katara again is when she arrives to help with the United Republic of Nations. He apologizes to her and Katara forgives him, promising they'll always be best friends. His role in Republic City is more or less the same, though at some point he develops feelings for Toph. But he fears doing to her what he had done to Katara, so he tries to ignore them. But Toph, never one to beat around the bush, point-blank asks him if he's ever gonna man-up and confess to her. They start dating, and Lin comes a few months later as a surprise. They have their hiccups- Aang especially needing to reconcile with the fact that there's a chance she might not be an Airbender- but they manage to resolve them. Lin is an Earthender, of course, but Aang loves his little girl to pieces (which is good, because Toph would kill him if she suspected otherwise). Tenzin is born three years later, an Airbender, and Su Yin is born two years after that as an Earthbender. Lastly there's Bumi, a nonbender. There's always the urge to favor Tenzin, but Aang knows he can't. They're all his children and they deserve to be treated as such. So he teaches them all about their culture, takes them all on trips. The kids fight, but Aang is always quick to help resolve it (as it turns out, getting Lin and Su to stop fighting is a lot harder than getting the four nations to get along, go figure). Aang loves his wife and kids and wouldn't trade any of them for the world. He dies peacefully at age 66, surrounded by his children and the love of his life.

Sokka: Fucking hates politics. He'll leave the negotiating and speeches to his sister, thank you very much. If the room of government officials isn't a war room, he wants no part in it. After the war, he spends most of his time in the Southern Water Tribe. He works with his father to rebuild and relearn their culture, and writes frequent letters to his sister. Though, something about his life in the south is unfulfilling. Maybe he misses Suki, but there's something about inventing that calls to him. He can't do much of that in the south pole, so he leaves for the Earth Kingdom, helping villages struggling with heat, agriculture, transportation, etc. In the United Republic of Nations, he becomes lead engineer of the city, utilizing bending to make quick technological advances. He and Suki reunite in Republic City where Suki becomes the police chief. They get back together and have a daughter, Lian. The three of them live a simple life together, until Suki gets gravely injured in the line of duty when Lian is twenty. They decide to retire to the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka takes over for Hakoda as chief and prepares Lian to take over for him.

Toph: When Toph hears that Twinkle Toes and Sparky finally started that fancy new city, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to cause a little chaos. Closing her metalbending school, she decides to relive her days as the Blind Bandit by founding pro-bending (thanks @ecoterrorist-katara for the idea!). Zuko's a hater and tries to shut it down because "safety," but finds no help in Aang who really, really loves the idea. He goes to every one of her matches and Toph feels both smug pride and... Something else. But she tells herself it would never happen, Twinkle Toes likes girls like Sugar Queen and she was the furthest thing from that. But she isn't totally oblivious, she can feel his heartbeat pick up when he's around her and how he's started to stutter when he's talking to her. So she bites the bullet and they start happily dating. But the arrival of Lin uncovers issues she didn't even know were there. Lin cries loudly and for Toph who relies heavily on her sense of hearing, it's hell. She was also unprepared for how much her body would change. She finds herself not wanting to be around her daughter. But Aang realizes this and urges her to talk to someone. After some arguing, she does. Aang is attentive, so Toph can take breaks when she needs to and Katara and Suki are always ready to get her out of the house when she's overwhelmed. Things with Lin get better and when Tenzin comes around she doesn't suffer nearly as much. Su Yin is similar. It's hard with Bumi because she's older, but Aang and her friends are there to support her. Toph can be distant with her children- her closely monitored childhood always present in her mind- but sees how Aang can be doting and allow their kids freedom. She follows by his example, trying to find a balance between hovering and absence. Aang's death is the worst day of her life- she was there, she felt his heart stop- and she retreats into the swamp for a while to grieve. But she returns to Republic City when Katara begins to mentor the new Avatar. Not to be outdone by Sugar Queen, she becomes Korra's second teacher. It's hard to be around Korra sometimes, but she likes the girl's spunk and attitude, even if she is a brat.

Zuko: Zuko struggles after the war. The obligations of the Fire Lord are crushing and daunting and the fear of turning into his father feels like it's constantly looming over his head. Mai doesn't understand why he's struggling so much and he can't figure out how to explain it to her, so they break up. She goes to Kyoshi Island to spend time with Ty Lee and figure out what she wants in life. Stressed, burnt-out, and heartbroken, Zuko asks Aang to kill him if he ever starts to act like Ozai, but Aang steadfastly refuses, berating him for even suggesting it. Aang assures him that he'll never turn into his father and that he has his friends to rely on. He follows after Aang to Ba Sing Se, working in his uncle's tea shop as a much needed break. He opens up to Iroh about his fears and Iroh affirms that even having these worries proves that he'll never be Ozai. He spends time in Ba Sing Se working in the tea shop and negotiating with the Earth King when he meets Jin again. She's as carefree as she was back then and Zuko is both envious and in awe of it. But he knows he can't have a relationship with her, he can't burden her with his problems. But Jin is gently persistent, lending an ear when he needs one and assuring him that he isn't burdening her. When she asks him if he wants to be with her, he confesses that he does- more than anything- but also admits that he has no idea how it'll work. She tells him that if they want to be together no one should stop them. A year later, they're married and she's crowned Fire Lady Jin. There are some protests to their relationship from traditionalists, but Ambassador Katara (Zuko is so sure that she was never actually given that title, but he can't prove it) is quick to shut them down citing that the Fire Lord marrying an Earth Kingdom girl is a sign of unity. They have their daughter, Izumi, and she's Zuko's entire world. Zuko's greatest fear is that his children will end up like him and Azula, so he refrains from having more kids. Jin respects this, but urges him to talk to Azula. So he does; his sister curses him out, but seems to enjoy his company in her own way. They'll never have a good relationship, but Zuko doesn't want her to feel alone so he makes time at least once a week. It's shortly after Aang's death that Zuko relinquishes the title of Fire Lord to Izumi, his grief over his lifetime friend far too painful. Eventually, though, Katara and Toph bully him into training the new Avatar. It's not a role for a retired Fire Lord, but Zuko knows that the world needs Korra to be strong and it's his responsibility to make that happen as much as he can. And so, he becomes Avatar Korra's third teacher (if you told him 60 years ago that he'd become the Avatar's most sane instructor, he'd think you were high on cactus juice. But with Katara punching dictators in the face and Toph breaking every rule ever written, someone has to be a good influence).

Occupations if you missed them:

Katara: (Unofficial/Self-proclaimed) Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe, United Republic of Nations Councilwoman and later Chairwoman, Healer (on the side), Waterbending Master to the Avatar

Aang: Avatar, United Republic of Nations Councilman

Sokka: Engineer and Inventor, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe

Toph: Pro-Bender, Manager of the Pro-Bending Arena, Earthbending Master to the Avatar

Zuko: Fire Lord, Firebending Master to the Avatar

Suki: Police Chief of Republic City (I'm sorry I didn't make a detailed background for her I got lazy, I promise I don't love her any less😭)

Defending my ship choices:

Harutara: Come on, y'all know what I'm about at this point. They're my everything, how could I not have them together? Plus, there's something really poetic about Haru falling for her as an adult the way he did as a teenager: watching her inspire those around her. I headcanon that he's enamoured with the sound of her voice because it's the voice that liberated him and his people and he attends all her speeches

Taang: I actually wasn't sure about this one. I'm not an active Taang shipper, but I do think they'd really balance each other out. Toph is the hard ass Aang needs to challenge him and Aang would bring out the softer side in her. Toph would never let Aang favor one kid over the other and Aang wouldn't let Toph neglect their kids. So looking at it like that, I felt them being together would be best for the story

Sukka: It's not as perfect in canon as people make it out to be, but I still love them. I wouldn't want any different for them

Jinko: This one actually made more sense than I would have thought. Jin is very different from Mai, so I can really see her being what Zuko needs considering where he would be mentally. I like Mai, but I feel Maiko really made her way more one dimensional so her living with Ty Lee and finding herself feels like a better end for her (and if they start dating, that's no one's business). And we've already seen Zuko go out of his way to make Jin happy so it's not like we're getting another Kataang situation. I'm happy with this for them

The Kids:

Yes, I purposely made Kya an Earthbender. And yes, Katara still gives her her mother's necklace. Because that's her firstborn daughter no matter what element she does (or doesn't) bend. One thing I hate is that Bryke made the Kataang kids primarily part of the culture that they bend. That's such a slap in the face to biracial kids, not to mention poor Bumi who doesn't seem to belong to either for some reason until he ends up an Airbender. So yeah, all of the Harutara kids are part of the EK and SWT. Suma is a name I made up because it sounded pretty

I know it's weird to think of Lin and Tenzin as siblings, I felt so odd writing it. But I love them both so I couldn't just not write them. I made Bumi the youngest so he could be spoiled because he deserved better in canon. Su and Lin have a better relationship, but they still butt heads because they feel the need to one-up each other due to them both being Earthbenders (and later Metalbenders). Lin still becomes a cop, but their big fight never happened because Su was never neglected to the point of becoming a criminal. All four kids are taught Air Nomad culture and traditions and taken on trips because Aang is a decent father

I named Lian partly after Yue, since Yuèliàng means moon in Chinese. One of my gripes with LOK is that Katara and Sokka's family are meant to be the leaders of the SWT. Kya or Bumi should be the chief in canon, but Bryke just... Didn't do that for some reason. So fuck it, Sokka's daughter is chief now

Nothing really changes about Izumi, although I'd say she's a little friendlier. I contemplated giving Zuko more kids, but I actually think his decision not to have more kids was one of Bryke's better choices. It makes sense, so I didn't feel the need to change it

Other notes:

The Gaang teaching/helping raise baby Korra is something I live for

The Red Lotus is swiftly dealt with by Katara, Toph, Zuko, Suki, and Sokka when Korra is a kid. They never stood a chance. I was actually going to have Sokka still die during the attack in the SWT and Suki kill Zaheer in revenge, but eh I decided not to off Sokka

The Civil War still happens, but differently. I don't have the patience to go into that, just know that Katara is HEAVILY involved

Welp, that's everything in my brain

[linnoya-writes]

Zutara “unexpected father-in-law” canon-compliant AU

It’s interesting how, in the ATLA finale, there’s no real indication that Katara actually got to see Ozai before he gets imprisoned for war crimes.  

In the finale, everyone, including Toph, gets to throw their own personal jab at Ozai.  Not Katara. And part of me likes to believe that she chooses not to see him intentionally.  Because it’s her rough spot.  Not just because this was a man who waged war and destruction for years... but also because she has a hard time processing that the young Fire Lord she finds herself falling in love with is the son of this horrible, cruel man.  

She doesn’t want that to be true. 

She doesn’t want to accept that Ozai and Zuko are the same blood. And it takes years…. decades… for Katara to finally come to terms with that hard truth, and she pays a visit to her now elderly father-in-law in his prison cell.  

His face is gaunt and hollow at first sight, but when he looks up to her, the flaming, brilliant golden eyes are very much Zuko... and she holds her breath.

Ozai is also speechless, and only manages a grin to mask that curiosity.

Over the years, he’d only been lucky to catch glimpses of his aging brother before his passing and been visited occasionally by Azula.  Zuko, however ironically, had been the one to visit the former FireLord the most frequently… promptly at the first of every month.  It became Ozai’s personal passage of time.  At first his son had come with tea, and as the months went by… he came with news: about reconstruction of their FireNation governments, the peaceful republic of Earth Kingdom colonies encouraged by Avatar Aang, the new alliances and trade agreements made with the Southern WaterTribe.  Zuko mentioned all of this to him not as an insecure boy seeking advice, but as a learned man -- one who’d risen from countless mistakes and had eventually found his own diplomatic resolve.    

It was a kind of confidence Ozai had no idea existed within his son, and it was in this way that Zuko announced in that cell that this young Fire Lord would finally be married. 

“Who is she?” 

“Her name is Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe.” 

“A Water Tribe peasant,” Ozai muttered, amused.  Appalled.  

“Oh, if you knew even half the things that woman has done for this world, you wouldn’t think the FireNation even deserved her.” Zuko glances down, a shy smile forming. “She is unbelievable.  You’d be lucky enough to meet her.  I hope she’ll come around.”  

And Zuko leaves before Ozai can say anything regarding a tainted mark or brittle branch that will result of this marriage within Fire Nation royal history.  

Over the years, Ozai hears about this marriage, the political alliance that formed from it, the mixed daughters birthed between a peasant and a prince.  When Ozai asks the guards if his granddaughters were borne firebenders, the prisoner doesn’t receive an answer.  Instead, he receives a visit from the children themselves in their royal garb, along with their father.  Ozai sees the familiar golden flame in the girls’ eyes, despite the tanned complexion of their WaterTribe mother.  

The girls take a fire-bending stance, and the old man gets hopeful.  

But it’s when ribbons of blue begin to dance around the girls alongside the fire-bending movements that Ozai’s smile disappears.  

The blue he sees is not Azula’s Fire.  It’s actually not fire at all.  

And when the girls end their routine and smile at their grandfather, Ozai turns his back away from them.  Confused and sad, the girls turn to Zuko and ask if they did anything wrong, and their father kneels down to their level, hugging them tightly… and assures them they did not.  

Zuko’s visits become less frequent after that, only coming in to disclose important decrees and updated policies to the former sovereign.  Ozai hears about his granddaughters through Zuko, year after year, learning about their favorite foods and colors… their interests beyond bending, their worldly education fueled by their parents’ influence as well as the youthful, progressive Avatar.  

When the girls become teenagers, they finally visit their grandfather again-- this time, on their own… and ask Ozai about the war… if their family was indeed responsible for it. 

They ask about it not in an accusatory way, but more an assertive way… wanting to understand for their own sake, their future, and how the world might see them as either a blessing or a threat. How delicate their position truly is.

Over time, Ozai grows accustomed to the water he sees and the stories about the WaterTribe he hears with each of his granddaughters’ later visits.  They become women before his eyes, esteemed princesses of two cultures… and when they leave the palace independently, Ozai hears through news of the guards how these girls- much like their parents before them- are making a difference, changing the world, falling in love outside of their borders.  

It brings the old man to tears.  

The days become quieter, shorter over time.  Nobody visits him anymore, and even Fire Lord Zuko has dedicated his time more to other important matters.  Time runs glacially, erratically.  Ozai combs his now silvery mane of hair with lanky fingers to pass the days, and the last thing he expects is a new visitor approaching his cell.  

Sandwiched between two palace guards is this petite, middle-aged woman he’d never seen before, wearing royal red and blue garb.  He recognizes her face instantly, from the ones of his granddaughters.  

An old grin passes his face.  “I’m impressed the heat of our country never compelled you to flee, highness.” 

Katara grins firmly, finding her breath.  Her eyes are glistening. 

“I can handle the sun, thank you.” 

Despite having spent most of her life adapting to royal Fire Nation courts, Ozai can still hear this woman’s humble origins.  

He looks away in his cell, straightening up in only the way a former Royal can. 

Katara nods to the guards, reassuring that she’s okay and they turn on their heels to give her some time alone with the prisoner.  

Slowly, she pours the old man some Ginger tea in the same delicate way Uncle Iroh had taught her.  She doesn’t hand him the cup, but rather places it down past the rails, which he takes, and watching her then pour a cup for herself. She’s just beginning to graze her fifties, he thinks, noticing the sternness to her brow, the overworked draping to her lids… and yet, it’s the blue of her eyes that makes this woman seem timeless.  

It’s a patient, firm, kind and tranquil blue that Ozai doesn’t understand, but the old man can already sense he will spend his last decade feeling both eased and haunted by it.  

It’s quiet for a long time, sipping their tea.  

Ozai shifts uncomfortably in his sitting. “To what do I owe this honor? Are you here for some kind of absolution?” 

“No. It’s pointless to do that now.” 

Ozai stares at her. “Hmm. Then I suppose you found the urge to gloat over the irony of all this, how the tables turned so beautifully for your people.  I can imagine the spirits of your ancestors are celebrating some kind of victory, is that right?”  

Katara looks at him. “I can see how you’d think that, but no.” 

Ozai stares again.  “Are you waiting for me to beg for forgiveness?” 

Katara shakes her head even before he finishes asking. 

Ozai can only look at her, then.  Katara waits a long moment and gives him a look that could’ve made any instinct of his prepare for battle forty years earlier.  

It’s in that moment where Ozai remembers the advanced, lethal Waterbending technique he’d heard talked about in the palace halls— how it had returned after so many years of outlaw and imprisonment of waterbenders, thanks to women like her sitting in front of him.  Ozai heard that this same woman had managed to master the technique for healing purposes… but looking at her face now, Ozai wondered if she wasn’t against making an exception.  

“Are you here to kill me?” 

He asks this not afraid, exactly, but rather…. tired, alone.

Defeated.  

Her look only lasts a moment, and he sees the woman take a long, deep breath from her center.  She sets down her tea and says “no” looking at him square in the eye, and in her softest voice. 

It leaves Ozai uncomfortably impatient.  “Then, why are you here?”  

Katara looks away, then shrugs, feeling the old skin of a naive, stubborn teenager stir beneath her as she looks back to him.

“Because I love your son.  And… that makes you my family.” 

Ozai hums incredulously, looking out past Katara’s presence for a long quiet moment, and laughs on the way an old man only can.  

She chuckles as well, because it’s funny.  It’s messed up.  But it’s funny.

The room becomes quiet again as they sip their tea.  Katara pours her father-in-law another cup, gently handing it to him through the cell bars.  Ozai receives it.

And that’s how their long-overdue conversations begin.

[forevermore05]

Which do you like more and why: Fire Lady Katara or Southern Watertribe Zuko?

When it comes to royalty in fiction I'm a sucker for that. So I have to go for Fire Lady Katara. So I can see the royal family. I think it's extremely badass to make her the fire lady despite people saying that she would not be happy or she doesn't belong. We all know that she would never turn her back on someone who needs her help and I feel like as a fire lady. She would have the authority to create such extensive change. Honestly, I've seen a lot of people say she wouldn't be happy being a fire lady, but I feel like she would love that power to be able to help people. I don't know. I just feel like Katara in a royal setting is just such a great idea. If you give me a royal alternate universe if anything I will gladly read it because I just love the idea of royalty and the power and the politics that go into the story writing.

[the-air-nomad]

        In my opinion, one of the most interesting stories in the atla universe was that of Kanna (Gran-Gran) and I always wanted to know more about her adventures. The fact that she managed to travel alone, during a war, to the other side of the world is impressive, considering that she was not a bender and had not been taught anything about how to fight. Also, she left everything she knew behind and more than likely had some hilarious shocks when she discovered people with extremely different cultures from the one she had known all her life.

 I don’t own Avatar The Last Airbender,even if I always wanted to 😢

[aangarchy]

Every atla AU is like "aang was found later" or "aang was found earlier" or "aang died and someone else became the next avatar" or "aang never got encased in ice and died 100yrs later and yue became the next avatar" but what about an AU where Aang never got found at all and remained encased in ice forever?

The world would have to accept that the avatar will never be reborn. No one knows what happened to the cycle. Even spiritual experts are absolutely baffled bc by all measures, the cycle shouldn't have stopped at all. People assume the young airbender would have been killed during the fire nation raids, while in the avatar state. But there would have been reports of that. People couldn't have missed a glowing kid? And if the cycle is supposedly gone, why do we still feel Raava's presence?

All contact with the spirit world eventually ceased. Even spiritual elders like Iroh eventually aren't able to meditate into the spirit world anymore. The Fire Nation's drill plan would have succeeded. They would have conquered the Earth Kingdom fully. The only true free nation remaining would be the Northern Watertribe, who remain in their ice fortress locked away from the rest of the world forever. Airbenders remain extinct.

Zuko gives up on his search for the Avatar after 4 years. At this point the 17yr old realizes he was sent on a fool's errand. It was his father's intention for him to never return. Him and Iroh abandon the ship, and make it to Ba Sing Se, where they settle and become Earth Kingdom citizens. Sokka and Katara leave the Southern tribe around the same time, in search of Hakoda. With Katara's limited waterbending skills they make it to Whale Tale island and catch a boat from there. Then they travel the Earth Kingdom with the limited information they have to find their dad. Toph eventually runs away from home to go to Earth Rumble competitions all over the Earth Kingdom. Her goal is to become the world champion. Suki's ambition to help refugees and fight in the war would cause her to take a troop of Kyoshi warriors and leave Kyoshi Island.

These people were destined to meet, with or without Aang. Their paths would cross one way or the other. A banished prince, the son and daughter of the Southern Watertribe chief, the leader of the Kyoshi warriors, and the only heir to the Bei Fong estate, they would make a team and devise a plan to stop the war. But they would always feel like something is missing. And that something is beneath the ice, in a deep eternal slumber. Would they even succeed?