#sokka is the best big brother

[fuckyouozai]

i have always said this, aang brings out the latent Big Brother energy in zuko. every ep after zuko joins the group their dynamic is so extremely siblinglike in a way that aang doesn't even have with sokka

[rifari2037]

I really love how Zutaran deal with Antis 😂😂

Btw, I also watched the episode where they held a wedding with water tribe cultural ceremony in South Pole. It was Sokka who married them. So pretty, I might cry 😭😭

Also the episode when Zuko gave a surprise for Katara, a fountain with big statue of her.

Oh, I still remember the episode when Zuko kissed pregnant Katara to say goodbye before he went hunting with his father-in-law, Hakoda and brother-in-law, Sokka.

Ngl, those are the best episodes 😭😭

[hypnoticsphere]

sokka is the best big brother ever ☹️

[bunthebreadboy]

i saw a fanart on pinterest when i decided to change my entire phone theme and i can’t get it out of my head.

the art was just after the zuko and ozai agni kai. zuko was knocked out, iroh was getting ready to take him and leave, and azula just came in and said “i took care of it”. if anyone knows what i’m talking about and has it saved or knows the og artist pls lmk!!

anyways. it got me thinking about an expansion of this au (that i will never write because i have neither the patience nor the time to do that) that (unsurprisingly) results in disasterlesbian!azula

so hear me out on this one. there would need to be an entire plot. like. what’s aang going to do??

azula killed ozai by electrocuting him. it’s the first time she discovers her lightning bending. it looks like he had a heart attack in his sleep. (don’t get too wrapped up in the details. azula’s a prodigy she can be overpowered for a bit)

why did she kill her dad? she’ll swear up and down that it was because “he really should have picked on someone with a better fighting ability than zuzu. honestly, it’s stupid he didn’t lose his honor after frying my pathetic firebender of a brother to a crisp.” it’s actually because she kind of sort of loves zuko. she will NEVER admit that.

iroh becomes fire lord, albeit a bit reluctantly. he spends the next three years attempting to end the war, stop the spread of propaganda in the fire nation, and deal with his niece and nephew bickering all the time.

so aang comes out of the iceberg. meets katara and sokka. katara convinces him to take her to the north pole because he’s the avatar, he still should probably master all four elements war or not. all of the traveling is the same (except zuko chasing them) until they get to omashu and king bumi is like “what’s up my dude, welcome back. we’re recovering from a war, so you should probably learn politics and how to not offend anyone while you master the elements!!”

(“there was a WAR?!?!!!” -aang, probably)

so now aang does a deep dive into all of the nation’s politics while also training. katara doesn’t really attend his meetings, but sokka’s a total nerd and is sat for every single one. first is waterbending at the north pole. insert canon things but add in a meeting with arnook.

this is where we introduce the REAL enemy, because the enemy can’t be the gaang attempting to learn international law at 12, 14, and 15 years old. during the full moon someone assassinates the moon spirit! (sorry yue, i love you but you still die in this au…)

so after mastering waterbending the gaang heads to the earth kingdom. they meet toph and she joins. they head to ba sing se, which, after trying to talk politics with the king, they realize is still completely unaware of the war. while in the earth kingdom, we get a name for the big bad. the dai li. after realizing that ba sing se is basically a military dictatorship, the gaang escapes and head to the fire nation.

that’s where zuko, azula, and iroh get reintroduced. aang and sokka consistently come back from meetings with the royals complaining about “oh my god, the princess is such a bitch. seriously, how is she allowed to help run this country??”

katara eventually goes with the boys to a meeting to get them to shut up. toph makes fun of her for being a people pleaser, but katara will do literally anything to get her brother and best friend to stop yapping about the same topic at her every. single. day.

azula (disaster lesbian) doesn’t say a single word throughout the entire meeting. sokka and aang walk out feeling like they were in the twilight zone. katara shows up to more and more meetings. why? definitely not cause the princess is sort of kind of somewhat cute intriguing.

insert azula’s gay awakening crisis here. she eventually starts talking at the meetings, but she’s only ever nice to katara lmao. katara does realize that azula’s an actual genius, though. she decides that the two of them could probably like, take over the entirety of ba sing se in a day if they tried hard enough. but of course that is purely hypothetical.

so one day a meeting gets interrupted by a literal dai li assassin trying to kill aang. he barely escapes the resulting fight.

so the dai li send more assassins. and even more assassins. until finally zuko gets fed up and is just like “alright i’m tired of dealing with these guys. can we please go kick their leader’s ass??”

that is how azula and zuko end up joining the gaang. and how azula can eventually lay siege over ba sing se (even if she reluctantly gives it back when katara tells her to).

—

other misc key points:

- azula and katara get together right before they fight with long feng. it happens cause katara notices that azula is nervous (nobody else would be able to tell) and so she’s like “zula. you’ve got this. we’ve got this” and kisses her lmao

- toph and azula are best friends, to katara’s obvious dismay

- the second azula calls zuko “zuzu” in front of sokka he immediately starts rolling on the floor and laughing. katara has to make sure his lungs are okay afterwards

- zuko: “im literally not gay??” sokka: “yeah, and toph can see”

- toph regularly comes back to wherever the gaang is staying with bags of money. she knows how to find every single illegal fighting ring in the world.

- this is a loooooong term plot. since there’s no reason to worry about the comet it can take place over many years. which also means that katara and azula literally pine for each other until they’re like 20 and everyone around them, especially (and surprisingly) aang, is like “oh my god make it stop”

[arverst-aegnar]

Day 30: Time Loop/Time Travel

heck yeah, i completed two days this year!!

the ending is a bit more abrupt than i wanted, but it just was not cooperating with me, and i was afraid that if i left it too long with my other incomplete Zutara Month ideas it might get infected with "takes too long to finish -itis". so here it is.

The word spreads quickly, covering the entire Earth Kingdom in a matter of days and reaching the Northern Water Tribe’s court within a week. Even the remnant of the Southern Water Tribe, all but forgotten at the bottom of the world, hears about it before the new moon.

Fire Lord Ozai is dead. His successor, Fire Lord Iroh, has declared his intentions to put an end to his nation’s war of domination. Petitions for peace and offers of reparations are being extended to all world leaders.

The Southern Water Tribe elders suspect a trap of some kind. Some think the proposed Peace Conference is actually an opportunity for him to kill the other nations’ leadership, leaving them vulnerable to his armies. Others suspect a subtler scheme to conquer the rest of the world through diplomacy, or perhaps a combination of culture and technology. 

For Sokka and Katara, who only hear the news by listening intently outside the elders’ meeting tent, there are more pressing matters at hand.

“Dad’s going to need me with him at this Peace Conference,” Sokka declares. He pulls out his boomerang and takes aim at a snowman some of the little kids built last week. “Whatever the Fire Nation’s planning, it’s no match for Southern Water Tribe ingenuity!”

Katara worries her bottom lip with her teeth. “What happened to Fire Lord Ozai?”

Sokka scoffs. “Who cares? He was a big, fat jerkbender like all of them. Probably set his bed on fire ‘cause he was roasting the Earth King in his sleep.”

She says nothing as her brother goes to pull his boomerang out of the snowman’s head. Nor does she say anything when her father announces that he and his entire family will be attending the Peace Conference, along with several of his best warriors. 

On the ship, she delights in opportunities to use her waterbending to speed it on its way, or to play pranks on Sokka, but often she is found deep in thought, wearing a pensive look much too old for her.

“You’re strangely quiet,” Kya observes as they prepare to disembark. The voyage is over, but the journey to Omashu will take at least another day. “Something eating you, sealpup?” She pokes her daughter in the side, which provokes a giggle that quickly fades. Face unusually solemn, Katara shakes her head. Kya frowns, but leaves the matter be.

The entry into Omashu is packed like salted fish in a barrel, people from all over drawn to the Peace Conference, but an envoy from the king gives their delegation precedence over the rest. Sokka cranes his head back to take in the architecture. Kya’s gaze flits around, trying to take in the variety of clothing worn by native and visitor alike. Hakoda’s attention is on his family, but he makes sure he knows where all his warriors are at the same time. Kanna, riding an ostrich horse graciously provided by the king, seems mostly interested in staying upright, but her head turns every now and then when a familiar scent wafts in from one of the market stalls. Katara, kept at the center of her family unit, has no interest to spare for any of it.

When they reach the palace, they are immediately brought to the main hall, where King Bumi, Chief Arnook, and three of the Earth Kingdom’s Council of Five await them, as well as Fire Lord Iroh. No sooner are the official introductions made than Katara turns to Fire Lord Iroh and, with a hasty bow, demands, “Did Zuko come with you?” A half-second later, flustered, she stutters, “I - I mean Prince Zuko.”

In the chaos of the sudden trip, some things were left to the last minute, and that includes the talk Hakoda and Kya intended to give their children about how to behave in front of foreign royalty. The blood drains from Kya’s face. Hakoda, his face a storm of anger stirred up by fear, takes a step toward Katara, prepared to pull her back to safety. But before he can, to their astonishment a broad smile spreads across the Fire Lord’s face. With a shallow bow, he waves a hand toward a door behind them. “Prince Zuko is in the garden, but I am sure he would not mind the company, if your parents think it acceptable.”

Katara is running towards the door before he finishes speaking.

*****

Katara knows she’s going to get in trouble for this later. It’s her own fault, putting off the explanation for so long, acting like the little girl they believe her to be -- as much as she can, at least. But whatever punishment they think up is nothing compared to what’s waiting for her in that garden.

If he doesn’t remember, if she’s still all alone in this, then no punishment could be worse. If he does …

She’s never seen the garden in the Omashu palace before. It’s more ornamental than the ones she’s used to, and the main features seem to be rocks and crystals more than trees and flowers. But she can sense water -- a fair amount of it, too, like a small pond -- and she doesn’t have to follow it far before she sees him.

Zuko is next to the pond, his back to her. He’s smaller than she’s ever seen him, and not just because he’s sitting down. His hair is long enough to brush his shoulders, even pulled up into the traditional topknot. Like his uncle, he is dressed in Fire Nation red and gold, but the cut of his robes looks different to her untrained eyes -- Earth Kingdom style, perhaps? Surrounding him are half-a-dozen turtleducklings, and the wave of affection that sweeps over her freezes her in place.

“Hey now.” She recognizes that mildly scolding tone, even if his voice is a little different than the one in her memory. “You have to share with your sister. You’re not getting more seeds just because you’re bigger.”

Katara tries to say something, but it seems all the words she wants to say are trying to come out at once, and have jammed up in her throat. She stumbles back half a step.

The crunch of the gravel under her feet gets his attention. His head turns slightly in her direction, then he’s leaping to his feet, turning towards her -- 

Oh.

He doesn't have the scar.

For one moment, Zuko stares at her with wide eyes. Then in the next, he’s closed the gap between them, pulling her into the tightest hug she’s ever had. Katara wraps her arms around him and buries her face into his shoulder. “Katara,” he breathes, and a little sob escapes her at the familiarity and warmth in that single word.

“Zuko,” she manages. Her voice wobbles but does not break on the name like she thought it might. “Oh, Zuko.”

He pulls back too soon, but he cups her cheek with one hand while the other brushes her hair out of her eyes. Katara tries to smile at him, but it’s hard when every emotion of the past three years wants to pour out at once. Instead, she reaches up and gently touches his left cheek. The skin is smooth and whole under her fingers.

Zuko closes his eyes, but not before she catches a flash of pain. Immediately, she knows what must have happened. Why he has no scar. How Ozai must have died.

“I thought I was dreaming at first,” he says hoarsely. “I told him off. Yelled at him for being a terrible father and a worse Fire Lord. Then -”

Katara shakes her head and pulls him back to her. This time he’s the one to bury his head in her shoulder. “I know,” she tells him, her throat still choked. “I know. I did too.”

Later, she thinks, she’ll tell him about Yon Rha. About how in her determination not to relive the worst day of her life, she had pulled on his blood with a ferocity she had only seen herself use in nightmares. What his corpse had looked like, afterwards, and the look on her mother’s face. How what had once been a fantasy of power and relief had, if only for a little while, become a horrifying reality. Maybe she’ll finally find the words to describe the contradictory emotions that have been warring in her ever since, but even if she doesn’t, it will be okay, because now she has someone who will understand.

For the moment, she holds him close as they both succumb to tears.

[writermai05]

Arsonist's Lullabye

Chapter 1: A Burning Flame 

Summary: Y/n and Zuko ponder about a potential friendship. 

Pairing: zuko x fem! reader (Live Action or Animated) 

A/N: And so the slow burn starts! I’m pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback on the prologue, and I’m hoping to keep pumping out these chapters for y'all (and for myself LOL). As always, I would love any feedback / constructive criticism to help me improve on the story. Enjoy! 

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Avatar: The Last Airbender, I am merely a nerd who hyperfixates a lot. Lots of divergence from the canon story lol. 

Warnings!: Mentions of Ozai (yes he deserves his own warning), Zuko’s scar, Talks of self loathing, and insecurities (give Zuko and Azula therapy fr!). 

Y/n moved in two weeks before classes started at the University of Ba Sing Se. 

She was looking forward to the change of scenery. It was a tough decision to leave Agna Qel’a, but it had to be done. She desperately needed a chance to live apart from her family for once. When she had gotten a spam email asking her to apply for a transfer, she jumped at the opportunity. When she was accepted, she was encouraged to apply for Shui, A scholarship program. 

Shui was a program for students of water tribe descent, regardless of where they were from. It would pair her up with an incoming first year student to mentor and guide through college. It was a pretty intense application process, writing essays, getting interviewed by university representatives and moving in early. The first week was rather uneventful, meeting all the first years and doing an assortment of different icebreaker activities in an attempt to find the perfect mentor-mentee match. 

But all of it was leading up to this big moment. She was about to learn who her mentee was. The program coordinator for Shui had given all the mentors and mentees a piece of paper with their person’s name on it. The atmosphere in the room was full of energy as  all of the students waited impatiently to learn who they would be paired with. 

“Alright everyone! On the count of three…” 

They began to countdown altogether. “Three…Two…One!”

Chaos broke out in the room with lots of cheers and laughter. Y/n opened her piece of paper. 

Katara

She had talked to Katara a lot the past week. Y/n liked Katara. She was sweet, and particularly snarky to her older brother, Sokka, who was also a mentor this year. Y/n also vaguely remembered a mention of her being a water-bender, just like herself.  Katara locked eyes with Y/n from across the room, and they quickly started to walk towards each other. 

“I’m so glad I got you! You were like, the number one person I had on my list!” Katara squealed with excitement and Y/n laughed at the younger girl's antics, bringing her in for a hug. The two rocked side to side, before Y/n released Katara from her grasp.

“Let’s go get lunch. My treat, obviously.” 

Katara let out a sigh, “You are amazing. This is going to be a fantastic year.” 

As the pair walked off campus and into the city, Y/n passed the tea shop she had visited a mere two days ago. The cashier, Zuko, she remembered, looked about her age. She had thought about him a lot. Like being drawn to a treasure chest, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within its lock. Did they attend the same university? What major had he chosen to study? Where exactly was he from? Is he a bender? Of course there was another part of her brain, the nosy part, that wondered, 

How did he get the scar on his face? 

She came back to the present once she realized she had stopped in her tracks, causing Katara to stop alongside her.

“Y/n? Are you alright?” Katara asked attentively. 

Y/n shrugged off her concerns, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m fine. Do you know any good Southern Water Tribe restaurants nearby?”

“Um, of course I do! This one restaurant has the best stewed sea prunes in Ba Sing Se!..”

While Katara rambled on about food, in the back of Y/n’s mind Zuko permeated her thoughts. He was like a burning flame the way that thoughts of him danced around her mind, filling it with visions of an all encompassing fire. 

She wanted to know him. 

~

On the days where the shop was closed, Zuko didn’t do much. He had no hobbies, no life outside of the Jasmine Dragon. He was very much aware of this fact, as Iroh constantly lectured him on it. The words replayed in his mind frequently. ‘You need to hangout with people your age, Zuko.’ 

He was actually starting to agree with his uncle on something. 

When he had moved in with his uncle as a 14 year old, hanging out with people his age was out of the question. With his bandaged face and newly shaved head, he knew that his peers would have ulterior motives for interacting with him. In return, he had reverted into exactly the kind of son his father had always wanted. Stuck up, authoritative, even cruel. It’s why he was ostracized in highschool. He recalled how his first year of university had completely gone up in flames, but then again, that was all his fault. Everything was always his fault. He was fortunate that Iroh was a thousand times more forgiving than his father. Iroh hadn’t so much as batted an eye when Zuko told him that he would need to restart his freshman year of college. 

Zuko realized he would need to try harder than that this year. He held out hope that his sophomore year would be different. 

Maybe Y/n could help with that. She seemed friendly enough when they met at the shop?

Zuko shook the thoughts from his head. ‘You don’t even know her!’ his head screamed. If he were more rational, he’d berate himself for being so invested in a girl he knew virtually nothing about. But he can’t seem to bring himself to actually think logically right now. The desire for connection burns in the pit of his stomach, and he can feel himself growing frustrated at his inability to just be cool for once in his life. 

The boy pushed the negative feelings away, taking a couple of deep breaths like his therapist had taught him. Zuko was determined to be better. To be good. And he knew exactly where to start. With the people he tormented for years. 

He knew he had to make amends with Aang and the others. 

[waterfire1848]

For the AU-Ask: Azula joins the Gaang-AU :)

Hello, @subterraneanwatcher! Thanks for the ask!

Azula joins the Gaang during BSS when her coup fails (because it always irked me how the Dai Li just went along with Azula) and she needs a way to escape as does the Gaang. Now that the city is controlled by Long Feng, neither the Gaang, Azula's team nor Iroh and Zuko can remain there, so they're all forced to flee on the most awkward bison ride in history.

The second they hand, Azula is ready to murder Aang. Both because she knows she can't return to her father empty handed and also because she's having a mini version of her breakdown (she's never failed before so failing this great on such a large scale is a blow for her). A fight ensues until the two groups finally agree to a truce for the time being while both of them figure out what to do next.

The Gaang still have to head to the Fire Nation because of the invasion and comet which is when Azula gets an idea. She knows Aang has a good heart and, because of that, he'll take pity on a "down on her luck" princess which means he might accept her if she asks to join their group. Then, when the invasion happens, she, Mai and Ty Lee can just betray the Gaang and they're already be back in the palace. It's a perfect plan. The Gaang doesn't trust them one bit but Aang is more inclined to see the good in them so they let them tag alone until they reach Fire Nation borders.

From BSS to the Fire Nation, it's a looooooooong flight, so you know what that means. Bonding moments! Mai and Toph start talking more and more because they realize that they come from pretty similar backgrounds after Toph makes a remark about her mom (still reeling from the whole fake letter and attempted kidnapping thing) and Mai agrees with her. Ty Lee and Aang bond because both of them would be the people who constantly need to move and stretch their legs so they get to talking on their little walks or when they decide to do a little climbing (Ty Lee teaches Aang a couple moves from her time at the circus). And Azula remains with, who she considers, the three most dangerous people here, minus Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Iroh. Of course, sibling stories begin with Azula and Zuko going back and forth between embarrassing childhood stories which is both hilarious for the other three but also makes it clear that these two siblings did once have a good relationship. And, of course, Azula and Katara training together moments.

By the time they reach the Fire Nation's borders, they're not friends but they certainly are closer than they were before. Everyone is ready to go their separate ways until Ty Lee finds a poster during one of her walks that says she, Mai and Azula are all traitors to the Fire Nation and working with the Avatar. Azula, of course, has a mini panic attack but calms herself down by reminding herself of the plan. Her father will surely forgive her when she brings the Avatar, her traitor brother and uncle right to him, right?

(Just some mini headcanons) - The first member of the Gaang Azula fully trusts is Appa. The first human Azula fully trusts is Sokka because they get into such heated debates but he's also oddly the most comforting person to Azula. Recently joined the Gaang!Azula is exactly like her beach self, a bit self conscious and really awkward but trying her best. Azula does not understand the team being so powerful but hardly using their bending, it's just such a big contrast against Azula's reasoning. Katara is the one who teaches Azula how to do her hair (an old Azutara headcanon of mine but I think it works here). Azula still refuses to share her sweets with the Gaang and this had led to more than one argument between her Aang and Momo.

[don-quixotine]

Thoughts on NATLA so far (up to ep 5)

I'm really loving it!!! There are some parts where the pacing gets a bit slow but it makes up by hitting you out of left field with the feels.

Episode 4 is my favorite so far.

I absolutely LOVED this rendition of Sukka. What bisexual disasters, the pair of them.

ON THE FIRE NATION:

I absolutely LOVE the background story on the fire nation family, particularly the bond between zuko and iroh. It is presented completely different than in the OG, since the 'show don’t tell' of the original happens in Book 2 and here they use flashbacks, but it works. Still ended with me in waterworks. Also, I understand the logic behind showing all of the cards from the very get-go being that Netflix can cancel the show before it is renewed for another season, so it needed to make the best impression possible, show all the stakes but not reveal them in ther completion. I think they did that very well so far.

ZUKO IS SO AWKWARD I LOVE HIM

his expressions and reactions are just peak comedy. He is the embodiment of "😫😟" and I love that for him.

Dallas' performance is definitely one of my highlights.

ON KATARA AND SOKKA:

The thing that is the most foreign to me so far is the decision to improve Sokka's emotional stakes at the expense of Katara's. I like it but this has to be the element where the adaptation departs the most from the og. Like, in the cartoon it is Katara who bears the brunt of the responsibility taking care of the water tribe and her brother, which is why Sokka's sexism as a character flaw worked there. I can see now why they chose to drop that. With the script flipped like this, with Sokka being the main caretaker and provider between him and Katara, making him stay sexist would've been a bit too much. It is very different, but I like how they flipped the script between them.

What I did not like about this flip is that the change seems to affect Katara's character for the worse. She is not as outspoken or short-tempered as she was in the cartoon. It's almost the complete opposite. But I can definitely see the shyness and insecurity being the deliberate starting point of her arc. Now in ep 5, you can see her becoming more confident both in personality and bending. I think this was a conscious decision, but I still wish she had been written to be more headstrong from the very beginning.

That being said, I really appreciate how different the dynamic between Sokka and Katara is. I love how Katara is trying to get her independence while Sokka is still caught on the fact he has to be her protector, almost parent figure, which is a cool change of pace. One of the things that kinda bothered me as a young girl watching Avatar was that Katara was always stuck being the mom and sort of getting teased for it despite the fact no one else could or wanted to step up to that responsibility. It's cool to see Sokka bearing that responsibility as the eldest in the adaptation.

ON THE BLATANTLY MISSING KATAANG

You know, I don't hate this change. Aang and Katara's interactions are still pretty wholesome, and once they start catching feelings for each other, it will be super cute because you see where the love is truly coming from. It's not just Aang's childhood crush/Katara's "destiny", as it was presented it the cartoon. Besides it would have looked a little weird, considering that the age gap between Gordon and Kiawentiio is way more obvious on screen than it is right now when you see the interviews with the cast, because that kid Gordon is growing up SO fast.

OVERALL:

I am enjoying it very much! The adaptation is excellent. Despite some changes being quite big, they managed to capture most of the show's essence. I do believe it could have benefitted from a bit more balance between the comedy and the seriousness, particularly when it comes to Aang because he is mostly just weighted down by his responsibility in the adaptation, I don't see him joke as much, but in general and all limitations considered, I think they did an excellent job! It won't be for everyone, for sure, but I can say it has managed to bring back that feeling of watching the show for the first time again on some parts :)

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

Lol, i saw one of the passages of the Roku novel, when Sozin was shows pretty blatant sexism in his inner monologue. So much for the "feminist utopia" of the FN.

Also, about Kataang, i have to agreed with you about not being a "big sis/baysitter" male fantasy. Because that's actually a dynamic that i tend to enjoy a lot, but Katara and Aang are in pretty equal footing for the whole series, frankly she treats Sokka more like a little brother that she does to Aang and even then is not really accurate, their siblingrelationship is more complicated than that because of the circumstances on the Water Tribe forcing then to grow too fast, so is more like they trade the "big sibling" vibe depending of the circumstances.

Honestly, if Kataang was more like Zuts describe it, i'll probably would be more into it instead of thinking "is nice, but i don't have a problem with pairing then with other people".

"So much for the "feminist utopia" of the FN" Almost like that was some bullshit from day one and zutarians should not have been surprised that the guy that commited genocide was a bad person that created an unfair system for people to live under.

For real, Kataang being rather "vanilla" is part of why I couldn't get into it at first. When it comes to fiction, I usually want some drama, messy bullshit and LOTS of codependency. Kataang is literally just two best friends falling in love and not really having any major conflicts. It took some time for it to grow on me.

And honestly, Zutara, at least the actual canon dynamic, is VERY vanilla too. The fanfics can get crazy, but in the show it wouldn't really have been an "unhealthy" dynamic because quite frankly they didn't HAVE a dynamic for 75% of the show, so I don't get it when zutarians act like it is some mature, adult, complex, subversive ship - and I almost broke a rib laughing at Bryke calling it a "dark" ship.

[cienie-isengardu]

The Last Agni Kai is my top favorite fight in the ATLA because of the music, colors, choreography and the tragic sense of two siblings forced to battle each other but I’m still not sure why Zuko and Katara needed to confront Azula instead of being part of team Avatar in the final, the most important battle. Like, I get it thematically, as Azula and Zuko had their own storyline to resolve and so on, but from the perspective of in-universe events? Taking the title of Fire Lord would mean nothing, if Aang was killed by Ozai and the man returned to Fire Nation as a winner against Avatar, leaving Zuko and Katara on enemy territory all on their own, to either fight to the last breath or flee. 

Azula, as just crowned Fire Lord, was not that big of threat at that moment because ATLA takes place in a world that has limited long-distance communication and it was not like she had an idea what was going on with Ozai or if he was attacked by Avatar or not. She was far away from Earth Kingdom and would not be able to travel fast enough to aid her father, no matter how much she would want to do so. She would need to learn first about her father’s defeat to plan revenge or counterattack - what gives the White Lotus & alliance forces some time to plan the next step. With Ozai defeated, Zuko could come back to challenge her for the throne the same as he did originally. And even if he died during the final battle against Ozai and/or Ozai’s forces, there is still Iroh with a legit claim to the throne, right? Not to mention the psychological blow to Fire Nation’s psyche, if Avatar came to Fire Nation with their dead or depowered “great” Fire Lord.

And sure, Zuko taking throne with Avatar’s support wouldn’t put him in the best light, considering how his people were raised on imperialism and propaganda, but let’s be real here, his original regime was too controversial for the sole fact he left his country to aid Avatar and his future politics were aimed at peace and repairing damage done by Fire Nation across the world. On that matter alone, coming back to face Azula with the whole Gaang at his side won’t change that much.

My problem with how Zuko and Katara were sidelined on a different mission is not just the whole Iroh’s hypocrisy of I can’t fight my brother ‘cause history will remember it bad but you definitely should go fight your sister for the Fire Lord title. It is just the disappointment we didn’t have a chance to see Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Suki united like the Old Masters, all different elements in harmony, benders and non-benders supporting each other and together defeating the common enemy; the new generation all here for Avatar so their friend could focus on his task. Dunno if I make sense, but I truly wish that our young representatives of all cultures were there together, as there should be Zuko - firebender - standing against the corruption and deprivation of once honorable Nation, the same as Katara (waterbender) should be allowed to partake in mission alongside her brother, as they together went against the world since the first episode. 

Like I said, I love The Last Agni Kai, but damn, we were robbed of Gaang’s final battle against Sozin’s Legacy. Because we have never(?) truly seen them all together at the same time in full battle? Shame. Just shame…

[yikes-kachowski]

Hiii! I dropped by on accident and found out your avatar headcanons and OCs so so nice

I gotta ask a few curiosities of mine if that's cool? *takes out a notebook and a pen*

- since katara and zuko are a thing, did it make their friendship with aang weird or was he cool with it instantly? And how did it even began for them? Did it followed the show's events? Did Aang even got a crush on Katara?

- What happens to Azula?

- How does all these next gen kids react when Korra shows up? Is it weird, is it fine, is it all the same? I mean, they all knew the previous avatar and he was pretty much their family and all. Tho I think them having their own lives also mean it's not that much of a deal?

- Is Katara still one of Korra's teaching masters?

- Sokka's kids get along?

- Does Tenzin and Bumi eventually get okay with each other?

- Korra still loses her connection to the past avatars and therefore Aang? Do they even talk, like he did to Roku and all?

- do you have any other headcanon or change of other characters from tlok or tloa that you mind sharing? like, a plot from tlok that you think it could be better improved or discarded, or something that happens on your universe and you haven't talked about yet?

Sorry for this such a big of an ask, i really REALLY liked these ideas you had (and your art is also amazing and so awesome and pretty too 💞).

heyyyy anon! sorry for the late reply, i hope you still see this.

First of all, thank you! I love genuine interest in my stuff I never expect it. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and clever. ALSO thanks for complimenting my art! i'm a slow artist so my blood sweat and tears (mostly tears) are in every drawing !!!

onto answering your questions to the best of my ability:

1) Aang is completely cool with Katara and Zuko's relationship. He's basically their biggest shipper :) He did have a crush on Katara (and Zuko tbh), but he was able to let it go pretty quickly. As the Avatar, after the war he was almost too busy to even be sad about it. Overwhelmingly, he was just happy for his friends

Also, Katara and Zuko get together after the war, when Katara's about 17 and he's about 19. Katara goes to the South Pole and they fall for each other through letters and short visits.

Most show events aren't really taken out for me. Just really the kiss right at the end.

2) Azula has a redemption arc. I like to think of it as being a redemption arc she herself is hardly aware of. She just thinks she's really in the long haul of fooling the gaang into liking her. Her redemption arc starts immediately after the war because Zuko keeps her safe in the palace.

Aang becomes her friend first and encourages everyone else to give her a chance. Sokka provides an outlet for all of her older brother issues, since she and Zuko have an awkward relationship. And Katara is tutored by Azula in Fire Nation etiquette and history so she's better equipped to be Fire Lady.

sorry if this is confusing, but believe it or not this rambling all makes sense to me.

3) Korra is very important to the next gen kids, aang's kids and the zk especially. Her arrival is in the middle of great political conflict that never would have happened if Aang wasn't murdered, so they're eager to get her in on the Avatar business.

My idea with Aang dying so young, is that all of his business is half finished. His kids didn't get real closure for their relationship. So Bumi, Yelaan, Palkyi and Tenzin all have complex feelings toward her. Bumi's in particular are very intense.

Being around Korra FEELS like being in his father's presence, which is hard for him. He doesn't want aang to have been a good person or a good father because then he'd really have to miss and mourn everything he was gone for. but this is a lot and hard for me to say so

the steambabies also need Korra and consider her central. They watched their parents' reactions when Aang died (particularly Zuko), and that has affected them deeply. Sakari has been advised to always follow the avatar, so she's happy to have guidance. Besides, she hopes the Avatar will restore and era of peace since she worries for Bumi and Akiak.

Akiak has changed since Aang died, a lot. In ways he's not always proud of. Facing Korra is somewhat hard for him for that reason. Especially since sometimes she opposes some of his methods. He thinks her way of bringing peace is naive.

Tophs kids (and Tenzin to some extent) are the same :)

4) Yes! Katara is one of her waterbending masters. I feel like when you're an Avatar's Master, that's your role for life. She already knows how to train the Avatar. She, Zuko, and Toph taught Korra in the right order, and are old friends with her. Korra has already met the whole Gaang even if she doesn't see Toph or Zuko as often as she'd like

5) I usually choose not to give Sokka kids. I feel like he doesn't want to be a father (even though he'd definitely be the best at it). He and Suki work too hard and have agreed they just aren't super interested in kids. He and Suki are full time Aunt and Uncle to all of the Next Gen. Now, ive made some OCs for asks and I'd say that they do get along :)

6) Bumi and Tenzin's relationship is ROUGH in this story, but yes, they do. It takes a while but eventually they're only mildly hostile with each other. Tenzin helps Bumi reconnect with Air Nomad culture, and Bumi helps him commune with the spirits better. This is jumpstarted by Korra.

7) Korra does keep communication with her past lives! But her path to being a fully realized Avatar is much more difficult. The decision to raise her in a compound was a mistake, and so her growth as an avatar is severely set back. This means, she speaks to her past lives when they reach out to her (and she's in tune enough to listen). Aang is not easy for her to talk to, but eventually she masters it. She doesn't really tell anyone because she's scared everyone will then only want to talk to aang, not her.

8) First of all: for atla, i write very particular cultures and geographies to expand the universe. They affect things in only minor ways for the most part in atla. Also, Aang is trans. I love it too much for it to not be true (if youre wondering how he had kids he made deals with spirits)

Now for tlok. In my opinion, it's very necessary for the different conflicts to not have clear starts and ends. These should all be interweaving conflicts that everyone's caught in the middle of. Not only does this facilitate a lot more character interactions, but it also builds stress and feels realistic.

Mako and Bolin are former triad members and pro athletes, they should be rougher around the edges. Also, Mako would NEVER EVER become a cop after seeing the direct damage they cause marginalized communities. I think that perspective would be very important for korra as an avatar.

Season two plotlines should just be a civil war between north and south. Tbh, I'm not digging all of the subtle ways the north takes over the south, and I imagine the south isn't either. They separated from the north for a reason, and then during the war, the north didn't even help them. The tensions were rising and Aang never came up with a good long term solution when he was alive, and that affects Korra.

Season three's plotline can mostly stay the same except there is no harmonic convergence that introduces new airbenders. The airbenders are the group that they are. They're travelling the earth kingdoms doing peace talks since much of the earth kingdoms don't want to be under ba sing se. Particularly the Si Wong Desert. Aang was in active peace talks when died and was never able to come up with a long term solution.

Season four is also mostly the same except no mechs or spirit nukes.

All the while the equalists are raging on at home.

ANYWAY. thanks for the ask! I hope you see this after i posted it SOOOO late.

See the pattern? Korra must fill aang's shoes while also dealing with all of his unfinished business. Every character serves a unique perspective that helps inform korras decisions.

I dont think these ideas are perfect and the only way to write Korra, but I think they make sense. They help tell a story Im more interested in.

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine dating Team Avatar

Incluidng: What they do when they realise they like you, how you get together, how they act when you start dating, what they’re like as a partner, what others think of your relationship, how they defend you, the L word, how they react to compliments, family, how they celebrate your birthday, careers, fights, working out together, pets and more!

Dating Ozai’s Agels version here​

Katara

The lovely Katara, she's an overthinker and so when she realises she likes you she overthinks big time! Sure the two of you have great chemistry but what if you're just like that with everyone? You might've told Toph she was your ideal type but does that mean you're really interested in her? Yes she can't seem to get you out of her head but what if she ruins your friendship by telling you?

She's a mess and so enter her loudmouth brother (I say that with love) to the *rescue*

Sokka of course knows Katara likes you and teases her anytime you enter the room. This makes Katara very angry and she nearly always ends up exploding. You somehow never noticed though, you just assumed it was siblings being siblings and had no clue you were anything to do with it.

One day however Katara was in a bad mood and so when Sokka started teasing her about you she lost it. Sokka was also in a bad mood and he snapped back. You witnessed the siblings getting worse and worse and tried to stop it when Sokka yelled "well it's not my fault you're too much of a coward to tell y/n you like her!".

*Silence*

Katara was as still as a statue and that scared Sokka. "Katara...Katara" he said "yell at me or slap me with water. Just say something". In response Katara just ran from the room. Sokka went to follow but you asked to go instead. You found her crying nearby and went to comfort her. Katara assumed it was because you were a nice person until you told her you liked her too. Then Katara beamed up at you, her beautiful blue eyes still shining with tears which you wiped away gently. "Want me to help you get back at Sokka?" you asked. That’s how Katara knew you were perfect for her. 

So the two of you started dating and it was bliss. There’s something called a honeymoon period when a couple starts dating which is where the first few weeks/months are complete bliss and happiness. Well Katara gave you the most honeymoon of honeymoon periods. She is a caring and romantic person so you got special treatment. Every morning she'd compliment you or tell you something new she'd noticed about you like that speckle in your eye or the way you pronounce a word. She'd create adorable well-thought-out nicknames for you and would bring you random gifts like flowers just because. She'd leave small love notes and poems around for you to find to show how much she cares for you. For your one-month anniversary, she creates a small ice sculpture of your favourite animal.

Even after the honeymoon phase Katara remains a caring partner. She's always there if you need to cry or rant about how your day was. She never forgets a single thing you tell her and always smiles when you walk through the door.

Of course she's also always there with her extraordinary healing powers which she uses anytime you get injured or even just for massages sometimes when you’re stressed.

Katara's friends and family love you. Sokka claims he's the reason the two of you got together and calls you his family pretty much from the start. Toph says the two of you were too lovey-dovey but even she has to admit you're perfect for each other.

Aang...has nothing but nice things to say about you two! Of course dating the Avatar's ex-girlfriend is terrifying to say the least. If Aang wanted to he could just drop you down a volcano or air-bend you to Ba Sing Sei but this is Aang we're talking about. He'll always care about Katara and if you can make her happy in a way he couldn't...then he's thrilled. He’d probably even thank you one day for making her smile so much. Honestly he’s the best ex-partner you could ever have!

Katara might seem like the loving caring motherly figure but the quickest way to anger her is to hurt you in any way. Katara is one of the most powerful benders in the world so obviously protecting you physically is a piece of cake and she won’t hesitate to use her bending to lightly knock someone away from you or smack anyone being rude to you. She’s also not afraid to verbally defend you and hell hath no fury like a waterbender scorned. Once you had to physically drag her away from a man she was trying to fight because he made an unsolicited comment about your appearance. He totally deserved to go one-on-one with Katara but you didn’t want her getting into trouble with the authorities again so let him get away with it...this time.

Katara would say "i love you" pretty quickly. She'd probably already have strong emotions for you before you even started dating so when you actually got together it didn't take long for her to fall in love with you. Katara would be nervous to tell you but also wouldn't be able to wait for long. So she'd probably just take you to one side on a random evening and explain she has something to tell you. Her hands would shake while she said it and she'd be watching you to look for any hint of disapproval but when you gasped and smiled she melts.

Katara always blushes when you compliment her and no matter how long you’ve been together she still gets butterflies in her stomach when you do. So of course you do it even more seeing the affect it has on her. Katara isn’t one to big herself up. She just gets on with things and (like a lot of women) never expects any credit for it. So you make sure to always compliment her and try to tell her something you like about her every single day. 

Katara takes you to her tribe pretty quickly because her culture is of course very important. You are a nervous wreck and recruit Sokka for help. You want to learn all the customs and every bit of history so you can leave a good impression. Sokka loves his professor role and takes to it a little too well...he basically becomes mad with power. The night before your journey Katara can't find you and wanders the house you're staying at trying to find you. She hears Sokka's voice coming from the library which is weird because he went to bed hours ago. She steps inside to see Sokka yelling questions at you. "What is going on?" she asked and you both freeze. "Katara...hey" you said and Sokka glared "who dares disturb my lesson?". "Lesson? What lesson?" Katara asked and Sokka shrugged "the lesson to make y/n a master of water tribe history and customs, duh? Now get out! Y/n isn't allowed to leave until she can recite all our past tribe leaders". "Is this why you've been so tired lately?" Katara asked you "you've been sneaking here to study at night?". "And at dawn too" Sokka said "and sometimes in the day if I feel like giving y/n a quiz". "Woah that's a lot" Katara said "y/n you know you don't need to do this right?" Katara asked. Sokka went to argue that of course you had to do this when Katara kicked him out of the room using water bending. "I know I don't have to do this but I want to" you told Katara "I want to know everything I can about your culture so I can respect it and honour it properly. Plus I want your family and tribe to like me so there's that too...I just want to make this visit as perfect as possible". Katara shook her head "that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard but it still doesn't excuse overworking yourself like this". "It doesn't?" you asked and Katara shook her head "not at all! Plus y/n your dedication to being respectful and your willingness to learn new customs is already a huge indication you're going to do great. I think it's really sweet how much you've thought about it and I know my whole tribe will think so too, they’re going to love you!". "You really think so?" you asked and Katara nodded "of course! Plus I'll be beside you every step of the way to help".

Katara LOVES birthdays and always makes yours as special as she possibly can. She’d have things planned from start to finish. You’d wake up to breakfast in bed and do your favourite morning activity together like baking or reading. Then in the afternoon she’d take you out for a nice lunch and you’d open up your presents from her (which are always amazing because it’s Katara). Then you’d go home and do something fun like watch your favourite movie together or play a new game she got you. In the evening, she’d invite all your friends and family around to celebrate. She’d have all your favourite food and drinks and would make sure everything was exactly how you liked it. She’d also be constantly checking up on you to make sure you were having a good time and if anyone and I mean anyone caused a scene or made you unhappy they’d be out of there before Aang can say yip yip. You’d be exhausted by the end of the night but would feel so loved and appreciated.  

Katara might be a little inclined to go overboard supporting you with your career just because typically in her tribe one person worked and the other supported. So you’d have to keep an eye on that and ensure she wasn’t putting your career ahead of her own. You’d encourage her to use her skill as the greatest water bender in the world and she’d set up a school specifically for female benders. Katara would be shocked when you told her career-wise, you’d follow her lead because she hadn’t ever expected a partner like that. You’d work out a balance where you’re both supporting each other and it’s a beautiful partnership.

When the two of you have a fight it's very emotional and intense...but is over pretty quickly. We've seen Katara has a temper and so she'd snap and go from 1 to 100 pretty quickly. You'd both scream at each other for like 10 minutes but then one of you would get upset or say something you didn't mean and you'd both calm down and realise how silly the fight was. Katara always apologises after an argument and then it's like nothing ever happened.

You and Katara do not exercise together. You tried once and Katara got too competative. She’d notice how far you’d ran on the treadmill and want to beat you, so she’d increase her speed. You’d noticed what she was doing and also pick up speed, which made Katara increase her speed again until you were both running far too fast. Long story short you fell of the treadmill, Katara had to heal you and you were asked not to come back to that gym anymore. So exercising seperately works for you! 

I can't see Katara with pets just because she seems a lot more kid-focused than animal-focused. However if you're not kid-focused that doesn't mean you can't get a pet! Katara would be tending to the neighbours' kid while you're busy playing with their dog or something. "Y/n come look at the new baby" Katara called and you nodded "yeah one second...who's a good girl? Who's a good girl?" you asked stroking the neighbour's polar bear dog. You didn't end up getting around to holding the baby and that was just fine with you.                      

Katara is just an incredibly kind and considerate partner. She makes you feel loved and special every day and she really does have the biggest heart in the world. You’re a lucky person. 

Zuko

Zuko doesn't realise he likes you until someone points it out to him and it would probably be Sokka too. He'd see you and Zuko just enjoying each other's company and ask Zuko why he hasn't asked you out yet. "Y/n? Because we're just friends!". "Are you sure about that because you smile every time she comes around". Zuko snorted "I think i'd know if I liked y/n..." then he thought about it for a few seconds and his jaw dropped. "There he goes" Sokka smirked.

Once Zuko realises he likes you he panics. He becomes the most awkward person in the world around you and blushes pretty much anytime you speak to him. You notice something weird is going on and ask Zuko if something's wrong. "Everything's completely fine! Why would you think anything's wrong?" he replied his voice getting higher towards the end. "Just you seem really tense and nervous, you keep pacing around and staring at your feet". Zuko's breath began to speed up and he was in full panic mode. "I have no idea what you mean!". Zuko was getting ready to rush out of the room when you smiled "would you maybe like to go out with me sometime? Like on a date?". Zuko paused "pardon?". "A date?" you repeated "with me". "Sokka told you didn't he!" Zuko cried and you shook your head "not at all...I just heard you talking about it. I didn't overhear the whole conversation but from how you've been acting I think I can guess what you said so...how about it? Would you like to go on a date?". Zuko nodded I'd love to!" and that was that.

You thought once you started dating Zuko would be less awkward but no. He was just as unsure and bashful but he got more confident with time. His only other relationship had been with his childhood sweetheart so of course this was all new to him and you had to show him the ropes a little. He really enjoyed all the stereotypical dates and the first time you got him flowers he nearly cried.

Zuko isn't the most intuitive partner but he has the best intentions. He's not good at sensing what you need or being able to tell your mood from looking at you but he's a fire bender not a mind reader! So communication is really important and the second you tell him you need something, he won’t hesitate to give it you.

Zuko’s friends are happy the second Zuko tells them he’s found someone. Being the Firelord at such a young age can be really lonely, especially seeing as he has no family around…but lately they had noticed a change in him. He’d been smiling more and his shoulder were more relaxed. The pressures of the throne hadn’t been affecting him as much and they all wondered why…until he introduced you.

For Zuko to tell them about you they know he must really like you and when they see you together that becomes very clear. Zuko just brightens around you and for good reason, you’re kind and caring and clearly want the best for him. So they all pretty much accept you into the group right away.

Zuko’s ex Mai is an impressive member of the Fire Nation society, not to mention one of Zuko’s few childhood friends so she’s always going to be in Zuko’s life. Your first meeting Zuko is terrified and has guards at the ready in case Mai decides to play target practice but Zuko should know by now Mai isn’t dramatic. She brings Ty lee as a middle person and greets you formally but warmly. “Welcome to the Fire Nation! Don’t worry we’re not all obsessed with honour like Zuko or permanently peppy like Ty lee. Some of us are normal…or well normal-ish” Mai says “this is the Fire Nation”. You smile at her joke and ask her about her skill with knives and combat. You talk for a good few minutes (which for Mai is like an hour) and then both move on. Zuko lets out a breath as he sees you step away from each but he didn’t need to worry. It takes a lot to make Mai angry and her ex moving on and being happy sure isn’t going to do it.  

Zuko is one of the youngest Firelords in recent history and so he puts up with a lot of people questioning his decisions and he himself as ruler but one thing he does not tolerate is anyone trying to debate his relationship with you. Of course his advisors try the second he announces your relationship and he gives them a strict warning that the next time someone wants to speak ill of you or to pry into your life they will be off the council. He can become a big scary Firelord at times.

Zuko would have no clue how to tell you he loves you. He's so awkward and unsure he'd be a mess. You'd be able to tell something was going on because you'd catch Zuko just quietly watching you or sometimes he'd trail off midsentence. Whenever you asked him about it he'd go bright red and come up with some fake excuse like you had something on your face. Then finally it gets to be too much and he just kind of...yells it at you? It explodes out of him at some random moment and it takes a few seconds for you to work out what he's saying. "You love me?" you asked and Zuko nodded "yeah...unless you don't want me to". You laughed "of course I want you to Zuko and I love you too!". Then Zuko would do that really happy smile (see the photo above) and he'd go around the palace grinning for weeks.

Zuko. Cannot. Take. Compliments.

Even with a gun to his head, Zuko just cannot accept compliments. His brain freaks out when someone tries to pay him a compliment and he will deny all of them. You could literally say “your hair is nice and dark” and he’d disagree. This is a problem because Zuko is a guy worthy on many compliments and you cannot refrain from complimenting him. So your solution is the psychological technique for phobias called flooding. You basically just bombard Zuko with compliments until he begins to accept them. Slowly but surely it works! You’ve get him to stop verbally disagreeing with your compliments and instead he just shrugs slightly which is an amazing improvement. 

Zuko's family is complicated...half of his family adores him unrealistically the other half barely tolerates his presence. Things with Azula and Zuko are still tense but better now they're older and after hearing all his sister went through, you really want to become friends with her. Zuko is shocked because most people run from his sister but not you. At the next family gathering, you notice Azula by herself on the side and go right over to her. You introduce yourself and ask how she is. She seems shocked and gives short answers awkwardly. You do this at every event, just small regular conversations until Azula begins accustomed to your presence. When you and Zuko arrive late to Ty lee's birthday party she sweeps over to you practically sighing in relief. "Thank god you're here! You're the only person at these things I can stomach sober". You chuckled while Zuko frowns "erm Azula? I'm here too". "Yes hi Zuzu, good to see you. Now can I borrow your partner, she’s my emotional support at these things". Zuko seems surprised and looks at you to see if you're fine with it but you're smiling and nodding perfectly happy. "Okay..." he nods and watches as the two of you disappear together. You help Zuko and Azula grow closer and your kind gesture of including Azula in your lives is greatly appreciated by the princess. The two siblings become regular fixtures in each other's lives and it's all down to you.

Being a member of the royal family Zuko doesn’t understand birthdays. In his family each year of a successful reign was more important and only big birthdays really meant anything. So he doesn’t get what you do to celebrate a birthday and at first is opposed to it. “Doesn’t it get boring year after year?” he asked you the first year you celebrated his birthday and you shook your head “not at all!”. Then slowly Zuko started really liking a day only for him. He’d get so excited the days leading up to his birthday while you were secretly planning events and wrapping up his presents. He tried to pretend he doesn’t care but he struggles to sleep the night before because he can’t wait. You notice the subtle changes and when he gasps at having a whole cake just for him he knows the cat is out of the bag. “Okay so I might really like this birthday thing” he admits blushing and you smiled “I’m glad you like it Zuko”.  

Dating the Firelord would make finding a job hard because you never know if they actually want you or the Firelord's partner. So Zuko would make sure to really separate himself from your work so you can tell your company when and if you want to. Alternatively Zuko is totally cool with using his power to get you stuff so if you want to take advantage of dating the sovereign he's all for it! You want a job in your favourite flower shop? He clears a space in the palace gardens for you to practice. You want to become a doctor? All the palace doctors are your tutors. You're interested in geology? Let him just send a message to his friend Toph Beifong to explain everything she knows about rocks to you. Zuko will give as much or as little as you want.

Now Zuko is extremely hot-headed (his element is fire) so fights with him would be pretty explosive and can get heated. This is especially the case when Zuko feels insecure or hurt. He tends to lash out, saying things he didn't mean to say and then instantly regrets it. Afterwards he is distraught and pretty much does everything to make it up to you. He's really mopey when you're angry at him and when you finally forgive him he'd probably cry. He's an emotional boy our Firelord but we love him.

Working out with Zuko would be funny because he has no idea how hot he is when he works out. He has no clue he looks amazing when firebending and so just wonders why you’re staring at him. “What do I have something on my face?” he asked. “No more like you’re not wearing a shirt” you reply and Zuko blushes. “Oh...i’ll put one on. I didn’t realise”. So while you do enjoy exercising with Zuko, you don’t get much exercising done so have to work out on your own. 

Zuko already has a pet...A DRAGON! So he's got the coolest animal companion you could ever want and you'd quickly become involved in Druk's life. Meeting Druk would honestly be a pretty big deal because dragons are so key to Zuko's heritage and his nation’s future so you'd be pretty scared. But the second you touched Druk's nose with your hand you'd feel the warmth radiating from him and you'd feel the bond he has with Zuko making you feel right at home. After that Druk is a huge softie for you and often goes to you when he's done something wrong so you'll protect him from Zuko. He knows Zuko can never say no to you so you're Druk's biggest protector. You also have lots and lots of dragon rides with Zuko which make the most amazing dates.

Zuko is a passionate and emotional partner. He might sometimes do things without thinking but his intentions for you are always good and the second he feels that connection with you that’s it. You’re his everything and he’d do anything to make you happy be that opposing his council or changing the mind of his people. He’s not afraid to make hard decisions for you because at the end of the day, you make it all worth it for him.

Suki

Suki is a boss so when she realised she has feelings for you, she would be pretty upfront and just ask you out. There would be no skirting     around it or awkwardness either.

She'd of course have it all planned though, she's not the leader of the greatest warriors of all time for nothing. She'd have meticulously     organised what she wanted to say and deliver it perfectly. A little too     perfectly...you were intimidated as she made eye contact the entire time     and didn't stutter once! However after she finished she shot you a big     smile which made you relax and of course tell her you liked her too.

That's how you get together! As simple as that.

When you start dating, Suki is amazing from day one. She knows     exactly how to play it and is very cool and relaxed while also making you  feel special. She's the type to leave small gifts with handwritten notes     just because. Also flowers! She will buy you flowers and leave them in a place she knows you’ll find but not bouquets, a single rose or lily because it's less showy and more intimate.

Suki is the best girlfriend ever! As a partner she is intuitive, thoughtful and makes you smile all the time. She's not one to go over the top with lovey-dovey stuff but she always makes you feel safe and wanted. She has a pretty demanding job but she always makes time for you and keeps her promises. You know you're important to her.

Suki always smiled and makes a joke about how right you are when you compliment here but you notice quickly she doesn’t really believe you. She typically brushes away your words hiding behind her smug smile and jokes. Being part of an elite team, she doesn’t know how to admit she, individually has done something right and you aim to change that. Any time you compliment Suki and she brushes it away you stop her.

“You’re so thoughtful” you said one day when Suki bought you some blueberries on her way home just because she knew you liked them. She shrugged “I’m just amazing i know”. You smiled but shook your head “you are Suki, you’re a wonderful thoughtful person who I fall for more and more each day”. That would leave Suki silent and emotional. Slowly but surely she was starting to belive your compliments. 

The warriors would love you! They're all very supportive of one another so would be pleased to see Suki happy and welcome you with open arms. This was a little intimidating considering they were all highly skilled warriors who could kill you in seconds and there were a rather lot of them. So you were more than a little overwhelmed which Suki noticed. She dialled back her excited friends and started introducing you to them in smaller groups instead week by week. She did this gradually and never     got annoyed with you but went completely at your pace. The way Suki     handled your social anxiety made you fall for her even quicker.

Suki's ex Sokka did not handle your new relationship as well. Sokka     can be pretty immature so even though he and Suki parted on good terms he was jealous when he heard you were dating. More so because it made him feel like Suki was completely over him and had left him behind. He basically thought she'd won and he'd lost.

Sokka handled this by being rude to you. He'd make sarcastic     comments about you and anytime Katara or Aang spoke to you he'd huff and pout. However this didn't last long because Katara exploded at him and told him he better not make you feel bad just because he was insecure.

Suki happened to overhear the conversation and she took Sokka to one side and they had a talk about how they'd always be important to one     another and no new relationship could erase all the good memories that they’d had together. After that Sokka was lovely to you and he actually     officiated your partnership ceremony years later.

However when anyone who isn’t her old friend insults you Suki goes all Kyoshi Warrior on them. Suki prefers shows of force so will fight anyone who disrespects you. You had to stop her coming into your work once because you were worried she might put your manager in a chokehold. She’s very  protective of you and won’t hesitate to bring down the full force of Kyoshi on anyone. 

Surprisingly Suki would struggle with the L word. Not because she feels uncomfortable with the emotion but just because she’s not sure how to tell you. She’s quite physical so being verbally vulnerable is scary to her. She’d probably ask her sisters or Ty lee for help and they’d tell her to just take you someplace nice and be honest. 

So she takes you to a place in the Fire Nation where you had your first date. It’d be a nice quiet evening and there were only a few other     people around. Suki is good at hiding her emotions so you’d have no idea how nervous she is. She would eventually build up the courage to tell you she loved you and then reassure you it’s okay if you’re not there yet with your feelings for her. She’d finished her perfectly crafted speech and waited nervously for your response. You of course tell her you love her back and she’d smile so brightly. Then you go on to tell her everything you love about her and she’s a blushing mess. It takes a lot to make your girlfriend blush but you can do it.

When you've been dating for a few months Suki takes you to her home     on Kyoshi Island. It's a pretty big deal considering this place has shaped    her whole life and everyone in the community idolises her but she’s     mindful of what happened with her sisters previously and makes sure you're not overwhelmed. She shows you the training halls and the beautiful beaches. Of course she also goes on for like an hour explaining everything Kyoshi ever touched and you just let her talk. "Sorry..." she     says realising she's been giving a lecture not a tour "am I boring you?". You couldn't resist how happy she looked talking about Kyoshi so you shook your head "not at all, tell me more about Kyoshi's girlfriend Rangi" and Suki beamed more than happy to.

Suki is one of those people who just designs the perfect birthday. She seems to be able to guess exactly what you want and act accordingly.     So one year she throws you a big party sensing you wanted to make it a big event. The next she senses you want this one to be a quieter one so the two of you stay in the house all day and don’t even open the blinds. She’s also amazing at buying presents and always gets you exactly what you want without fail. So much so, you’re sure she’s got someone to follow you or you must’ve said what you wanted in your sleep or something. Suki insists she’s just that good.

Despite Suki having a pretty self-defining career she never let that stop you from pursuing yours. You both agreed that nobody's career comes first and when you were offered a great training opportunity in the Water Tribe Suki encouraged you to take it. You'd be gone for  around a year and would only be able to visit every month or so but Suki told you to go for it. She was so supportive sending you weekly letters and gifts. As her boss was also her friend Zuko, he brought Suki with him every time he visited the Water Tribe and allowed her free time to be with you. Being in a long-distance relationship was hard but the two of you put in the work and get through it.

When the two of you fight it’s not very serious. It takes a lot to make Suki angry, especially because she knows you'd never mean to hurt her and intent matters a lot to her. However we're all human and of course there would be times when you upset her. She'd go quiet and thoughtful and when you ask her what's wrong she tells you. Suki believes in honest  communication and the two of you would always try and talk out whatever  was happening for as long as it takes. You try to never let arguments     fester and handle them as quickly as possible. Suki is nothing if not     efficient.

Working out with Suki would be...hilarious. We've all seen that scene in the Boiling Rock episode where she takes out all the guards, runs up a wall and is basically just amazing. That's her on her morning jog each day. Suki doesn't pull her punches so you realised very quickly working out together wasn't a couple’s activity for you. Instead you go to the park or gym with her and sit at a nearby cafe and wave to her as she does her laps. You read or draw or whatever you like to do and she exercises. Then when she's done you go home together.

Suki is very busy so she wouldn't have time for a high-maintenance pet. I can see her with a cat that the two of you adopted when you moved in together. Suki would be the responsible good parent while you're the     chaotic pushover. "Suki she's hungry, I think I should feed her"  you said as your cat stared up at you. "Y/n we fed her an hour ago, she's just being greedy" Suki replied. You sighed "fine..."  and sat back down. A few minutes later you left to go to the bathroom and made a bee-line for the kitchen...only to find Suki already there. "What? How did you get past me?" you cried and Suki smiled "through Avatar Kyoshi all things are possible...now go sit back down".

You wanted to name the cat Kyoshi but Suki vetos that and you name it Yun instead

Suki is an intuative cool partner. The type you can take to any event because she will get on with the people there and enjoy it. She’s a     delight to be around and at times it feels like she’s your everything. She’s the thing keeping you going each day and the two of you make a very happy partnership. 

Sokka

Sokka takes that typical macho approach to love. When he realises he     likes you, instead of small kind gestures or just telling you, he would     tease you constantly. He'd talk to you every chance he could get and would constantly be joking or messing around. Katara can read him like a book and would just sigh "when are you going to ask her out?". "Ask who out? Y/n! That's crazy! You're crazy Katara!" Sokka cried. Katara just smiled and shook her head. 

Eventually though Sokka would realise imitating your accent or     laughing at your hairstyle (shockingly) wasn't the great flirting     endeavour he thought it was. So he'd ask you to do an activity together     and you'd say yes.

Sokka would have some pretty incorrect stereotypes about dating     which you'd have to help him unlearn. He'd been taught very traditional     things about what the role of a male and female should be in a     relationship and so might not understand what a more liberal view of that   is, but through trial and error (with a LOT of mistakes) he'd learn.

As a partner Sokka is pretty damn adorable. He'd notice every little thing about you and would bore all his friends by telling them things he found fascinating. "Do you know y/n can read things upside down? How cool is that?" he cried making Zuko and Aang frown."See that is pretty cool but maybe not relevant right now..." Zuko said glancing around at the assembled council as this was a council meeting. Sokka nodded "oh yeah got it! I'll tell you about it later". His friends would all sigh about how soppy he became anytime someone mentioned you but it was sweet really and they totally used it to their advantage...

Katara and Aang walked into the room and approached. “Hey Sokka how  are you?” Aang asked. “Fine, what do you need i’m really busy” Sokka     replied. “Oh nothing we’re just stopping by” Aang said and Sokka grunted  in response. “Hey so y/n’s arriving tomorrow isn’t she?” Katara asked.     Sokka immeidately changed. His body language relaxed and he smiled     widely “yeah, I can’t wait!”. “What time is she getting here?” Aang asked and Sokka began to tell them all the details. “That’s good...we were thinking of taking a trip next week. Would you be okay handling stuff on your own?”. “Sure no problem, also did I tell you what y/n said in her letter yesterday? She said the funniest thing...” and that was pretty much how they got Sokka to do anything. 

You got him to reduce his meat intake just by telling him it’d be nice for the two of you to try something new together. Sokka the self-proclaimed     lover of meat gave that up because you asked him to. 

Sokka's friends all liked you pretty instantly. Katara thought you were a saint for putting up with Sokka's dumb ideas and sense of humour.     Aang thought you and Sokka were very compatible and found it funny both Appa and Momo liked you more than Sokka. Toph was of course a little jealous given her crush on Sokka but even she had to admit there was nobody better matched for him than you. So she slowly got over her     jealousy. Zuko liked you because you always treated him like a friend and not like a Firelord. They all thought you helped Sokka be a better person    and made each other happy. What more could you ask for? 

Suki ironically also really liked you. At first Sokka thought she'd be jealous and was wary of the two of you meeting. He even had a whole     elaborate scheme when it was Katara's birthday so you wouldn't meet. Then he saw the two of you chatting by the refreshments and nearly died. He gasped and ran to help you "I think you should go see Katara" he     said to you forcefully trying to pull you away. "Why?" you asked pushing his hand off you "Suki and I are getting acquainted". Suki nodded "yeah we're having lots of fun discussing all the silly stuff you say". "Wait you know who each other are?" Sokka asked and you both laughed. "Duh!" Suki smiled "I'm a trained warrior, I can pick up on things". You nodded "and she's literally wearing her captain's uniform...so that made it pretty     easy". Sokka blinked "and you're...okay with one another?". "Why wouldn't we be?" Suki asked and you nodded "just because Suki's your ex doesn't mean we have to hate each other". "Yeah we're above all that sexist crap" Suki said and Sokka nodded "okay then...carry on" and left you to it. The idea of even being near your ex made Sokka furious so he found this very odd but you and Suki became good friends which was nice. He realised he didn't have to banish Suki just because they'd broken up and that this was a really healthy relationship.

Sokka is protective so if anyone and I mean anyone dares to say a bad thing about you, he’s ready to fistfight. There are 2 problems with this however 

1. he doesn't take into account how badly he could lose a fight. For example when he said your name one day and Appa happened to be passing gas at the same time he took offence. He began yelling at the sky bison and then jumped on Appa, messing up his fur. Appa simply swatted Sokka away and put his paw on him, keeping him rooted to the floor. 

2. Sokka's second problem was he tended to imagine insults where     there were none. Once they were at Kyoshi Island and Aang wanted to go Elephant-Koi fish surfing but the fish weren't there. After waiting an hour Katara suggested calling it quits and Aang sighed "let's just go and meet y/n in Omashu". Sokka didn't like Aang's tone and immediately bristled. "Oh I'm sorry is it such a chore to see y/n? Do you not enjoy visiting her? Has she not always been an amazing friend to you?" he cried. "Of course not I love seeing y/n! She’s a great friend to me!". "So why did you say her name like that?" Sokka asked and Katara sighed "Sokka you know Aang didn't mean it like that, leave him alone!". "I will not stand by while someone insults my partner!" he cried and Katara rolled her eyes "Aang     wasn't doing that!". "I promise I wasn't!" Aang said and Sokka paused "you weren't?". "No I love y/n!" Aang said. Sokka narrowed his eyes inspecting him before he sighed "okay my bad" and moved on, leaving a very relieved Airbender and angry waterbender.

When Sokka realised he loves you he'd plan a whole evening to tell you and of course because fate does not favour Sokka everything would go     wrong and he'd get really upset. 

"Sokka...are you okay?" you asked he continued to angrily beat the curtains which had stopped being on fire quite a few seconds ago. "Yep I'm fine!" he said but you could tell by how high his voice was going that he wasn't. "No you're not Sokka stop!" and you pulled him away from the curtains "I know our date got messed up when it rained and we had to come inside...and when our food got burned accidentally...and when the curtains then caught fire destroying all the beautiful decorations you put out...but that's no reason to get upset". Sokka sighed "but I wanted tonight to be special!". "Why?" you asked chuckling and Sokka slumped into his seat hanging his head "because I wanted to tell you that I...that I love you". You paused "you did?". Sokka nodded "yeah and I wanted it to be a real special occasion we'd both remember for years but I messed everything up!". Sokka you didn't mess anything up!" you said taking a seat next to him "I will remember this night forever and not because of all the fancy things or decorations but because of you...you saying those words are more than enough to make this memorable". Sokka looked at you "really?". "Really" you smiled.

Sokka LOVES compliments and he’s not humble either. He will happily     accept them and agree with you which makes it rather funny. “Sokka     that was so cool!” you cried when he successfully disarmed Zuko in     combat. “I know” he smirked. “Don’t encourage him y/n” Katara     whispered but you just smiled. You knew Sokka just wanted to feel loved  and that’s why he enjoyed compliments so much. However you didn’t want him to get a big ego so you treated compliments with Sokka how a person might handle treats with a dog. Only on certain occasions when it was warranted and that worked pretty well. 

Sokka might be nervous to introduce you to his family at first because he cares a lot about what his tribe thinks of him and doesn't want them to be disappointed he's dating an "outsider". This would be a really big test for you and Sokka because he has to decide what's more important, tradition or you. At first he'd try and keep the two separate however that can't continue forever and eventually he brings you to the WaterTribe. He's hyperaware of everything as you walk to his home together. "Is it just me or are people watching us?" he asked and Katara frowned "nobodies watching us and even if they are they're probably just intrigued about y/n". Sokka nodded but that didn't reassure him. 

Then around his family he got nervous all over again. He was a ball of nerves as you chatted to his father and gran gran. "So y/n what do your parents do?" his gran gran asked. "My mother is a mechanic and my father is a stay-at-home dad". Sokka anxiously watched his elders and saw them pause "so your father stays at home and your mother works?" Hakoda asked. You nodded "yep! In my home couples choose who should stay home and my father wanted to. "That's so cool"  Katara said and you smiled. "It's certainly...different" gran gran said and Sokka nearly choked. "Yes in the best possible way" Hakoda smiled "we're trying to improve the gender equality in our tribe and your home sounds like a wonderful place for us to learn from, please tell us more". Sokka dropped his fork in shock. "Sokka table manners!" gran gran said before turning to you "now dear tell me, how many of your girls are educated". Sokka couldn't believe it. He'd assumed his tribe would hate your ideals but they were more progressive than he thought. After that, he brought you home with him any time he could and even flew his father and gran gran to your home so they could see it all. Your families got along wonderfully and Sokka never underestimated his tribe again.

Sokka also LOVES birthdays but not just his own he adores your own     too. Sokka is a big kid at heart and so he gets more excited for your     birthday than you do. He wakes up extra early and tries his best to make     you, your favourite breakfast in bed. Then he drags you to the living room so you can open your presents. He watches you excitedly while you unwrap them, so thrilled to see what you think of them. He prefers for you to spend your birthday just the two of you and gets jealous when your other friends and family want to see you too. He adores you and so having a whole day where he just gets to celebrate you is amazing in his eyes.

Sokka wants to make it super clear your career is just as important  as his. Growing up that wasn't the typical attitude between males and     females but he wanted it to be. When he was offered a high-ranking role in the Water Tribe he asked for time to discuss it with you and considered  your job. He never assumed to know what you were thinking and listened to you. He put off accepting the job for several years so you could finish     studying and then you made the joint decision to move there. He even     looked into all the careers you could have in the Water Tribe and only     agreed to move once you had one you were really passionate about. Just  liking the sound of it wasn't enough he wanted you to really want to move  and wouldn't accept anything less.

Fights with Sokka are hilarious. He might be one of the brightest minds in the four nations but he also had an immature side and that comes out when you argue. His logic went right out the window and you'd verbally destroy him. This would make Sokka very mardy and pouty which you     found adorable. He’d sulk for a little while but after half an hour or so he wouldn’t care anymore and would be back to normal. 

You quite enjoyed working out with Sokka because he was a big fan of     rewarding yourselves for good behaviour. So you would hardly do any work and then take a nice break. It was basically just an opportunity for you and Sokka to spend some time together while possibly doing a little bit of exercise. Sokka is also totally that partner that likes to set up on the machine next to you. You don’t go around attached at the hip but if he sees you on one treadmill he will come and take the one next to you because he likes being close to you. Sokka would also be a huge hype     man and so you love getting him to spot you when you do weights. He cheers you on constantly and makes exercising easier in every way. 

Sokka would claim to hate animals because of all the mess, smell and noise etc but he would adore the pet you got together. He'd of course     complain the whole time you were buying the pet but he'd slowly start to     melt. You'd catch him covering up the little animal with a blanket at     night or waking up early so he can feed and play with it. He'd even take     it with him on his rounds as councillor and soon they're inseparable.     "Do you remember when I said I wanted a pet and we got one for me?". Sokka looked down where your pet was curled up against him asleep "yeah well they chose me, don't be a sore loser y/n".

Sokka is a fun, unique and witty partner. There’s never a quiet moment when he’s around and nobody can make you laugh or smile like he can. He’s not only hilarious but can be serious and sweet in ways that  send shivers down your spine. You have no doubt he’d go to the end of the     earth for you and no matter your differences, you’re perfect together.

__________

Requested by: @angrypolicetimetravel

So obviously I didn’t include Toph and Aang because they’re both 12 but I really loved writing this for Katara, Zuko, Suki and Sokka! They’re all so fun but have such different personalities. 

[djemsostylist]

Toph and Zuko, Headcanon

Generally, I don't ship noncanon ships, but in this case, I'd say this is less of a case of noncanon and more a case of after canon. After all, ignoring LOK (which I'm rather more than happy to do tbh) the last we see of these two they are still children--we don't know what their future holds.

But I want to work within the bounds of canon as much as possible--leaving ATLA as is, and working off character established in canon but working forward.

I talked in another post about the idea that Zuko and Toph would work well together as a adults for a few reasons. Firstly, personally I like the idea of the core six (that is, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, Toph and Zuko) being paired off. I think they went through an experience together that is so singularly unique, it would be hard to ever find another person who could understand it quite the same way. I also think that given a lot of their issues, trust would be hard to achieve.

(More under the cut bc I'm just rambling now lol)

Now, I know in canon Zuko has Mei, but he's 16 and she's familiar. I got the feeling that Mei and Zuko were more of a "it's what you do" couple than one with any sort of lasting power. I'm not saying they didn't love each other--I think they certainly did, but I also think they were very young and they were both going through sort of a big life change. When Zuko gets together with Mei, he's teetering on the edge of trying to find out who he is and what he wants for his life. Mei is very much a person that old Zuko would have been with--she makes sense for him in that life. And I think there is genuine affection between them--but I also think a lot of it is tied up with other feelings. Her best friend's older brother she maybe always had a little crush on, the rebel son, etc. That she does eventually support his choices to change is a good thing, but I don't know that I see their relationship lasting into the future. Zuko still has a long way to go and a lot to handle when he becomes Fire Lord at 16--I think he probably isn't exactly going to be focused on a relationship all that much in the beginning, and frankly, I think Mei needs to to figure out who she is without the context of Zuko and his sister, since her entire life seems to revolve around their family. I could see their relationship sort of slowly backing off until they eventually end things mutually, no hard feelings, just a natural sort of ending to a childhood romance.

For Zuko, I imagine he would then spend most of the rest of his time not in a relationship. He's dealing with a lot with his country and his family and dealing with forgiving and understanding himself--again, I doubt a relationship is the priority. He probably maintains close contact with most of the Gaang--Aang in particular probably makes it a point to come see him, and I can see him and Sokka still having pretty close contact, especially with Sokka stepping up as the future leader of the Southern Water tribe and etc.

Toph, I think, would be dealing with a lot of similar issues to Zuko. Both of them are trying to define what home means--Zuko in the place he grew up that he both recognizes and doesn't, and Toph unable to go back because she isn't sure what she'll find. I imagine Toph spends some time with Aang, Katara, and Sokka, but it's not like she would particularly be comfortable at the poles in ice and snow, and I also think she'd want the chance to explore, to see the world, to find out who she is and what she wants from life. So around a yearish after the end of the world she sort of goes out on her own into the world and starts a sort of long, wandering slow journey. She stops along the way to do various things: sometimes she works, sometimes she helps others, sometimes she just sight sees, sort of goes where whim takes her. She sees most of the Gaang often enough, with how much the others travel, but I'd imagine she hardly ever sees Zuko (as he is busy running a kingdom).

Now we get into deep headcanon territory. I had seen it posited that Sokka invents a version of braille (in a fanfiction I believe, though I'm not sure if the idea started somewhere else, and I honestly can't recall the fanfic), and I like this idea, both because it makes sense for Sokka to do something like this, and also because it gives Toph a way to continue a bit of a relationship with Zuko whilst traveling. So basically for about the next 6 years or so, Toph and Zuko exchange letters while she travels around. They have a lot they can relate on, and talk about family and belonging and guilt and love and etc, as best they can. But they don't see each other much--maybe once or thrice throughout the intervening years, as they both grow up.

Then, when Toph is about 18/19 (making Zuko 22/23) he gets word from Toph that she's in jail and needs a bail out. At this point, he's tired, a little overwhelmed, and he's been a little lonely lately (Aang and Katara are married and still sort of in the honeymoon phase, Sokka is super busy with building a city in the south and all his various projects, Suki is the leader of his secret police so he sees her often but she's also often abroad) and so he basically decides to go get Toph himself. He hasn't seen her in a while, he misses his friend, and he's also more than a little curious as to why she's in jail in the middle of a nowhere town at the ass-end of the Fire Nation.

Toph, for her part, had written both because she hadn't wanted to bug the others and also because Zuko still owes her a Life Changing Field Trip and she's ready to collect. And also because she misses him maybe a little and also she knows he could maybe use a break.

So Zuko shows up and Toph is A Woman now and his poor little brain is like, trying desperately to square this information in his mind because of course he knew she wasn't 12 any more but also he wasn't expecting her to look Like That and also Toph can sense you know, everything, and she's trying to be chill also because it's just Zuko only Zuko spent the past 6 years stress working out and also somewhere along the way became A Man but this is fine and everything is fine and they are still friends right?

So Toph convinces him to play hooky for a while and come with her to track down some asshole (working on those details--some person scamming refugees maybe or something with disappearing kids? and she's trying to get to the boss) and Zuko is tired and overwhelmed and also maybe a little bit smitten and he agrees and then they go on the Life Changing Field Trip only this one is the one where they fall in love.

And it's the easiest thing they've ever done and the hardest thing all at once. Because they understand each other and they are determined to be more than their parents and together they heal.

I have so many little headcanons and one shots and larger story arcs bouncing around in my head with all this, and bless @bonesingerofyme-loc for thinking them all through with me.

I have actually written some ficlets, but they are currently pretty rough and disjointed (it's been a while since I've written) and I'm not entirely sure if I want to save them to write into a cohesive story, or tell their story in parts as I am inspired. I sort of have some scene ideas and others being build off prompt lists. I might share disjointed here and then wait to publish on AO3 until I decide what I what to do, but I'm not sure.

I will, however, share the very silly headcanons that Leo and I came up with. My Toko/Zutoph tag will be otp: it's me if you want more of my dumbass thoughts on these two lol. (Like what Toph did to end up in jail and how Sokka got Zuko's wedding invite and wasn't sure who the bride could possibly be and how Aang knew from the beginning but never said bc it wasn't polite or how Toph refuses to let Zuko ask for her parent's permission and he's like, dying slowly over the propriety of it all or how he courts her Properly™ once they are back in the capital and Toph is secretly thrilled or or or. Also Leo may have maybe made some AI adult Toko pics I can share that killed us both lol. )

[ultfreakme]

I hope the natla writers don't go down the same route as the og atla by giving Zutara so many scenes and importance (atleast that's what it looks like). They have already made many changes interaction-wise with the characters that ended up being really good (like the Aang and Iroh conversations), I don't see why they can't do the same with the Book 2 and Book 3 content.

I don't have anything against the pairing, people can ship whoever they want, but it is kinda frustrating to see how much they seem to get in comparison to other Zuko friendships etc. I would like to see more emphasis put on the eventual friendship between Aang/Zuko and Sokka/Zuko, and fxf and mxm friendships in general, something I feel like the og quite lacked. Like, give me more bonding scenes between Katara and Toph please?!

Enemies to lovers is boring and overdone. I want enemies to best friends.

I think the NATLA team is, for the most part, reluctant to do anything with Zutara, but especially the actors and promotion team (the scarf scene wasn't even anything, Zuko's focus IMMEDIATELY goes to Aang right after and he basically leaves her to DIE under the NWT rubble. Also obviously the time he tried to burn her. He's far more vicious in NATLA than he ever was in the OG). They removed all the s1 Zuko-Katara scenes and I'm expecting pretty much the same for S2 & S3 too. One because the actors GENUINELY seem uncomfortable when its brought up as a ship, and two, they seem to be focusing more on expanding the Aang-Zuko interactions.

I would really enjoy more friendships and closer bonds too. I think the OG did very little with Zuko-Katara tbh, they have had like, three positive interactions that didn't end badly but shippers who are convinced that the universe has conspired against making Zuko/Katara are a thing exaggerate their interactions a LOT (personal opinion that will get me killed, I think every Zuko-Katara significant interaction has a parallel Zuko-Azula interaction and Azula & Katara's individual relationships to Zuko being juxtaposed to show family isn't about blood, this even carries through to the comics by paralleling Zuko-Sokka as big brothers). Zuko-Toph would be EPIC. Real missed opportunity there. Toph-Suki and Katara-Suki would be welcomed too, it's a bummer that Toph really didn't get to mingle in-depth with the extended gaang.

Yeah, I like enemies-to-best friends to, and I'd like to see those two's interactions being treated platonically (I hope randos in the writing room DO NOT push their ships onto characters, like, stop and be professional).

[ao3feed-zukka]

Wind to Waves to Dust to Ashes

Read now on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/D5Ce6x8 by AbroMelon34105 100 years ago, Fire Lord Sozin lead the Fire Nation into war against the other three nations, completely wiping the Air Nomads off the map and turning his sights to the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. The Avatar, the sole person responsible for the peace of the world, vanished around this time and hasn't been seen since, and many have begun to lose hope that he even still exists. Aang was never the Avatar. His twin sister, Anya, was saved at birth because she was the Avatar's next incarnation. Now, a hundred years have passed and as the last Airbender, it's his jobs to teach the current Avatar airbending...whoever that may be. For three years, Zuko has searched for the Avatar at the behest of his father, along with the promise to have his honor returned to him. Desperate, Zuko has put every once of his being into this search, and now his luck seems to be turning around. An airbender - the last in the entire world - has been sighted in the Southern Water Tribe, and Zuko just knows that he knows where the Avatar is - if the nomad isn't the Avatar himself. Yet he keeps insisting he's not. So if he's not the Avatar, then who is? And what is going on with these damn dreams? Words: 3295, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Cartoon 2005) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Categories: F/M, M/M, Multi Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Iroh (Avatar), Appa (Avatar), Momo (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Mai (Avatar) Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Aang/Katara (Avatar), Sokka/Suki (Avatar), Sokka/Yue (Avatar) Additional Tags: Zuko-centric (Avatar), Alternate Universe - Avatar & Benders Setting, Hurt Zuko (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, Bisexual Sokka (Avatar), Gay Zuko (Avatar), Avatar Zuko (Avatar), Fire Nation (Avatar), Bad Parent Ozai (Avatar), Zuko Joins The Gaang Early (Avatar), Protective Sokka (Avatar), Precious Aang (Avatar), Aang Needs a Hug (Avatar), Aang & Zuko Friendship (Avatar), Protective Aang (Avatar), Aang is a Ray of Sunshine (Avatar), Badass Aang (Avatar), Badass Katara (Avatar), Protective Katara (Avatar), Stubborn Katara (Avatar), Badass Toph Beifong, Toph Beifong & Zuko Friendship, Protective Toph Beifong, Toph Beifong is a Menace, Toph Beifong Being Awesome, Toph Beifong Swears, Nonbinary Toph Beifong, Aromantic Toph Beifong, Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck, Blue Spirit Zuko (Avatar), Iroh is a Good Uncle (Avatar), Protective Iroh (Avatar), Supportive Iroh (Avatar), Iroh Loves Tea (Avatar), Badass Iroh (Avatar), Iroh Tries His Best (Avatar), Big Brother Sokka (Avatar), Past Sokka/Yue (Avatar), Bisexual Disaster Sokka (Avatar), Oblivious Sokka (Avatar), Eventual Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Past Sokka/Suki (Avatar), Badass Suki (Avatar), Bisexual Suki (Avatar), Minor Sokka/Suki (Avatar), Suki & Zuko Friendship (Avatar), Suki Needs a Hug (Avatar), Azula Needs a Hug (Avatar), Azula Needs Therapy (Avatar), Crazy Azula (Avatar), The Gaang Learns How Zuko Got The Scar (Avatar), Zuko Joins The Gaang (Avatar), The Gaang as Family (Avatar), Protective Gaang (Avatar), The Gaang Friendship (Avatar), The Gaang Needs Therapy (Avatar), Zuko Swears (Avatar) Read it on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/D5Ce6x8

[empressofthesunwriter]

Yin and Yang: Book 1.06

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

Book 1.06: Imprisoned

Water. 

Earth. 

Fire. 

Air. 

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. 

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. 

Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished. 

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua. 

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone. 

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

***

"Yeah that's it, keep holding it!"

"I never knew air could be....so rebellious!"

"Don't lose your concentration, Hua, spin the air ball, and make it bigger!"

"Make it bigger?", repeated Hua astonished.

She wanted to send a glare at Aang, but all her concentration was fixed on the little air sphere she had created.

Team Avatar-Daimon had left Omashu a few days ago and were on the road again.

While they waited for Sokka to bring them dinner, Hua and Aang trained in airbending.

Katara had Jaiyi on her lap watching them and Appa was relaxing beside her.

"You are doing great, Hua!", cheered her Katara on. "You can do it!"

Jaiyi yipped in agreement and Appa made an encouraging grumbling noise.

Biting her lip in concentration the Daimon tried her best to bend more air into the airball.

It failed spectacularly!

She lost control of the ball and got hit in the face with the air current.

Autsch!

From all around her she heard sympathetic whines as tears shot in her eyes.

"I'm the worst airbender, EVER!", cried Hua, rubbing her hurting face.

Fast Katara was at her side, hugging her, while Jaiyi snuggled up her legs.

"Now, now, Hua, you can do it. It just takes time.", tutted Katara gently. "No master fell from heaven. Aang tell her she isn't the worst."

The Avatar joined them and petted Hua's shoulder awkwardly.

 "A few days ago you couldn't even form an airball, now you can do it, even if it's tiny."

"Thanks, Aang."

Yeah, since being reunited with Bumi and then leaving him, the air between the Avatar and Daimon was weird.

Hua wouldn't say they were friends per se, however, they didn't argue as much as before and Aang finally started to teach her better airbending.

Oh, they still had different opinions on a lot of things, Katara and even Sokka a few times, had to stop them from really starting a big fight, but as she was saying seeing Bumi again had made them both think.

They remember Bumi as this crazy redheaded young boy with even crazier ideas, seeing him as an old man, made it real what had happened to them.

How they had been imprisoned in ice for over a hundred years, how anything has changed but them.

Technical they were both 112 years old, however, their bodies and minds were still the ones of young children.

No one could understand what a situation they were in.

No one, besides their other half.

So, they had formed a kind of truce.

It was...comforting to talk with another how everything was so different, how they missed their old lives and have the person understand it fully because they were right along with them.

Yeah, so not as much hating as before and a bit of camaraderie had forward between Aang and Hua.

Maybe with time they even would call each other friends!

Something a week ago both had thought impossible.

Anyway, for today the airbening lesson stopped, decide Katara.

She put a cold wet cloth on Hua's face to help the light swelling which was forming.

The Daimon gave her her thanks, Katara was so awesome, as Aang welcomed back Sokka and Momo.

The lemur sat beside Jaiyi and Appa chittering away, maybe telling them what Sokka and he found for food.

The humans were eagerly sitting before Sokka as he dug through his back to show them, what he had found.

"We've got a few options.", told them Sokka. "First; round nuts. And some kind of oval-shaped nuts? And some rock-shaped nuts, that might just be rocks. Dig in!" 

They all stared at him.

"Seriously ... what else you got?", asked Katara for the rest of their group.

This couldn't just be it?

How should they get a full stomach with only nuts?

Suddenly the entire earth quakes, surprising the group.

Sokka wonders what this was, as the earth again shudders. Somehow Aang managed to pin-point the direction it came from and all beside Sokka started curious running towards it.

"Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?", calls the oldeste, before he joins them.

As it turns out it's a young boy who is practising his earthbending making all these noises and tiny earthquakes.

The Daimon feels happy to see another earthbender and was all for approaching him, maybe they could share some moves, but as Katara speaks to him, he runs away.

Huh?

Weird.

The waterbender was disappointed she just wanted to say hi, as Aang says that the boy probably ran to a town, which means they could buy food there which wasn't nuts.

The girls were all for a nut-free dinner and followed Aang.

Poor Sokka laments how hard he worked to find these nuts, only to have Momo chittering at him and he admins, yeah he didn't like nuts either.

The town they find is a small mining town, in typical Earth Kingdom colours.

Aang got himself a hat, which he puts on, while Hua frowns.

Her Daimon-Rader was on, making her shiver. She tasted the melancholy and despair in this small town.

What was going on here?

It seemed like a nice cute mining town.

The Daimon couldn't pinpoint, why her Rader was on.

Still wondering what was going on she followed behind Sokka and Aang into a shop, where Katara already was.

Their waterbender had found the earthbender from before!

In the shop was also a woman, probably his mother.

"Hey. You're that kid. Why did you run away before?", asks Katara curious.

The earthbender boy was sweating from his nerves, you could see.

"Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid."

"No, she doesn't.", disagrees Aang. "We saw you earthbending."

The earthbender and his mother gasp in horror and both the door and window to the small shop are promptly slammed shut.

"They saw you doing what?!", asks the mother in a mix of anger and worry.

"They're crazy, Mom! I mean, look at how they're dressed."

This makes the whole Team Avatar unsure about their appearance.

Aang gazes at his conical hat, shifting it about in confusion. Katara awkwardly grasps at her dress, looking with astonishment at herself. Sokka quirks an eyebrow and smooths out his sleeve and Hua fixes the sleeve of her green kimono tunic with a frown.

They all thought they looked fine.

"You know how dangerous that is!", reminds the earthbender mom her son. "You know what would happen if they caught you earthbending!"

Surprisingly someone knocks on the shop door, demanding to open up.

Stealthy Sokka peeks through the window's blinds.

"Fire Nation! Act natural!"

Fast the kids run around the shop to act natural, while Haru's mother opens the door.

The Fire Nation tax collector stares awkwardly at the five children in front of him. 

Haru grasps his chin and stares at an apple in Sokka's hand, which the watertribe boy presents to him like he wants to sell it.

Katara embraced a bowl of berries and stuffed her mouth full of them. 

Hua stands before a shelf on her tippy toes like she is a ballerina, trying to reach a large jar and Aang has his hand atop a barrel, beaming an immense toothy smile. 

His pose is short-lived as the barrel's lid spins, dunking Aang's hand into the barrel of water and causing him to fall down.

Angry Haru's mother demands to know what the tax collector wants since she already paid them this week.

Gleeful the tax collector informs her how the taxes have risen and if she doesn't want her shop to get burned down, she better pay up.

Not having a choice Haru's mom hands him the small money she has in her cash register.

Like he was doing her a great favour the tax collector throws the copper one on the floor and leaves the shop.

"Nice guy.", says Sokka full of sarcasm. "How long has the Fire Nation been here?"

"Five years. Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships.", explains Haru's mom.

"They're thugs. They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it.", adds Haru in rightful anger.

His mother shushes him. He shouldn't talk like that.

Katara wonders why Haru shouldn't help this town since he was an earthbender.

Tired his mom tells her how earthbending was forbidden and brought them only misery. Haru never should use his bending.

This makes Katara angry on Haru's behalf, he has a gift and he shouldn't use it? It would be like to tell her not waterbend.

She asks what could the Fire Nation do to them, which they already haven't.

Defeated Haru's mom replies they could take him away like his father.

You can collectively hear how the hearts of Team Avatar-Daimon break hearing this.

***

A while later Team Avatar-Daimon followed Haru and his mother home.

They offered them a sleeping place in their barn.

It was super nice of them.

"My mom said you can sleep here tonight. But you should leave in the morning.", tells them Haru.

"Thanks.", says Aang to the group. "I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay."

Appa engulfs a mouthful of hay. The flying bison pauses, turning to stare dubiously toward Aang before continuing to chew hay. 

Jaiyi jumps happily into the hay rolling around, while Momo flies around the barn.

Sokka and Aang enter the barn, so Hua is the only one who notices how Katara and Haru walk away together.

A small smile forms on the female earthbender lips, Haru is really cute, and Katara deserves the attention of a cute guy, even if she feels a tiny bit jealous.

Hua had never preferred one gender over the other, her first kiss had been with a neighbourhood girl when she still lived in Ba Sing Se. It was a cute little romance, which didn't get further after it was revealed she was the Daimon.

As she had told Jaiyi in Kyoshi, she had a tiny crush on Katara, but she knew she had zero changes with the other girl.

Her friendship was enough, even if she would feel a tiny bit jealous of how someone else could be close to the beautiful waterbender.

Other than Aang, the airhead.

His crush on Katara was still going strong.

At least Hua could distract Aang and Sokka to give Katara as much time with Haru as possible.

So she stepped into the barn and proclaimed: "Aang, do you think your marble trick is a good trick for me to learn?"

This started a long discussion between all three because Sokka said they couldn't just start airbending in a barn in a town full of firebenders, Aang mussed and explained how the trick seemed simple, but was actually quite complex and Hua playing her part at being stubborn.

Katara returned to the barn, when the moon was up, and found her friends and brother discussing with each other about who would win a race between Jaiyi, Appa and Momo.

How in the name of Tui and La did they get to this point?

The waterbender raised an eyebrow and saw how Hua winked at her.

Oh...!

Her best friend, because that's what Hua has become in these long weeks they have travelled together, must have noticed how she had taken a walk with Haru and made sure that Aang and Sokka were none the wiser.

Hua thought probably, they would share a kiss with each other, not that Katara would have minden, Haru was cute and nice, but they had just talked and then saved the poor old man from the collapsed mine.

It made her feel warm in the heart that she had someone in the corner, who would have her back.

She would do the same for Hua too.

When all were on their haystack beds, beside Aang who slept on Appa with Momo, Katara told them all about how Haru had saved the old man.

"You must have really inspired him.", mussed Aang, as Katara finished her story.

"I guess so."

"You are great, Katara, you know that?", adds Hua, cuddling with Jaiyi under her blankets.

"That's sweet of you, Hua."

"Everyone should get some sleep.", advised Sokka. "We're leaving at dawn."

This made the others unhappy.

"Not so early again!", moaned Hua in despair and Jaiyi yipped in agreement.

"Dawn?! Can't we sleep in for once?", demands Katara an explanation.

"Absolutely not! This village is crawling with Fire Nation troops. If they discover you're here, Aang and Hua, we'll be eating fireballs for breakfast. Goodnight."

"I'd rather eat fireballs than nuts.", sasses Katara, making Aang and Hua laugh.

"Good one!", praises Hua.

Huffing Sokka turns around, giving them all literally the cold shoulder and a goodnight.

The other three share some more giggles, before Katara blows out their lamplight.

Time to sleep!

***

Sokka really made them stand up at dawn!

Aang and Hua shoot unhappy and tired looks at the older boy, while they help him to back their things.

Katara had stepped out to fill their water pots.

The three were nearly done with packing as Katara stormed back in and shouted that Haru was taken.

The Avatar and Daimon shouted in surprise and worry for their new friend, as Sokka tried to calm his sister down to get an explanation.

Turns out the old man Haru saved yesterday sold him out to the Fire Nation and Katara felt so guilty since she practically encouraged Haru to use his earthbending, it was all her fault!

"It wasn't your fault Katara. You couldn't know the old man was a backstabbing traitor.", tried Hua to make her best friend feel better.

However, Katara was determined to fix this mess by any means.

She would get herself arrested for earthbending and then break out Haru from where he was held prisoner.

A big discussion broke out between all of them.

First how Katara shouldn't enter the belly of the beast alone or not at all, then that Hua said she should go look for Haru since she is the only real earthbender they have.

This was shot down because Sokka and Katara made clear that the Daimon in Fire Nation's hand was bad.

They couldn't lose her when the world needed her and Aang.

So, Katara had to pretend to earthbend.

The plan was actually really simple.

They needed to find a Fire Nation patrol and Katara and Sokka would start a fake fight, where Katara would treat him then with her "earthbending".

Hua and Aang would stay out of sight and Hua would earthbend the boulder for Katara when she heard her que.

Team Avatar-Daimon got themselves ready and didn't have to wait long for a Fire Nation patrol.

As the group of spear-wielding guards approach, Katara and Sokka made a show of walking into one another by their stomachs before emphatically shouting.

"Get out of my way, pipsqueak!", growls Sokka, pointing at Katara in anger.

"How dare you call me pipsqueak, you giant-eared cretin!", shouts Katara back, waving her fist around.

"What did you call me?!"

"A giant-eared cretin! Look at those things! Do herds of animals use them for shade?!"

"You better back off!", then Sokka mumbles to Katara: "Seriously, back off."

But Katara was so in her role that she just yelled: "I will not back off! I bet elephants get together and make fun of how large your ears are!"

"That's it! You're going down!"

"I'll show you who's boss! Earthbending style!"

That was Hua's cue.

From behind the boulder she hides with Aang, she bends the boulder up at the same time Katara over-dramatically leaps toward the boulder, clenching her fist upward.

It should now look and be clear that Katara "earthbends". 

However, Momo had been hiding behind that boulder and had his arms raised, licking himself.

This shows how dumb some people are because one of the guards points at Momo surprised and gasps: "That lemur! He's earthbending!"

Sokka can't believe it.

"No, you idiot, it's the girl!", corrects Sokka waving his arms towards Katara.

Blushing shameful the guard agrees.

So the rest of Team Avatar-Daimon watches how Katara gets into custody and is hopefully brought to the same prison Haru was.

They need to follow them, but before Sokka tells Momo that he has big ears, maybe to feel better about all the comments Katara made about his, which makes the poor lemur coo in protest.

***

Following Katara leads them to a prison island made completely out of metal.

Smart.

Ocean around them and no earth or rock to bend.

The Fire Nation did their homework.

Hopefully, Katara finds Haru and then they can leave.

Well, this is what Aang and Sokka thought, Hua was nervously playing with her hands as they waited for Katara twelve hours passed.

It was again her Daimon-Rader who let her feel and taste the sadness and hopelessness of the prison.

Could they really just take Katara and Haru and leave the other earthbenders<?

This were Hua's people.

As the Daimon she had to protect her people too.

The young girl thought about what they could do to save the other earthbender.

She couldn't let them be.

When it was finally time to fetch Katara, Hua decided to tell the others how they had to save the prisoners.

Aang returned with Katara to her and Sokka and her best friend made clear that she wouldn't leave these prisoners.

Sokka protested loudly.

"I'm with Katara.", she told them. "We can't just leave these people her suffering if we can change it."

For this Katara gave her a bright smile, while Sokka declared them both crazy.

They gave him unamused looks.

Aang was swayed too and Sokka gave up to change their minds.

So they got on the Prison Island, while Appa with Jaiyi in his saddle, would hide in the clouds, tile they needed them.

Team Avatar-Daimon hide behind some wooden boxes.

"We don't have much time. What are we gonna do?", asked Sokka.

"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane!"

The others stared blankly at Aang.

"The warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!", explains the Avatar.

"Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?", points Sokka out.

"I'm just tossing ideas around."

"I tried talking the earthbenders into fighting back but, it didn't work! If there was just a way to help them help themselves.", signed Katara.

"I may have an idea.", starts Hua slowly.

"Well out with it.", motivates her Sokka, while Katara and Aang look couriose at her.

"I have tried to think of a solution to help the earthbenders. What they need is some kind of earth or rock to fight with. So where do we get this on this metal island?", Hua turns to the large chimneys pointing at them. "From there. Coal is earth too."

"That's brilliant, Hua!", praises her Katara, which makes the younger girl blush.

"Mmh, it could work...", trailed Sokka off, gripping with a hand his chin, thinking. "I may even have an idea how to get the coal!"

Sokka explains his plan to them and after Aang sneakily checks out if it is possible, they get to work.

Morning arrives, Sokka Katara and Hua are alone by an air duct. 

Sokka is peering down into it, while Katara and Hua kneel beside it with their hands on its rim.

"It's almost dawn. We're running out of time! You sure this is gonna work?", asked Katara worried.

They only had this chance.

Her brother reassured her that he thought it well through. There are vents everywhere, where the smoke the coal produces goes out. Aang closed all vents beside the one that leads to them and when he airbends all the coals will pop out.

And boom!

Something to earthbend for the earthbenders.

"There are the intruders!", suddenly shouts a guard.

Not even a few seconds later the girls and Sokka are in circled by them. The prisoners have gathered a safe distance away from this spectacle, observing what is happening.

Sokka gets his boomerang ready, while Haru's father, Tyro, calls out to Katara that she can't win this fight. The warden was also there, telling her how utterly hopeless this all was.

A sudden rush of air fills their ears as the facility shakes. 

The ventilation shaft bursts off its hinges as an immense blast of coal soars into the air, crashing down into a gathered pile. 

Everyone present is silent, staring in stark surprise at this turn of events. 

Lastly, Aang leaps out from the barren ventilation shaft, landing atop the coal pile and coughing, covered in soot and dirt. 

Momo follows him and Katara runs up to the coal, turning to face the earthbenders.

"Here's your chance, earthbenders! Take it!", encouraged Katara them, holding a piece of coal high in the air. "Your fate is in your own hands!"

Haru bolts ahead without hesitation, prepared to bend the waiting coal as a weapon. 

Tyro throws his hand up, bracing his son's chest to halt his advance.

No one makes a move.

Katara looks unsure at the prisoners.

The warden starts to laugh at her: "Foolish girl. You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago. Oh, but you still believe in them. How sweet. They're a waste of your energy little girl. You failed."

The warden finishes his speech by turning to take leave of the facility. 

As he does so, a single piece of coal sails through the air and pelts the back of his head.

Outraged, the warden spins back to see who dared to attack him. 

Haru stands defiantly levitating three pieces of coal above his hand. 

The warden sends a blast of fire toward Haru, but the fire is blocked, as the newly invigorated Tyro raises a wall of coal in his defence.

The Guards line up and prepare for battle.

"Show no mercy!", commands the Warden and they attack a blast of fire as one toward the rebelling prisoners.

The earthbenders work together to haul a sizable mass of coal to block the fire.

"For the Earth Kingdom, attack!", shouts Tyro.

Slamming the coal to the ground; chunks of rock assault the guards. 

The battle immediately flares, prisoners ducking blasts of fire and countering with fists of coal. 

Katara, Hua and Aang chase after Sokka as he snaps soldiers' spears in two with his boomerang, tossing the broken shafts to Momo overhead. Momo continues to collect other pieces of broken spears that are thrown up at him.

Tyro and Haru work in unison to compress gathered coal into one lump, slinging this through the doors to make way for their escape. 

The guards on top fall down.

Some of the earthbender race out of the hole, while others stay to give them time to reach the ship, like Tyro and Haru.

Aang and Hua help the remaining earthbenders against the warden.

The Avatar generates an air funnel and holds it between his hands which Katara and Sokka fill with coal. 

Then he fired the material rapidly at the warden and his fellow benders, knocking them to the ground. 

Following this, Tyro, Hua and another earthbender work together to lift coal beneath these adversaries, moving them away from the rig and over the ocean.

"No, please! I can't swim!", begs the Warden.

"Don't worry. I hear cowards float.", tells him Tyro.

They drop their enemies into the ocean.

Now they can all leave!

The earthbenders take the little ships of the firebender to sail away, while Aang, Hua and Sokka ride Appa beside them.

Katara was on one of the ships with Tyro and Haru.

Both thank her for her help and for giving them back their courage.

Tyro calls out how they will take back his village and every village in the Earth Kingdom the Fire Nation took.

All the earthbenders shout in agreement.

"Come with us.", asked Haru Katara softly.

He may have known her for a short time, but she was one in a million...maybe they could...?

The waterbender blushes and her heart flatters a bit. There were no boys her age in the Southern Water Tribe, besides her brother, and she did like Haru, however...it was not enough.

"I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Aang and Hua to the North Pole.", explains Katara.

They both look over to them.

Aang was sitting on Appa's head, playing with Momo and coal, while Hua was beside Sokka on the saddle cuddling Jaiyi, her trusty ninetails licking her cheeks.

"That's them, isn't it? The Avatar and Daimon.", guesses Haru correct. "Katara, thank you for bringing my father back to me. I never thought I'd see him again. I only wish there was some way ..."

"I know."

Like always she wants to touch her mother's necklace, but to her horror, it's not anymore on her neck.

Oh no!

Where did she lose it?

Back on the prison rig, Katara's necklace was lying amid coal sparsely on the deck until someone picked it up.

None other than Prince Zuko stares at it grimly as he stands alone facing the sunset.

This time he was too late, however, next time the Avatar and Daimon wouldn't slip away from him!

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