#this is worth them changing the agni kai

[goatsghost]

THE 41ST DIVISION????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? ZUKO & THE 41ST CREW GIRLIES WE ARE SO BACK!!!!

[crystal-lillies]

General thoughts after watching Season 1 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender (spoilers may be present)

It's not bad. It's weird, but it's not bad.

No one asked for this.

No one asked, but we got it anyway. So what did we get?

It's not a 1:1 remake. I don't think, despite everything people have worried and griped about before the show's release, anyone wanted that either. It doesn't retain the same character arcs for everyone. Not just Sokka, but everyone.

At the same time, they still have arcs.

They're weird, they feel weird, because this show does what the Shyamalan movie doesn't, and makes an honest effort to capture the essence of the animated show, of the characters, of the world, and there is respect in its efforts.

There are musical motifs from the original. The set designs are out of the original. Many scenes are shot exactly like the original as homages.

And yet, storylines are merged together, elements from later seasons are introduced earlier, character interactions happen differently, character motivations are presented differently, and that feels weird.

We know the motions but when we the audience try to follow them, the show changes its direction and pulls a weird flex out of left field.

I won't say I agree with every major and minor change made, but I'm not enraged or disappointed in the same way as I was (and many of us were) after seeing the movie.

Instead, I'm more inclined to see where these new threads intend to go, and how the story we all know and love can be told in a different way.

Roku had barely a presence in this season, whereas in the original, he was more or less Aang's spiritual teacher. Instead, we've felt more from Kyoshi and Kuruk and Yangchen, and Aang has felt lost in his spiritual journey as well as his physical one.

Ozai, who was just a shadowy one-dimensional nightmare for most of the original first book, is now a more fleshed out figure, but one of confusing motivations. It's not the tonal whiplash of the movie, of the Ozai who legitimately worried and cared about Zuko's well being while also having still scarred and banished him, but one who is playing a 4-D chess game with his kids as the pieces and doesn't care who wins so long as one does.

I don't think it was the right call to have Zuko fight back in the Agni Kai before getting burned, but it gives a different dynamic to Zuko and Ozai's relationship that he's not the towering, shadowy Mark Hamill terror Zuko cowers before.

This Zuko seems legitimately convinced Ozai cares about him and all it takes is the Avatar to win his full love back, whereas there's still bitterness in the OG Zuko of book one. He knows Ozai favors Azula over him, he knows he's had to struggle well before being banished.

I also think not casting Dee Bradley Baker was a mistake. But they have time to correct that mistake.

All the kid actors, being green, of course do not stand up to expressive and gorgeous animation with brilliant voice acting. But they are all giving it their best, and I think they have what it takes to grow into the Book 3 Team Avatar if they get the chance.

The music got to me a number of times, particularly the instrumental renditions of "Leaves From the Vine."

Do we need this show? No absolutely not.

We have the original ATLA, and we always will. It's a timeless classic of our generation. Nothing could ever compete with it or ruin it.

However, I do feel like this adaptation is worth giving a chance to stand on its own. It may be far from perfect, but after watching it through, I legitimately want to see where it goes from here. I want to see this cast grow and change in their own ways. I want to see Toph in live action. I want to see Ba Sing Se. I want to see the new directions this story chooses to take to end up in the same place at Sozin's Comet.

But that might not happen if Netflix decides to cancel it, and I think that would be a shame.

I really do think it's worth seeing this show through, for better or worse.

Overall, as a show, I would give it a modest 7/10. (With individual elements skewing higher or lower throughout)

I don't like that it's only 8 episodes, but that's been a trend of other streaming shows also, across platforms, so I cannot fault NATLA alone for that.

You don't NEED to have seen the original to understand what's happening or get key details (unlike SOME adaptations have been doing recently). You can get a complete picture with just this. Is it as pretty or vibrant as the original? No. But it is still a whole picture (or, could be, with all three seasons).

It has great effects, sets, props, choreography, good music. It has SUKI. And JET. and JUNE. And THE Cabbage Man!

AND OMA/SHU ARE LESBIANS! I mean, I see that as an absolute win.

[jasmine-tea-latte]

JTL's long but not as long as it could've been review of Netflix's ATLA

So.

I’ve finished watching the Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender and I have a lot of thoughts. Because despite some of the more questionable changes, I overall enjoyed this as an adaptation.

I wish I could say that I was surprised by the criticisms I'm seen so far, but unfortunately, I’m not. As much as I adore the OG series for being one of the greatest animated shows (or television shows, period), it’s been placed on a pedestal over the years and any adaptation of it will always be held to an impossibly high standard. And for better or for worse, a lot of fans have their nostalgia glasses on when it comes to the show, so any deviation from the source material is going to receive some form of backlash. I say this as someone who clearly still loves the show 19 years later, otherwise I wouldn't be here writing about it, ya know?

Anyways, if I had to give it a grade compared to the OG series, I’d give it a B- or a C+. If I’m grading it as its own thing, I’d bump that up to a B+ or A-. There are some elements (pun not intended) that definitely should have been kept in, and some changes that I thought were done well.

TL;DR – I had fun watching it even during the parts that made me cry, and the parts that made me say “… well that was a decision.” I’d love to see the last two books be adapted as well, if for no other reason than to meet Toph Mothereffing Bei Fong and see all of Team Avatar together.

(Also because I’d LOVE to see The Ember Island Players, especially if they managed to work in a few fun cameos. Can't you picture Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Play!Toph and thee Dante Basco as Play!Zuko, hamming it up for all it’s worth? Shut up and take my money!)

(And of course, the Last Agni Kai for obvious reasons)

So I’d recommend at least checking it out if you’re interested. I’d also like to recommend that if you do, watch it from a pragmatic standpoint that it’s a condensed adaptation, not a shot-for-shot remake.

Some things that I liked, and some that I didn’t are below the cut:  

(SPOILERS, obvs)

Aang – I really liked this version of him, and though his actor’s still young, I thought he embodied the upbeat, playful side well. I also liked that they removed his one-sided crush on Katara, and – don’t shoot me for this – if they went with Kat@ang later based on how they did their characters in this first season, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed if it’s built on actual friendship and not an unrequited crush. (Still Team Zutara for life, but I don’t think that I’d *hate* it if the show went in this direction.)

Katara – I thought her actress did great when it came to portraying the nurturing, sensitive side. What I didn’t like was them removing nearly all of her feminine rage. Let her be angry! Let her lose her temper and be hot-headed! This post sums it up nicely. That being said, I do think she did well enough with the direction she was given. Here’s hoping we’ll see our girl eff some stuff up if we get Seasons 2 and 3.

Sokka – Fantastic and sarcastic. I really liked his actor’s interpretation of him, and it definitely felt more in line with the character we all fell in love with during the OG show.

Zuko – out of the main cast, I think his performance was the best. He had to step into a major role, taking over from a beloved performance that is still hailed as one of the greatest redemption arcs in modern media with a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders, and I think that his actor knocked it out of the park. It’s different from Dante Basco’s interpretation, obviously. But as I watched each episode, I kept thinking, “there’s our grumpy fire boy.” The scene where he’s throwing the temper tantrum over losing his journal, while Iroh’s standing back and watching? I thought to myself, “this boy is the worst, he’s perfect.” Plus the flashbacks to his life before scarring were done well, and even though I knew what was coming re: the Agni Kai against his father and subsequent banishment, I still got emotional.

Also, regarding the Agni Kai – on one hand, I feel like his absolute refusal to fight back was such an integral part of that scene and understanding who he is as a character. That being said, I didn’t *hate* that in this version he was pushed into defending himself, albeit by holding back. That one shot where he hesitates to attack Ozai, only for his father to use that same move against him moments later… oof.

My ONLY complaint with this version of Zuko is that he didn't say "honor" once.

Other thoughts I had:

🟣 I really liked that we got to see more of the Air Nomads and life at the Southern Air Temple prior to Sozin’s attack. I also liked the explanation the show gave of having all the Air Nomads gathered together for a festival celebrating the comet, which makes more sense if they’re all (allegedly) under one roof.

Additionally, witnessing the genocide itself… I was crying. Especially during the final showdown between Gyatso and Sozin, and the realization that we were witnessing Roku’s (former) best friend slaughter one of his other closest friends.

But why wouldn't they send the children out on the flying bison to escape instead of having them all cornered?!

🟣 I really enjoyed getting to see interactions between Ozai and Iroh, which was one of the biggest missed opportunities in the OG show.

🟣 MY GIRL JUNE. That is all.

The part where she flirts with Iroh was also a nice flip on what happened in the OG show, with his covert pervert crush and all. Plus Zuko’s face when she calls his “dad” cute? Peak Zuzu. Also, poor Iroh hahaha.

🟣 Suki! I really liked the Kyoshi Island episode, plus her awkward flirting with Sokka by kicking his ass.

🟣 I really wish the whole subplot of Kya’s necklace hadn’t been cut, tbh. The flashbacks involving her were good, and as devastating as it was actually seeing her death, it does hammer home the point what a horrifying experience that was (side-eyeing you, everyone making the jokes about Katara always bringing up her dead mother.)

🟣 THE SCARF SCENE. Nice try, Netflix, but I know better than to get my hopes up again from 5 seconds of slow-mo. Did I still screech when it happened, though? Ofc I did!

🟣 The twist with the 41st Division was bittersweet and I may have (okay, definitely) cried.

🟣 Combining Jet’s subplots with the Mechanist’s and putting them in Omashu wasn’t too bad. I do wish the message of “not everyone in the FN is evil” from Jet’s episode had made it into this version, tbh.

🟣 Overall, I liked Jet + the Freedom Fighters. Also, props to his actor for capturing the pretty boy / f*ckboi attitude well.

🟣 Loved Chong and the hippies, of course (SECRET, SECRET, SECRET TUNNEL, YEAH!) and I don’t mind that they were included this early.

🟣 I loved the change to the Cave of Two Lovers and having Oma and Shu be lesbians.

🟣 I feel like if the show’s renewed for a second season and we come back to Omashu, there’s a chance they could revisit the COTL with Katara and Aang this time around.

🟣 The random lady smacking Zuzu with a broom – “how dare you hit that child?!” – was hilarious, and Dallas Liu’s facial expressions of “wtf” and “fml” were a thing of beauty (starts at 1:40 in the video below)

🟣 CABBAGE MAN! I just love that they got the original voice actor, hamming it up and screaming at the sky.

🟣 I LOVED the Blue Spirit episode, and all of the flashbacks, plus the voiceover about masks and seeing past!Zuko contrasted to present!Zuko, as presented in this gifset? RIP my heart.

🟣 The flashback to Lu Ten’s funeral and showing Zuko being the only person to join his uncle, sharing a sweet memory of his cousin while Leaves from the Vine plays? Beautiful. Ditto to the flashbacks of Iroh standing up for his nephew prior to the Agni Kai and the scenes of them getting ready to set sail to search for the Avatar. “I don’t need a babysitter.” “How about a friend?” how about excuse you I did not ask for these emotions how dare you.

🟣 I actually liked the inclusion of Ozai and Azula + Mai and Ty Lee. I also loved the opening of Ep. 3, showing how she was able to infiltrate the team of rebels. RIP to Kevin Tran (in advanced placement), though.

🟣 I loved that Katara rallied the women waterbenders and they were able to help during the Siege of the North. I also liked her reaction when she's talking with Yugoda in the healing huts and realizes why she's been sent there. It gave us a glimpse of the fiestier / headstrong Katara we all know and love, and if the show gets renewed I hope we'll get to see more.

🟣 I really enjoyed them giving Aang and Zuko a few minutes to talk / form a connection after he was unmasked as the Blue Spirit. That was nicely done.

and finally...

Nothing else to add, just chef's kiss.

(gif source)

Anyways! I might make a more extensive list of my personal pros and cons, but for now, I’d still recommend giving it a shot.

[zuko-always-lies]

Rating my list of Azula AUs by how much they appeal/are interesting to me now

It's a long list, and some of these ideas are actually quite old, so I thought it would be worth giving each AU idea a rating out of 10. Note that some of these aren't my ideas and I intend no disrespect to anyone. I just want to rate how interested I would be in a story if someone used the AU idea as a basis.

Better parenting Ursa (8/10)-Would be a banger.

Azula raises Katara AU (and continued) and more (9/10)-I've never seen anything quite like this and would be very interesting.

Azula and Katara get friendly postwar and talk about their brothers. (7/10)-Good idea for a short story?

Mai is significantly older than Azula and Ty Lee AU (Older “sister” Mai) (4/10)-Could be interesting but honestly I find canon Azula-Mai's dynamic plenty interesting on its own.

Jin works at Iroh’s teashop but finds out about his past (5/10)-Perhaps worth a shot.

Zuko tells Azula about the Spirit Water (5/10)-Too close to canon?

Ursa and Ozai get along better, and it’s not a good thing AU (4/10)-A little dark for my tastes.

Imperialist Lu Ten survives the war and tries to regain his throne afterwards (9/10)-Now that would be incredible. Lots and lots drama and lots of lighting fandom takes on fire.

Zuko finds out more about his nation AU. (5/10) Somewhat interesting.

Revolutionary Azula takes over Ba Sing Se AU. (2/10) In retrospect it feels a bit too imperialist in tone.

Three different AU ideas in one (4/10) None of them are really that great.

Favoritism in the royal family is a little different (5/10) moderately interesting.

What if Zuko had a nonbending twin sister (who he doesn’t get along with). (10/10) The Zola AU. One of the most interesting and subversive ideas I've had.

Zuko’s daughter changes how he sees Azula (7/10). Could be worth a short story.

Zuko and Ursa try to isolate Azula (“for her own good”) (9/10). Brilliant dark AU, very subversive of fandom expectations.

Ozai gets exiled and the Gaang stupidly ally with him (6/10). Could be entertaining.

Earth Kingdom ends up with custody of Azula postwar and support her bid for the Fire Nation throne when Zuko starts another war with them. (10/10). Pure, wonderful chaos and Team Avatar are really in a bind.

The Gaang tries to figure out why Zuko joined them. (3/10). Might make a good short story.

Dangerous Ladies find Ursa in Book 2. (10/10). Ursa setting canon of fire is always worth it.

Azula and Toph fake dating (1/10). Not that interested in Tophzula.

Zuko/“world leaders” try to force Aang to take away Azula’s bending and he’s very much not OK with it. (4/10). Not too interesting.

Azula is thrown away to the NWT postwar as a trinket and Chief Arnook adopts her. (9/10). Wonderful idea for how to get a fire sibling adopted by the water tribes and have it make sense.

Comics! Ursa’s letter about Zuko being a bastard gets out. (2/10). Too associated with the comics.

Zuko and Katara lie about what happened during the Agni Kai (4/10). Shrug.

An exiled Azula finds Fire Imperialist! Ursa postwar. (10/10) Absolute banger of an idea, although quite dark. Azula and Ursa unite to overthrow Zuko.

Aang has to save Azula from being executed by Zuko (5/10) OKish

Zuko’s defection during DoBS goes very badly for Mai (4/10)

Zuko joins the Gaang at Ba Sing Se, but it ends poorly (10/10) let's make the writers of all those bad Zvtara fics suffer!

Zuko killed Azula during the Agni Kai, and now he has to deal with the consequences. (6/10). Dark/

AU idea where Zuko keeps Azula permanently imprisoned in bad and torturous conditions postwar, and Izumi finds out about when she’s relatively young, and draws exactly the sort of conclusions about her parents that you would expect. Not to mention being terrified that she might be treated the same way if she missteps… (7/10). Could be interesting.

Ozai never declares Zuko and Iroh traitors (7/10). Clever idea, would destroy canon as we know it.

Iroh-Azula roleswap au (9/10). Would be absolutely incredible.

Zuko asks Azula for help with his firebending. (5/10). I really don't like the fire siblings having a good relationship very much at this point.

Zuko wants Azula to like him but doesn’t get why she doesn’t like him (postwar) (8/10). Good idea for a shorter fic.

Katara has an arranged marriage with Zuko and Azula tries to get into the good graces of her sister in law (7/10). Might be interesting.

“Katara is supposed to have an arranged marriage with Zuko, but she falls in love with Azula instead.” (10/10). No explanation needed.

Another take on Zvtara (arranged marriage) and Maizula. (6/10). Good idea but maybe a little boring.

Azula-Katara AU idea (or: Katara runs into an Azula who has changed a lot in some ways and not very much in others) (7/10). Never could quite gets this to work.

Zuko is actually Ikem’s son (2/10). Enough about the comics!

Firelord Azula ends her brother’s exile 3/10. Nothing particularly interesting.

Azula raises Izumi (it’s complicated) (8/10) Really would be worth engaging with.

“AU idea: Azula commits suicide out of despair, and just about everyone is convinced that Zuko had her murdered or at the very least “encouraged” her to do it.” (3/10). More Zuko angst.

Dangerous Ladies get banished/declared traitors and Azula basically gives up. Mai has to step up her place. (9/10), would be a very interesting look at Mai.

I have to say, “Zuko has to deal with finding out that Ursa very much isn’t who he believed she was” remains excellent fanfic fodder. (8/10). Ursa for the win!

“AU idea: Ursa is more aware of Ozai’s abuse and potential for abuse than in canon, so, right after her exile, she seeks out Iroh and charges him with protecting both of her children.” 6/10. I don't find like Iroh enough to really like an idea which had him be so central.

Firelord Iroh treats Azula in a really screwed up way. 9/10, very dark but could have great payoff.

“AU where Azula dies during the latter stages of the war or right after it, and Mai is the only person who ever morns her as a person, not as a politically convenient symbol (Ty Lee runs away from her complex feelings on Azula as much as she can).” 7/10, could be a good oneshot

Dark idea (5/10).

“Since so much of the fandom is convinced that Azula is Zuko’s older sister, I need an AU where this is true and Zuko is just as throne-obsessed as canon and spends all his time trying to usurp his older sister.” (1/10). Not really an idea which stands on its own.

“AU where Ozai has a heart attack and dies right after the fire siblings return to the Fire Nation, and Zuko and Azula have to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, the Gaang are plotting to overthrow them and bring the war to a close once and for all…” 8/10. Could be a banger.

King Kuai adopts Azula as his heir 7/10. Interesting idea

Things get complicated, darkly (Azula exiled postwar AU) 6/10. A little convoluted.

What if Zuko tried to be a good brother 5/10. Zuko is boring.

“I really need an AU where Lu Ten returns and is pissed over Ozai’s usurpation, so he kills Ozai, seizes the throne, and continues the war. Of course, Iroh ends up supporting his actual son in all of this, and the conflict in the Fire Nation ends up boiling down to Zuko and Azula vs. Lu Ten and Iroh as the situation spirals toward civil war, at the same time the 100 years war continues.” 8/10. Nice chaotic edge.

“Maizula AU where Mai married Zuko, but he died not long after Izumi was born, and Azula and Mai are secretly carrying out a relationship while raising Izumi and ruling the Fire Nation as her regents.” 8/10. Maizula for the win. Could work as a short story.

Azula joins the Gaang with a twist… 7/10.

“The chaos which would result if Lu Ten showed up alive again in Book 1 and launched a rebellion against Ozai in pursuit of “his” throne.” (5/10). Less interesting than the other Lu Ten ideas.

Ursa opposes Firelord Zuko 7/10. More good Ursa content!

Iroh tries to kill Azula during “The Chase” (5/10). OKish.

Mai and Ty Lee on trial for “war crimes”“ and Azula has to save them 9/10, would be wonder with a great Maizulee dynamic.

[galaxythreads]

The live action ATLA is amazing. 9.5/10. I didn't love everything about it, but there are so so so so many good parts and I'm so glad that Netflix decided to make this. I've seen a lot of weird criticism from long time fans and maybe I just haven't been in the fandom long enough, but. I absolutely think it's worth giving a watch if you go in with a semi blank slate. The Netlfix series is not trying to be an exact scene by scene remake of the show.

The thing about it that you have to remember when you go in is that they said they were going to change the tone of the show, and they did, and it works! It's not the same. It's not a comedy. It's funny, but it's not a comedy. Character motivations were changed to fit the darker theme. It's using Avatar as source material and intends to be an adaption, not a reconstruction of the series.

Katara is much more traumatized about her mom's death, which made sense! She was murdered in front of her. She's afraid to take on a maternal role because of that. She's quieter and softer because she's afraid and she's healing from her mother's murder. Katara in the series made sense, too, but I feel like someone looked at her and went! Wait. Smol child is maybe...not okay??? I have faith they will build her up as the seasons progress if they continue.

Hakoda is disappointed in Sokka barely passing his trial. Makes sense! They're at war! Sokka has to take care of the village, of course Hakoda has high expectations for him. And the thing is--Hakoda still trusted Sokka with the responsibility of the village anyway, so his disappointment in Sokka's trial didn't stop his faith in his son. And honestly, I think it's fine that Hakoda is not a perfect parent who never makes mistakes. Parents rant about their kids to their friends all the time. It's healthy because they're not doing it in front of, or to, their kid. Hakoda didn't know Sokka was listening. So. Idk. Sokka doesn't go through his misogyny is bad actually arc, and while I missed it, I thought he functioned really well in this story without it. And for the record!!!! Sokka STILL makes stupid jokes the entire season. He didn't lose his sense of humor.

Aang feeling so much guilt about leaving? Yep! I can vibe with that. I missed his innocence and playfulness, but I feel like this wasn't a bad take on the character either. He was still playful, but in the world they live in, it would make sense that he feels terrible for leaving. And everyone they encounter takes it upon them to rub it in his face so why wouldn't he feel bad or out of place?? Especially after Bumi. Everyone says he needs to face this alone, and Aang learning that he doesn't have to?? Powerful!! Is it the same arc as s1 of the show? No! It's not supposed to be!

Zuko's actor was perfectly cast. That boy IS Zuko. The scence at the end of e6 made me cry because it was so powerful with the 41st, and that felt so EARNED after episodes of watching Zuko's crew despise him to suddenly realizing the only reason they're alive is because of him and realizing it's an honor to shelter him. Zuko drawing Aang to pin him on his disaster wall was amazing. Him getting hit by some random woman for attacking Aang? Amazing. Him sitting next to Iroh during Lu Ten's funeral? So soft. The Agni Kai really rubbed people the wrong way, but I think it was interesting that they decided to have Zuko showing compassion be the root of Ozai's anger. He showed compassion to the 41st, he shows compassion to his father, and when Ozai has defeated him, he has him on the ground and could walk away, and he chooses to burn his face. It's not exactly the same as the show, but again, it's not intending to be.

Azula being here was interesting. I don't know if I loved Zhao being incapable of doing anything without her, but it works for what it is. Zhao is intended to be annoying and he was! So. 10/10. She cried when Zuko got his scar! Ozai playing the long hand of terrible abusive tactics made me want to bite him. Because Ozai doesn't care about Zuko. He uh. Made that pretty clear when he banished him and then at the end when he's explicitly told Zuko might have died at Agna Qel'a and he's like ????????? Am I supposed to care??? We've gotten rid of weakness. So??? Like he used Zuko to force Azula to become more ruthless. He used Zuko to shape her. I do hope we get more exploration of Ty Lee and Mai so they aren't Faceless Blorb Friends, but I just don't think there was really time in s1.

The parts they chose to remove and add into the story was interesting. You got to explore the story for the first time again. I definitely think both versions have merit and are deeply enjoyable, I just don't think you should go in expecting it to be exactly the same thing? I was happy to see a new take on the story, but that might be because I knew that it was going to be darker and the characters would adapt to that. I do hope we can get more of the vibe of the show's humor in season 2 if we get season 2, and Katara feels little more like her show-counter part because I missed her, but honestly, I do recommend to a friend.

Or at the very least, if you absolutely refuse to watch it, PLEASE go watch the last 1/2 of episode 6 with Zuko and the 41st because I CANNOT.

+THEY ACTUALLY PRONOUCED EVERYONE'S NAMES CORRECTLY #bareMinimumAward

[attackfish]

@candleslitsnow asked: "What if when Zuko rerouted Azula's lightning through his heart during their final Agni Kai, it actually killed him? I'm imagining Katara still wins the fight but realizes afterward that he died."

I in fact have an AU where Azula kills Zuko in the Agni Kai: [Link]. Fair warning, the person who prompted me for that one did not like how I filled the prompt, and I had to ban them after they got nasty about it. Also The first fill in this AU was one of the first five headcanon prompts I ever answered, so I didn't have my feet under me yet, and at the risk of sounding pretentious, my philosophy of five headcanons has changed. Oh, and in this scenario, Zuko was obviously dead, and Katara, in the subsequent fight, kills Azula.

1. A fourteen year old killing another fourteen year old doesn't do great things for the kid who did the killing. It doesn't matter that the kids she had killed had just killed her friend, and was going to kill her. It is still horrible. It still leaves Katara, when there is no one around to watch, shaking with it. When she closes her eyes, she sees Azula's face as she suffocates, trapped inside the ice. She hears Zuko's ragged scream, then his moans, then his whimpers, then his silence. And maybe, when she's feeling most self-pitying, she wonders if maybe how understanding Aang is being about it, doesn't make it worse.

2. Aang didn't kill Ozai. He was able to spare him as Katara didn't spare Azula. And he is so understanding about it, so sympathetic. She couldn't take away Azula's bending. She had no choice. It's horrible, and he's sorry she had to do that. But Katara... She knows there was a moment there, when she could have chained Azula. She had her trapped in ice. She could have chained her. But instead, she let her die. She knows this, but she can't tell Aang. She doesn't know which would be worse, if he rejected her, or if he didn't believe her, that she was misremembering, or her mind was playing tricks on her in her horror. But she knows what she did.

3. The one person who does understand, who Katara can go to, who gets it, is her dad. Hakoda knows what it means to go off to war, to take lives, to make devastating choices. And it's into the company of her father and the Southern Water Tribe warriors that Katara retreats, and finds solace, and maybe, the beginnings of self acceptance.

4. Let's take a moment to think about Mai. Barely a month before, Mai put her life on the line to stop Azula from killing Zuko. She went to prison for it. Now she is out of prison, and Zuko is dead anyway. Azula kied him anyway. And Azula is dead too. What good was any of it? What worth did it have? How is she supposed to go forward after this? And the rest of the world is moving on. The war is over, Iroh is on the throne, and people are happy. (How dare they be happy). The world is shifting around her, and she is stuck. No one is stuck on the same page with her, not even Ty Lee. It's different for Ty Lee. Mai stood up to Azula for Zuko, and he's dead. Ty Lee stood up to Azula for Mai, and Mai still alive. Zuko threw his life away after she saved him, and for what? And the worst part is, he didn't throw his life away. He made a difference. The world is changing around her because of the cause he fought for. But it wasn't the cause she ever fought for, and she doesn't know how to take that.

5. Iroh has now lost two sons in the same war, on two different sides. He sent each of them out to fight, for what he believed was right, and each time, he lived, and they did not. The first time he lost a son, he fell apart. He dragged himself home, and into the quiet darkness of his own rooms at the palace. He now understands that he was like a butterfly-wasp in its cocoon, and he would reemerge entirely changed, but back then all he wanted was to die, to not need to continue on. He was forced in that time, to reconsider everything heband his son had fought for, and to conclude it was less than worthless. He can't do that now. What Zuko died for was not worthless. And he has to be firelord, he has to honor the sacrifice his nephew made. He can't sink down into the depths of his own misery. He has work to do. He has to rule. He has to figure out what to do about the succession. He has to move forward. He hates it so much.

[crispykodraws]

Hey i just wanted to say that i am kinda obsessed with your Firelord Azula AU. I have just two questions that keep bouncing raound in my head Maybe you could help with them if you want and they aren't spoilers or left open for reader interpretation.

Seeing as Azula had a productive conversation with Zuko and he and Katara didn't just steal the crown from her in this AU, i assume she didn't have her mental breakdown (besides cutting her hair) and send everyone away. Is that correct?. So is she still in charge of the Dai Li? And how did she avoid it (maybe just a healthy amount of sleep)?

And what did they do instead of havjng the Last Agni Kai? Did Azula just quiz Zuko on Fire Nation bureaucracy, court life and diplomacy and after Zuko couldn't answer the questions correctly, he decided he needed to do some learning before he could run the Fire Nation?

Sorry for the long ask. You said you wanted to do some comic strips about this AU, i am definitely looking forward to that. And what new haircuts you decide to give Azula.

Hello, I too am obsessed with this AU. I think about it everyday. So thank you very much for asking about it!

I'm retroactively writing this paragraph because my answer got long. It might be considered spoilers for some, but a lot of them won't be addressed directly in the comics/fics because they're mostly just gags and short moments in the AU. So they're more like supplemental uhh lore than spoilers. To be safe though, I'll hide the rest of the answer below.

Aaah, I like those scenarios in your ask. My funny haha brain can imagine Zuko coming in and saying "I'd like to apply to be Fire Lord" and Azula, the merciless interviewer, says with a straight face, "A month ago, you didn't even know how Fire Lord Sozin, your own great-grandfather, died"

But lemme answer your questions before I get ahead of myself.

1) Mental Breakdown One thing to understand about this AU is it started with a joke idea that Zuko came to Azula's coronation to just attend it, not usurp her (much to Katara's and everyone else's confusion). I don't want to change that because it keeps things lighthearted despite the serious topics beneath the surface. I might like to keep plot points canon compliant, but there's some suspension of disbelief needed for this AU to work.

So, nah. Everything before the Last Agni Kai still happens. The only people who stuck around after the banishing spree are her Imperial Firebenders (they were weathering her ire in the barracks). Ninety percent of the servants are gone; Lo and Li retired to Ember Island; and the Dai Li left but didn't go back to the Earth Kingdom because they're considered traitors by then. Azula needed to feel the acute sense of being alone to accept Zuko into her life again.

There are few things that I've taken liberty with, like amplifying Azula's loneliness and desire to have someone to trust and call a family unconditionally. Aside from wanting control of her life, those are her motivations in this AU. So when Zuko refuses to fight and offers all those to her, she just takes it. And despite of her still present paranoia at the time, she believes it because Zuko wears his heart on his sleeve. He can lie but it's easy to spot.

However, her issues aren't resolved by then. Since this Azula is in a position of power and still insulated in her comfort zone and doesn't really get professional help, her healing comes really, really slow. Zuko's presence only helps so much.

2) Fire Lord Business I mentioned it earlier; Zuko arrives at her coronation and refused to fight her. He knows that even if he asked nicely and proved his worth, Azula wouldn't give him the crown. Zuko understands that she deserves it--she's filled the role of the heir for a long time now and this is the culmination of it. He also knows that he doesn't have to be the Fire Lord to make a difference in the world. He's already done so by helping Aang. So he basically let the coronation continue and let Azula have what she wants. It's also his peace offering, like a "look I can be nice to you too, please trust me" thing.

Zuko is already aware that he lacks the skill and experience to run a nation. He has some managerial and customer service skills from his time as a teashop employee, so he managed to be Azula's secretary/scribe for a short while. He does get promoted pretty quickly though.

When they first address his training, it's a few days after the coronation. Technically, they aren't both done with their training and lessons, but Azula is way ahead of Zuko. Everyone who wants to do public service and administration in the Fire Nation has to pass several civil service exams. Royalty aren't required to but they all take (and should pass, because it would be embarrassing otherwise) the exams as a formality. They both haven't taken any yet, so that's something they're equals on.

I do want to make comic strips about this, yeah. Some of them are going to be converted into fanfics probably. Because I don't want to draw them They work better in prose than in comic format. But I'm not sure if I'll do them all; there's like ~30 parts already lmao. So yeah, I don't really mind the long ask, I actually enjoyed sharing stuff about it. Might have overshared, to be honest. I hope you don't mind. I tried my best to be vague and avoid specific spoilers.

And let's see if Azula with another haircut will be added to the collection lol

Again, thanks very much for the ask!!

[an-aspiring-jester]

Hi I have a question and want to hear your thoughts! A lot of anti-Maiko arguments claim that Mai was completely unaware/does not align with Zuko’s moral codes and mission, for example in stopping the fire nations imperialism. This therefore means that they don’t work in a relationship. I want to hear your thoughts, specifically if you choose to debunk this claim! Thank you!

Hi! Thanks for the ask! I don't know if you're the same anon as before but I love seeing (and talking to!) other maiko fans on this site! <3

To start off, I don't think the show gives us any concrete evidence of Mai's political views, so my response consists mostly of canon-compliant headcanons that I think make sense for her character.

Mai's main problem is her passivity. So frankly, I think she never questioned Fire Nation's imperialism because she had no reason to! (Or even the opportunity - remember that everyone in the Fire Nation is spoon-fed the propaganda since early childhood, and the only time she went out she was traveling with Azula) But, judging from her apathy in Omashu, her view can be summed up as something like "why bother conquering other nations, we already have everything we need in the capital, it's more trouble than it's worth/it's boring." What she does have strong opinions about (I think) is the absolute power of the Firelord - the guy branded and banished his own son for speaking out of turn - what can a regular citizen do? I talked about it before - she views maintaining the status quo and playing by the Firelord's rules as a way to keep Zuko (and herself) safe. Add her own stifling upbringing where she was forbidden to express her opinions, and you see why she never speaks against the regime. Even talking about it with Zuko can be potentially dangerous - the walls have ears, after all.

(Purely headcanon territory: I think one of the reasons she fell for Zuko in the first place was his earnestness in speaking up against mistreatment of others - be it the fountain incident, or opposing the slaughtering of young Fire Nation soldiers. And she saw how that turned out for him. I believe the Agni Kai trauma made her even more reluctant to stand up for anything.)

And now the turning point - the Boiling Rock. Mai's whole arc is about overcoming her apathy and passivity and finally finding the courage and the drive to stand up and FIGHT for what's important to her. And let's not kid ourselves, she didn't do it for any political agenda, but for ZUKO. But it doesn't make it any less impactful. It's just the first step for her! I see no reason why she wouldn't become a supporting and politically-aware queen by Zuko's side? It's not like she threw a fit over keeping Fire Nations colonies or insisted on staying spoiled and unbothered in Caldera - we see her in Earth Kingdom clothes, peacefully interacting with Zuko's friends!!! She has time to learn about the world and different cultures now that the danger is over, and there's no Azula's shadow looming over her, ready to report any perceived treachery if her opinions stray from the universally accepted.

I'll give antis that - maiko probably WOULDN'T work out long-term if Mai stayed her uninterested, apathetic self. This (among other things) is why they had communication problems during the show. But the whole POINT is that she grows as a person and will CONTINUE to do so after the show! It's never too late to change! Mai didn't have to actively help Zuko stop the war (though saving his life was a pretty important step for that!), it's enough that she'll help him shape a better future for the Fire Nation and the world!

There's a long way still ahead of them but what we are shown in the finale makes me very optimistic about these two. :)

I don't know if you're satisfied with my answer but that's basically my opinion on the matter. I'm really glad you reached out! (And kinda flattered you wanted to hear MY thoughts XD I'm just a nobody chilling in my corner XD)

[bard-llama]

WiP List Time

Because why not? This is gonna be super long, so I'm gonna separate it into sections under a cut.

Gen fics (71)

The Tournament of Kingship (published): Toph enters a tourney to determine the King of Omashu, who is supposed to be the Greatest Earthbender in the World

Actions Speak Louder Than Words (unpublished): Zuko apologizes to the Gaang through actions, rather than words

Come to the Good Side, We Have Cookies (published)

Spontaneous Combustion (unpublished): In Ba Sing Se, Zuko investigates a rash of spontaneous combustion cases

Early S3 AU (unpublished): During The Runaway, Zuko is touring the prison facility Toph and Katara end up in. When they escape, he chases them - because they're the only possible hope of stopping his father.

Choosing Nonviolence (unpublished): Aang sees Zuko’s Scars, but still refuses to kill Ozai. Zuko feels betrayed, but nonviolence is important to Aang and he tries to explain

What is Forgiveness (unpublished): Aang was right about Katara needing to forgive. But what does that mean for him facing Ozai?

Truth Serum (unpublished): While facing Azula during The Chase, they all somehow get exposed to some kind of truth pollen shit

De-aged Zuko (unpublished): s1!Zuko ends up as a little kid. The Gaang does not know what to think.

Flower Language (unpublished): Aang offers friendship through flower language. Zuko does not understand.

The Duke Learns to Read (unpublished): Zuko teaches The Duke how to read

Working Together/Mission Fic (unpublished) s1!Zuko and Aang get captured by slavers and have to escape with the other captives

Zuko becomes Fire Lord at 13 AU (unpublished): During the Agni Kai, Zuko fights back. This changes everything.

Toph Joins S1 (unpublished): During the Pirate encounter, Toph mows them down and Iroh and Zuko end up surrounded. Zuko refuses to surrender.

A Scarred Foundation (published): Zuko wears makeup to hide the worst of his scars

Muzzled (unpublished): The Gaang and Iroh rescue Zuko from Zhao, only to find him muzzled and unaware. It's been days.

The Long Road to Recovery (unpublished): When the Gaang refuses to let Zuko join them, he goes searching for Uncle in Ba Sing Se - and ends up captured and horribly tortured. Now the war is over and he has to figure out how to recover.

Trusted with Weapon (unpublished): Zuko realizes the Gaang trusts him

Body Swap (unpublished): In Ba Sing Se, Zuko and Aang wake up in each other's bodies. Iroh is very confused and concerned.

Gifts (unpublished): When they discover it's Aang's bday, the different ways their cultures view gifts are explored

Katara POV Zuko tortured by Fire Lord (unpublished): Katara is glad Aang is unconscious and can't hear Zuko's screams

Ozai finds out Zuko joined the Avatar (unpublished): Ozai is very annoyed that he didn't just murder his firstborn long ago

Kanna (unpublished): Gran Gran stands in judgement of the firebender her grandkids adopted

Gyatso Runs Away With Aang (unpublished): s1 AU with added Gyatso

Dad Convo (unpublished): Zuko and Hakoda have a convo about dads

Shaking it up down South (unpublished): Katara is not the only woman annoyed when the post-war negotiations in the Southern Water Tribe keep ignoring them. The men don't intend to be sexist, but it doesn't mean they aren't.

Something to Live For (unpublished): when your whole world is pain, you have to find something worth living for

Keeping the Avatar Alive (unpublished): After fucking up and almost getting Aang killed, Zuko takes his responsibility to protect the Avatar very seriously

Self-Harming Zuko (unpublished): Zuko doesn't know why he hurts himself, but he does

Haunted Toy (unpublished): After the news of Lu Ten's death, Zuko discovers that the toy crow that Lu Ten had given him now speaks with Lu Ten's voice.

Animal Transformation: Zuko is a finch-hawk (unpublished): s1!Zuko gets turned into a bird and ends up getting taken care of by the Gaang

Time Travel Zuko 2: Electric Boogaloo (unpublished): s1!Gaang come into contact with an older man calling himself Fire Lord Zuko. s1!Zuko is not impressed.

Toph and Zuko’s Life-Changing Field Trip (unpublished): Toph brings the Fire Lord with her to go visit her parents. This has an impact on her parents' plan to marry her off.

Crossdressing Gaang (unpublished): Who doesn't enjoy playing dress up?

Nerd Lords (unpublished): Kuei and Zuko bond over being gigantic nerds.

Fight Club (unpublished): while on the run from the Fire Nation, Zuko has an eye for identifying where the underground fighting rings are in any city of the Earth Kingdom.

Instinctive Bending (unpublished): Zuko has always found the rigid firebending forms to be unnatural and uncomfortable. He's terrible at them. But when he lets himself bend without thinking about it... he's not proper, but he's good.

Drugged Zuko Rescue (unpublished): Sokka and Aang rescue a drugged Zuko from the Dai Li

Bad (?) Reputation (unpublished): the Gaang is surprised to learn that there are those in the EK who are disappointed the Avatar is back - because it means the Fire Prince won't investigate their corrupt officials anymore.

Silence (unpublished): Aang hates silence

Hidden Communities (unpublished): If the Sun Warriors are going to hide the dragons... then why not surviving Air Nomads and Sky Bison too?

Gyatso adopting Aang (unpublished): Adopting a student is a big deal to Air Nomads. But none ever felt right for Gyatso - until Aang.

Crooked World (unpublished): Zuko knows his world doesn't work the way it does in scrolls

Fire, Water, and Government (Know Nothing of Mercy) (published): Zuko becomes a pirate. This affects the Southern Water Tribes greatly.

Time Loop/Loop Zoop (unpublished): When Zuko's ship blows up, it starts a time loop that he can't figure out how to get out of.

Southern Water Tribe Mixed Children (unpublished): as the SWT fleet made contact with the world, it makes sense that some might fall in love and choose to leavethe fleet. That doesn't mean they don't want their kids to be part of the tribe.

Brother (unpublished): Azula is not okay with Toph claiming her brother. Zuzu is hers.

Blue Spirit Reveal (unpublished): After The Boy in the Iceberg, Sokka asks Aang about being saved by the Blue Spirit.

Zuko's Odyssey (unpublished): in the years before the show, Zuko decides to sail across the Western Ocean, said to be full of monsters and mysteries.

Accidental Shaman Zuko (published): Zuko learns how to be a shaman while searching for the Avatar. This has a ripple effect that changes everything.

Balance (published): Zuko bends both water and fire. He may not know why - but he's learned to be pretty good with both. Now it's time to leave the Northern Water Tribe settlement near the Northern Air Temple and find an earthbending teacher for Aang.

A Second Chance at Family (published): When Azula's lightning hits Zuko, he expects to die. He does not expect to wake up several months earlier in a different world.

Agni’s Little Flame (unpublished): There was one little flame that Agni had a fondness for

Unyielding (unpublished): Zuko believes in never giving up without a fight

Zuko adapts other bending techniques (unpublished): Zuko's never been a great bender. Which is why he needs an edge if he's going to be able to face his family. Adapting techniques from other bending styles may be wrong, but it works.

More gen, bc apparently tumblr has a limit

Fire Control (unpublished): It takes a lot of control to keep fire from burning wildly

Those Who Tell Stories Rule the World (published): Zuko learned a lot of stories while researching the Avatar

The Consequences of Breaking The Rules (published): Zuko needs to know what the punishment will be when he messes up. Not knowing is worse than the certainty of pain.

Nightmares (unpublished): Zuko has nightmares. Katara tries not to notice.

Good at Bending (unpublished): Zuko is not actually considered to be a good bender, much less a master.

Healing Fire (unpublished): It's just a trick Zuko figured out to help soothe his aches and wounds. It's not really healing. Iroh isn't sure he agrees.

Sibling Rulers (unpublished): Zuko approaches Azula with an offer: they can rule the Fire Nation together, as equals.

Crew bonding: First time they see Zuko breathe fire when frustrated (unpublished): Zuko is supposed to be bad at firebending, but none of them can figure out the Breath of Fire. He makes it look natural.

Katara hating on Zuko (unpublished): Katara is completely justified in not trusting Zuko. Being justified doesn’t mean she can’t put her foot in it, though. And it turns out, she doesn’t actually know much about this boy who chased them across the world.

Thrice Cursed, Once Broken (published): Zuko is captured on the Day of Black Sun and subjected to his father's personal attention. But then Ozai is defeated and the Fire Nation needs a ruler. Zuko would do anything for his people.

Zhao's Retribution (published): After the Blue Spirit rescues the Avatar, Zhao knows who to blame.

You Become What You Needed (published): Batman!Zuko adopts a ton of kids, because they need somewhere to go. Now he has to figure out how to actually take care of them.

Viva la Resistance (unpublished): Zuko's crew isn't so pleased about being stolen by Zhao

Aang in the Iceberg: Dreams (unpublished): While stuck in ice, Aang dreams of living in a world where he's the only person - until one day, Zuko shows up as a newborn baby. They grow up together, with Aang unaging - but then Zuko gets sent to find the Avatar.

Angst Coma Time Travel (unpublished): While in his angst coma, Zuko ends up in the iceberg with Aang, before Aang ever awoke. He thinks there's something weird going on - but Aang is just desperate for a friend to play with.

Punishment (unpublished): Zuko knows he messed up with Sparky Sparky Boom Man. So he approaches the Gaang, ready for his punishment.

Zukaang (40)

I'm Your Fire, Your Desire (published): Zukaang get together at the Western Air Temple

Shirtless Sparring (unpublished): p much what it says on the tin

Return to Pohuai (unpublished): roleplay sex with the Blue Spirit

Our Love Become a Funeral Pyre (unpublished): Zuko is actually Kuzon reincarnated. Both of them love Aang.

Gay Bar (unpublished): Zuko and Aang meet in a random gay bar in Ba Sing Se. It's totally not awkward.

Airbender Blow Jobs (unpublished): Aang can hold his breath for longer than the average person

Ozai at a conference (unpublished): He's annoyed his idiot firstborn made friends with a blind Earth Kingdom kid (Azula made friends with someone useful. But obviously Zuko couldn't be that helpful)

Fluff for Cricket (unpublished): Zukaang bonding after the dragons

“My heart feels like it’s dancing when I look at you.” (unpublished): Zuko thinks there's something wrong with him. Aang doesn't know what to say.

Fealty (unpublished): Aang tries to show his devotion to a newly crowned Fire Lord Zuko

Aang Approaching Zuko Morning After (unpublished): Aang goes to the teashop where he happened to run into Zuko, hoping to find Zuko again. Instead, he finds Iroh and has to try to explain why he's looking for Zuko

Dreams/Nightmares (unpublished): Aang dreams of Zuko chasing him. After a comment from Sokka about picturing the villains in his dreams in their underwear, Aang ends up having an uncomfortably pleasant dream

Pampering Zuko (unpublished): Aang convinces Zuko to go to a resort where he can actually relax and shit

Treasure (sequel to Pearl) (unpublished): Aang decides who he wants to give his black pearl to

“I’m in love with your voice” (unpublished): While Zuko has Aang captive at the North Pole, they end up talking for a bit

First Kiss/First Time (unpublished): When Zuko kisses him, Aang runs away - all the way to the South Pole. It's Fire Lady Mai who comes to get him, much to his horror.

Pao’s Teashop Office Sex (unpublished): who hasn't always wanted to break into their boss's office to have sex on their couch?

Rope Burns (unpublished): Aang decides to ask Zuko to tie him up in a show of trust

Blue Spirit Tagalong (published): Zuko is haunted by the Blue Spirit, who is a little shit.

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You (published): Zuko is always staring at Aang

Sexytimes – Voyeurism (unpublished): Aang ties Zuko to a chair so that he can't touch

Gossip (unpublished): Toph and Aang gossip about Aang's new relationship

Frottage (unpublished): Zuko and Aang end up hiding in a closet in the Fire Nation palace. Naturally, this leads to sex.

PWP Genderbent Aang picks up Zuko without Zuko knowing (unpublished): what is says on the tin

Blue Spirit x Avatar Aang (unpublished): Fire Lord Zuko is more than a little annoyed when his people all think the Avatar is dating the Blue Spirit

“We need to stop dancing around it. All it does is hurt us both!” (unpublished): Aang dreams about his enemy a lot. So when he wakes up in a cave in the North Pole with his enemy wrapped around him, he naturally assumes he's dreaming. He thinks nothing of kissing Zuko - until his friends show up and turns out it's not a dream????

Identity Porn (unpublished): Aang doesn't know who the Blue Spirit is, but when he runs into them in Ba Sing Se, he's willing to go for it. Zuko doesn't know what to think.

“I can’t stop thinking about you. When I wake up, when I’m about to fall asleep…” (unpublished): Zuko can't stop thinking about Aang. Aang doesn't mind.

Soulmate Potential (unpublished): Anyone had the potential to be your soulmate. Even your enemy.

Blue Spirit/Avatar Aang (unpublished): The Ember Island Players put on a play about the epic romance between the Avatar and the Blue Spirit. Aang is not amused.

Zuko writes about the Fire Lord and Avatar’s Bond Thru Time (unpublished): Zuko writes an academic paper about the connection between the Fire Lord and the Avatar

Action, Inaction, and Consequences (published): After the war, Ozai is put on trial. He tries to invalidate the Avatar.

Justice, Served Cold with a Side of Vengeance (published): Zuko becomes the Spirit of Vengeful Justice aka the Blue Spirit

Zuko's Terrible, No Good, Very Bad (Yet Kinda Awesome) Destiny (published): Zuko gets chosen by the Masters to continue to line of dragons. He is not delighted about this.

The Fire Lord and The Avatar (unpublished): The story of the Avatar and the future Fire Lord, starting with a surprise meeting in Ba Sing Se

(Going) Down and Out in Ba Sing Se (published): Hookups in Ba Sing Se end up very much affecting Zuko's decision in the Crystal Catacombs

Ba Sing Se Boyfriends (published): Zuko and Aang end up dating in Ba Sing Se

Seduction of the Innocent (published): Zuko starts to make a life for himself in Ba Sing Se. He attends University, writes a thesis on the Air Nomads and the Water Tribes, and becomes famous for a serial comic about the Gaang that he and Jin write together

Two Lovers, Forbidden From One Another (published): When Aang propositions the Blue Spirit after being rescued, it changes everything.

Multi-bending Zuko (unpublished): Zuko is secretly an airbender. And a firebender. He wants to know why - and the Avatar, the only remaining airbender in the world, might have his answer.

Zutaraang (11)

Untitled future PWP in the same 'verse as I'm Your Fire, Your Desire (unpublished): Katara (somewhat reluctantly) agrees to have a threesome with Aang and Zuko.

Inspired by Zukaang art by littlegingermochipie (unpublished): Zuko blows Aang while Katara watches

Zutaraang Sparring (unpublished): Aang has a religious experience watching Zuko and Katara spar

Zutaraang Lap Sex (unpublished): Zuko is surprised when Katara summons both him and Aang to a room in the Western Air Temple - and then pushes Aang into his lap, climbing on top of them both.

Katara and Aang decide to pursue Zuko (unpublished): post-canon, Aang broaches some Air Nomad ideas about relationships and gives Katara time to think about it.

Crystal Catacombs (unpublished): When Aang runs into Zuko in Ba Sing Se and asks him on a date, it manages to change everything. Zuko has to make a choice underneath Ba Sing Se - and he chooses Aang. Katara doesn't know what to think.

Sparring for who gets to take Aang (unpublished): Katara and Zuko like to compete for who gets to take Aang first. Aang is baffled.

The Southern Waterbending Line (unpublished): Zuko talks to a newly married Katara and Aang about bending genetics and how they can each revive bending amongst their people

A Royal Heir (published): when Zuko realizes he has to get married and have an heir, he and Aang ask Katara.

A Seat at the Table (published): during post-war negotiations, it comes out that MANY communities are missing from the negotiating table. The Gaang decides to invite them all.

Hope for the Future (published): When Aang has a dream about a hopeful future after the failed invasion, he believes that it might still be possible to have a happy ending

Other (13)

Retribution (unpublished): the Gaang pays Zuko back for the shit he pulled

Crowd Shy (unpublished): Zuko's biggest trauma happened in front of a crowd. What better way to balance that than with a good event in front of a crowd? Zuko's more than a little dubious.

“Seduce” You to the Good Side (unpublished): The Gaang kidnaps Zuko during early s3

Oviposition PWP (unpublished): Zuko x Dragons

Reading Lips (published): The Gaang kiss Zuko to ring in the New Year. Zuko doesn't know what to think

To Weave a Tangled Web (published): Aang has the bright idea of uniting the EK and FN through Kuei and Zuko's marriage

Commitment to Balance (published): The Gaang decide to get married. For Balance.

Zuko navigating 10 (billion) relationships (unpublished): Zuko as the fandom bicycle boyfriend. He's just trying to do his job as Fire Lord.

Aang loves his friends (unpublished): post-canon, Aang misses his friends

Everyone is in love with Zuko: He catches a clue (unpublished): When Zuko realizes he's in love with his friends, his wife spends an awfully long time laughing at him for taking so long to catch on

I Still Dream About You (unpublished): The night of Zuko's 30th bday party, something happened with the rest of the Gaang. He can't stop thinking about it.

Political Marriage (unpublished): post-canon, Toph realizes that marrying Zuko could fix their diplomatic issues with the Earth Kingdom

S3 Hookups (unpublished): aged up!Toph and Zuko end up hooking up at the Western Air Temple

Holy hell, that's a lot of WiPs wtf

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Ten Into The Fog (Part 17)

Morbidly, Azula wonders if this is how she had looked on the day of her downfall, a wailing, sloppy mess. Sokka has given up trying to dry her cheeks and she has given up trying to slow her tears. Instead he rubs circles on her back and brushes his fingers through her hair. Begrudgingly, she has to admit that it is doing wonders to sooth her. But it is a double edged sword, one that drives home that Sokka has had a decade’s worth of figuring out how to calm her down. And she can’t remember it. She can’t remember any of it.

Spirits, she hadn’t imagined that she would want to remember what the trial and error stage had been like. But she does, she wants to know exactly what it had been like to get from point one to point two. She wants to know what it was like to slowly realize that she would be okay. Especially now, when she is nowhere close to being alright. 

“If it makes you feel better, you really do sort of run the Fire Nation from afar. I ask a lot of questions and…”

“It doesn’t, Zuzu!” She doesn’t mean to snap. She doesn’t really know if she had snapped at all, she thinks that she had probably really loudly sobbed it out which is substantially worse. Her cheeks are already as red and splotchy as they can get. She is such a fucking mess, an absolute disaster. “It doesn’t because that’s not the problem.” 

He furrows his brows. “Then what is the problem?”

That she can’t remember losing the crown. She can’t remember healing. “How can I cry over something I don’t remember?” 

“You’ve accomplished wilder feats.” Sokka quirks a brow.

But that’s the thing; she isn’t crying over her crown. That isn’t the loss that is on her mind. She finally manages to mumble as much.

“This is about losing your memories, isn’t it?” Mai guesses. 

And Azula nods. “I can take my crown back if I try hard enough.” Frankly she guesses that that wouldn’t be hard at all. From the sound of it, people rather like her ruling style…She could win a re-match, probably.

But she can’t challenge her own mind to an Agni Kai. She can’t firebend her way into remembering.

“Here, why do we go visit, Chomp?” Sokka offers. 

“What is Chop going to do?” Azula frowns. She rubs her eyes, thanking the spirits that her tears and trembles are finally slowing.

“She might not be able to bring your happy memories back, but she can help you make new ones in the meantime.” 

Azula rubs her hands over her face and leans herself heavily against the wall. Heavy is what she feels–heavy with grief and frustration. Heavy with the knowledge that so much of her is gone. Heavy knowing that all of the people staring at her are longing for someone who is her but isn’t all the same. 

“I don’t want new memories, I want the old ones. I need the old ones.” She doesn’t think that she can function without them, not when the world had changed so much. Not when it has left her behind. But then, it hasn’t left her behind at all, she was there. 

She left it behind. 

“Let’s go visit Chomp.” Sokka offers again, he holds out his hand and she stares at it for a good while. She almost takes it. Almost. She sees a flicker of hurt in his eyes when she gets to her own feet without his help. A part of her wishes that she would have just taken the hand. She wants her memories back, wants to go back to a time that she can’t remember and yet she can’t even do the little things to help get herself there. 

Perhaps before the accident they would have walked down the hall hand in hand. Today they walk awkwardly beside one another. A walk made twice is awkward and prolonged by her swollen ankles. Really what she is doing is more of a cross between a limp and a shuffle. 

“Maybe after visiting Chomp you can let Katara have a look at your ankles?” Sokka asks. “Katara is really good with that kind of thing.”

Azula only nods.

And this makes Sokka frown. 

“You’re getting quiet again.”

What a genius he is–she finds herself rolling her eyes–she would have never noticed had he not pointed it out. 

“You still have a lot on your mind. You can talk about it, you know, it’ll help. I know that you don’t remember right now, but you started talking more about the things that bother you. And it helped you out a lot.” 

“What I think about is none of your business.” She grumbles. At any rate, they are by Chomp anyhow. She unlatches the door to his cage and lets him crawl up her arm. 

.oOo.

Sokka watches her for the longest time.

Azula is troubled and it shows in her posture, in her movements and in the low mumble of her voice. Her motions are slow and passive, as limp and loose as they can be without just dangling there. There is a stark contrast between them and Chomps rapid, flitting scuttles. She is as highly animated and hyper as Azula is drained. That is probably why she is letting Chomp make a rope swing of her newly tousled locks. It is probably why she had let the baby dragon dishevel her hair in the first place and why she doesn’t stop her from nipping playfully at her ears and arms. 

At last the dragon seems to understand that Azula is in no mood for play. She gives one last agitated rumble and a small puff of fire before settling into the princess’ lap. Azula stares forlornly down at the dragon and strokes her scales. There is a vacancy in her eyes, a distance that makes Sokka uncomfortable. 

More than uncomfortable, he is feeling somewhat queasy. The last time he had seen her eyes so empty was the last time she had broken down. When she had finally reached a point where she had felt so defeated and helpless that she had just stopped. 

Stopped talking.

Stopped getting out of bed. 

Stopped eating and bathing.

Stopped fighting. 

At that point she had even stopped crying.

Sokka isn’t sure if she is lucky to be free of those memories or not. He thinks that it would help her to remember how she had gotten out of it last time. Spirits, if she slips away this time he isn’t sure if he can bring her back. 

He had made at least a little more progress with her before it had happened the first time around. 

He needs her to keep crying, he needs her to argue with him. Because at least if she is doing that then she will still be around. At least she will be fighting something. And maybe he shouldn’t have, maybe he had made an assumption and acted too soon. But he catches her eyes and she doesn’t seem to see him. He can’t let her get that bad again. 

“You’re father left you behind, you know? On the day of the comet.” Sokka tries his best to sound nonchalant. “Just like your mom did.” Only after he says it, is he aware that he might not be rousing her anger, that he might instead be driving her deeper into her somber defeat.

But he sees it, a flicker of hatred. It should make him feel only dread. And he does feel dread but it is accompanied by relief because he has managed to reignite that dying flame if only just a little. “Yeah, she’s probably glad that she left. She wouldn’t want to deal with this all over again.” 

 And now Azula is tense all over. Her pointer ceases tracing over Chomp’s spines, much to the dragon’s dismay. “What did you just say?”

He swallows. He knows that he was playing a dangerous game, but maybe he had pushed too far. “I said that your mother wouldn’t want to deal with this again.”

Now there is no trace of that looming catatonia, the clouds of it have broken and disintegrated altogether. Now there are emotions flickering across her face faster than he can place them. But finally she settles on what he at first mistakes to be anger. 

But when she opens her mouth, presumably to tear into his very soul, it is hateful outrage that comes out. He thinks that maybe a grand and intimidating scolding was exactly what she had intended to give him.

Instead she is sobbing all over again. 

He had scratched at a wound that has been closed for years now but it is bleeding all over again. 

“She’s gone!” Azula finally manages. 

“She was gone. She came back again and, believe it or not, she still loves you.” 

He hasn’t heard her scream like that in ages. Hasn’t seen her curl in on herself and cup her hands over her ears for some time now. 

He overdid it, he knows. He got scared and her gave her more than she can reasonably handle. In trying to let her break, he had shattered her. He should have known…and yet, he would much rather see this than that limp figure wasting away on her mattress staring at the ceiling with hollow eyes. 

This is better. It is terrible, dreadful. But it is better. It is a battle still being fought. A battle that could be won.

Sokka is glad when Zuko, Mai, and TyLee rush into the room and he is glad that they are looking at him with such resentment. Maybe now she’ll realize that she has people who care about her, people who will take her side, people who will choose her when she needs support.

Even if that means that he’ll be lonely and scorned for a while.

“What did you say to her?” Zuko shouts.

“I told her that your mom is back.”

“Why would you do that?” Mai winces. It is terribly hard to get a wince out of Mai. “You know that, that is…”

“Yeah, I do.” Sokka agrees. Just as it has been a while since he has seen Azula so distraught, it has been a long time since he has seen Zuko so red in the face with rage. At last it hits him that he might have truly damaged more than one friendship. “I’m trying to help.” He swears. “She’s going to be back in a few days and Azula should probably know…”

“You could have eased her into it.” Mai grumbles as TyLee scoops Azula into her arms. Chop is squawking and squealing in distress. Sokka notices Azula reach for the dragon, she holds Chomp as closely as TyLee holds her.

“She doesn’t like sugar coating.”

“Yeah? She doesn’t like a lot of things, but sometimes she needs them.” 

.oOo.

Mother will be here in a few days?

Oh, Agni, mother will be here in a few days! And apparently mother will be expecting someone else. Someone better, kinder, someone who isn’t completely out of her mind. Someone who can hold herself together.

She doesn’t think that mother even knows what has happened to her. Surely she would have come home right away if she did. And Azula can’t help it, she laughs to herself; mother probably did hear about it. Mother just doesn’t care…

But Sokka had said that she still loves her…

She cries out again and she feels foolish for doing so. 

It doesn’t make sense, none of it does.

Agni, she hates Sokka. She hates him more than anyone or anything. More that Zuko, more than uncle or mother or father. They never hurt her like this. Well Zuko, uncle, and mother haven’t. Or maybe it is just Zuko and uncle who haven’t. 

Mother left her.

Mother is coming back.

“It’s going to be alright, Azula.” TyLee squeezes her hand. 

“Does she know?” Azula asks gruffly. “Does. She. Know?”

“About your memories?” TyLee asks.

Azula nods and TyLee shakes her head.

Spirits! So the woman really is in for a horrible surprise–she is going to have to deal with someone that she can’t stand all over again. And Azula knows that she will be dealing with discomforts that she has already dealt with, all over again. 

“Maybe we should have your mother stay somewhere else for a while.” Mai suggests. “Until we get Azula more…stable.” 

“She was doing just fine until Sokka…”

“She wasn’t doing fine, Zuko!” Sokka shouts. “She was bottling things up again, you should have seen the look in her eyes. It was like the last time. When it got really bad. It looked exactly like that.”

Zuko’s brows furrow and some of that loathing dissipates. He glances over at her and she feels even more ridiculous. Her breaths are still erratic but at least the tears have stopped. At least she is beginning to–for the second time that morning–recompose herself. 

But it is too much.

Just like she longs to remember reconciling with TyLee, she itches to recall what it is like to feel comfortable with her mother. Whether she wants the woman’s affections or not, they will feel like accidentally putting her hand in a puddle of bison slobber. 

She misses being whole and complete. 

Unbroken, or at the very least, well repaired. 

“I’m sorry, Azula.” Sokka swallows. “I went too far that time.”

He was bound to at some point. 

But, dammit, he is the only one who is actually trying to coax the memories back. 

She hates him so much, his methods are terrible, risky, and just outright stupid but somehow she respects the effots and attempts. Somehow she appreciates that he thinks that she is strong enough to handle the truth even though she has only ever made it clear that she isn’t. That she wants the truth but isn’t prepared to get it in the slightest. 

She lies there, staring at the ceiling, feeling dazed.

Likely she is once again mirroring this moment that has Sokka so on edge because he is crying now. He doesn’t like it when she wanders away in her mind. But, Agni, she needs the distance even if it is just for a moment. She needs to be somewhere else.

Somewhere quiet and empty and away.

“Don’t leave me again.” He begs.

Maybe she would be more alarmed if she could remember exactly why it scares him so much for her to check out for just a moment…

She wakes up in her bed, tucked up and cozy with a candle burning on the dresser and a little dragon batting its tiny claws at the flame. Zuko, Mai, and TyLee linger just a few feet from the corner of the room and Sokka sits at the foot of her bed. 

“If you want me to leave, I can.” He says softly.

She sits up, stares at him for just a moment, and then…

All three of them stare at her as the sound of her hand against his cheek echoes about the room. That look of shock and sadness isn’t anything at all as satisfying as she had imagined it would be. It is just sad. Hurt. But somehow unsurprised.

He knew that she would hurt him. 

She is the kind of person who hurts people.

She swallows. 

She bites the inside of her cheek as a third wave of sorrow threatens to spill over. She holds her hand to her chest. 

“Okay, I’ll go.” 

She grabs his hand and pulls him back onto the bed. She thinks that it is relief that has replaced the hurt and shock. 

“I guess I kind of deserved that slap, huh?” 

She thinks for a moment before shaking her head. But then she mutters, “maybe a little.” She does appreciate the warning that her mother is coming back but, spirits, was that delivery abrupt and messy. But then, panic doesn’t exactly gather good results. 

Azula reaches for Chomp and the dragon crawls up her arm again and makes her way towards her face where he nuzzles her head against her cheek.

“We’re going to tell Ursa that you lost your memories before she enters the palace.” Mai mentions. “Do you want us to have her stay somewhere else for a while?”

Azula shakes her head. “I want to get it over with.” She has wasted enough time on denial and avoidance. She needs…

She isn’t entirely certain what she needs. She just knows that it isn’t more weakness and cowardice. 

She peers, or maybe glares, at Sokka. 

She needs, she realizes, more people who aren’t afraid to make her face things. She needs to get a grip on herself so she can face those things. Because, Agni, it had been painful but she feels much better now. There had been so much inside and now it is gone, unleashed into the world with a few screams and a whole lot of tears. Now the weight is less heavy. 

Now she can breathe.

“I’m ready. I’m okay.” 

But she is scared.

And she is confused. Conflicted.

She is certain that this whole pregnancy thing is taking all of her trepidations and woes and amplifying them. But she is ready to try to get rid of some of those things. She is resentful that she has to, but she is ready to recover from the wounds that have already healed. And there is only one way to do that…

“Don’t go easy on me, Sokka.” She mutters. “Even if they get mad…” even if she gets mad. “I need…”

“I know what you need.” Sokka says. 

“We did this before?” 

He nods.

This time she lets him take her hand. The same one that had slapped him. She thinks that he did that on purpose, the smug bastard. 

[lady--dis-dain]

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

- got imprisoned and trialed for murder

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

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

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

- destroyed someone’s merchandise multiple times

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

- stole farmlands to build a zoo in broad daylight

- lied to an all knowing spirit and IT WORKED

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(idontactuallythinkzukoispatheticandweakhesanamazingcharacterandilovehimbutmypointstillstands)

[nothing-more-than-hot-leaf-juice]

I imagine Zuko at first being firelord is like, "okay we need to repay for all the shit we did as a nation, and change most of the awful laws and class curriculum, BUT I don't want to get overthrown or killed right away and cultural shock, so I will try to go slow with the reforms" 2 years later Zuko has realized that that one specific group of people who hate him and want the war is never get use to the peace "anyway, I declare the sun gay in this meating, everyone is dismiss"

In his first few years as Firelord, Zuko would in all probability have no clue what to do. Sure he has a lot of supporters, but within the Fire Nation inner circle (consisting of high ranking officers and rich people profiting from the war), there’s a lot going against him. They’re be so much on his plate and while the Fire Nation would have to start paying reparations and fixing everything, the first steps would be changing the entirety of the Fire Nation government makeup. But there’d still be people who wouldn’t take him seriously because he might be capable and have proven himself, but he’s still the ex-banished prince and a teenager in a lot of their eyes. 

So he’d spend the first couple years on edge, fighting with people who value their careers and profits over anything else and he would have to deal with so much slander. Sure, he’d have backup from Iroh and Aang, but there’d be so many people he just couldn’t please. 

One day he just gets tired of it all: the slow progress being made with reparations, the criticism coming from both sides that he's not making enough progress or he’s ignoring all the towns that depended on the war for their main income/job creation, and all the bs Fire Nation gossip about him being a teenager in over his head. Iroh recommends that he takes a break from it all. After all, he spent his adolescence on a hunt for the avatar and didn’t really get a chance to enjoy himself. And yes, there’s a lot that needs to be done, but he’s not going to be able to fix the world in any short amount of time and taking a break from it all doesn’t mean he’s neglecting his country. After all, what good is it to be Firelord if you can’t dictate your own schedule?

So Zuko takes a break for a couple of days. He takes a balloon and goes to an indeterminate location by himself. Just a few days by himself without having to fight with bureaucrats. He doesn’t take anyone with him and he doesn’t tell anyone where he’s going, mostly because he hasn’t entirely decided himself. 

He’s only gone for about a week, but the criticism mounds up. Governors and other members of the Fire Nation central government complain that the Firelord can’t really be serious about all his plans if he’s taking an impulsive vacation. Who does this kid think he is? They spend the week he’s gone doing as little work on Zuko’s plans as possible until they all get letters from Zuko requiring their presence at an important meeting concerning drafting a new Fire Nation constitution. The bureaucrats don’t take this seriously and plan to walk all over this child who acts like he knows better than them. 

They all arrive at the meeting and wait for the Firelord. He’s late walking in and they would make comments about the fact that he’s not only late, but has foregone formal Firelord attire in favor of casual wear, like a hooligan. But Zuko has come in with a new accessory that immediately makes everyone shut the fuck up. 

Zuko comes in with his arms full of several scrolls worth of first drafts of the new constitution and a dog-sized, red dragon sitting on his shoulders. The advisors, governors, and admirals are speechless. 

Zuko passes copies around the table and starts the meeting out by giving a bullet point list of the itinerary for the meeting. Before opening the floor to discussion on the first amendment he makes eye contact with a couple of his biggest critics and says, “please keep in mind that I have the final word on this document, but if anyone who thinks they have more authority than me is welcome to challenge me and my friend here to an Agni Kai.” 

[spacepanda7]

I know a lot of AUs of AftG/TFC have been done in the Avatar universe, but has anyone done an Avatar: the Last Airbender AU?

Kevin, the Avatar has been missing for 100 years, before he is unwittingly discovered inside an iceberg by estranged waterbender twins Aaron and Andrew and their nonbending cousin Nicky who live in the Southern Water Tribe. (Aaron and Andrew do not give me waterbender vibes, but changing the nations didn't work that well, since either their trips would end up way shorter or the Air Nomads would be the world invaders. Which, no. Oh well, Aaron wants to heal people.) They find out he is the Avatar and reluctantly agree to accompany him to the Northern Water Tribe to learn waterbending. Along the way, they find out the exiled fire nation Prince Nathaniel is hunting the Avatar, in order to regain his honor. He is traveling alongside former General David Wymack, a taciturn man who nonetheless tries to guide and help his ward.

Along the way, they meet some interesting people and new friends including Roland, the leader of the Freedom Fighters, Dan, a young earthbender who Kevin helped break out of prison, and Erik, who leads the Kyoshi Warriors, and also encounter new enemies, including Commander Tetsuji of the Fire Nation. Once they get to the Northern Water Tribe, they meet the waterbending master Chuck. Initially, he wants to make Aaron go into warrior training instead of healing, as he wishes, due to the fact that male waterbenders are drafted to fight. But after a beatdown from Aaron, the Healing master Abby, and the fighting master Betsy (women fight here, they have an option but men have to) he agrees to let Aaron train as a healer. Andrew learns how to fight alongside Avatar Kevin. The Fire Nation invades, Kevin is briefly captured by Prince Nathaniel who Andrew defeats in a few seconds flat, and Commander Tetsuji tries to kill the Moon and is dragged into the Spirit World. Goodbye and good riddance to him.

So, next stop is the Earth Kingdom, where they look for an earthbending master. Eventually they find Katelyn, a young earthbending prodigy who was blinded in an accident as a child, and is therefore overly sheltered by her parents and sneaks out to fight in the Earth Rumbles. She travels with them to teach Kevin earthbending, and despite her disagreements with Kevin and Andrew (Aaron is immediately rather taken with her), she becomes a part of their group. They find out they have a new pursuer, the Crown Prince Riko of the Fire Nation and his two close nonbending friends, Jeremy, a cheerful chi blocker, and Jean, an apathetic swordsman (Knives will be Neil's thing). Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Wymack end up pursued by Riko as traitors, and are forced to go incognito in the Earth Kingdom, taking on the names Kyle (idk, in honor of Kayleigh, okay?) and Neil Josten.

Their paths cross in Ba Sing Se when they meet the conniving leader of the Dai Li, Proust. They tangle with the Dai Li and the incognito Prince Riko who is disguised as Erik, who recently rekindled a romance with Nicky on their way across the Serpent's Pass and was captured shortly after. After Nathaniel and Andrew are captured and thrown into the catacombs together, they talk, during which time Nathaniel expresses remorse for the suffering and personal trauma the Fire Nation inflicted on Andrew. He in turn, reveals that he is only after Kevin due to fear of what his father, Firelord Nathan, would inflict upon both him and Kevin's group if he doesn't obey, saying that while he is attemoting to capture Kevin to prove himself worth keeping alive, he is also trying to keep Kevin and the team out of his father's hands. Andrew tells him to "stop being a martyr". However, after they are freed and encounter Riko and Wymack in the catacombs, Nathaniel appears to change his mind and joins Riko in fighting Andrew, Kevin, and Aaron. Wymack surrenders himself in order to let the others escape. Riko mangles Kevin's left hand and almost kills him but Aaron manages to heal him and Andrew promises to protect him.

The Monsters regroup incognito in the Fire Nation to wait for the Day of Black Sun invasion. The invasion day arrives and everything seems to be going as planned until Kevin, Aaron, Nicky, and Katelyn encounter Riko in the throne room instead of Nathan. Nathaniel confronts his father and escapes to join the Monsters and most of their allies end up captured, though their old Freedom Fighting friends Matt and Allison and the earthbender Dan escape with them. They arrive at the Western Air Temple to recuperate and attempt to think of a new Firebending teacher for Kevin. Nathaniel, who now goes full time as Neil Josten, arrives and offers to help. He is immediately scorned by Kevin and mocked by Aaron and Andrew. However, when the assassin Gorilla (sent by Riko) arrives to kill the Monsters, Neil saves them and they reluctantly accept him. He warms up to the group members one by one, helping Nicky break Erik out of the Boiling Rock and helping Aaron hunt down and kill his brother's former tormentor Drake. While at the Boiling Rock, Jean makes a split second decision to save Neil, who he used to be close friends with, and Jeremy jumps in to help, resulting in their capture. After their "field trips", Neil tentatively earns Andrew's intrigue and Aaron's reluctant acceptance.

The comet arrives and Kevin goes missing. The rest of the monsters find their old mentors including Betsy and Abby, and Neil discovers Wymack as well. They reconcile and he advises them about what to do next. As the comet approaches, Aaron, Katelyn, Nicky, and Erik travel to the airship base to hopefully meet up with Kevin as he confronts Firelord Nathan. Neil and Andrew travel to the Fire Nation to confront Riko. After an extended, tough battle, when all hope seems gone, Kevin manages to hit Nathan, momentarily incapacitating him enough to kill him. Riko challenges Neil to an Agni Kai which he accepts. He is winning until Riko aims lightning at Andrew instead and Neil dives in front of him. Andrew fights Riko and manages to chain him and smash his arm. As a result, he has a psychotic break and kills himself. Andrew heals Neil and yells at him for making himself a martyr. Neil says that he wouldn't have done anything that might result in losing Andrew. He so explains that if he had turned on Riko in the catacombs, he would have been exposed, and his father would have stopped at nothing to break him, including torturing the Monsters. Andrew appears to accept the explanation.

And we know the rest: Kevin is crowned Firelord, and he, Jean and Jeremy, figure out where to go from there. Aaron travels home with Katelyn, Andrew stays to protect Kevin, and Neil stays with him, and Nicky and Erik leave to travel the world. Dan and Matt, and Allison and Renee get together and return home as well. And they live, not happily ever after, but something approaching it.

P.S. a few years later, Kevin goes on a search for his mother Kayleigh.

[zuko-always-lies]

How Would Zuko’s Actions when He’s 13 Years Old Look within Fire Nation Elite Culture?

To be clear, what happened to Zuko was incredibly awful, and I am by no means trying to justify it.  However, one of the points of the series is that the Fire Nation’s imperialist culture is awful and toxic and can be used to justify all sorts of awful things, and I think it’s worth considering how most people within the Fire Nation’s court would likely view Zuko’s actions through its toxic lens.

(Fade to a flashback of a younger Zuko, without his trademark scar. His look of determination, however, has not changed. He walks down a hall to a pair of Fire Nation guards who block his attempt to enter the room beyond.) Zuko (in a higher voice than we are used to): Let me in! (Iroh appears from the left, putting his hands on the young man's shoulders.) Iroh: Prince Zuko, what's wrong? Zuko: I want to go into the war chamber, but the guard won't let me pass! (Zuko's voice breaks slightly at the end. He is clearly disappointed. Iroh leads him a short distance away from the guards.) Iroh: You're not missing anything, trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring. Zuko: If I'm gonna rule this nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can? Iroh: Very well. But you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know. Zuko (bowing to Iroh): Thank you uncle!

Zuko forced himself into a meeting when it had been made very clear he wasn’t welcome there, likely because Ozai and the other generals didn’t want to deal with a 13 year old who had zero qualifications or experience in matters of war and who already had likely cultivated a reputation for being disrespectful. Iroh couldn’t say no to Zuko and let him in, but specifically warned him not to speak.

General: The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here. (Cut to a view from the throne, where the Fire Lord is watching the generals discuss the situation, the cut back to the speaker.) General: A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors, so I am recommending the 41st division. Old General: But the 41st is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion? General (coldly): I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait then fresh meat? Zuko (jumping up): You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?

Despite Iroh’s warning, Zuko couldn’t restrain himself from fiercely denouncing General Buijing’s plan, even though it might have been military sensible, and isn’t particularly cruel by military standards.  In doing so, he not only insulted the General’s honor, but apparently usurped the Firelord’s rights to manage his war meeting.

Iroh: After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect, and there was only one way to resolve this... Lieutenant Jee (horrified): Agni kai. A fire duel. Iroh: That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood. When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the General. Zuko had spoken out against a general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own father.

Iroh: When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy...

When Zuko thought that he was stronger than his (apparent) opponent, he acted with swagger and bravado.  When he realized that he was actually weaker, he refused to fight at all and begged for mercy, rather than being willing to fight for his honor. Ironically, from a Fire Nation perspective, it looks an awful lot like Zuko is a bully willing to beat up those weaker than him but who crumbles in the face of anyone stronger.

Zuko: Please, father, I only had the fire nation's best interest at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn! (Cut to a closer shot of the advancing Fire Lord, still silhouetted against the fires burning around the arena. He too is shirtless, but built massively.) Fire Lord Ozai: You will fight for your honor. Zuko (stricken, abasing himself on the floor): I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son. Fire Lord Ozai: Rise and fight, Prince Zuko! Zuko: I won't fight you. Fire Lord Ozai: You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.

Gear: Agni Kai

This is a traditional Firebender duel that is centuries old.  It is a fight for one’s honor and is won only when one opponent burns the other.  Zuko got his scar by fighting in an Agni Kai.

Location: Agni Kai Chamber

The Fire Nation practice of Agni Kai (or “fire duel”) has long been used to solve conflicts.  Anyone challenged to an Agni Kai must accept or be branded as a weakling.  On the other hand, anyone who steps into the Agni Kai chamber knows it could be his or her last fight.  These duels have claimed the lives of many Firebenders, and they’ve been even more unforgiving to people who have shown mercy on their opponents.

Despite given repeated chances to fight for his honor and to defend his words with his actions, despite being outright ordered to do so by the Firelord, Zuko refuses to fight, thus confirming his utter lack of honor.

Again, all the norms which “justify” what Ozai did are incredibly awful, and I feel dirty for having to put myself in the mindset of Fire Nation elite culture to write this post, but this how most members of the Fire Nation elite, including even Zuko(there’s a reason why he thinks he has lost his honor), would understand what happened to him.

[seyaryminamoto]

I'm just thinking about what you've said in the past about Zuko's morals in The Southern Raiders and what bugs me the most is that Zuko could have easily been Yon Rha. Yon Rha's big sin, as far as Zuko knows when he makes his proposal (before Katara tells him the whole story), was raiding the Southern Water Tribe in a manner which lead to someone's death, and Zuko raided both Kyoshi Island and the Southern Water Tribe. Zuko would be an acceptable target for vengeance under his own standards.

:'D very fair point of view, Anon. I've always focused on another angle with this particular problem, namely the fact that Zuko's traumatic Agni Kai happens because he was trying to defend soldiers from being used as bait, slain in battle as though their lives were meaningless... and then he's offering Katara his assistance with killing a soldier if that's the only way to become her friend. There's such a profound incompatibility between both ideas, such a massive rift in reasoning, that I can't help but wonder if Ozai, intentionally or not, actually taught Zuko through their Agni Kai that the lives of their people aren't worth anything after all.

In general, that episode's plot is just... very questionable. I understand these kids are jaded, they've seen pleeenty of ugly stuff and even done some ugly stuff themselves, but the core of the problem with Zuko, back in the day, was that his violent pursuit of the Avatar caused lots of trouble and nobody liked him because he was being a selfish ass who wanted to fulfill the Fire Lord's orders at all costs :'D so... as blind as Katara may be over anything to do with Kya, it baffles me that neither Sokka nor Aang would step up to tell Zuko that this sort of ridiculous reasoning, impulsive behavior and willingness to resort to violence is EXACTLY what made him an asshole during the months he chased them, and that changing sides without changing those violent impulses doesn't amount to jackshit. I'd honestly prefer it if Katara were the one to tell him as much, because then she'd have the bonus of telling Zuko: "That's funny, because this sort of BS is precisely why I can't trust you!" and Zuko would be at an even bigger loss than before :'D but of course, when emotions are involved, Katara loses sight of reality and common sense, it's true...

Looking at it the way you do, just imagine if Yon Rha had told Katara "Oh. Sorry. Nice to see you again!" the way Zuko does with Suki :'D I'm pretty sure she would've actually killed the guy without even hesitating.

It's not to say that Zuko has objectively murdered anyone with the particular cruelty Yon Rha killed Kya: as far as we know, he didn't. We do know, however, that he's imprisoned people in nightmarish conditions (something even his sister cannot be said to have done), as he does in LOK, conditions bad enough that one of those prisoners (who, arguably, wasn't in the worst of conditions) said he'd rather die than return to that imprisonment. So, however "deserved" the Red Lotus's imprisonment might have been, dehydrating a waterbender and freezing a firebender for well over a decade sounds like one hell of an act of cruelty, which says he's perfectly capable of cruelty, all the same as Yon Rha was, and Zuko can't even say he's following someone's orders: he's the one who chooses to do this, plain and simple. So cruelty is NOT beyond Zuko. He can be harsh and nasty whenever it suits him. Despite what he'd have the audience believe, he isn't truly the poster child of peace and kindness :')

As you've said, Zuko caused lots of damage with his careless actions back in Book 1, actions that could have certainly cost lives if this show had been written to be grittier and darker than it was.

As a careless, casual example, here's the typical, boring old trope of "there's a kid in danger and the hero swoops in to save them!" (and there's poor Sokka on the background too ;_;). That ship just comes into shore, breaks all the ice it cares to, and it could have cost at least the two lives of those in the scene here (and who knows how many more that we aren't seeing). Is this not the same as attacking someone deliberately, with killer intent? Sure, it's not, but the ultimate outcome would be the same: someone's died, and it's your fault. And if you're a good person, you would feel bad about it. In fact, you might not even be able to think of yourself as a good person if anyone's death can be pinned on you.

Again, we don't know for sure that his actions cost any lives, but that they could have speaks for itself. That he was once part of the Fire Nation killer machine, that he was a tool to his father (even if not one he particularly cared for), should have made him all the more willing to understand that soldiers are as brainwashed as he was. No, this isn't to defend Yon Rha by any means, he was indeed a piece of shit... but Zuko doesn't even wait to meet him to confirm this. He's ready to help Katara kill a guy who, for all he knows, could have spent his whole life repenting for his actions (yes, we know that's not the case, but if the show had wanted to give us more nuance in the Fire Nation army, it could have been). Zuko doesn't even hesitate, and he even eggs on Katara until she finally decides she's not going to do it -- then he proceeds to badger Aang non-stop about how he MUST kill Ozai, funny how that goes. Which allows the interpretation that Zuko didn't learn anything at all from the Southern Raiders adventure.

In the end, if Zuko's actions cost any lives whatsoever (like, I don't know, maybe lives of the people whose food he stole in the Earth Kingdom (: what, me still being salty about this in the year of 2021? Noooo waaaaay...), you're quite right to say that it'd be fine, as far as his own philosophies are concerned, for Zuko to be executed by the injured party. It'd only be fair, right? Yet I guess that's the beauty of Zuko being Zuko: fairness isn't part of it. Justice? I don't think he's actually familiar with the concept. His sister made lots of mistakes, same as he did, but has he attempted to help her find her way, same as he was helped? Has he given her another chance? The answer is nope. Chit Sang is a convicted murderer who claims he didn't do the crime he was put in jail for: Zuko doesn't even bother asking any questions about who he is, or trying to get to the bottom of this problem. He's fine with getting the guy out of prison without first confirming whether his story checks out or not. Even back in The Blue Spirit, when he was "under" Ozai's thumb, and Ozai's priorities should have been his own, he decides that it's more important for him to capture Aang himself, and somehow the show spins that situation into "hey, Zuko's not that bad :>" when... everyone knows he's not setting him free out of any selflessness on his part, in fact, it's the entire opposite.

So yeah, more sketchy Zuko things that remain unresolved, unaddressed and go ignored all the time. Again, things that don't make much sense with the character he's supposed to be. And as usual, it's stuff we're supposed to shrug off or make a thousand excuses for in order to always find a way to see Zuko as a perfectly good person, when, as I've said before, being good takes efforts Zuko often didn't bother making, not before his "change of heart", not afterwards either.

[primmrot]

Hello, I present to you a messy AU idea:

Everything is canon until about two years before Azulon is killed. Zuko is still born a weak bender and Azula is still the favorite up until a certain point. As the months pass, their roles begin to shift. Zuko starts to show more progress in firebending and Azula's talents slowly start to dwindle (in the eyes of Ozai anyway). Soon, it's Zuko who surpasses her and Azula who is seen as weaker in the eyes of Ozai. This, of course, is going to disrupt the family dynamic that had already started to form.

Azula, who grew up getting her fathers attention, is suddenly being criticized whenever Ozai even remembers to look her way and all of a sudden he is praising Zuko and talking about how he only said those things to "make him stronger". Despite this shift, Zuko still favors his mother and would rather be kind instead of demanding. He isn't really sure what to do with Ozai's very sudden shift in character. This tends to make Ozai angry but he doesn't do anything because Zuko is starting to make him look good (so instead, Ozai starts limiting his time with his mother and encourages Zuko's anger as long as he doesn't direct it at his father)

Azula isn't sure what went wrong with her bending and doesn't know why her father all of a sudden doesn't think she's worth his time. It isn't as if she lost her bending, she simply isn't progressing at the rate she was. She doesn't think she can go to Ursa either because even though her mother tried to talk to her when Ozai started being mean all she could think about was how Ursa always mumbled about  something being wrong with her.

If we look at this AU from Azula's perspective:

Azula believes that her parents hate her after she jumps up to show off her progress to Fire Lord Azulon and apparently doesn't match up to Zuko (when it had been a very different story the last time she did it). She  figures that one way to show them all up is to run away and hunt down the missing Avatar. So after the death of her cousin Lu Ten, she runs away (maybe with Ty Lee bc I don't think Mai would go- Oh! And maybe Iroh would help because I want him to be a part of Azula's journey).

Edit: Mai would want to go when the idea presented itself but actually bringing herself to leave would be another story. In the end she would stay due to what she’s been taught about keeping up family reputation (and for zuko).

From Zuko's perspective:

Instead of Azula, Zuko is the one who overhears Azulon's request for Ozai to lose his son. He isn't sure what to do and considers running away before his mother finds him listening. Zuko tells her what he heard and she says not to worry, that she'll take care of it. The next morning his mother is gone and his grandfather is dead. Ozai, according to Azulon's wishes, is now the new Fire Lord and Zuko is certain something is fishy. He hates his father but doesn't have anyone else to turn to. His mother's dead (if his father is to be believed), his sister and uncle disappeared two years ago, and now he's supposed to be the crown prince and he doesn't have a single clue how to approach that.

Also the ages are changed here:

Azula is 10 when her bending progress starts to even out. She's 12 when she runs away and 15 when Aang comes out of the iceberg.

Zuko is 12 when his bending progress starts to pick up. He's 14 whenever he hears of his father becoming Fire Lord. He's 15 whenever he gets his scar and 17 whenever news of the Avatar reaches his father.

Anyways this would be a really angsty AU on both sides and I'm conflicted on if Ozai would banish Zuko (since he most definitely would still speak out during the war meeting). Like Ozai would still challenge him to the Agni Kai, expecting Zuko to fight bc he taught him to react to things with anger, but Zuko was told by his father to never go against him so he still wouldn't fight in the end. He'd still get the scar. I think in the end Ozai would keep him in the palace instead of banishing him so he could still have him under his thumb.

Azula meanwhile is having a terrible time. Around two years into her search, Ty Lee and her broke off because Ty Lee wanted to return to the Fire Nation and join the traveling circus and wanted Azula to come with. Azula didn't want to give up and she knew she couldn't return home after running away empty handed (and after stealing supplies, a boat, and men that were loyal to Iroh). Her and Iroh have bonded because he's helping with her fire bending but they tend to disagree on Azula's mission to capture the Avatar. Iroh would rather her live her life while Azula believes that the only way to do that is to go back to her family and finally be seen again.

There's a lottt of differences in this AU whenever it comes to the two, but it shows more when the chase for the Avatar begins. Azula is going to be more calculating than Zuko and that'll make up for her lack of bending ability. Zuko, whenever he is sent out, takes off with Mai and obviously won't be as calculating as Azula was in Book 2/3. He's definitely not going to be the one to take control of the Dai Lee and siege Ba Sing Se. That'll still be Azula in an attempt to gain her But of course, even once Azula is welcomed home for shooting down the Avatar, Zuko is terrified of his father and would keep at least one trump card (that of course being that he saw the waterbender heal the avatar before they ran off (let's just say that Katara healed him before they escaped but so much was going on no one saw and simply thinks she escaped with him still dying).