#I don’t know the point of the story was that Iroh wasn’t pushing he may have been guiding but only when it was needed.

[kacievvbbbb]

I know, especially with how much more proactive he is in the live action, some people think that Iroh was too complicit with Zuko and should have put more effort into pushing Zuko down the right path.

But I don’t know I think the point was that it had to come from Zuko. This great change had to be something that Zuko wanted for himself and not something Iroh pushes him into. It’s why although he tries to distract or dissuade him subtly he’s pretty content to let Zuko do as he feels the need to (except when he’s taking insane actions that would have killed him if he wasn’t too spiteful to die) but yeah there’s no obvious push to get Zuko to believe this or that or even to undo the fire nation conditioning he simply just worries for his safety and honestly with how reckless zuko was probably the safest route without pushing him into full mental breakdown.

It’s not till he’s almost captured and they go on the run do you actually start to see that maybe Iroh has a side in all this and it’s not the fire nation. But even then being on Zuko’s side takes precedent. It’s not until Zuko is on the cusp of real change, he’s right on the precipice does Iroh start to push a little harder but even then it’s focused in Zuko making a decision for his life one that nobody else can make for him. The closest Iroh gets to forcefully pushing Zuko towards any direction is him yelling “It's time for you to look *inward* and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you and what do *you* want?”. And then siding with the avatar during the fall of ba sing se.

If Iroh tried to manipulate him, take advantage of this scared angry child to unconsciously steer him towards his own side then he’d be no better than the fire nation, he’s just be another person wrenching control from Zuko life. But instead Iroh offers him that control, let him go out and see what the world is and let the conclusions of whatever he finds be the foundation on which he is rebuilt again and and again. It’s why when he stands infront of Ozai and says “ No, I’ve learned everything! And I’ve had to learn it on my own” we feel that shit. Because yeah he did he struggled and he fought and he learned and damn it all, he is making a choice for himself.

The story works because Iroh isn’t his mentor, he’s his uncle and he loves him enough to push aside his own personal belief to allow Zuko the space to decide who he wants to be, to give him the agency over his own life. That’s why Zuko’s redemption works so well because he’s not forced into it, If he decides to join the avatar to take down the thrown that has been his choice. If he decides to stay with the fire nation be the prince he was born to be….well that had to be his choice as well. Because that’s the crux of this. None of it matters if it isn’t Zuko, with everything that he has learned, making a decision for his own life.

[mountain-man-cumeth]

What Went Wrong: An In-Depth Analysis of Muriel's Route

*Youtuber voice*

Below are the opinions of an uneducated individual on what could’ve left the majority of The Arcana audience dissatisfied. I will explore the plot, tropes, themes and morals of the Muriel route and try to explain what may have gone wrong. I will be treating the game as a novel since it's advertised as one.

1. Consistency. If you are unfamiliar with the chekhov's gun; it's a story writing principle that dictates each element you introduce should come into play (foreshadowing). Now let's start with a few story beats that were later abandoned or concluded in an underwhelming manner:

Muriel's blanket

Muriel's magic mark (on his back)

Forest spirit (spirits in general)

Lucio's upbringing

Circumstances of MC's death

Figurines/whittling/charms

Muriel's blanket is teased to be a tapestry, which would tie in with his later fascination with them later on, as it had been the only thing he had left from his past. MC neither sees nor comments on the blanket, we only know it exists thanks to other playthroughs and short stories.

Magic marks are an important point in the game. Every main route emphasises on how it affects the chosen LI. It's reveal is important in a way that it serves as a passage to a new act where the reader explores magic and Arcana pantheon as they are a monumental part of the overall worldbuilding. This exact point applies to the Heart of the Forest and how spirits interact with the world around them as well.

Whittling and Charm making are the only hobbies we get from Muriel's isolated life, their introduction helps the reader humanise the character by giving us a crumb of his everyday life. It's never mentioned again after the scene where MC asks him what he does. He doesn't idly whittle during their journey and charms only come to play in an offhanded reference during reversed ending.

The other two are also ignored but I will touch on Lucio later on.

Why do these matter? A few abandoned plot points don't make or break the story but on a grander level it hinders the audience investment. When we read, we like to think the details we notice will come to play eventually, we like recognizing references that were introduced earlier. I'm sure I don't need to give examples on this one, I don't think anyone will disagree.

2. Themes. Thematic influences this story utilized are all over the place, and it seems to me like it stems from the improper application of certain tropes;

The Hero's Journey

Home Sweet Home

Shell-Shocked Vet

Last of His Kind

etc.

Some of these tropes tackle themes such as;

Slavery

PTSD

Survivor's Guilt

Genocide

I'm not going to try to explain How to Write any of these topics. I'm not remotely qualified. I think it's better if I just give examples from popular media because whether you know how to write it or not, you can still understand when it's written well;

AtLA deals with genocide and survivor's guilt. It's in the name; The Last Airbender. Aang is the sole survivor of a culture he'd only had an opportunity to engage in for a handful of years. He left them with a childish tantrum and now they're gone forever. I can't think of another mainstream series that shows the gruesome reality of war and genocide better than this one.

When Muriel realizes his true heritage and loses Khamgalai is the point of the story where Luke sees his family's farm burned down, Aang goes back to the air temple, Treebeard walks in on the demolished part of the forest. (The inciting incident)

(Could also have been forest spirit’s death but it was too early in the story so I don’t consider it a missed opportunity.)

Up until this point the hero has their doubts, they're going through the motions but they are either underestimating the enemy or they're a passive protagonist. Either way, this is the point where the hero has to take the reins of the story. What purpose does this serve in Muriel's route instead? It simply validates Muriel's beliefs. He's useless, he isn't strong enough. We as the reader need a point to see where the hero takes a step to drive the story forward or whoever takes that step will steal the spotlight, it will be their story. As it is, this is the point where it ceases to be Muriel’s story.

PTSD got the worst end of the deal. Since Dragon Age fandom has a huge overlap with the Arcana I will use Fenris as an example; for those who are unfamiliar with the character, Fenris is an escaped slave. After the sex scene he vividly describes an experience that most people can easily identify as a flashback. The game never tells us that he was abused, it doesn’t show us him having a panic attack but it shows us that whatever transpired between him and the player character clearly triggered an unpleasant memory.

Arcana tries and initially succeeds to do something similar. We see that the character is untrustworthy, sensitive to touch, easily agitated, can’t sleep outside of his perceived safe environment… It introduces us the cause later on and the story has two options, each will drastically change the moral of the story:

Remember these as they will be important later on

Portray Muriel fighting as a bad thing; You can’t fight violence with violence angle or the fact that the villain’s forcing him into a situation where he’ll have to fight again makes the villain all the more intimidating.

Portray Muriel fighting as a good thing; He has the means to defeat the villain and he just needs encouragement. With great power comes great responsibility. By not fighting he willingly condemns everyone to an awful fate and that he is selfish.

I’d like to take a second to explore the 1. Option, I feel like the game may have intended to implement that idea but failed because of the implementation of Morga and choices presented for the player character: Morga is an Old-Soldier, these characters are often push the hero out of their comfort zone in an aggressive way towards complacency, they are a narrative foil to the mentor. For the first option to work the story had to show Khamgalai acting as a mentor and having the protagonists challenge Morga’s teachings(see Ozai-Iroh). As it is, Morga’s actions are never put under scrutiny (narratively) and her death feels hollow as a result. She didn’t sacrifice herself for the heroes due to her guilt, she died because she felt a moment of sympathy for her son which wasn’t explored before, she showed no intention to change nor any doubt.

It is clear the game choose 2. Option, it is a controversial choice given Muriel’s mental condition and the game is acutely aware of this, which is likely why Muriel’s PTSD will get carefully scraped from the story from here on out. (I won’t address other instances where his trauma wasn’t taken into account, I feel like this explanation should cover them as well.)

3. Morals. Every story, whether the author intends it or not, has a moral. The Villain most often acts against that moral and in turn can change the hero's perspective. Morals are not ideals; the morality of Killmonger isn’t that marginalised people should fight for their rights, it is that vengeance is just. Whether it’s right or wrong can be debated but what makes an ideal the moral of the story is in the portrayal. How the narrator depicts the events, how people around the heroes react... all are a part of portrayal.

The story choosing “Muriel fighting is a good thing” earlier puts in the foundation of a moral. The story tells us Muriel has to fight, it’s the right thing to do. He has to be brave for the people he loves.

This choice affects how his past actions will be perceived; now, him escaping the arena to save himself is cowardly, abandoning Morga is cowardly.

The story tells us it wasn’t, but shows us that it was. This is the end of the midpoint of the story, at this point we need to have a good grasp on what we should perceive as wrong or right for us to feel invested. If we zig-zag between the morals we won’t know which actions we should root for. But more than that, the conclusion will not feel cathartic as it will inevitably demonstrate the opposing ideals clashing at its climax.

Villain doesn't necessarily have to be sympathetic and Muriel's route makes no effort to make him as such, but they need to be understandable. What danger does Lucio pose to the status quo, what makes him a compelling villain? Whether he conquers Vesuvia or not doesn’t drastically affect Muriel’s way of life, he’s been in hiding for years. He doesn’t threaten to steal MC’s body, Muriel is not compelled to pick up arms to save his beloved. He wants to protect the people from going through what he’s been through, right? That is what the story wants us to think. But what has he been through? Fighting was his choice, Lucio tricked him into it. Lucio later tricked Morga, his own mother, to save his own hide. This tells us that Lucio is a manipulator, but he doesn’t manipulate his way into Vesuvia, he barges in with deus ex machina monsters. He doesn’t demonstrate his skills as a tactician by making deals with neighbouring kingdoms to get their armies. We don’t know his strengths therefore we don’t know his weaknesses. If he seems to be losing he can just conjure a giant dragon to burn everything down, we just can’t know. That is why the application of deus ex machina is highly taboo, the victories don’t feel earned and defeats feel unfair.

4. Tone. Playing with the genre is not uncommon and a game such as Arcana has many opportunities to do so. It is a romance story, everything else is the back-drop. The tone works best when its overall consistent but tonal changes act as shock for the audience to keep them engaged and keeping one tone indefinitely gets us desensitized. We can’t feel constant misery if we are not made to feel tinges of hope in between. Good examples of dramatic tonal change (that I can think of): Mulan - arriving at the decimated village, La Vita e Bella - the father’s death, M*A*S*H - death of Hawkeye’s friend. Two of these examples are mostly comedy which is why this tonal shift affects us so, it was all fun and games until we are slapped in the face with the war going on. There are no one liners in those scenes, the story takes a moment to show appropriate respect to the dead, it gives its characters time to digest and come to terms with loss. Bad examples are the majority of Marvel movies.

In Muriel’s route there’s never such a thing, Muriel has a panic attack and MC kisses him. This unintentionally tells us, the genre being romance, that the panic attack only served to further MC’s advances. It tells us that he’s never had the control of his life and it’s yet again stripped from him by the decisions of player character. This is not the only instance this happens. The story shoe-horns in multiple cuddle sessions between important plot beats. And it does the exact opposite during a moment where he is having a heart-to-heart with the person he loves by having the ghost of Morga appear to give an ominous warning/advice.

When he runs off during masquerade it’s built up to be an important plot point. Muriel will finally face his past, he’s been running away from it all along, and he will have an opportunity to be accepted back in. MC is supportive but ultimately, it’s meant to be Muriel's moment. But as I mentioned above this is not his story anymore so he’s not given any time to address his problems, instead a ghost appears to tell him what he needs to do, again. Because we need to wrap the story up, we don’t have time.

Remember how I said the 2 Options will be important later on, well here we are at the very end. Upright and reversed.

“Portray Muriel fighting as a bad thing”

This suggests that the triumph of Muriel won’t be through violence. Maybe he will outsmart Lucio in a different way, he won’t play his games anymore. This option suggests that Lucio will not be beaten by his own terms.

“Portray Muriel fighting as a good thing”

This option concludes with Muriel finally overcoming his reservations on violence and doing what's right to save the people he loves. And bringing justice to people who Lucio hurt.

If you are wondering why the upright ending feels random, this is likely why. The ending plays out as if the story was building on the 1st option while we spent chapters upon chapters playing out the 2nd one. It is unearned.

(The reversed ending, being reversed, also uses Option 1 path but in which Muriel can’t achieve his narrative conclusion)

The Coliseum is filled with people who are on their side against Lucio’s shadow goons. Because we can’t have people being on Lucio’s side without addressing the duality of human nature, even though it’s an important part of Muriel’s story. The people who watched and enjoyed Lucio’s bloodsport are no more, they are all new and enlightened offscreen. We completely skipped the part where Vesuvia comes to terms with its own complacency and Muriel simply feels at ease because the crowd is cheering on him now. This is what happens when you give the character a chance to challenge those who have been complicit in his abuse (masquerade scene) and completely skip it to move the story along.

Muriel doesn't get justice, ever. The people only love him now because he's fighting for them instead of his own survival. Morga or her clan doesn't answer for the massacre of Kokhuri, Vesuvia doesn't answer for the sick entertainment they indulged in and Lucio doesn't answer for Muriel's enslavement. It is not even acknowledged, nowhere in the story (except the very end of reversed ending, and even then it almost gets him killed so its clearly the wrong thing to do on his part) is a choice presented where Muriel has an opportunity to get any sort of compensation where he instead chooses to move on.

I don’t intend to straw man anyone but this is a sentiment I’ve seen a lot; “It’s a short story, a dating-sim, what do you expect?”

I expect nothing, I’m simply explaining why some people feel how they feel. It is a short dating-sim but it seems to me like it was aiming to be something more by borrowing elements that were clearly far above their weight range to tease something more and under deliver. It is okay to feel content with the story, and it’s okay to feel let down. If we had a unanimous decision on literature we would never be inclined to write our own stories.

[sokkastyles]

Still thinking about Ozai and Zuko and “respect,” and the difference between true respect and submission gained through fear and control, which ultimately isn’t sustainable. That’s shown both through the political plot and in the way Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee eventually turn on Ozai/Azula. Because you can’t force someone to respect you if you don’t respect them in return. Respect is earned, and it’s a two-way street, just like loyalty and love and friendship.

Zuko at the beginning of the story is his most loyal to Ozai, but does he respect him? He both loves and fears him, certainly, and he’s clearly in denial about who his father really is, but I always go back to that incredibly curious outburst in episode three, when Zuko responds to Zhao’s plan by saying that his father is a fool if he really thinks the Earth Kingdom will follow him willingly.

I’ve written about this line before because it’s super interesting, like Zuko at this point is completely loyal to Ozai and the imperialist regime, but as much cognitive dissonance as he is able to cultivate, I don’t think he really believes any of that glorious leader crap that he tells his father was all a lie in “The Day of Black Sun.” At least, not deep down. I think he tries to fit his own beliefs into what he knows he should believe, because he so desperately wants acceptance from his father, but even then, Zuko knows that coercion and bullying isn’t the way to get someone to follow you willingly, because as much as he might pretend otherwise, he’s not out there chasing a mythical being as his only hope of going home because he chose to willingly. Zuko says a bunch of blatantly untrue stuff about his father; that his father will welcome him home, that his father won’t care if he bends the rules of his banishment because he actually cares about him. We know these aren’t true. Zuko defends Ozai when it comes to whether or not he cares about Zuko, but Zuko never actually defends his father’s politics or leadership skills.

I’m not saying Zuko wasn’t a tool of imperialism at that point in time because he certainly was, even if he was able to justify it to himself or was never as cruel as Ozai or Azula. What I am trying to say is getting back to the idea of respect. If Zuko respected Ozai he would be defending him as a leader, but he never does, and in fact he has moments that reveal that he doesn’t respect him.

That also gets back to the war meeting and Zuko’s original outburst and choosing to argue with the general’s plan for the 41st division. Zuko spoke out against that guy because he didn’t respect his opinion. Zuko’s also thirteen and thirteen year olds aren’t notorious for being respectful to their elders in any case (even healthy ones who don’t develop oppositional defiant disorder as the result of being abused by authority figures), but I also think Zuko didn’t respect this guy’s opinion because like, who would respect a general who had absolutely no respect for the men working under him? That shows in what he says to the guy, that those soldiers love and are loyal to the Fire Nation, and that this would be betraying that loyalty.

So Ozai says he’s gonna teach Zuko respect but does it in such a way that shows he has absolutely no respect for his son as an individual or as a person. It should go without saying that that’s not how you earn respect. It might earn you obedience, at least for a while, but we see how long that lasts in the series itself.

Do you know who Zuko does respect, though?

He respects Iroh. It takes him a while to learn how to express it, because spending a childhood having your head messed with by an abuser who warps the meaning of “respect” in the way Ozai did will do that to you, but even when Zuko is at his most disrespectful to Iroh, Iroh shows his respect for Zuko by being patient and loving and doing his best to help guide him, because that’s what adults are supposed to do.

And we see how much Zuko respects Iroh in his actions and in his words, in small ways at first but very much so in the latter seasons the more Zuko learns what real respect is. Zuko’s going around like “you know who makes the best tea? My uncle. Wow my uncle is so funny, wow my uncle is so wise, wow it’s so cool how my uncle can breathe fire and control lightning because he’s just super awesome. Yeah my family is awful but do you who’s not awful, my uncle, because he’s great.

When does Zuko ever say anything like that about Ozai? Even book one Zuko when he makes justifications for his actions by saying he has to do this, because his father has given him this mission, and when he contradicts Azula or Iroh on whether his father wants him home. He doesn’t elaborate on why he thinks these things will happen, on why he has to do these things to win Ozai’s acceptance. He tells Aang and Katara at various points that he’s doing things because of his father, but he doesn’t say his father is great or good or anything like that, just that he has to do this. That says a lot about how brainwashed Zuko actually was, I think.

I’ve seen people say that Zuko should not have defended Iroh to Sokka or that Sokka should have gotten mad about it, but that’s the difference. He’s not trying to justify anything to Sokka about the war or even retroactively defend Iroh’s part in it. And I think Sokka knows that Iroh is worthy of the respect Zuko affords him here, which is why he doesn’t push it even though he does get in a sarcastic line about Zuko’s change of heart, because even with his sarcasm Sokka does respect Zuko enough after he has proven himself with his actions and earned the respect of the gaang, which is also shown in what Sokka tells Hakoda later about Zuko.

[thevictorianghost]

If you could rewrite legend of korra and make it your own(or just in general better) how would you do it? The villains would stay the same and korra and crew are the same(personalities you can definitely tweak a bit. I would definitely not have any love triangles and make korra and asami happen in the beginning) how would you do it with your ships being canon as well?

Okay so I’ve never actually watched LOK. I’ve heard A LOT about it through watching countless video essays on Youtube and reading Tumblr posts about it. I know the who, the what and the how, I just haven’t wanted to watch it because, even though it looks cinematically gorgeous, the story was written by Bry/ke and there’s a LOT of it, worldbuilding and storywise, that I just can’t bare to watch.

So here goes. This got long. Enjoy!

1) Remove the Decopunk world. 

A Decopunk world is a world where technology is 1920s-ish, but very advanced. We have cars, tanks, radio, bobs and faux bobs, cloche hats, short skirts, nice suits, etc. I adore Decopunk. The 1920s are one of my favourite eras. An optimistic way of looking at the world, partying, illegal alcohol, the remnants of the Great War... I love it. I really do. But it doesn’t work in the pre-established world of Avatar. It brings elements that are far too imperialistic and colonial in nature (which prompted the comics to be imperialistic and colonial in nature, with the Northern and Southern Water Tribe, you can find many posts about that), which came along hand in hand with the Industrial Revolution, as this article puts it so well. Please read it, it’s awesome.

Why did they feel they had to denature Avatar’s world? They already had everything they could possibly want. 

The Fire Nation could be more Steampunk, which is a little less advanced than Decopunk (First Industrial Revolution vs Second Industrial Revolution) because there were elements of Steampunk in the Fire Nation Army (such as the tanks, the navy and the dirigibles). But it could be for them only. It could show us how Zuko transformed the Fire Nation from a war industry to a steam-powered country. This could be the new way to channel firebending (and please, no more “anyone can do lightning bending”, you don’t need lightning bending to get electricity and it makes  Zuko, Iroh, Ozai and Azula weak in the show!). 

We’ve seen waterbending used in clever ways in the Northern Water Tribe. How could Katara’s waterbending and Sokka’s engineering influence the Southern Water Tribe to make them use waterbending more? Canals, waterfalls, waterways, etc.? In new and different ways? Could the Southern Water Tribe use hydroelectricity, but in a clean, sustainable way? Why does the Southern Water Tribe port look so... mundane? 

The Earth Kingdom already had a working train system in Ba Sing Se. And the postal system in Omashu. Toph could have taught earthbenders how to follow the Badgermoles way and dug tunnels throughout a nation in peace. Then boom. Subways. But instead of machines pushing the people along, you can have benders do it. Instead of messenger hawks, the postal system could run through the entire kingdom instead of just Omashu and be much more efficient. The Earth Kingdom could be praised for its fast postal system that could, maybe, work as telegrams.

I’ll come back to the Air Nomads.

Those are just examples from the top of my head. I don’t mean “never allow technology to “””progress””” (I use that word veeeeery loosely because it has huge imperialistic undertones). I mean instead of trashing the fun parts of bending to make way for Decopunk technology that doesn’t need bending, work with it! Get creative! This worldbuilding feels... too easy. When Avatar: The Last Airbender was praised for its worldbuilding.

I adore Decopunk. I enjoy it far more than Dieselpunk and it’s much less known that Steampunk. But it has no place in the Avatar world.

2) That doesn’t mean “remove Republic City”.

First of all, it should honestly have a better name. It’s kind of like naming a city “Democracy City”. Which is way too on the nose. Harmony City sounds better, and that’s the first thing that came to mind. Anyway.

I really like the idea of a city being built in the spirit of Iroh and the White Lotus. To allow the Four Nations to live together in harmony in one city. But why is Republic City literally New York City with an “““Asian””” flair? What is up with that? I know New York is the MOST Decopunk city ever (you can’t encounter anything Decopunk without seeing New York, with its Art Deco buildings, the Harlem Renaissance, the Prohibition, etc.). But they do NOTHING with it! They just take New York, change some names, add some Asian flair, and call it a day. 

I don’t want 1920s New York for Republic City. I want Zootopia.

What happens in a city where all the Four Nations are represented? How does Water, Earth, Fire and Air work together? Big cities tend to be quartered in neighborhoods, so each neighborhood could be a smaller version of their nation. We could have a Northern Water Tribe next to an Earth Kingdom next to... you know what I mean? Each neighborhood could be a small-scale introduction to the nation for Korra first, then you can send her to that nation afterwards!

Which leads us to this.

3) Have Korra follow a traditional Avatar’s journey. 

I really don’t know why they decided that Korra would learn three elements before the age of sixteen (when that’s the age Avatars usually START their journeys) and then only have her learn Airbending during the entire show. Wasn’t the structure of each Book being about Aang learning one element at a time a good structure? Why go out of their way to NOT do that? Why was it the White Lotus’ prerogative to train the Avatar in the first place, too?  

So let’s have Korra know waterbending first (and show Katara teaching her, please!), then she can learn Earth, Fire and Air. By going to the Earth Kingdom, to the Fire Nation, and to the Air Temples. This could help develop each nation and show us how they have grown through the years. And it could lead Korra and the audience to figure out that there’s not only Aang who has had children to represent the Air Nomads, but there were other Air Nomads who survived the genocide and we can actually see the Air Nomads as a thriving culture.

So about Republic City. As I said, we could keep it. But now that Korra is going on a traditional Avatar journey, you could have, say, one episode at the beginning and one episode at the end of each season taking place in Republic City. To show us how each Nation’s neighborhood works and as an introduction to Korra before she actually takes the plunge to travel to that nation. 

Please! Build upon the Avatar world at large more! Come on!

4) Stop it with the love triangles. 

Many have talked about the Mako, Korra, Bolin and Asami love triangles. I’ve read once that they don’t exactly feel like friends, they’re only colleagues who share the fact they all dated Korra at one point. Which is sad. Knowing that the Gaang is so beloved because they’re such GOOD FRIENDS first!

So work to build strong, healthy friendships first, THEN start thinking about romance if you have to. And please, if you want a ship to be endgame, don’t have it so you have to confirm it on Twitter. 

Don’t.

Oh! And also. Bolin and Eska’s relationship was unhealthy as all hell and treated as “funny” and “comic relief” because a woman was being emotionally abusive to a man. That’s terrible. Please don’t do that.

5) Don’t let Katara fall to the side like she did. 

Many, MANY before me have talked about how Katara got the short end of the stick in LOK. Where’s her statue? Where’s her recognition as the Greatest Waterbender in the World? Why is she day in and day out in the healing hut, when she said “I don’t want to heal, I want to FIGHT”? Does she even have a waterbending school? Or is that completely fanon? Why does she allow Aang to take one of their children on life-changing field trips while leaving their other kids behind? Aren’t they also Air Nomads by birth??

It’s okay to worship the old Gaang because, well, we all love them! I do love Aang, even if I give him a hard time a lot, but I love the character. I just don’t like the way Book 3 Aang was written. But some characters shouldn’t have everything while others have nothing. Aang is LITERALLY THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. But where was Katara’s statue? And also, what happened to Suki?? What happened to Mai or Ty Lee, too?? Or even Sokka?? He died some time ago and... that’s it??

Which brings us to this.

6) Zutara, Taang, Sukka and Mailee.

I’ve seen that picture of Toph, Aang, Sokka and Katara being edited with Zuko and Katara next to each other, Toph and Aang next to each other, and a (suddenly alive!) Suki next to Sokka. I think that’s so good! It feels so healthy!

Not all relationships that started when people were kids work out. Sokka and Suki seem the strongest relationship at the end of the show and they’re probably the only ones I could see working out in the end. Sokka could become the Southern Water Tribe Chief and Suki could become his Queen when she’s retired from the Kyoshi Warriors.

Katara and Aang would be lifelong friends, of course they would be, but I don’t really see them lasting. Aang was twelve when they started dating. They’d date a few years, then they’d decide they want other things. That’s a good thing to show kids!

I’ve written many metas about Zutara, but Ambassador then Fire Lady Katara would show a changing world, where the Fire Nation, now no longer a war industry but a Steampunk country, is moving forward, with Zuko literally marrying a woman the Fire Nation tried to wipe out. They would be equals and leave an equal mark upon the world. Together.

Toph and Aang would be amazing together. They’d be a great team, working in the Earth Kindom, helping rebuild the old Temples when the Air Nomads came out of hiding, and bringing peace around the world. I don’t think they’d be a conventional relationship. They’d do their own thing for a while, find each other for a while, work together on some projects, then continue doing their own thing. Aang being the Avatar who travels the world and Toph teaching metalbenders and working with the King in Ba Sing Se and Bumi in Omashu and wherever she’s needed. I think Toph would be much more fulfilled than what we’ve seen of elderly Katara. She doesn’t have Katara’s abandonment issues (I’ve talked about them here) and she’s more independent, I believe.

I know I haven’t talked about them much yet, but I want Mai and Ty Lee together in the end. Badass ladies challenging their respective stereotypes and create a new world for themselves. Mai could find herself away from the Fire Nation court (I don’t know what she’d do, but circuses love people who throw knives, don’t they? She could be a circus performer for a while), and I think Ty Lee, in this version, could work at the circus and with Aang to rebuild the Air Nomads. I love the idea of Ty Lee being a descendant of the Air Nomads.

All of them should be shown creating Zootopia-like Republic City. Because of course they should be! They’re the Gaang!

So yeah, that’s how I would see the world of Avatar grow beyond the borders of the original show! :)

[fanboyzuko]

I don’t know if you’re still taking prompts, but if you are, what if Canon Zuko met Hui?

"Well, look at this." Azula said, backing away as they pushed her into a corner. "Enemies and traitors all working together."

A strange swirl of light appeared above her as she raised her hands over her head in surrender. Zuko knew he shouldn't take his eyes off his sister for a second. There was no way she didn't have a trick up her sleeve, but the circle of light continued growing larger at a rapid pace.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the anomaly, distracting even Azula as she glanced up. "What is-"

Three screaming figures came hurtling out of the light and landed directly on top of her.

"Owww, I think I broke something."

"Yeah! Me because you broke your fall on me!"

"Guys, I think we landed on someone-"

"AZULA?!"

The three Earth Kingdom teenagers that fell from the sky scrambled to their feet. As the smallest one checked on Azula, who had been knocked out from the force of three people falling on her, Zuko got a good look of the scar fanning out from his left eye, across his face.

Was this some sort of sick joke?

The boy looked up from Azula (how did he even know her?) and his unscarred eye bulged out of its socket. His companions shared similar shocked expressions, but they were staring right at Zuko while the boy's gaze locked on the Avatar.

"Are you an airbender?! Do you know the Avatar?"

"Well, I am-"

The Water Tribe boy shoved his hand over the Avatar's mouth, looking between Zuko and the scarred boy in a strange mix of disbelief and distrust. "How about before we figure out what in the world is going on, we take care of Zuko's terrifying sister before she wakes up."

"You're going no where near my sister!" Zuko snapped. He may have just been fighting against her, but no way was he going to surrender her to them!

The scarred boy glanced away from the Avatar, only for his eye to bulge even more "Un-" The girl with him covered his mouth with a forced laugh.

"Maybe let's make sure our landing cushion isn't too hurt and get through some..." She shared a look with the other Earth Kingdom boy, then, for some reason, Uncle and the Avatar's group. "-introductions..."

"I can take a look at her," the waterbender said in clear disgust while pooling her water around her hand.

"No!" Zuko shouted, almost overshadowed by the scarred boy's exclamation of, "Are you a waterbender? Do you know how to heal!?"

"Is anybody going to explain what the heck is going on?" The Avatar's newest companion huffed, waving her hand out at the scene before her. "Where did these new people come from?"

"TOPH?!"

She cocked her head toward the scarred boy with a confused scrunch of her nose. "Do I know you?"

"This is some very bad nightmare, I'd like to wake up now please," the Water Tribe boy groaned.

"We're just- Going to go over here for a moment!" The Earth Kingdom boy said in a nervous rush, dragging his companions away from the unconscious Azula.

Somehow between the strange trio scurrying away to have a hissed conversation, Uncle convincing Zuko to let the waterbender check on Azula, and a lengthy round of introductions that involved a lot of weird stares at Zuko and the Hui boy, Uncle started serving tea. And since Uncle set up tea, it meant everyone settled down to have some. And somehow that meant they were under a temporary truce as they figured out what spirit energy transported Hui, Bun Ma, and Ju Long into the middle of their standoff against Azula.

The whole situation was really starting to piss Zuko off. Hui was some sort of scholar researching the last Air Avatar and had some crazy ideas about her relationship to Zuko's ancestor Princess Akari. He had no stopped asking the Avatar questions about airbender culture and customs since they all settled for tea. Between his questions, Hui rambled nonstop about Avatar Yangchen and her companions. If that wasn't bad enough, he kept trying to include Zuko in his conversation as if Zuko should know anything about any of this, or even care about it!

"Nephew, isn't it fascinating to hear such detailed stories about Princess Akari?" Uncle asked quietly, so not to disrupt Hui's argument with the waterbender about Princess Akari's supposed spirit healing ability. "I remember you were quite enamored by her when you were younger."

Sure, he had been interested in her gentle flame technique and how she was close to dragons, but he wished he had never heard of his great-aunt before now that everyone get giving him looks as Hui shared his stupid stories! Worse were Hui's calculating looks between Zuko and the Avatar while he stressed the deep bond of the past Air Avatar and Fire Royal and how they worked together.

Zuko may have accepted this temporary truce—because clearly Hui's group had some sort of connection to him from how everyone was acting—but he was not the Avatar's friend! Once they got to the bottom of this strange day, Zuko would finally capture the Avatar like he was supposed to and go home. Stories of Princess Akari and Avatar Yangchen be damned.

A quiet groan between Uncle and Zuko made him jump. He looked down as Azula groggily opened her eyes and took in their ridiculous party gathered around Uncle's travel tea pot. She didn't even test her bindings before dropping her head with another groan.

"Please tell me I'm having a nightmare and I wasn't taken out by a second Zuko falling on top of me."

((Behind the scenes from everyone else's perspectives. Bun Ma and Ju Long immediately clock canon Zuko as Zuko and that somehow they're in the future or a different reality since Toph didn't recognize their Zuko. So they convince LTF!Zuko to keep being Hui, because he also quickly puts together that somehow he's faced with an older version of himself and they're probably not in their world.

(Since canon Zuko has Iroh and Azula to place him, while LTF!Zuko has Bun Ma and Ju Long who don't exist as Zuko's friend in canon so canon Zuko is able to fool himself into not recognizing himself. Which, to be fair, I think isn't so crazy a concept. I don't think Zuko examines himself often in the mirror and looking at his younger self in an Earth Kingdom getup, it'd be fairly easy to disregard similarities as a really strange coincidence.)

Meanwhile Sokka's reasoning is hold up! Don't admit to being the Avatar or else we'll get TWO Zuko's going after us! But then he and all the gang start doubting what they see before their eyes bc "Hui" is??? Nothing like the Zuko they know?? Aang and "Hui" are hella vibing fanboying over Yangchen together all the while.

And then Iroh is kinda just there. Stumped. And confused as to wtf is going on. But also hopeful that this wild whacky encounter will convince canon Zuko to rethink his path... But also he is dumbfounded as to what could have possibly led to "Hui" being the way he is.

And then Azula wakes up and addresses the elephant mouse in the room lmaooo I can't even begin to imagine the hijinks that ensue from this point 😂 ))

[not-all-dead]

angstpril day six: “You don’t belong here.”

this is a part two to yesterday’s prompt, which can be found here

CW: ........more sad

fic under the cut

It had been a few weeks since she and Kya had arrived in the Fire Nation. After their initial homecoming, things had gone back to what was considered “normal” to almost everybody. Kya had adapted to a new normal, starting up a school for waterbenders near the royal grounds, and Mako had transferred from Earth Kingdom official guard to the same position but for Izumi. Izumi and Ursa spent their days doing politics, keeping the country running smoothly. Bolin was working with President Moon in Republic City and hadn’t been back since their first meeting. Iroh had also been away since, his position as a general in the United Forces taking him around the world to wherever he was needed at any given time.

Everyone adapting to life like this should’ve made Lin feel at home. It should’ve, but it didn't. She spent her endless free time wandering the halls of the palace, a few times trying to pick up hobbies but quickly abandoning them. She tried to be happy at the very least when she was around her family, but everyday it got harder. She often found herself trying in vain to remember anything from before, feeling more defeated each time she came up blank. She told herself she kept doing it because she was healing, because someday soon she'd actually have a breakthrough. In reality, she did it for Kya and Izumi. She never mentioned it, but she could tell they were watching her, waiting in anticipation for the day that she suddenly became the person she'd been before again.

She was exhausted trying so hard to be someone she wasn’t all the time. It was during the day, wandering the quiet halls of the palace, that she was able to take a break from the facade. Wandering alone was terribly lonely, though, and she didn’t feel much better afterwards anyway. Today was another day of lonely walking, waiting for Kya and Izumi to get off work only to fake more smiles. Another day of exhaustion to add to the stack.

She’d found yet another wing of the palace, a hallway she’d never been down before. At least, not in a time she could remember. It was walking down this hallway that her day took a sharp turn.

As she approached one of the many doors in the long hallway, she heard crying from within. She slowed her pace, moving towards the sound, listening carefully when the person crying began to speak.

“I love her, Zumi, I love her so much,” Kya said quietly, voice shaking and wet with tears.

“It’s just- I want to help her, I want to make her remember, and I know- I know we did everything we could, and it’s not her fault, but it's hard,” She took in a loud breath and sighed, a slight whine escaping her lips as she began to sob again.

Lin moved closer to the door, peeking around the frame to see in. Izumi held Kya against her chest, stroking her hair gently. She seemed to be whispering reassurances to Kya, who shook with the force of her sobs.

Seeing Kya so distraught because of her made her chest tighten. She hated that she was hurting them, simply because she existed differently now than she had before. She hated that there really was nothing more she could do, other than continuing to try her best to be the Lin they knew from before.

She watched them like that, so close and comfortable with one another, and felt her shame growing further. She was about to continue her aimless wandering, leaving them to each other, when Kya looked up and caught her eye.

“Oh, no, Lin…” Her brows knitted together and she sat up, Izumi’s arms falling from around her.

Lin panicked. She knew that they’d only feel worse if they knew how much she’d heard, and she could already hardly stand how much hurt she was causing. She froze where she stood until Kya began to stand, at which point she ran.

She ran back down the way she’d come, tracing her path exactly. Kya yelled for her to wait, but she just kept running. She ran past her room, past the dining room, past everything, until she came to the grand doors that opened onto the courtyard. She was panting when she got there, her lungs and throat burning with the sudden exercise. She ignored the burn, pushing the large doors open and walking out into the lush green area.

She found a long stone bench under the shade of a silver wisteria tree and sat hunched over. Her hands gripped the edge of the cold stone tightly, her head hanging over her feet. She sat there, focusing on calming her breathing, until the burn from her run was gone. Then, with nothing left to distract her from Kya’s words earlier and her own ungovernable thoughts, she began to weep.

It was not a messy cry. Tears collected in her eyes and fell, soaking into her pants and hitting the stone beneath her feet. Her breath hitched on every inhale, a lump in her throat forming quickly and a thickness growing in her chest. Her mind replayed Kya’s words, adding its own and only making her feel worse. She made no noise sitting there, the faint rustle of the wisteria’s green leaves and the sounds of the city in the distance seeping in through her open ears. It was a long time before anyone found her there.

“There,” Kya said, voice tired and heavy.

Lin heard the swishing of robes, but still nobody approached her. Her eyes were dry now, fixed on her motionless shoes, and her head still hung low.

“Let me talk to her for a minute, alright?” She heard Izumi say quietly to Kya.

Kya gave no audible response, but Izumi walked slowly towards Lin. When she got to her, she knelt on the hard ground in front of her, gently placing a hand on Lin’s knee. She watched Lin for an instant before speaking, her heart breaking at how hopeless Lin seemed.

“Lin, please, look at me. Talk to me,” She said, reaching her other hand up to push a loose strand of hair behind Lin’s ear.

“I don’t belong here,” Lin muttered, not looking up from her feet.

“What?” Izumi breathed, shock coming over her face.

“I don’t belong here,” Lin repeated, louder this time.

“What do you mean, you don’t belong here?” Izumi blinked slowly at Lin, trying to understand.

“I mean I don’t belong here, Zumi. Look at what my being here has done to you and Kya, and probably others too,” She lifted her hard gaze to meet Izumi’s.

“I don’t belong here, just like I don’t belong anywhere. I’m not who I used to be. Hell, I don't even know who I used to be. I don’t belong here because when I’m here I’m only hurting the people I used to love,” Izumi took in a sharp breath and closed her eyes momentarily before Lin continued.

���I don’t belong anywhere anymore, Zumi, because even if you all loved me before, I’m not the same. I’m not ever going to be the same. It doesn’t matter that you might’ve once loved me, because that me is never coming back,” She felt her eyes well up again and tore them away from Izumi’s.

There was a moment of quiet before Izumi found her voice.

“Lin I…” She started, gulping back tears of her own.

“I don’t know what to say,” She finished after a moment of hesitation.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Lin responded.

“I just… don’t treat me like I’m going to magically turn back into the person I used to be. Like it’s just a matter of time before the memories come flooding back and I’m just like I was before,” She turned her head back to face Izumi, tears steadily streaming down her face.

“I’ve tried, Zumi,” Her voice cracked on Izumi’s nickname and she closed her eyes.

“I’ve tried so, so hard. But every time I try to think back to before the accident… it's just empty. There’s nothing. And it scares me, so, so much. And I-,” She inhaled deeply, opening her eyes again to look at Izumi.

“I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep trying to be someone I’m not. I can’t keep hoping I’ll remember when I know that I won’t. And I can’t stay here if it means I’ll have to do exactly that,” She looked up to where Kya stood, hand pressed over her mouth to quiet her crying.

There was another moment of silence before Izumi spoke again.

“Lin I… I am so, so sorry we made you feel that way. I know there are no excuses, but I think Kya and I have been having a hard time accepting the reality of it all. It feels like someone we loved dearly is gone, and yet you’re still here. I think a part of us sees you here and still wants to hope that the old you is still in there somewhere. It’s not fair of us so think like that, to ourselves or to you,” She said, tracing the cracks between the stones of the floor with her eyes.

“I understand that feeling,” Lin said quietly, making Izumi turn back to her quickly for an explanation.

“It’s not exactly the same, and I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you two, but hearing stories… hearing stories of before feels like learning about a family member, someone I should’ve known and loved, someone I never got to meet. It doesn’t feel like they’re my stories, but it still feels like I lost a loved one before ever getting to meet them,” Izumi nodded and wiped her cheeks, sniffing loudly.

Lin looked back up at Kya, who’s hand was by her side again, lips pressed together tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she took a step forward.

“May I?” Her voice quivered and she nodded at the empty bench beside Lin.

Lin smiled and patted the cold stone and Kya came over, sitting just inches away from Lin. She reached her hand out, hesitating for a split second before lightly resting it on Lin’s knee.

“Lin, I loved you with everything I had before the accident. And I- I know I need to accept that the old you is gone, but… it would mean the world to me if you would stay, and at least give me, give us, a chance to fall in love with you again,” She watched as Lin’s face twisted, her tears renewing themselves.

She was about to continue when Izumi butted in.

“You don’t remember loving us, and that's alright, but I truly believe that, if you gave us the chance, we could love you again. And not for who you used to be. Because whoever you happen to be now is just as deserving of love as the old you was, and who better to give you that than us?” Izumi glanced at Kya with worry on her face before looking back at Lin.

Lin stared at her shoes again, furrowing her brows in what looked like angry confusion. She opened and closed her mouth several times before any words came.

“You’re right about the first part,” She started, closing her eyes in an attempt to think more clearly.

“I don’t remember loving you. But that doesn’t mean…” She paused to look at Izumi and then at Kya, taking a hand of each of theirs in her own.

“I can’t lie to you. I- since being here, I’ve-,” She hesitated and turned her eyes back to the ground.

“I’ve fallen in love with both of you all over again. I was too scared to say anything because I felt like if I did, I’d be trapped here, trying to be someone I’m not. Trying to live up to the person you loved before. But if-,” She gasped slightly, fighting back tears.

“If you think there’s a chance you could love me for who I am now and not who I once was…” Her face scrunched and she let out a soft sob.

Kya couldn’t help but let out a small sob of her own. A smile spread across her face despite her shaking shoulders and she looked at Izumi with a pained kind of hope. Izumi’s cheeks were damp too, the same sad hope painted across her features as she looked from Kya to Lin.

“We just want you to be happy, Lin,” Izumi’s voice was thick with tears as she spoke.

“It would mean the world to us if you would stay, but if you do-,” She sucked in a tight breath.

“Stop trying to be the old you for our sake. It’s not right for us to expect that of you. But please, don’t go. We’ll do everything we can to let go of the old you, and to break away from the expectations we were putting on you. We’ll love you for who you are now, just as long as you stay and give us the chance to,” Her lips pulled into a tight smile and tears spilled from her golden eyes as she reached up to cup Lin’s face in her palm.

Lin sobbed again and closed her eyes, leaning into Izumi’s hand. After a moment of sitting like that, she forced her eyes open and shuffled closer to Kya, making room for Izumi to join them on the bench. Izumi pushed herself off the ground at Lin’s invitation, making herself comfortable on the cold stone. Lin’s body shook with sobs and she squeezed her hands around Kya and Izumi’s, hanging her head low once more. Kya and Izumi looked at each other over her shoulders before leaning in, wrapping her in a hug between them and holding her tightly.

“I love you,” She managed to choke through her sobs, warmth spreading through her chest when Kya and Izumi both nuzzled up against her.

She was terrified to hope on the off chance she could be let down, but she couldn’t help but feel that this could be a new beginning for the three of them.

[not404error1]

Soulmate AU

Any type of soulmate AU 

If Only By  kathrinecoveys (AO3, G, 2277 w, Identifying Marks, Tea shop, Identity Porn, WIP)  

 from my prompt off of my tumblr: "soulmate au where ½ of the couple gets a tattoo of their soulmate’s name on them. sokka gets zuko’s name suddenly tattooed on him and he freaks tf out because soulmates aren’t supposed to be enemies and soulmates surely don’t send a combustion man after each other. he decides to ignore the tattoo and pursue his own destiny, when he meets a tea shop employee named lee. sokka finds himself falling in love with lee more and more each time he visits the shop. zuko isn’t aware that sokka doesn’t know it’s him. honestly he likes messing with him but then finds himself falling in love too."  

Soulmates and other reasons the universe hates Zuko By anonymous (AO3, M, 52,463 w, Identifying Marks, Enimes to friends to lovers, Angst, Canon Compliant) 

In which Zuko and Sokka find out they’re soulmates in the absolute worst way possible.

Soulmarks and Surprises By  ambersky0319 (AO3, G, 1,549 w, Identifying Marks, Cannon Compliant) 

Soulmarks and soulmates were something that was pushed to the back of people's minds once the fire nation attacked... Suddenly, it was no longer a priority to find the one you were supposedly destined to be with, all according to black images somewhere on your body. Well, Sokka at least doesn't have to look too far to find his soulmate.

another time, another place By  cosmicenergy (AO3, T, 21699 w, Identifying Marks, Cannon Compliant, Minor Angst)

Depicted on his forearm was the outline of two crossed swords, like those that he had read about in stories of the warriors who were out fighting the great battles in the war. He was always proud of his marking, not only cause it made him look cool, but he figured that his soulmate must be cool because of the swords too, right? Except, the one problem was that his soulmate wasn’t in the southern water tribe. (Alternatively; everyone is born with a mark that ties them to their soulmate. Let’s just say that Sokka hasn’t had the best luck when it’s come to his.)

a place to belong By  preciousbunnynoiz (AO3, T,  54,683 w, Autistic Zuko, WIP, I haven’t Read this one yet :() 

Sokka and Zuko are soulmates. Because of this from the time they are small the spirits take them to visit each other. No one else can see the spirit version of the other but it doesn't take much for the two to become friends. But with their countries divided by war Zuko has to decide where his loyalties really are and maybe save not only his soulmate but his nation and his family from his father. Sokka has to decide how exactly he feels about Zuko and come to terms with how much the spirit world likes him.But they can do it together. 

moving mountains By  thefangirlingdead (AO3, M, 64,074 w,  Pinning, comic compliant, slow burn, getting engaged, betrothal necklace)

"Soulmates are chosen by the spirits and can hear each other’s thoughts. Sokka thinks it’s cheesy and dumb. Zuko thinks it’s poetic justice that he doesn’t have one because he doesn’t deserve it. Cruel irony is finding out that the prince of the Fire Nation (and the person currently hunting you) is your soulmate.(Set during and after the events of ATLA, and during some of the events of the comics that follow. This was an excuse to write a slow-burn where Sokka and Zuko are soulmates)"

 *One of My Favorites

Zuko Doesn't Have a Mark by OccasionalStorytelling  (AO3, T, 1050, Soulmate AU, oblivious zukko, oblivious sokka)  

"It's not really that he doesn't have a soulmate mark. It's that his father burned it away, and it never came back. Zuko knows it's because he doesn't deserve a mark in the first place, much less one for someone in the water tribe.

Sokka is just happy he finally got his mark."

I'm a patchwork, but you're my thread by penfae (AO3, T, 13754 w, soulmate AU (kinda talks about soulmates a lot so), post war,  proposal, enemies to friends to lovers)

He confronts Iroh about this information, telling him that soulmates must not be real, or at least not anything special, if the Fire Nation has dismissed the very idea for over a century. His uncle only shakes his head and tells him that the universe is all about balance, and that balance extends to who each one of them spends their life with.

Zuko throws his hands above his head in frustration. “Uncle, you were the one who told me that soulmates don’t exist,” he shouts.

Iroh smiles enigmatically. “No, nephew. I told you that there is nobody out there who makes up your other half.”

“That’s the same thing!”

His uncle’s dry chuckle follows him as he storms back to his chamber.

 moving lips to breathe your name (I opened up my eyes) by thesurielofficial @thesurielbitch (AO3,G, 4435w,  friends to lovers, soulmate AU, fluff)

Soulmates aren't found, they're made. Sokka is thirteen when he understands this and he wishes for a love so great that it transcends to a soulbond. And Zuko? Zuko knows he will never be loved the way someone must love you to be your soulmate, so what's the point of hoping, anyway?

and where you go, i will go too (yes, i am now a part of you) by AndyBoy (AO3, T, 4464w, soulmate au, mild angst, fluff, sokka is a dork, zuko is an awkward turtle duck)

“I, uh…” Zuko shifted in his seat. “Well…” He gestured vaguely, hands following the movement of his wrists. “Yes,” he settled on finally, averting his eyes. “I’ve met my soulmate.”

“What?” Sokka leaned forward interestedly, ignoring the soft ache behind his ribcage. “Is it that goth chick? Mel?”

“Mai,” Zuko snapped. “And...no, it’s not her.”

“Then who?” Suki asked. “Do we know her?”

“Yes—No. It doesn’t matter.”

“You don’t have to tell us, Zuko—” Katara started.

“Good!” Zuko said, standing up. “Because I don’t want to!”

--

Soulmate AU Where you see in grayscale until you hear your soulmate laugh for the first time. Sokka laughs a lot, loud, proud, and bright. Zuko...barely even smiles.

*one of my faves

[unsualfan]

Maiko week day 5: Field trip

"Little moments"

When Mai was a young child she was sent by her parents for a field trip to camp Apoy. She had to go since her parents told her so. Thinking it would be boring she was relieved to find out Zuko was going too.

(This is the fic I wrote for Maiko week day 5 fieldtrip. Sorry if I made spelling and grammar mistakes. English ain't my first language 😶)

@idonthatemaiko

There was this camp in the fire nation where young fire nation kids would go on a fieldtrip at some point. The camp was called camp Apoy. Mai's mother, Michi told her that she should go because she went there as a kid and that maybe she would enjoy this fieldtrip. Mai thought the sound of camp apoy seemed boring but it beats being around in her big house with nothing to do. She cheered up a little when she heard Zuko would go too.

The day before she was going to the camp she visited the royal palace and talked to Zuko on the garden. She found out Azula wasn't coming. "Yeah she's not coming she boasted earlier that instead she would learn more advanced fire bending training while I would be at camp and she is gonna get better at fire bending than me." Zuko said. "This fieldtrip is gonna be boring but I have no choice because my parents said I had to and also said this fieldtrip is educational" Mai said. "Yeah its probably boring but at least Azula won't be there, I'm sure she's gonna burn the entire camp." They both laughed. Secretly Zuko thought it was best that Azula wasn't coming because he and Mai can hang out without her interrupting. Mai also thought the same. There were still kinda mad at the time Azula made them both fall into the fountain.

The day of the fieldtrip arrived Zuko was riding in a carriage pulled by ostrich horses and was accompanied by his Uncle Iroh. He told Zuko the things to be expected at this fieldtrip turns out Lu ten also came here when he was Zuko's age. The camp was very old and popular since many children from different fire nation schools go there every year. Mai was already there along with other 13 children from another school. She assumed they were all classmates because they wore uniforms in different shades of orange and a little red. She thought the uniform was awful because it was orange. To Mai orange was an awful color. Mai also thought the kids looked like siblings or it could have been the tacky uniform they were wearing that made them look similar to each other.

A carriage pulled up. Mai was a little excited she thought Zuko had arrived but felt disappointed when a little girl stepped out. "Bye Anda have great time" "Bye mom" she waved back and went to the other kids. Anda was already friends with the other kids. I guess these kids are gonna have fun since they are all friends already. If Zuko doesn't arrive this fieldtrip is gonna be boring for me.

Mai thought. Just then another carriage arrive and this time its Zuko. Mai felt relieved and Zuko was happy to see her. He waved his Uncle goodbye and went to Mai.

"Hey"

"hey, you're a little late"

"Yeah my Uncle had to stop at a shop we saw on the way here and look he got me this paper dragon that they were selling"

He pulled it out his pocket and showed it to Mai. "That's cool" Zuko pulled another paper dragon. "Uncle also got another one this one's for you." "Wow thanks this is cool." They were playing with the paper dragons when another carriage pulled up. A woman stepped out. Mai recognized her. "Zuko isn't that your mom?" "huh?" He turned around and his mom was standing behind him. "Hello Zuko I see you're already having fun with your friend."

"Good day Ms. Ursa"

"Good day to you too Mai" She said with a friendly smile. And then a head popped up behind her. It was Azula. "Heyyyy Zuzu!!!" she said teasingly. "Azula?! what are you doing here? I thought you said you had fire bending training with dad." "Well I change my mind so I asked mom if I can still catch up to this fieldtrip because I would rather spend time with you brother" She said with a fake friendly smile. Zuko frowned. "Luckily I got here just in time and besides I'm already more advanced than you are at fire bending." Zuko was not happy to hear that and he had a bad feeling that Azula was gonna humiliate him. So much for spending time with Mai. He was certain Azula was gonna bug him the entire fieldtrip. "Alright have fun now and look out for each other" Ursa said. "Sure mom."

A man arrive. He was shorter than an average adult but he was taller than the kids. He also looked young for an adult. He introduced himself as Dai and he was gonna look after the kids and teach them all about the fire nation in this fieldtrip. "Well I guess I must get going your fieldtrip is starting very soon, bye for now" She kissed Zuko and Azula on the forehead before heading off. "bye mom"

Dai checked if all kids were present and said the first activity they were gonna do was hike through the woods to get to the mountain. He then grouped the kids in two so that they would walk in pairs and he would have an easier time keeping an eye on them during the hike. Zuko was paired with Azula and Mai was paired with a girl named Marita. Then they started the hike. While hiking on path that led to the mountain. Dai talked about how this camp used to be inhabited by spirits then became a village of fire nation commoners and war and blah blah. He could have told this story a thousand times. It was obvious that this wasn't his first day at the job because he was excellent at keeping the others kids interested. Mai was bored. Zuko and Azula already heard this story told by their Uncle Iroh. Then Azula had an idea

"Mr Dai Zuko is being mean to me he keeps making me trip over!" Zuko didn't know what to say and before he knew it Dai switched him up with the girl Marita and now he was at the front of the line paired with Mai. Dai put him at the front so he could keep an eye on him thinking he was a mischievous kid but it was all Azula. Now Zuko is walking side by side by Mai. Despite the chattering of kids behind him he could hear Azula giggling at the back. Very funny Azula he thought. A few minutes into the hike he realized that it wasn't so bad since she was at the very back and can no longer bug him. Him and Mai was talking, exchanging jokes and then behaved themselves when Dai turned around then continued talking once he had his back turned.

The path that they were hiking led to a creek. "Alright kids let's stop here for a while before heading up the mountain for lunch." The creek had plenty of minnows and the other kids took of their shoes and wanted to catch the minnows with a jar. Mai didn't feel like slipping on the creek and getting wet so she sat at a large rock. Zuko didn't expected it but Azula joined the other kids. "Come on in you, two minnows aren't to be afraid of." Azula said. "This is childish I'm not going in you're just gonna push me and then laugh." Zuko replied.

"I wouldn't do such thing I just wanted to have fun. Let's play game called who can catch more minnows in a minute"

"Alright fine but if you push me I'll grab your ankle and bring you down with me"

"pinkie swear Zuzu I will not push you"

Zuko got in the creek and started catching minnows with Azula. Mai still didn't wanna go and just sat at the rock. Zuko won and caught plenty and kept them in the jar. "Hahah I win Azula" it felt good to beat her. "Well congratulations Zuzu" she was suspicious happy. Azula would have not let him beat her. "Alright kids times up time to head to the mountain." Dai said. Zuko got out of the creek but when he put his shoes back on he felt something move and that startled with making him fall on his butt. Luckily Mai caught the jar he was holding that had the minnows on it. Azula burst out laughing. "Azula >:( ! " She was still laughing. Turns out she fooled him into playing with her just so she can prank him and put minnows into his shoes. Zuko stood up and felt humiliated and he was very mad at Azula.

"Come on you three we have to get to the mountains for lunch time." They lined up with their pair and headed for mountains. I can't believe I feel for that. Should have known she wasn't actually gonna play with me. Zuko thought to himself. He noticed that Mai was still holding the jar with minnows. She was looking at it while they were walking. "The minnows swim in circles in this jar they're stuck in here just like how I'm stuck in my house most of the time." She said.

"You can keep it if you want to"

"really?"

"yeah I don't feel like taking that home with me and then getting reminded of the time Azula pranked me."

"I'll keep them as pets and I'll have company in my boring room"

They looked at each other and smiled. It was a good thing Azula was at the back. If she saw this interaction she would have teased them non stop.

They didn't go all the way up since it would take too long and they were still kids and would get tired easily. They stopped at a part of it that had seats and tables. It had a great view of the part they hiked and the creek was visible from there too. There was a wooden fence at the edge so they can admire the view without falling off. The kids went running into fence to see the view. Zuko and Mai followed them "Careful now children don't fall off. This site used to be very popular long ago and fire benders who wish to learn the art of bending would come here because you can really feel the heat of the sun and also legend says this used to be a dragons nest." Dai told them.

After the admiring the view they all went to have a seat and have lunch. Azula, Zuko and Mai sat together and traded some their lunches.

After eating Azula noticed some flowers near them and they looked wilted. She wanted to do some fire bending and thought it would be nice to burn them since it already looks dead. Zuko noticed this right away.

"Azula don't you could set the whole mountain in flames"

"I know how to control my fire Zuzu and besides these flowers look dead it's ok to burn it"

A kid named Rous heard this and said "These flowers aren't dead its just the way they look" "How would you know it's obviously wilted already" Azula replied. Dai saw this and said "He's right these flowers are still alive. It has many names and origin stories but it's for sure that it's rare and cost a lot of gold pieces if you sell it and" blah blah. Mai wanted to get one flower sure the flower looks wilted but to her it was interesting and she wanted one. She was about to grab one but Dai stoped talking about the flower and stopped her before she got one. "Oh no you can't grab one the flower has thorns and you might hurt yourself"

"aw"

"Well look at the time let's head back down your parents will pick you up"

While walking down the mountain Zuko tapped Mai's shoulder and gave her he flower. "Woah how did you get this I thought it had thorns on it?"

"Well I used my fire bending to cut one"

Zuko said while hiding his hand behind his back. He had a few scratches from the flowers thorns. "Thanks" They smiled at each other.

They were back at where they started and a carriage was waiting for all the kids. Iroh was waiting for Azula and Zuko he had come to pick them up after spending the entire day playing Pai sho and drinking tea.

Uncle Iroh asked them as they went inside the carriage

"So did you have a great time?"

"Yes kinda" Azula said giggling

"Azula put minnows in my shoes"

"It was just a prank Zuzu cheer up"

Mai's mom came to pick her up. Seated inside the carriage she held the paper dragon, the minnows jar and the rare flower. "Aw I see you had fun after all" Michi said. She said that because Mai had a smile on her face holding the little gifts Zuko gave her. She didn't even realize she was smiling.

[ihopuhopwehop]

I like to see your take on one of this: we need more of this prompt

🔥Zutara 🌊

The Ember Island Players doing a play for the Fire Nation's Most Beloved Relationship, Firelord Zuko of the Fire Nation and Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, but the craze doubled when they didn't get together, or did they???

Basically, the whole Fire Nation and selected people from both the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes creating a system that could get them access to other fan works of the two.

Sokka started it. He lives for a good dose of chaos.

Hello! Thank you so much for being so patient with me as I finish finals! I took my last one yesterday and submitted a ten-page essay :D I am now done!! And as such, I just finished this! I hope you enjoy it!!

I present...

ZUTARA: A MUSICAL

THIS WEEKEND ONLY, FREE ADMISSION TO THE EMBER ISLAND PLAYERS RENDITION OF THE MOST THRILLING TALE OF ROYALTY AND ROMANCE, ZUTARA: THE MUSICAL. DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 PM. COMPLEMENTARY FIRE FLAKES WILL BE SERVED UPON ADMISSION.

Sokka had done a good thing today. Or rather an entertaining thing. He sold his sister out. That’s right, her and Firelord Zuko want to have a secret relationship behind his back while he’s out training warriors in the South Pole, then they’re gonna get what’s coming.

Really, if they had just told him themselves he would have been fine with it…eventually, but having them trust him enough to tell him would have helped him get over it a lot quicker BUT NO instead he found out through Uncle Iroh making an offhanded comment about their children being called steambabies and Sokka being understandably confused and Uncle Iroh nonchalantly mentioning that they were a couple now.

Sokka, at the time, had been so surprised that he spit out his bite of fried armadillo bear meat, which was unfortunate really because Fire Nation cuisine had so many new and delectable flavors. Uncle Iroh had looked alarmed when he realized Sokka had not been told yet, but Sokka really wasn’t paying attention to Iroh’s supposed to-be soothing parables as he figured that must have been why Katara had decided to stay in the Fire Nation this time around instead of coming back home with him. It must also be why Aang had been in a particularly foul mood the last few weeks.

Sokka was brought back to the present as the man at the booth handed him a plump bag of coins.

“Thanks for the tip kid, this play is sure to be a hit. So many people shipped them together already.”

Sokka inwardly blanched at that, knowing that must mean Katara and Zuko were out in public together a lot, but he pushed that thought aside to continue the conversation.

“No problem. Let me know how it goes. Oh and if you could send a script over to King Bumi of the Earth Kingdom, that’d be great. He’s always looking for romance novels to read.”

The greasy man looked at him like he was crazy to suggest sending a king this type of play but nodded his head none-the-less.

“Will do. —” The man paused, “Say, aren’t you Master Katara’s brother?”

Sokka smirked, “That I am. That I am, kind sir.” Sokka then realized he couldn’t let his sister know it was him who released the play, so he held up his boomerang and pointed it at the man’s head, “But you can’t tell her anything! She’d kill me if she knew I told.”

The man’s eyebrows raised in surprise, “So it’s true? Firelord Zuko and Master Katara of the Southern WaterTribe are dating?”

Sokka reeled at that, “No, no! Er, no, I mean, maybe? Who knows, only time will tell, bye now!”

And with that he turned on his heel, proud of his recovery of that conversation.

Katara stormed into Zuko’s meeting room the minute the last fire sage ambled out.

“What the spirits is this?” She asked as she slammed a flyer for ZUTARA:THE MUSICAL down on the large marble table.

Zuko raised an eyebrow as his eyes swept over the page. He was about to respond to her inquiry when she continued in her rage, “Did you tell someone?!?”

Zuko stepped back a space to put a little more distance between her anger and himself, “No of course not! Did you?”

She ran a hand through her dark curls, narrowly avoiding getting them caught in her braids, “Would I be this mad if I told? Of course, I didn’t tell! I haven’t even told Sokka yet!”

That was when Zuko remembered something that he knew would cause a problem from them. He sighed loudly and drug a hand down his face, “We need Uncle in here.” He turned to his assistant standing a few paces behind him in the corner, “Could you please tell my Uncle his presence is requested in the Peace Meeting Room?” As the assistant nodded and turned to leave, Zuko offered a kind ‘thank you’ and turned back to Katara.

“I think Iroh knows.”

Katara looked shocked but then composed herself, realizing it would have only been a matter of time before he knew since they were always working in close quarters anyway.

“What makes you think he knows?” She asked as she moved to sit down in a previously vacated seat.

Zuko didn’t answer for a minute and Katara realized he looked a little embarrassed. “What Zuko? Why would he know?”  

“I believe he was having tea in the garden when we were watching the turtleducks last week. I hadn’t noticed he was there until he mentioned during our weekly tea time that sleeping by the pond may not be the safest thing to do, but he was glad I had a waterbender by my side to do it.”

Katara groaned, “Of course Iroh knows! He’s too smart not too!” Katara then paused as she remembered the day by the pond. Her and Zuko had gone to watch the turtleducks and fell asleep in each other’s arms. Then when they had woken up, her and Zuko chased each other around the pond, which ended up in her pushing him into the pond with his full Firelord Regala on. It was hilarious watching the turtleducks swim up to him as he pouted in the water.

She giggled a little as she thought of his face and noticed Zuko’s features soften in real time.

“We’ll figure it out Kat. Plus, he was bound to know sometime right? As long as he didn’t tell anyone else…”

“But who told! Do you think it was one of the guards? Or your assistant?”

“They’ve been instructed not to, I highly doubt they would disobey my orders on something like this.”

She raised an eyebrow, “’something like this’?” She questioned.

Zuko grimaced knowing he had said the wrong words, “Something that isn’t relevant to war, peace, or the outcome of humanity. Us dating isn’t a big deal unless we get engaged or the public finds out too soon.”

Katara pursed her lips, “Maybe not a big deal to you, but I had to turn down the Avatar. That’s bound to have some repercussions if people find out.”

Zuko shook his head, “You turned down Aang, our friend.”

Katara was starting to get angry, “Yeah, our friend, The Avatar, who thought it was his destiny to marry me! You don’t think Aang would have told just to get back at us do you? I don’t think he would but if he was hurt enough…” Katara trailed off worriedly.

“I highly doubt he had time to tell anyone. He went with Toph to the Western Air Temple to restore the architecture, he would have had his hands full with that.”

Katara nodded slightly thinking over who could have told, but the only people that had appeared to know were the palace workers, Iroh, and Aang.

Zuko sat down beside her, putting a hand over the one she had resting on the table. “We’ll figure it out Kat. For now let’s talk to Uncle and see if he knows anything.” Just as he leaned forward to give her a kiss, he noticed his Uncle shuffle through the large, oval doors. He pulled back and tried not to smirk at Katara’s disappointed face.

His Uncle chuckled, “Don’t stop on my account Nephew. I got an eyeful last week.”

Zuko scowled at him, “Uncle, tell me you didn’t tell anyone?”

His Uncle took on a guilty face causing Katara to bang her head on the table and Zuko to groan.

“Uncle!”

“It was an accident! I was having lunch with Master Katara’s brother upon his arrival yesterday, and he pulled it out of me! He is a master of persuasion that one.”

Katara chuckled, but then stopped as she realized this meant that Sokka knows. “Sokka knows? As in, he knows?!”

She stood up abruptly, “What did you tell him?!”

Uncle Iroh looked sheepish, “Er. That your children would be called steambabies.”

Katara gaped while Zuko flushed in embarrassment, “Uncle! You didn’t!”

“Ah. But I did. So sorry Zuko, but a friend of mine from the Northern Water Tribe sent me a scroll that a student of his had written about you and Lady Katara that mentioned the clever name. Apparently, many people are speculating on your relationship. Some even encourage it by writing.”

Zuko furrowed his brow, “What do you mean “encourage it by writing?”

His Uncle smiled, “I mean romance scrolls, nephew.”

Zuko banged his head on the table while Katara gasped slightly. “You mean people are writing stories about us! What kind of stories! How did they even know? I hope my dad hasn’t heard about this yet.”

“Ah, the soul of the world is always searching for new love. Especially when a good story, such as two royals come about. Adds dramatic effect.”

At this Zuko grabbed the previously forgotten flyer and slid it harshly towards his Uncle, “Did you have anything to do with this Uncle?”

His Uncle beamed, “No, but I wish I had. A musical! How creative!”

Katara and Zuko both groaned.

After a short pause of her and Zuko thinking, and Iroh requesting a pot of Jasmine tea, Katara spoke again, “We need to speak to Sokka.”

------------------------------------

Sokka strolled happily back up the steps of his sister’s boyfriend’s palace and was met with a guard and a servant.

“Master Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, your presence is requested in Lady Katara’s living quarters.”

Sokka smirked, knowing he was about to tease his sister beyond belief. That, or freak out, depending on what she was doing with Zuko when he got there.

“Alright, is she, alone, by chance?”

The servant hesitated before answering, “I believe she is with Firelord Zuko and Royal Advisor and Dragon of the West, Iroh Sozin.”

Sokka furrowed his brows in confusion over Iroh being there but didn’t think much of it as he ascended the steps towards her bedroom.

He slammed both doors open as he strutted through the door, “Hello Princess Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, daughter of Chief Hakoda, sister of the handsome Master Sokka, friend of the Avatar, and girlfriend to—”

Katara interrupted his speech unfortunately, with Uncle Iroh watching in pleased amusement. “Alright we get it, you know. But did you tell anyone Sokka, because if you did, so help me…”

Before she could roll out any threat Sokka interrupted her, “Excuse me! If you had just told me yourself this wouldn’t have happened!”

Katara’s eyes narrowed as Zuko raised his brow in surprise, “What wouldn’t have happened Sokka?”

He stuttered, “Er- uh, I wouldn’t have choked on my armadillo bear meat?”

Iroh nodded sagely, remembering the night before.  

“Sokka,” she said in warning, drawing out the last syllable of his name.

“Ok, alright fine! I implied you were dating but I didn’t confirm it! I left it up to the viewers discretion!”

Katara and Zuko both looked surprised and then turned to anger.

“Sokka! —” Zuko started.

“You did this?!” Katara finished punctuating her sentence with thrusting a paper at him.

He looked down at the paper to see a flyer for the musical, “Man, word travels fast here.” He mumbled under his breath.

“Yeah word does travel fast here, and because of you people know that their nation’s leader is dating the daughter of the Southern Water Tribe! Do you know what this could do?! Other nations could be mad that they found out so callously, think that the Water Tribe will get more resources because of our relationship, or Agni, even be mad she’s not dating the Avatar! Why would you do this?!” Zuko asked raising his voice.

“Hey! If you guys had just told me from the beginning that you were dating, no one else would have had to know! Instead I find out because you are having steambabies!”

“I was planning to tell you when you got here, but Iroh beat me to it! And besides, we just wanted some privacy before everyone else found out! Is that so bad?” Katara asked, feeling guilty for not telling her family yet, but knowing she wouldn’t take back the last few weeks for anything.

“How long has this been going on?” Sokka asked angrily when he noticed Zuko reach out to touch Katara’s elbow. His eyes flashed between the two of them.

Katara hesitated while Zuko answered quietly, “about a month and a half.”

Sokka blanched, “Before I even left! What, you couldn’t even write me a letter Katara or or—explain why you didn’t come back with me?! I had to explain to the tribe that their princess was staying with the Firelord for some unknown reason! And not to mention Aang stopped by and was moody all week leaving everyone to believe something happened between you two, and I still had no idea why my sister wasn’t there with me.”

Sokka realized he wasn’t hurt because they wanted privacy, he was hurt that Katara had chosen not to tell him why she was abandoning their trip back home.

Sokka was pulled out of his head when Katara placed a hand on his shoulder, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the reason I wasn’t going back yet. I just wanted some time alone to sort things out with Zuko and figure out the best way to tell you and the tribe I was dating the Firelord. Can you forgive me?”

Sokka thought about it for a second before nodding petulantly.

Katara quirked a smile, “Good. Because I need you to meet my boyfriend.” Katara was now smirking and Zuko was beaming at her.

Sokka gagged, “Gross! Don’t go all googly-eyed in front of me Sparky!”

Katara laughed, “Then you’re really not going to like this!” Katara let go of his shoulder and crossed the room to kiss Zuko passionately with Sokka gaping and Uncle Iroh chuckling.

“Eww! Oogies! Stop, stop! You just told me, ease me into the affection won’t you!” Sokka covered his eyes and only looked up when he heard Katara laughing and Zuko turning red from embarrassment.

“Like you and Suki don’t kiss all the time!” Katara waggled her eyebrows as Iroh stood up.

“Ah, young love. Lovely to be but hard to see.” He said as he ambled out the door with a short wave to them all.

They all burst out laughing at his odd parable and then continued chatting into the night, including Katara explaining what happened between her and Aang and Sokka giving Zuko a warning not to hurt his sister.

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A servant walked up to the throne of Earth King Bumi and bowed as he bestowed a scroll to him.

Bumi quirked an eyebrow at the unexpected mail and snatched it out of his friends’ hand.

His eyes widened in joy as he read the title of ZUTARA: A MUSICAL. His hooting laugh and a few snorts echoed throughout the room as he continued reading the dialogue between Master Katara and Firelord Zuko.

“Zu Li, send a copy of this dialogue to Piandao of the Fire Nation, Pakku of the Northern and Southern Water Tribe, and…Toph Beifong of the Beifong Family. They will be sure to enjoy this script.” He continued snorting as the servant made to take and copy the scroll.

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Master Piandao was not surprised to learn that his former pupil and current Firelord, Zuko, was dating Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. Before the final battle of the war, they had seemed very close to each other. He was only surprised it took them this long to figure everything out. None-the-less, he thought it a good idea to stop by the play, especially since Ember Island was not far from his vacation home. He could use a good vacation and a play to lighten his spirits.

He packed up his carry-on, including a sword gifted to him by Sokka, created by his metal bending friend, and boarded a faery across the way.

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Mater Pakku of the Northern and Southern Water Tribe scanned the scroll King Bumi had sent him, wondering why on earth the crazy king would choose to send a play about his granddaughter dating the Firelord to him. Was this a hint? He thought. Did King Bumi know something he didn’t?

There was only one way to find out.

Attend the Musical that would be played in two days’ time. Hopefully the fire nation will be able to clear a few things up for him. He packed up his things, kissed Kanna goodbye, saying he had business to attend to in the Fire Nation, and readied the ship that would take him to Ember Island. He decided not to tell Kanna about her granddaughter’s happenings unless something was actually happening.

----------------------------------

Aang brought a scroll that had been delivered to the Western Air Temple for Toph, over to her handmade earth house and walked in without knocking.

“Toph! You have a letter!” He called as he moved into the house and rummaged through her cabinets for some fresh fruit.

“Twinkle Toes, we’ve been over this, I’m blind! You’re going to have to read it to me.” Toph said as she moved into the kitchen to sit at the table across from where Aang had sat to eat her food.

Aang sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, “Right. Sorry. Um, okay…” He went to unroll the scroll and promptly frowned at what he saw. ZUATARA: THE MUSICAL? Had Katara and Zuko already announced they were dating? He knew they were but they had said they would give him a warning before they told everyone so that he would be prepared for the questions about his and Katara’s own failed relationship.

“What is it?” Toph asked curiously as she noticed Aang heartbeat pick up.

“Um.” He had yet to tell Toph that Katara and Zuko were dating and he wasn’t sure it was his place to do so. But if they can publish a play about it, surely he could tell Toph.

“King Bumi sent a script of a play. Um, a musical to be exact.”

Toph’s face brightened, “Really! What is it this time!? He sent me a few leaflets a few weeks ago, I’ve been waiting for more!”  [pretend that braille is a thing back then and that king bumi normally sends her stories made with earth that has braille on it :)]

Aang scratched the back of his head again, “Zutara.” He mumbled quietly. He was surprised when Toph’s smile got even wider.

“No way! Did they finally get their crap together? Or is it just another romance scroll that ships them?”

Aang spluttered, “another romance scroll? You mean there’s more of Zuko and Katara?”

Toph schooled her features, “No. There is none of Zuko and Katara. Speaking of which, how are you and Katara doing, by the way?”

She noticed his heartbeat pick up again and wondered if that was a good or bad thing.

“We uh—well we broke up I guess? We were never really official, but I had assumed we would be together, but she rejected me several weeks ago because she said her and Zuko were dating…” He trailed off at Toph’s excited, “Alright!!”

He stared at her for a moment until she continued, “I mean. I’m sorry you and Sugar Queen didn’t work out Twinkle Toes, but really it’s for the best. No offence. Zuko and Katara have been dancing around their feelings for each other for ages and then when he took that bolt of lightening for her, I just knew they would be together! But anyways, how are you handling this?”

“I mean, I’m okay now. It was hard at first because it was so unexpected but then they said they would wait to tell everyone so I could have some time to get myself together. Guess that only meant a few weeks though if they are okay with a musical being made about them.”

“No way, this has Snoozles written all over it. I bet he found out and wanted to mess with them.”

Aang hadn’t considered that Sokka did not know yet, but if he had found out, he was sure Sokka would do something to cause drama. There was a lull in the conversation as Toph and Aang both thought about what the musical meant.

“There’s only one way to find out if they’re telling people.”

Aang sighed, “We have to go, don’t we?”

Toph let out a decidedly more girly grunt then Aang had ever heard her make and she jumped up from the table, “Let’s go see a musical!!”

Aang smirked, “You’re blind Sifu Toph, you can’t see a musical.”

“Spirits, Aang, you can see, can’t you? So my point still stands! Maybe we’ll even get a seat on the ground floor so I can see!”

Aang shook his head while Toph ran back towards her room to begin packing. He was excited to be getting a short break but seeing a musical about how his forever girl chose someone else was not what he had in mind. Oh well, Toph would need someone to steer Appa.

 ----------------------------------

Uncle Iroh had bought 2 extra tickets for the musical. He had received letters from Piandao and Pakku stating they would be coming this weekend to catch the musical. He wrote back saying he secured a seat for them both, while ignoring Pakku’s questions about his nephew and Pakku’s granddaughter’s relationship. Pakku would find out soon enough.

He also secured enough bags of fireflakes to enjoy throughout the play, along with some ginseng tea for himself. Dinner and a show were Iroh’s cup of tea.

He noticed that Sokka had also secured two extra tickets, though Iroh was not sure whether it was for Toph and Aang or perhaps Suki and someone else. But he would find out soon enough.

----------------------------------

Katara’s POV:

Zuko and Katara had debated on whether or not they should go. If they went, they could play off the musical as a joke, but if they didn’t there would be no news to confirm it either. In the end, Sokka had convinced them to go so he could brag about his playwriting skills, even if Katara thought it was weird that her brother wrote a romance play about her.

Sokka had also warned her that Aang and Toph would be coming, which worried Katara, at least for Aang’s sake, but also upped their credibility if they decided to play it off as a funny musical with no truth to it.

None-the-less she was excited to have almost the whole gang together again, even if for something as stupid as a musical. Though, Katara thought it was a better reason to be together than because of a raging war.

----------------------------------

It was now the first showing of ZUTARA: A MUSICAL and Sokka was thriving.

He was an hour early to his written show and already half the auditorium was filled. He had also gone backstage to see how the Ember Island Players created costumes and such, and they had done spectacular, though Zuko’s scar was still on the wrong side. Sokka thought that added comedic effect so he left it be.

Just then someone punched him in the arm, making his spill his bag of fireflakes.

“Ow! Watch it— oh, its you.” He said to Toph petulantly.

Toph grinned, “Hello Snoozles. How’s the play coming?”

Sokka grinned, “It’s great the costumes are amazing! They left Zuko’s scar on the wrong side like before.”

Toph chuckled, “Classic. Now where’s Sugar Queen and Sparky?”

“Zuko’s coming with Iroh later and Katara went to the bathroom. She thought it’d be better for them to come separately.”

Toph raised her eyebrows, “Wait so they aren’t dating?”

“Shh!!” Sokka whispered, though no one was around their families seat since Zuko let them sit in a Royal Suite. He then leaned closer to Toph to continue their conversation, “They are dating but they don’t want to announce it yet. And anyways, where’s Aang? I thought he was coming?”

“He went to get some more fireflakes.”

Sokka pouted, “I wish I had fireflakes, but somebody just had to punch them out of my hand!”

Toph snickered, “Stop whining. You’re a guest to the FireLord, just order someone to get some more for you.”

Sokka looked aghast, “I’m not going to order them to do it, I’ll just ask Aang for some of his. We can share like old times.”

Toph smiled lightly, “Hopefully this play will end better than the other one.”

“If they kept my ending the same, it should.” Sokka assured.

Just then Katara, Aang, and Pakku walked in. Sokka was surprised to see his step-grandfather in the fire nation.

“Pakku?! What are you doing here?”

Sokka stood to greet him and noticed him eyeballing Katara and Aang chatting amicably in the doorway.

Pakku smiled slightly, “I came to see if the rumor about my granddaughter was true, though judging by her and Aang, I’d say they are not.”

Sokka replied after he hugged Pakku, “Oh no. They are, the people just don’t know it yet, so if you could keep it on the down low that’d be great.”

Pakku looked at Sokka like he was 400-foot-tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings.

“What do you mean they’re true!?! Katara is dating Zuko, the FIRELORD!?” Pakku’s outrage was met with four people shushing him before Katara came over to explain.

“Pakku, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner, but we wanted to work everything out first and then tell the tribe. No body else knows besides those in this booth, so please don’t tell anyone else, not even Gran-Gran.”

Pakku opened his mouth to argue until Aang came up and hugged him. “Long time no see Master Pakku. How are things in the Poles?”

That was enough to distract Pakku for the moment, which Katara was thankful for.

----------------------------------

Zuko had on his casual FireLord Tunic, instead of the entire ensemble. Uncle Iroh had said casual wear would be fine for the night since it was not a peace meeting or something like it. It was just a night on the town.

Even so, Zuko kept fidgeting with the edge of his sleeves. He was so nervous. He didn’t want to make a mistake and accidently kiss Katara in front of everyone and he also didn’t know how the play would turn out. It was nerve-wracking, especially knowing Pakku and Piandao were also here to see the play about a rumored romance regarding himself.

He thought it really weird.

As he walked beside Uncle and Piandao into the Ember Island auditorium and up the steps to the royal suite, he couldn’t help but get more nervous as camera’s shuttered around them. [I don’t know if cameras were a thing back then but if LOK can have everything they did, surely some type of camera would have been invented, even if it’s a crappy one]

He made sure to stand tall and not look directly at them so he could avoid any unwanted questioning and when he made it into the suite, he sat in between Sokka and Uncle so that no one would suspect anything of his and Katara.

But it was so hard.

He really wanted to hold her hand or something, but with Pakku behind him and the possibility of someone seeing him, he didn’t risk it.

And it seemed Sokka was enjoying his torture because he kept throwing slick glances his way and then failing to suppress a smirk.

----------------------------------

Katara chewed on her lip as the lights finally went down. She was worried about Pakku threatening Zuko, about the play, and about what the public would say. She hoped they would accept them being together, but she knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Especially because she was a waterbender from the South Pole.

Either way, she pushed these thoughts aside to focus on what Sokka called his “creative genius”.

 His creative genius disappointed her as her character’s first song was about hope. She threw Sokka a hard glare as she noticed both him and Zuko trying to suppress their laughter. They weren’t very good at it, and when Toph starting laughing loudly, they too burst into uncontrollable laughter. She smacked both of them on the back of the head and then faced forward with her arms crossed. She thought she even heard Aang giggling and that just made it all worse.

 ----------------------------------

Several scenes later and now Katara was the one smirking. The play had Zuko’s character singing about teen angst and turtle ducks, which she found hilarious because only Zuko’s friends would know that the angsty Firelord truly adored turtle ducks.

Her, Sokka, and Aang all shared a look before glancing at Zuko and when his face shifted into a scowl, they couldn’t help but burst into raucous laughter, with Uncle Iroh, Piandao, and Toph joining in.

Zuko scowled even further.

  ----------------------------------

It seemed Sokka had based a lot of the story from real life events that were dramatized.

Instead of Aunt Wu predicting she’d marry a “powerful bender”, he changed it to a “powerful firebender” but then ended that scene with Aunt Wu being wrong about everything so Katara wasn’t sure why Sokka would even change it if he was just going to discredit Aunt Wu anyways.

 He had Zuko save Katara from falling rocks, but instead of her real reply of “Okay, you can get off me now!” Sokka changed it to, “Oh Zuko! You have given me rock hard hope!” Causing everyone to groan and Katara to flick Sokka on the harm.

 Instead of Zuko saying “I’m never happy”, Sokka changed it to “I’m only happy with Katara.” The actor for Zuko had added a dramatic hair flip after he said the line, which had Katara giggling.

 At one point, Sokka had written Zuko singing a song with the phrase, “That’s rough buddy” after each character of Team Avatar revealed something that had happened before Zuko joined the group. Both Zuko and Sokka had shared a glance and a laugh when that happened, though Katara wasn’t sure what the significance was.

 Really, the play was overly dramatic and ridiculous, but it was quite funny, especially if you knew what actually happened and knew Sokka changed it to be lighter than it actually was at the time. It helped Katara think back on those hard days without as much sadness as she normally had when she thought about them.

Nearing the end, Katara was thankful that Sokka had not included Zuko being struck with lightening from his own sister…Katara didn’t know if any of them could handle that, but especially not the members of the Fire Nation Royal Family.

 The closing scene was very ambiguous, which Katara was grateful for. It would make playing it off as a joke much easier.

It ended much how the end of the war had, with Zuko and Aang speaking to the crowd and Suki, Sokka, Toph, and herself holding hands behind them while they finished their song about peace.

The final note ended and the entire theatre blew up in applause and whistles. Eventually, the audience stood up and continued their praise, with Sokka bowing theatrically even though no one knew he had written the play.

Katara politely clapped while she caught Zuko’s eye. He nodded his head at her and she smiled back at him.

As the group descended the stairs from the Royal Booth, they were surrounded by a large crowd of people asking questions. The main one being if Katara and Zuko were a couple. One person even asked if Toph and Aang were a couple, which had both of the young teens blushing furiously.

Zuko’s only comment was that the musical was very well written and he hoped that whoever the playwright was, they had more in store for the Ember Island players.

Katara said the play was dramatic and that the humor was a lot like her brother’s.

The group thought they were in the clear and headed towards the main doors…

until Uncle Iroh stopped Katara in front of the ostrich horses they rode on and very publicly asked her if she would be joining his nephew for dinner tonight, leaving everyone to groan and the reporters to swarm again.

 THE END :)

also, thank you to @clarensjoy for teaching me how to do the “keep reading” thing lol  it helped a lot. 

[jettingtothemoon]

Daughter of the Spirits; chapter 6

➳ pairing: zuko x f!reader ➳ genre: a retelling of the show from season 2 onwards with a heavy focus and expansion on zuko’s story (canon divergent) ➳ warnings: violence, swearing, smut (underaged if your age of consent is above 16), spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen the show ➳ word count: 3107 ➳ rating: 18+ ➳ summary: In which y/n comes across the fire nation prince during her stay in Ba Sing Se. ➳ tags: @harmlessoffering, @lammello (i’m sorry if i’m forgetting anyone, lmk if i am or if you want to be added)

Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

All Is Lost

You watched as the flying bison landed not too far from where you and Iroh approached and three kids jumped off before heading inside a nearby building. "Woah, is that-"

"It is," Iroh confirmed your suspicions, he was indeed taking you to see the avatar.

Instead of asking why he had led you to them, people you could only assume would want nothing to do with helping Zuko, you decided to have faith in the old man as you knew better than to think he would do anything that could put his beloved nephew into more danger.

You approached the house and Iroh stepped up to knock on the door. Not long after, the door slid open, revealing a small girl whom you had previously seen climb off the bison along with the avatar and another Watertribe boy.

"I'm glad to see you're okay,” she smiled at Iroh before turning her attention to you, “but who's the girl?"

Iroh looked past the girl, addressing the avatar directly as he spoke, "We need your help."

It seemed Iroh was already acquainted with all of them, but the young Earth Kingdom girl was the only one who seemed happy to see him. Not that she could, as you had noticed the first time you saw her that she was completely blind. The more you examined her, the more you realised that she was likely her earthbending to somehow see things — including noticing you at the door beside Iroh. The two boys looked much too startled to see him to be on good terms with Iroh, which made sense as they must have clashed a few times in the past before.

What you couldn’t understand was why he was asking them for help? Not that you had any problem with the avatar, in fact you believed he would be the one to finally put an end to the war, but asking the avatar for help to save Zuko was surely like asking a monkey to talk. In other words, it wasn't going to happen.

The young boy, whom you recognised as the avatar from his blue Airbender tattoos, pointed a finger at both the young girl and Iroh as he exclaimed, "You guys know each other?"

The girl, however, simply smiled. "I met him in the woods once and knocked him down, then he gave me tea and some very good advice."

Well, that does sound like Iroh. You thought to yourself.

Iroh bowed slightly and spoke again with a smile, "May we come in?"

Although the two boys seemed against it, the girl nodded so the two of you headed inside.

"Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se," Iroh revealed.

The avatar quickly spoke up with a determined glint in his eye, "She must have Katara!"

"She has captured my nephew as well."

The boy's face scrunched up in dissatisfaction but he spoke rationally nonetheless, as expected of the avatar, "Then we'll work together to fight Azula and save Katara and Zuko."

"Woah there, you lost me at Zuko." The older, Watertribe boy jumped in, clearly thinking this was not a good idea.

Iroh sighed. "I know how you must feel about my nephew, but believe me when I tell you there is good inside him."

You smiled slightly, happy to see Iroh defending his nephew. You had seen it too, the good inside of Zuko, that was why you had stuck around. It was the reason why you ever gave him a chance in the first place.

The Watertribe boy simply pushed Iroh back. "Good inside him isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, okay?"

You couldn't help but chuckle quietly to yourself at the boy's words. He just sounded... funny, even in a situation as serious as this. The ridiculous delivery of his sentence paired with his over the top expressions and gestures was just amusing to you and you were certain that he was a nice person just from that. Well, from what you had gathered, they all were. You could see why they didn't trust Zuko but you and Iroh were desperate. You knew you couldn't save him alone.

"Katara's in trouble," the avatar stated, "All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance."

The elder boy hummed and nodded his head in agreement, finally coming around to the idea of working together before he set his eyes on you. "Who's the girl anyway?"

"I'm- um, well. My name is y/n. I'm from the Northern Watertribe but I grew up here in the Earth Kingdom. I fled Omashu, came here and long story short ended up joining Iroh and Zuko. I know you don't know me, or have any reason to trust me, but I can also vouch for the good inside Zuko. He's not a bad person, just... troubled. I know that doesn’t make up for what he’s done to you but he has changed," you explained, trying to sum it all up as quickly as possible although, as you spoke, you noticed the avatar curiously eyeing you up..

"So you're Zuko's girlfriend," the watertribe boy concluded with a roll of his eyes.

You sighed and rubbed the back of your neck. "I guess so?"

"We brought someone along who might be able to help us," Iroh interrupted, sensing that your conversation was over, before leading everyone outside.

You and Iroh obviously hadn’t come empty-handed and had captured a lone Dai Li agent on your way.

As soon as the others laid eyes on him, the young girl earthbended two small walls of rock around him to keep him in place and you all approached as Iroh pulled off the gag around his mouth.

"Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup. They're going to overthrow the Earth King." The cowardly man instantly gave up his superiors, although you found some comfort in the fact that he had no loyalty to traitors like them.

"My sister, where are they keeping Katara?" the watertribe boy demanded answers, threatening the man with his weapon.

The man, once again, hurried to answer, "In the crystal catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace."

Without moving to free the man, the group of you left him behind as you ran off to begin your rescue mission.

"We're going on that?" you stated, looking at the giant air bison before you.

"Yep," the watertribe boy confirmed before climbing up onto the bison.

The young girl helped Iroh up as you climbed up by yourself, surprised to find the Watertribe boy offering you a hand.

"Your sister, I think I saw her before," you admitted.

"Where?" the boy asked.

"Outside of Iroh's tea shop. She was with that lemur you guys have. Now I understand why she ran off so quickly, she must have seen Zuko and bolted." 

The boy's expression softened slightly. "She must have ran to the palace to tell the Earth King but ran into Azula instead."

"I'm sorry she got into trouble because of us."

"It's not your fault. I'm Sokka by the way. That's Toph and Aang, the avatar. Our lemur is Momo and this bison here is Appa," Sokka introduced everyone, seemingly already coming to the conclusion that you were not bad like he believed Zuko to be. Perhaps it was because you were both from the Watertribe.

Once you were all safely seated, the avatar called out something to his bison and you took off. It was amazing, being so high up, flying through the sky. If the circumstances weren't so dire you would have had time to enjoy it but right now you were just too worried about Zuko.

The flight was short and when you landed, Toph jumped down and began to feel at the ground — you really would have to ask her about how she did that if you ever got the chance. "Well, whaddayaknow, there is an ancient city down there, but it's deep."

She stood up again and began earthbending a path while Sokka devised a plan, "We should split up. Aang, you go with Iroh and y/n to look for Katara and the angry jerk, no offence-"

Iroh shrugged, knowing those words to be somewhat true when it came to his nephew. "None taken."

"-And I'll go with Toph to warn the Earth King about Azula's coup."

And so, the five of you split up.

Aang used his earthbending to provide a path forward while Iroh held up a flame for light. Although you could have been doing the same as either of them, you were still unsure about revealing your secret so you just kind of followed along behind.

"So, Toph thinks you give pretty good advice and great tea." Aang smiled, making polite conversation with Iroh despite knowing that he was with the Fire Nation and Zuko.

"The key to both is proper ageing. What's on your mind?" Iroh also smiled at the boy, watching as he pushed more earth to the side for you to continue your descent.

"Well, I met with this guru who was supposed to help me master the avatar state and control this great power," he frowned, "But to do it, I had to let go of someone I love and I just couldn't."

"Perfection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love," Iroh explained and, although his words were for the avatar, you couldn't help but feel as though he was also speaking for Zuko even though he wasn't there.

"What happens if we can't save everyone and beat Azula? Without the avatar state, what if I'm not powerful enough?"

Hearing the avatar's worries reminded you that he too was still only a child, one still new to being the avatar. He was definitely a good few years younger than you, you'd say probably about twelve. Just meeting him in person, and his friends, had shown you that it was up to children, most younger than yourself, to end the war. It was sad when you thought about it but even though you'd only just met them, they had given you hope.

"I don't know the answer. Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel, you can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel but if you just keep moving-"

Aang pushed more earth out of the way and you finally reached the crystal catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se.

"-You will come to a better place."

"We must be nearly there!" you exclaimed, hoping that you would come across Zuko and Katara soon. You were also relieved to see some natural sources of water in the catacombs, meaning you wouldn’t be so defenceless if you came up against any Dai Li.

Both you and Iroh followed Aang as he earthbended his way through the catacombs, clearing an easy path for the three of you. Eventually, after bursting through one last wall, you finally found what you were looking for.

"Aang!" The girl you had seen at the tea shop yesterday called out and ran to the Avatar, hugging him quickly.

Iroh did the same as both you and he ran to Zuko, although you did not miss the glare both Aang and Zuko shot each other the very second they made eye contact.

"y/n, uncle? I don't understand, what are you doing with the avatar?" Zuko spoke accusingly, pointing a finger towards the young boy who had helped you rescue him.

"Saving you, that's what," the avatar remarked and, although it only fired Zuko up, you couldn't help but let out a quiet giggle.

Iroh held his nephew back as he threatened to lunge at the avatar. "Zuko, it's time we talked,” he turned back to the avatar, “Go help your other friends, we'll catch up with you. y/n go with them."

You nodded, understanding that Iroh wanted a moment to talk with Zuko alone and so, you left with Aang and Katara.

"Who's this?" Katara asked as the three of you continued to run through the catacombs.

"y/n. She's from the Northern Watertribe and a friend of Zuko's."

The girl scoffed, "A friend of Zuko's, huh?"

"Come on Katara, she helped us find you. She isn't like him."

Although you were glad that the avatar came to your defence, it only hurt you that they thought so lowly of Zuko. Although, you couldn't really blame them after the things he has done.

"If you say so," she mumbled as you picked up your pace before declaring, "We've gotta find Sokka and Toph!"

As soon as her words finished, a blue flame came hurling towards you from behind. Aang barely managed to stop it with his earthbending before it collided with the three of you.

Immediately, Katara sprung into action and ran at the firebender with some impressive waterbending attacks. You and Aang also readied yourselves, both getting into a defensive stance as a cloud of steam engulfed the room.

Before you had a chance to attack, Azula flew out from behind the steam and began throwing balls of fire at all of you. Aang and Katara thankfully blocked them with their waterbending. Aang then pulled Zuko's sister down with his earth-bending so that she was standing between the three of you.

"You're the girl that was with Zuzu,” she deciphered, as her eyes flickered between the three of you, waiting for you to attack.

The four of you were at a standstill and you were still undecided on whether to reveal your bending or not but, before you could come to a decision, a bright orange flame shot towards the middle of you all.

You turned to find Zuko in an attack stance, relieved that he was finally here but, as he looked between his sister and the avatar, he did something you were the most afraid of. He attacked Aang.

The avatar quickly defended against the attack and jumped to the side as Azula began to fight Katara.

Like an idiot, you just stood there. You didn't know what to do. You wanted to help Zuko but you couldn't go against the avatar, not when he was the world’s only hope. You were lost, conflicted and for a moment, you thought you finally understood at least some of what Zuko was going through within himself.

"Zuko!" you cried out, seemingly taking your side as a burst of air flew towards him, knocking him back.

You tried to run to his side as his fight against the avatar continued, half-hoping that you would be able to change his mind. However, you only got in the way. Before you could do anything about it, you were the one flying back through the air until you came crashing into the rocks behind you.

"y/n!" Zuko yelled, only growing in rage as his attacks grew more violent.

You lifted your head slightly, trying to watch the fight through your blurred vision. You had hit your head and you'd hit it hard.

Their fight continued and, with the aftermath of a huge rock Aang pulled down, Zuko too went flying before colliding with a large green crystal.

You pulled yourself back to your feet, blinking away the pain coursing through your skull and glanced over to Katara who was using her waterbending to detain Azula. Well, until Zuko's flames cut through the water, freeing his sister.

Aang climbed up from behind a rock and Azula rushed over to attack him, leaving Katara against Zuko.

"I thought you had changed!" she yelled

Their fight was a spectacle, a clash of polar opposites. Not only in fire and water but also in personality. You could tell that Katara was kind and hopeful, practically the exact opposite to Zuko.

"I have changed," Zuko declared before throwing more flames towards her.

You jumped in, using your own waterbending to help Katara defend against his attacks.

"Zuko! Stop this, please," you begged.

You didn't want him to go back to who he was before. He wasn't this person, he was kind and full of love. He just didn't realise it, he was blinded by honour and rage.

"y/n, you're either with me or you're against me."

You once again jumped into the fire between him and Katara, this time managing to stop the flames with your firebending. You heard Katara gasp but you didn't care that she knew, you knew she wouldn't try to harm you just because you could bend all the elements like the avatar. You also knew that she wouldn't tell anyone if it would put you, someone she had no reason to see as an enemy, in danger.

"Please don't make me choose."

Zuko stopped for a split second, looking at you with guilt in his eyes before his expression steeled again. This time, he focused his attacks on you, deliberately knocking you to the side as he knew you were already hurt — trying his hardest to take you out of the fight.

You fell, hitting your head again as everything began to fade to black. You weren't angry with him, you knew he was only trying to protect you, so that he wouldn’t have to hurt you more than he already had. You were simply disappointed.

Only a few minutes later, when you began to come to, you saw something you didn't expect to see. Aang was in the avatar state, rising in a beam of light but, within an instant, a spark of lightning shot through the air and he came crashing down.

Katara rushed to him, catching him before he hit the ground as you sat up, watching Zuko and Azula close in on them. Just as you were about to stand and stop them, a blast of fire shot in front of them as Iroh jumped down to join the fight, defending the avatar.

"You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

Against Azula, Zuko and the Dai Li, Iroh knew he could not defeat them all alone but, once again before you could help, he was surrendering. The moment Aang and Katara were safe, he just gave up. He still didn't want to fight Zuko, he still had faith in him despite everything.

As they restrained him, Zuko rushed to your side to help you up.

"y/n."

Without the strength to even look him in the eye, you brushed him aside and got up yourself.

That day was the day you lost him. The day the Earth Kingdom fell.

Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

[seyaryminamoto]

I'm still confused as to how Iroh can just chill in Ba Sing Se after trying to burn it to the ground a few years ago?? That's like Bush moving to Iraq lmao. Yet mainstream fandom acts like Iroh is an angel and the citizens of Ba sing se should be grateful while in reality he will be the most wanted by the Earth Kingdom after the war is over.

... Curious analogy about Bush O.o I’d say maybe he’s not outright Bush, since Bush wasn’t the commanding officer on the field... a quick wikipedia search tells me the one who led the invasion in Iraq was Tommy Franks, a now-retired general? :’D yep, sounds more like this guy moving to Iraq, then.

People have made many excuses about Iroh being free to live in Ba Sing Se because he helped liberate it from the Fire Nation in the end, and I’m not going to lie, narratively it’s not even a bad idea for Iroh to have dreamt he’d “take” Ba Sing Se in his youth only for the dream to have a completely different meaning than he thought it did...

... But that would only be genuinely sweet and heartwarming if he hadn’t been responsible for an actual 600-day siege on the city. 

It’s not even a matter of headcanon whether Iroh is seen as a war criminal or not: we literally have an episode in Book 1 where he’s captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers who are hellbent on making Iroh face justice for his actions. By Book 2, Iroh and Zuko acknowledge they’re criminals to both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation authorities: they need alter egos so they can travel the Earth Kingdom freely, otherwise they’ll face obvious consequences. Therefore, Iroh was very much a wanted criminal, and for solid reasons beyond “he’s related to the Fire Lord”. That his later actions helped liberate Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation can’t be denied, but it doesn’t mean he should have been forgiven automatically for everything he did in the past. Perhaps he could get away with some sort of pardon by the Earth King, but pushing that as far as “he can settle down in the city he had under attack for almost two years and live happily there with zero consequences” can be a little too far in the suspension of disbelief department indeed.

It’s those small things, really, that make Iroh’s situation so very wishful and not as well-written as it could/should be. Featuring him as a wanted criminal in one season, as a runaway living under an alias in another... and then as a welcome tea connoisseur in the next one, who lives perfectly happy in the Earth Kingdom because he helped end the war? I might have felt better about it if maybe the show had the chance to feature Kuei offering him a public, controversial pardon for his past crimes, but as it was, it felt like that ending was meant to whitewash Iroh beyond reason... then again, Book 3 at large whitewashed Iroh constantly, even when they were trying to show him as flawed they merely backtracked right away (in The Firebending Masters).

I guess it’s partly a problem caused by the writing room being so set on indeminizing Iroh and giving him a perfect ending... I mean, recently I’ve been seeing a lot about how Aaron Ehasz inspired Iroh on his stepfather, a man he deeply admired. This may be the biggest writing mistake I’ve ever seen by him, because while you absolutely can love your characters, and you can inspire them on people you love, merging both things together will easily skew your understanding of the character until the character just stops being fiction and becomes a mere stand-in for the person you love IRL. It’s no different a concept from Mary Sues and self-inserts that constitute a completely unrealistic idealization of the author themselves, only, in Iroh’s case it’s the idealization of a loved one through writing. And this, perhaps, can even explain why Iroh goes from goofy-occasionally-wise in Book 1, to generally-wise-but-still-mostly-funny in Book 2, to the absolute paragon and pinnacle of wisdom in Book 3 (despite half his wisdom is contradictory and even hypocritical). These changes in Iroh’s writing wouldn’t necessarily obey character growth and development, but rather, they would answer the Head Writer’s conscious or subconscious merging of the identities of Iroh and his stepfather, to the point where he obviously can’t acknowledge Iroh’s faults because that’d be a disservice to the stepfather he admired deeply... which, in turn, results in a disservice to the writing of the show, for Iroh’s accountability for his past mistakes is relegated to the burning of a flag and nothing else, and that’s beyond hard to buy.

I’ve also talked in other asks about the three facets of Iroh, it might shed extra light on why the fandom treats Iroh as they do, and why they disregard Iroh’s past crimes so easily while focusing only on how nice he is, how wise he is, how funny he is. It’s why they think this isn’t weird in the least, whereas once you detach yourself from the emotional component in the show slightly, Iroh living peacefully in Ba Sing Se ends up feeling like a rather poorly thought-out conclusion for the character. 

Imagine I wrote a redemption story for Ozai (... easier said than done, I know xD), where he ends up realizing where he went wrong and devotes his life to correcting his mistakes and help the world on a better path: if I sent Ozai to live happily ever after in a restaurant in Omashu, to say one thing, the place that was renamed for him and that used to bear a monument to his ridiculous ego, no less, people would immediately tell me I’m insane, no matter how well-written the story could be. And they wouldn’t be wrong to do so: it’s simply not reasonable to give a character who committed HUGE war crimes a simplistic happy ending without considering how much backlash and how many complications can arise from it. 

Seriously, imagine how many Earth Kingdom people will want to barge into Iroh’s teashop to yell at him because his actions got a relative of theirs, or a loved one, killed during the war? Imagine people outright sabotaging his teashop, even setting it on fire or something radical like that... it could happen! There’s seriously no reason to assume otherwise. We saw, in the Promise, a group of angry Earth Kingdom people yelling outside Yu Dao in protest to Zuko’s decision to keep the city as a Fire Nation colony: how many people would want to charge into the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se to protest that Iroh has no right to live in this city, let alone to serve people tea carelessly when he’s responsible for so many awful deeds?

And there’s the other side of the coin: Zuko faces backlash on that same comic trilogy from the Fire Nation people, who see him as a traitor who’s selling out his people to the Avatar and the Earth Kingdom. Who’s to say some Fire Nation occupants of the city haven’t been lying low in wait to attack Iroh for his perceived treason of the Fire Nation, too?

In real life, usually tyrants and big war criminals run away someplace neutral and live their remaining days in relative peace while keeping as low a profile as possible, while knowing that if they step out of their safety zone they’ll probably be captured and held accountable for their crimes. In ATLA, they can open teashops in the very city they attacked for 600 days without a care in the world, and nothing comes of it :’)

Again, I blame the writing room’s unreasonable bias towards Iroh. Liking a character =/= giving them everything they could ever want without considering the character’s actual circumstances and the reactions this can elicit in the people around them. Hell, having Iroh setting up a teashop in the Fire Nation, close to the Palace or something, would make a bit more sense than doing it in Ba Sing Se + it offers him chances to advise Zuko properly, which Zuko DIRELY needs. But nope, instead we get what we got, and most people don’t even find it slightly strange because of Iroh’s three-faced nature :’)

[callioope]

Continuing my reactions to Avatar: The Last Airbender

This post is about Book 3. See my overall impressions and thoughts on Book 1 here. See my thoughts on Book 2 here.

ETA: crap i forgot the keep reading line initially SORRY if anyone saw this before i edited. anyways. please see the tags as a disclaimer before reading. gosh it’s late i need to go to bed.

General

Starting S3 now and dang Katara & Toph have gotten so powerful!!!!!

I literally recorded ZERO reactions from Chapter One through Chapter Twelve. And my first reaction is basically my excitement that Zuko is finally with the Aang crew! But let me try to skim through an episode list to recall my reactions.

You may have already seen my post expressing shock that MARK HAMILL voiced the Fire Lord. Still not over that revelation.

So, ultimately, I binged this show in less than a week. I think I started on Monday? And finished Saturday afternoon. That alone should speak to how much I enjoyed it! 

Aang

Okay, a bit weird to have barely any thoughts under Aang when he’s literally the protagonist, but I think (since I wrote other sections before this) that I touch on some of my thoughts on him under other characters. 

I will say, his journey really intensifies in this season. First, when he awakens after being unconscious for several days and has no idea what’s going on, and is still healing and more helpless than he’s probably ever felt in his life. I did really like his arc in this season, but what a stark contrast to the Aang of Book 1. He has to grow up so fast. I gotta say, a lot of Aang’s journey reminded me just a little of Ender in Ender’s Game. 

I do say this later, but his final decision about how to handle Ozai was amazing. I loved every second of his journey to get there, and I was rooting for him to find a path that felt true to him — and not what everyone else kept telling him he had to do. 

There was one small thing that bothered me, which was that his eventual regaining of the Avatar state did not really seem to come about through intentional action of his own. After he goes down at the end of Book 2, sorta feels like they never even talk about him going into the Avatar state again and he doesn’t until the final moment. That moment doesn’t seem a conscious choice on his part; the scar on his back collides with a rock jutting out and seems to jolt him into the Avatar state. I would have liked to see a little more agency on his part in regards to the Avatar state. 

Sokka

My boy! My boy Sokka! Truly the mother of the group. IDK why they pretended in the beginning that Katara was the mom because it’s definitely Sokka. His maps! His scheduling! He is ridiculous and I love him for it. 

I adored that he got his own training master episode! He got to learn some sword stuff and even got to make a fancy space sword! Everyone else got super powerful with their bending and I’m glad Sokka got his own arc of self-improvement. He has come a LONG way from episode 1. He couldn’t really hold his own at all that early, and now look at him! Planning battle strategies! Taking down the Fire Lord’s air fleet! He’s come so far and I’m so proud!

Oh, you know, I just realized that I didn’t really talk about ships with Sokka in Book 2 but he did continue to have the most active romance arc. It was nice to see Suki return in Book 2, and I am glad we found out what happened to her. I liked Sokka and Suki, I have nothing against it. I was very surprised that so little happened with Toph and Sokka. There did seem to be moments where it seemed like Toph might actually harbor a crush on Sokka, but nothing came of it and she certainly didn’t say anything about it. That felt a little odd to me. Why hint at something but then make nothing of it? 

Katara

Sigh. This is early in the post, but probably one of the last parts of it that I’m actually writing. I’ve definitely been putting it off. Unfortunately most of what I have to say about Katara is about shipping, and I’m really not happy about that, but then it’s what comes to mind over anything else. Which is sort of ironic considering some of her lines in the theater episode...

So in the theatre episode, Aang confronts Katara about how nothing has happened in their relationship after they kissed. She responds by saying she is “confused.” I had some issues with the script here, to be honest. It seems to imply that she’s confused about her feelings for Aang. But she also says that she’s been more focused on the war, and that totally makes sense. I really would support this moment if that’s where they left it: “I don’t have time to think about romance, my mind is preoccupied with the war.” 

But no, they say she is “confused.”

This is pretty baffling to me, and honestly seems to come out of nowhere. Book 1 it was very obvious that both Katara and Aang have feelings for each other, and Book 2 might have backed off a little from that but then we get moments where Katara is so keyed in to Aang’s struggles with the Avatar state and also the only one who can bring him out of it. Now, all of a sudden, she is saying she is confused? Where is this coming from? 

I could definitely see people argue that it’s because she has feelings for Zuko. If I shipped them (I don’t, but I also Get It), I could point to numerous moments in the series as ‘clues/support’ for this ship. Zuko and Katara have a moment at the end of Book 2 where they talk about the loss of their mothers. (“We’re both sad about what happened to our mothers!” not really a foundation for a relationship, but Katara is the most betrayed and distrustful of Zuko when it comes to the idea of letting him join their crew and it is because of this moment. She obviously begins to feel some kind of connection — I’d argue platonic but ship and let ship.) 

And yeah, Zuko and Katara have their bonding adventure, but again I don’t think this has to be read as romantic. Clearly the idea here is that Zuko “understands” a part of Katara that Aang doesn’t — except that in the end, Aang is the one who is right about her. She cannot give in to revenge. It’s not her, and Aang knows that. I mean, they’re both right — Katara had go to on the journey to learn that about herself, and it was important that Zuko was the one who helped her. But still. 

Finally Zuko and Katara go together to face Azula. Again seems like plot is pushing them together for Tension. They definitely work together here and Katara heals him and all that but she’d have healed anyone. (Like yeah if you ship it of course you’re gonna be excited over those moments.)

But.

Like. The thing is. When the dust settles? Zuko and Mai return to each other like moths to a flame. I could believe that Katara might have had feelings for Zuko, but I don’t think he ever returned them. I think it was always Mai for him. 

I don’t really want to fan the flames of ship wars — I’m trying to walk a fine line of “I totally understand why people ship this, but I don’t,” and hopefully I’m succeeding, but I’m sorry if I’m not. 

My main gripe is how the show handled this dynamic. It seemed like they half-heartedly thought about creating a love triangle, but then they didn’t follow through. I don’t particularly like love triangles, so I’m not actually mad that there wasn’t one. But what bothers me is that the Aang and Katara moments are so heavy handed in the beginning, that a sudden subtle take on how Katara feels in Book 3 feels strange. It feels like if she was having feelings for Zuko, it should have been more blatant. The depictions are inconsistent — if the writers were even ever intending for Katara to have feelings for Zuko in the first place.

Like, I really can’t tell if those moments implying Zuko and Katara were intentionally trying to start a love triangle OR if it was just sort of a mistake OR if it was maybe creators trying to address and then negate Zuko and Katara as a ship? I mean it’s weird because the play episode really emphasizes Zuko and Katara but then that play is really supposed to be all levels of inaccurate and get under the characters’ skins. 

So, I don’t know. Obviously we all bring different interpretations to a piece of media and I am by no means saying anything here is a “correct opinion” (because I hate that attitude when it comes to story interpretations). Sorry if you don’t agree, hope I didn’t make anyone mad. Ship what you like! You do you, man. 

On that note, please see further disclaimers about shipping and canon at the end of the “Zuko and Mai” section below.

Toph

Loved how Toph was the first to warm up to Zuko. It made a lot of sense. I mean obviously they were looking for a fire bender to teach Aang and it was like “Hello, powerful fire bender on a silver platter!” but also, Toph is someone who joined the crew later on. The group had to adjust to her, and she probably knows what it feels like to be an outsider. Now, granted, she was never alienated from the group in the same way that Zuko (rightfully) was. But she can also understand Zuko’s position as someone who comes from a wealthy family, the sort of pressure that comes from that. None of this was really addressed explicitly, and it might not have really fit then and there, but it was what I was thinking as she was standing up for Zuko.

Um, and also, on that note? Huge bummer Toph did not get her special bonding adventure with Zuko. Toph, I’m with you on that one! Why did Sokka get two episodes for his? 

Zuko

No “& Iroh” on this post because — Iroh spent much of this season in jail, and then the next half just ??? who knows where. 

So, I believe I stated in the last post how shocked I was at Zuko’s betrayal. Knowing he eventually joins Aang’s crew, it seemed like his time in the prison with Katara would ultimately lead to that, and then NOPE! He has this nice heart to heart about his mother, and then… it really shocked me.

But.

As I watched this season, it became clear that this has to be Zuko’s journey. He has to go back to the Fire Nation. He has to win the approval of his father. He has to get everything he wants in order to realize that it really isn’t what he wants. This is integral to his ultimate revelation and redemption and he couldn’t have stayed truly good without verifying and knowing how empty the win of his father’s approval is.

Realizing this, I loved it and appreciated the moments we get. Zuko’s visits to Iroh. Even when Zuko is being cruel, you can see how hurt and lost he is. And Iroh gives him the cold shoulder he deserves, even though of course this is breaking Iroh’s heart, too. 

Now, I absolutely must discuss the Fire Kids Beach Party episode! Because as ridiculous as parts of it are, it provides such an important and necessary insight to all four characters (Zuko, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee). You see the privilege that they’re all used to, it’s good that no one knows who they all are. (although maybe a little surprising because Zuko’s scar certainly reveals who he is but anyways.) 

and it’s funny how you almost end up rooting for them before you’re like “no no no. they are bad people doing some bad things.” I mean, almost rooting for them. And sure, the campfire scene is a bit Breakfast Club-y but I do think it’s important. And I just loved the moment Zuko admits he’s angry at himself, how his burst of fire as he says it almost covers it up, it’s so hard for him to say. Fabulous character development going on here, fabulous. 

[Uh, side note, so apparently Zuko is descended from Avatar Roku! This is ridiculous but can we get Zuko calling Aang great-grandfather, mainly to get on his nerves?! O:-) this would amuse me greatly]

And GOSH the catharsis when Zuko finally realizes his father’s approval is not what he wants and not worth it! It’s so well earned. It’s so satisfying. I was so excited and just like, so anticipating Zuko going to meet up with the crew. Zuko practicing his speech in the woods to the frog? Amazing. Endearing. I love him so much. 

And despite that and because of it, I also loved how difficult it was for him to earn their trust. It had to be difficult. It would not be believable if it wasn’t. Every character regarded him exactly as you would expect them to, exactly as he deserved. And Zuko tried so hard to be sincere and contrite, and it was hard for him, but he was doing pretty well all things considered! And still, they distrusted him. Yes. This was good and right. And I loved it. 

AND ANOTHER THING I LOVED was that once that initial barrier was surpassed, Aang actually warmed up to Zuko pretty quickly. This is not surprising; he’d reached out to Zuko in the past. First when Zuko (masked) rescues him, and Aang says they could have been friends. Later, at the end of Book 1 when Zuko again kidnaps him, there’s just a moment… I think when Aang spares him. It’s like, my impression is that Aang can sense that their destinies are connected, and he’s not really sure how but he knows that Zuko is important. Also, I mean, Aang just doesn’t kill people and revenge is not his way. 

Each character getting their own side story with Zuko was also integral to his arc — perhaps moreso, theirs, though. Because it was necessary for them to overcome their distrust and forge the bonds necessary for the Avatar’s crew to function. Bummed he didn’t get one with Toph. Toph was robbed.

And side note, but I really would have like an Aang and Sokka bonding episode? Like, Book 1 is all Aang and Katara and Sokka, but some 1:1 time would have been nice. There was almost a chance when Aang flew Sokka to his father and the water tribe (and at the time I was like, “Oh? Aang and Sokka bonding?!”) But then it was really only a few minutes. But yeah, that said, it does make sense to focus on carving out 1:1 time for Zuko and each member of the crew to ease him into the group.

Sokka: You happy now?

Zuko: I’m never happy.

This made me sad. And also made me go “classic Zuko.”

Every time Zuko was like, “What would uncle say?” And then say the most ridiculous thing? Fantastic. Amazing. Fuel for the fire that was my love for this show.

Zuko and Mai

Mainly the Beach Party episode was important in helping me warm up to Mai. Once Zuko is back in the Fire Nation and they’re together, I was of the mindset that Mai would have to do something pretty big in order for me to enjoy seeing their relationship become canon. This episode is not that episode, but it is an important insight into Mai’s character that explains some of her actions. The fact that she’s basically internalized apathy because she’s been forced to repress her emotions. It wasn’t enough for me but we get more later, this is an important stepping stone. 

It’s also important in establishing just what Zuko and Mai’s dynamic is. It’s a bit shaky in this and they end up breaking up but then they just get back together like immediately (moths to a flame…) In hindsight, I just think they’re behaving like normal teens who care about each other but are still navigating what it means to be in a relationship. At this moment in time, their relationship is not good, but by the end of the show I can believe as they mature that it could be a good relationship.

So the actual moment that I was like, “Okay, officially supporting Mai and Zuko now” was when she helps them escape Boiling Rock. I don’t think we’re ever told the full contents of Zuko’s letter to her, but considering what she says to Zuko earlier in this episode, it doesn’t seem likely he explains himself very well. At least not for Mai to understand. And he still isn’t able to explain himself well to her as they talk face to face. Then he locks in a cell and flees! He leaves her again. 

You wouldn’t blame Mai for hating Zuko. You wouldn’t blame her for actively working against him. But is this what happens? No. Not at all. She helps them get away. She betrays Azula for Zuko. Azula!!! Azula who is very powerful and very scary! This is a clear and distinct line in the sand, and … it almost comes out of nowhere, but what it demonstrates is how she really feels about him. She’s decided to trust him and put her faith in him when she really would have been justified in not doing so. 

I’m also going to say that despite some rather odd implications of Zuko and Katara in parts of the series (namely with other characters who really don’t know them), I never feel like Zuko is interested in Katara. I would buy interpretations that Katara might have considered Zuko, the way some parts of her story are portrayed, but I don’t get anything on Zuko’s side and that is all the more reinforced by how he acts around Mai, especially in the end of the series when they’re reunited. 

(Now, that said — because I don’t abide ship wars, ship and let ship, and power to multi-shippers — I can totally 100% see the appeal of shipping Zuko and Katara, and I would contend there is even some canonical implication of it. And I can’t blame people for not totally loving Zuko and Mai. Now, I do think the canonical implications are sort of muddied and confusing, but though I have actually not written it yet, you’ll have read my thoughts there in the Katara section already. OH, and OF COURSE, MORE IMPORTANTLY — ships being canon should not matter! Ship what you love! Who cares if it’s canon! Finding canon justification for ships should not be necessary for shipping! It can be a fun exercise but should never ever be a reason for approving or disapproving of a ship, it’s just a cherry on top!)

Azula

We get some pretty interesting insights into her character this season. I’ve already mentioned the Beach Party episode, and there was some good stuff in there for her. I particularly appreciated the moment that she admitted she knew her mother thought she was a monster, that she even admitted to being a monster, and then admitted that it still hurt anyways. Honestly that’s probably her best moment.

I also thought her breakdown at the end was well done. Mai and Ty Lee’s betrayal just broke her. She probably knows her attitude puts people off, but those two were the only ones she ever really got on with. And it turns out, she really didn’t get on with them, they’d only ever been intimidated and manipulated into being her friends. She has no one, she pushes everyone away. Literally — and it is ultimately her downfall. 

It’s an interesting contrast to her brother. We literally get an episode “Zuko Alone,” and then it turns out the theme of “Azula Alone” is such an integral part of her arc, as well. The last person she has is her father, and he leaves her, too. Sure, he tells her it’s because she’s to stay behind as the new Fire Lord, but honestly Ozai was never truly close to anyone, either. But yeah. Iroh spends a lot of time and effort trying to help Zuko redeem himself. He never tries with Azula? I think, maybe it would have been nice to see him try with her, and be just utterly rebuffed. Now, Zuko also rebuffed him a lot, too. So Azula’s rejection of Iroh would really have to be something. This is the kind of stuff I’d look for in fic. Speaking of fic: I mean, I’d really love Zuko to find his mom, mom to come back, and then maybe some kind of attempt at reparations between mom and Azula. It doesn’t have to work, I just want to see the effort, you know?

Final Thoughts: Ending & Denouement

I loved Aang finding a different way to defeat the Fire Lord. I loved how every past Avatar he talked to was like “no dude just kill him.” And I loved that that was not enough for Aang. He’s pushing himself and ultimately the spirit of the Avatar to think harder, to try harder, to seek a different way. And that mercy was so integral to Aang’s character, and important to his arc that he struggled so much with it. And he’s just a kid! Oh, Aang. And I loved that he was able to find the answer he needed, the fact that it was taking away Ozai’s fire bending. Yes. Perfection.

I was a little disappointed by how little we got post-Ozai’s defeat. I was hoping the epilogue might have shown a little more in the years and decades following. It would have been nice to see glimpses of everyone prospering as they got older. 

Also, as I was watching Zuko’s coronation, I was sorta like, “uhh wait that’s a little too easy.” Now we don’t know when that happens so it’s possible some bit of time has lapsed and I’ll take that. But I thought there would have still been some trouble with some of the Fire Nation troops. Some of them would have remained loyal to Ozai. Many of those general had probably committed war crimes and would have needed to be rounded up and put on trial and put in prison. There’d be so much work to do!

That said, I do understand that we want to see our heroes with a happy ending, ultimately. I guess just a simple like “X years later” before the ending scenes would have sufficed for me to be satisfied that enough time had passed for those things to have been dealt with. IDK, I can probably suspend disbelief enough to headcanon that myself. I’m just saying. Some acknowledgement of resolution and reconstruction as a *process over time*, albeit unnecessary, would have been nice to have!

On that note, we don’t actually find out what happens to Azula. Presumably she is also in prison with her father. 

More importantly, we were Robbed of a Zuko and Ursa reunion scene!

[raexxbb]

Critic of Cartoons (SPOILERS!)

KyI figured I would begin doing on here what I do in my life. Rate a cartoon 10 out of 0 (-10 being highest/best and zero being the worst of the worst nonsense-) while telling my thoughts as to why. The third one is older and full of adventure with tales beyond what’s expected. Now on Netflix:

9 -Avatar: the Last Airbender

This may get a bit long ‘cause I want to bring each character justice. I love this show so much. I only deducted one point for the smallest of reasons otherwise it probably would have gotten a ten.

There’s a strong love-hate relationship with this show. All of the characters are incredible in there own unique way. My only issue is with the fact that the ‘hero gets the girl’ and does so by being whiny. It’s such a cliche and literally the only reason this show has a nine. The romantic element has a strong scale to hold but this show does a poor job of holding it up. Aang is fine, and I love Katara just not them romantically. Aang’s crush on her right away just rubbed me weird. I guess, it’s fine to crush on a pretty girl but to push the crush so much until she feels the same way... Katara had multiple boyfriends along the show and didn’t show much interest in Aang other then as a friend. So, them romantically together I never saw it being as Aang also pushes the chemistry. That’s it, my only issue is there in that relationship. Alone every character is very well thought out and placed in such a particular situation it makes them each perfect.

This forced kiss is the most disgusting moment in the entire show. He pushes this on her right after she says she’s confused and doesn’t know her feelings towards anyone. He’s just being childish (yes, I register he’s twelve) but if you want an adult relationship this is the wrong way to go about it. I don’t see why Katara would ever consider moving into a romantic relationship after this. Pushy is such a red-flag for me. Maybe I’m the only one that feels this way but it just outright infuriates me. Just look at how uncomfortable she looks during this moment.

Another thing I’d like to bring to light is the fact that Aang maybe a bit sexiest. I state this lightly ‘cause of the play episode in the third season. The thought came to be while reviewing Korra. Katara fights against sexism and to empower women. However, Aang became overly insulted when a woman was acting as him in the Ember Island play. Toph loved the idea of a guy playing her, but Aang just couldn’t get over his part being played by a female cast member. It is rude. Yes, everyone knows he still isn’t a girl but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t doing a decent job representing him. The fact that Katara still enters into a relationship just makes me feel like she’s going against something she stood so strongly for. 

People may believe it’s because I favor Zuko and Katara but it isn’t that. Honestly, I’m no longer sure I like them as a couple anymore either. They have cute moments. There are just so many issues among all of the romantic relationships. Somehow, I found myself wishing it revolved more around friendship ‘cause the romance in this show wasn’t handled well at all.

The only reason I’d ever argue for Katara and Zuko to be a couple is because of the ending where he saves her life from Azula. I mean, yes, he put her in danger quite a few times but he was slowly redeeming himself throughout all of that. This wasn’t the only time he saved her and tried to give his life for hers. Throughout the third season of him trying to redeem himself, he tried the hardest with Katara because he had already betrayed her trust once. 

Although, I’m still not saying they would’ve been the best couple either. Let’s not forget: they’re young -teenagers and children. If someone has found their soulmate already, good for them. It’s just abnormal and I’m trying to look at these relationships with a bit of a more realistic thought process. 

There are a few times this show has been about friendship:

Toph was once worried about their friendships, however, one line from Roku gave her confidence and soothed her completely.

“Some friendships are so strong, they can even transcend lifetimes.” -Avatar Roku

Really love this quote from Roku~ 

Zuko’s redemption ark was beyond the best point in the show and had me balling the entire time, every time I’ve watched it gets my heart throbbing for this boy! What if his mother had taken him with her? His life would’ve been so different and probably a lot better! The scar would be gone. No father abuse for him! Of course, without him the Fire Nation would be even worse then it ever was.

“It was to teach you respect!” -Ozai

“It was cruel! And it was wrong!” -Zuko

“Then you’ve learned nothing!” -Ozai

“NO! I’ve learned everything! And, I’ve had to do it on my own.” -Zuko

That conversation with his father, where he finally stands up to such a horrible man was beyond astonishing. Especially seeing as it seemed like something Zuko would never do. 

Although, Iroh new all along that Zuko is great.

“Then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?” -Zuko

“No. Someone new much take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko.” -Iroh

Uncle has always believed in his nephew. That he would be the one to take the Fire Nation and bring balance to the world. They’re the best relationship in this show once Zuko stops being so angry.

Of course, there’s also the Mai of it all. 

They’re occasionally good for each other. Their relationship is highly problematic. Mai is an awesome character alone, standing up to Azula when she’s terrified of her is great! However, Zuko and her argue nonstop and have an on-off dating history. It can be tiresome to watch. There just wasn’t any chemistry between them that I felt.

The only thing that I love about them is the prison scene. (Which could’ve been a friendship scene.)

Even when Zuko locks her away she chooses him. That is when I thought perhaps their relationship isn’t terrible. She still chooses him afterwards. Their behavior before is erratic and not that of a good relationship. Mai alone wouldn’t have been a trouble thing. Honestly, I relate to Mai as a gayer character then straight.

Although, that leads me to think about Azula, the girl of evil.

“My own mother, thought I was a monster...” -Azula

She’s only fourteen and she’s been raised by an abusive mad man. The entire background just makes me wish someone had tried to love her instead of shown her hatred. Her mother feared her, didn’t even say good-bye. Her brother had to fight her in order to save her from herself and father. 

The thing that made her truly snap was her friends (only ‘cause they fear her) betray her. The last people she had on her side! She just needed love as Zuko did. It would probably take her years to recover from the madness just as it took Zuko. She needs love and help. Who was going to give it to her after the third season? 

In the graphic novels, it’s revealed Zuko has her in a special insane asylum trying to give her the mental help she needs. But, she still seems tense and full of rage. It would’ve been nice to see further into that department of the Fire Nation.

These two are both extremely important. Their bond throughout the entire story is amazing. Him becoming his teacher was his true redemption, true honor came from that act. Of course, he learned so much from hunting Aang and trying to kill him as well.

Above all else, Uncle Iroh (-Zuko’s true father-) is definitely my favorite of all the characters. He’s just so warm and always does the right thing. He waited for Zuko when he went down the wrong path continuously knowing Zuko would realize his mistakes.

The White Lotus is one of the greatest things about this show.

“Don’t you know? All old people know each other?” -King Bumi

He’s just so hilarious and random. All of the great masters together in a secret society despite their nation’s differences is the most grandest thing.

Of course, another favorite is Appa.

The episode portraying animal abuse is heartwrenching. Him being taken from the ones that love and protect him only to be beaten and abused. This show goes beyond any other show in displaying all the different types of abuse in the world- emotional, physical... And it covers even more than this.

Another piece of me would’ve been interested in seeing if Aang had died and a water Avatar born to be the last Airbender. *Cough, cough* Maybe Katara? She is the most powerful bender in the show after all.

“I will never ever turn my back on people who need me!” -Katara

Perhaps instead of killing Aang off, just have them be wrong that he’s the Avatar and so whoever was actually got killed during the air temple raid. Causing the line to move on to water. Aang could’ve been trapped in an iceberg to be able to teach Katara air. Of course, that may not work if he weren’t able to waterbend and freeze a bubble around him. But, there’s definitely an air pocket in there. 

It is one of the most beautiful cartoons ever created. Besides the fact I never really enjoyed Aang as the main character. All of the others are just so much more interesting then him, in my opinion.

Toph is one of the many characters I didn’t discuss. That fact just is that Toph is beyond incredible. She is the character that is ahead of her time. She proves that being disabled doesn’t mean she a person that’ll stop trying.That’s all, her blindness doesn’t work against her. Instead it works for her giving her a stronger way to see the world.

I’ll be doing Avatar: Legend of Korra at a later time. Trying to make sure I go back and re-watch everything to properly review it.

I really wish they would go back and create a show called Avatars about all of the past lives. Maybe 2/3 episodes to display each of them. There are hundreds and I’m curious to know more about them. I’d love to see Kyoshi as a badass teenager.

[loopy777]

Got any cute/fluffy/emotional Maiko headcanons on how Mai and Zuko first day “I love you”? It could be two separate moments if you want. I‘m stuck on who would say it first, since I could kind of see how Mai and Zuko would say that phrase first. Like Mai would say to get through Zuko’s thick head. But I can also see Zuko say it first since he tend to be the more emotionally open one, so I can total see him unintentionally yell the phrase in a emotional outburst. Something like that, maybe.

I think as far as Mai is concerned, she already said it at the Boiling Rock. It’s not her fault Zuko wasn’t there to hear it. ;) I headcanon that, prior to that moment when she delivered her epic line to Azula, Mai had actually be actively trying to convince herself that she didn’t love Zuko, that it was just a shallow romance so far. So that moment is where she first recognizes it and gets over that big emotional hurdle. She’s still a little shy about it, so she’s just moved up to “I like you” when she sees Zuko again, but I think she’s well on the way to saying the words. She might save it for a cute moment, just because she only really wants to be cute around Zuko.

It’s Zuko who’s a bit stunted in this area. I don’t think the words “I love you” were anything he heard from anyone but his mother, and of course her disappearance associates a bit of trauma with that. Certainly, I don’t think Fire Nation society pushed for that kind of expression even amongst family that isn’t trying to murder each other. I don’t think Iroh ever said it to Zuko, for example; even he uses a roundabout way of saying it like, “I think of you as my son,” and lets the implications tell the full story.

So I see Zuko being similarly circumspect for a long time, up to the point where either Mai begins to doubt things or he loses patience with the niceties. So yes, I think you’re right that he’d only ever assemble those words that way in a big, dramatic, frustrated emotional outburst. But what could cause such a thing?

Well, I think Zuko trusts that Mai would get it without him having to say it. After all, she’s the one who hides her thoughts behind a blank face and communicates so eloquently with her eyes. So I think the frustration would have to come from other people not getting his devotion to her. Maybe the gAang is teasing him, or Toph throws herself at him, or Mai’s Mother wants to know when he’s going to make an honest woman out of her daughter. Regardless, the argument escalates to the point where Zuko roars, “I LOVE HER!!” (probably with accompanying flames) and everyone is left in stunned silence until Mai responds with a deadpan, “I love you, too, snookums.”

[theonceoverthinker]

Staff of Creation Theory Thoughts and Companion Theory

So, like most people in the Fair Game community, I’ve taken notice of the Staff of Creation Theory created by @fairgame-is-canon. To be honest, it took me a while to really believe in the theory -- no offense to fairgame-is-canon, he did a wonderful job creating it, and it’s got some serious backing by all sorts of great fairy tale meta. However, given how much of a blow 7X12 was to my confidence in the writing of RWBY, the new brand of pessimism it birthed in me felt that while the theory itself was good, it was also a stretch. But with more information being DISCORD-vered (Because puns) every day in the group page, I re-evaluated my feelings and started to think what I felt like a Clover resurrection would be like if this theory were true.

And as I thought on it, I found myself differing with the consensus as to some of the circumstances of the resurrection, namely Ironwood’s motivation for using it, how he would get the staff with the new Maiden, and the sacrificed being that would allow for it to happen. Again, I say this not as a slight to fairgame-is-canon, quite the contrary -- he’s one of the leading figures in the #CloverDeservedBetter movement, and I respect the hell out of him as well as consider him a friend -- but just as a fun ‘it could also go like this’ companion theory, so to speak. This one also won’t reference a lot of the meta aspects that back up this theory since that was all done by people far more apt to take it on than myself, but it will instead be focused on the story and character directions that would ultimately inform and follow this decision, in universe.

Now, with all of that said, let’s get to it!

The biggest point of difference between my version of the theory and fairgame-is-canon’s is Ironwood’s motivation for bringing back Clover in the first place. While I think it does make a lot of sense, I personally don’t fully subscribe to the theory that James will give his life to get Clover back. And to be fair, I think his thoughts on why Ironwood would bring him back are super well thought out -- I’m just coming out of V7 with a less than optimistic viewpoint over whether Ironwood can be redeemed at this point. I’m simply not really convinced he can be.

I can guess what you’re probably thinking: If I don’t believe James can be redeemed, then how will Clover be able to come back?

Well, I have a...darker opinion about how that’s going to happen.

To understate things, James is in a BAD spot right now. He lost control over the Winter Maiden, he no longer has access to the Staff of Creation (More on that problem in a minute), he’s all alone, his resources are exhausted, Grimm are destroying Mantle, and oh yeah -- SALEM IS ON HIS DOORSTEP WITH A FREAKIN’ GRIMM WHALE OF DOOM! So now, even his plan of retreating with the staff is utterly moot since Salem is -- again -- RIGHT THERE!

James needs a little bit of help, and a WHOLE LOTTA luck.

Say, wasn’t there someone who used to provide that for him?

So James hears that Qrow and Robyn were brought in, and goes to find out where Clover is, unaware that Clover’s dead.

But Qrow is fast to let him know that.

He SCREAMS at James for Clover’s death, swearing revenge in a rage. James doesn’t even know how to take all of this. Clover’s dead...he truly is doomed.

But during Qrow’s outburst, James notices something -- Clover’s pin in Qrow’s hand.

And then he gets an idea.

James confiscates the pin, and ignoring Qrow’s loud protests and promises of revenge, takes a walk over to the hospital wing.

He walks past Clover’s bed, oddly and notably offhandedly, and instead goes a few doors down...to where Winter’s hospital bed is.

Winter is apologetic for losing control of the Winter Maiden, but James is surprisingly not furious. Instead, he simply and stoically asks who the Winter Maiden is.

And whether intentionally or not, Winter reveals the answer to him.

It’s Penny.

With that revelation, the last piece of James’ plan falls into place, and far easier than he expected it to be at its conception.

Now, Penny may be the Winter Maiden, and emotionally, she’s a real girl first, but she’s also a robot, and a robot James has assured others in the past is under his control.

What if that wasn’t just fluff, said to comfort the already apprehensive council?

And what if, just like he did team RWBYJNROQ’s scrolls, James can take control over Penny whenever he wants?

From the safety of the airship, Penny is unintentionally propelled away from her friends and through the sky back to Atlas Academy. It’s absolutely HORRIFYING to watch, and tragic as even after receiving the ultimate moment of validation that she IS a real girl, Penny is reminded that real girl or not, she’s a robot at the end of the day and just as subject to a certain level of powerlessness as ever. Ruby stretches out her arm as much as she can to try and grab her -- she might even go into Petal Burst mode...but she fails.

James forces her to open the vault, grabs the staff, sacrifices a random minion of his (Or maybe Watts, and that’s why he kept Watts alive), and brings Clover back.

And the episode ends with James holding the staff, and a blinding blue light taking over.

The next one begins at the hospital. The flatline that is next to Clover’s body slowly springs back to life.

Clover wakes up in the same hospital bed that he was in in the previous episode, gasping as he recalls the last moments of his life. Instinctively, he looks to his stomach, which is now whole once more (Pun intended), maybe with a neat blue scar to match the staff’s color.

The nurses and doctors are astounded, and so is he but before they can say anything, Clover runs out of bed.

He's alive, and he needs Qrow to know that.

He RUNS to the jail and DEMANDS to see Qrow, pushing past the guards and running directly into the line of cells.

Qrow and Robyn are sitting in a cell towards the back when suddenly, Qrow hears his name called by an impossible person.

"QROW!"

Qrow and Robyn barely have a moment to register who is calling his name before Clover shows up on the other side of the cell.

It’s all Qrow can do to not lose his balance, and Robyn (Who is also more than a bit happy herself) helps him stay on his feet as he approaches Clover. You can see in Qrow’s eyes that he’s wondering if this is a dream, or if he’s truly gone insane.

But no...something gets through to him that this is the real Clover Ebi.

Through the bars, forgetting everything and everyone else just for this moment, they hug, unashamed of everything that they mean to each other. Qrow might tear up a bit.

Clover is about to call over a guard to release them, but then remembers...Qrow was put under arrest for more than just his murder.

That’s when both of them (Plus Robyn) ask how this is even possible.

And then, James comes in.

He tells Clover that he brought him back because he is his most loyal aide, and then directs him out of the jail cell. Clover really doesn't want to leave -- not without Qrow -- but James refuses. Reluctantly, Clover complies with James’ wishes, but before that happens, once James has left the cell, he promises Qrow and Robyn he'll figure this out and convince James to free them.

Throughout the volume, Clover comes to realize how fucked up James' priorities are, but still thinks his mind can be changed. During this time, he also visits the prison once or twice to confer with Qrow and Robyn. It's during those visits that we learn just why Clover trusts James so much. My theory is that James never made Clover feel like he was just his semblance, and was useful for his skills and kind heart.

But then, he inadvertently finds out that James indeed did only revive Clover for his semblance. James is stoic once this truth comes to light, and alongside the doubts that had already been overwhelming Clover over James’ priorities, this convinces Clover to finally leave James’ company.

It's exciting, non?

AND there's more

@whipped4qrow helped me out with this one

Clover then goes to the jail to finally free Qrow and Robyn...but they aren't there (Think Zuko trying to rescue Iroh in “The Day of Black Sun” in ATLA).

That's right! The Happy Huntresses freed them!

But Clover knows where they're going, and this time, he’s staying on Qrow’s side until the bitter end.

We catch up with Qrow an episode later, and after leaving the Happy Huntresses to pursue another Grimm, Tyrian finds him, and the two are set up for another fight. 

However, Qrow's all alone, and after fighting a bunch of Grimm (Probably not even using Harbinger), Tyrian is FAR more equipped to take him on than vice versa. He has Qrow on the ropes, but suddenly, Tyrian is propelled backwards by his tail, screaming as he flies through the air.

Qrow is on the floor, and panics because snow dust covers his vision. He’s unsure of what will happen next. 

But then, he sees a hand through the dust, and takes it.

And as the dust clears, he sees Clover standing there, holding his hand, and smiling.

“Need some help?”

Qrow smiles back. 

“You bet I do.”

And together, they beat the SHIT outta Tyrian!

I don’t have any real predictions beyond that, but I think this companion theory gives way to complete Clover, James, Tyrian, and Qrow’s character arcs.

...That’s all, folks.

[zi-i-think]

4 | Mother of Faces

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (OC)

Word Count: 13100+

.☽☼☾.

          Since the incident at Yu Dao, Earth King Kuei suggested that some of the citizens of Yu Dao and the gang sit in for a lecture on Ancient Earth Kingdom Theories of Government. So there everyone was, either paying attention or trying to stay awake.

        During the professor's lecture, Sokka whispered over to Aang about how absolutely bored he was. Aang, of course, whispered back. They got a scolding from Katara, who was actually trying to listen.

        Ama was never great at history. Things usually went in one ear and out the other, but she tried. Not like anyone could tell that she was only getting bits and pieces of the lecture since she sat up straight and kept an eye on the professor.

        Zuko paid attention because he had to. Being Fire Lord meant having to make the right decisions for everyone, and history was a helpful thing. Something must have grabbed his attention, because Zuko raised his hand and spoke up. "Professor, can you repeat that last part?"

        The professor mumbled something to himself before responding. "I was explaining, Fire Lord Zuko, an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: family is in essence a small nation, and the nation a large family. Do you understand?" A gloomy look appeared on Zuko's face. "In treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity."

        Ama noticed Zuko's expression, prompting her to reach over and grab his hand. "Are you alright, dragonfly?"

        "Have you been listening?" He asked her.

        "Kind... of..." She answered with a regrettable side smile.

        "I put my father in a prison and my sister in an institution. My mother has been banished for years." He told her. "What does that mean for my nation?"

        "Zuko, that's not what-" Aang butt in. He didn't want Zuko to looked down on himself for something like condemning his family for their wrong doings.

        "The guy's a blowhard! Only people like Katara are taking him seriously." Sokka whispered over. His younger sister shot the second snowball of the day in his face.

.☽☼☾.

        After the lecture and other Earth Kingdom things, Zuko and Ama returned to the Fire Nation. And the first thing he requested was to speak with his sister and father.

        "Are you sure you want to do this?" Ama asked him for the hundredth time.

        "She's my best chance at finding my mom." Zuko told her, turning to look at her before actually going out the front door. "I know you're worried, but I have to do this."

        "I can go with, you know." Ama told him and got into a fighting stance playfully. "Any funny business and I knock some sense in her." She punched the empty air, poorly, of course. After all, Ama's a water bender, hand-to-hand combat isn't exactly her forte.

        Zuko smiled as he stepped forward to her, grabbing her wrist and holding them close to his chest to look into her eyes. "I promise you, I'll be fine. I have Suki and Ty Lee, who's actual jobs are to protect me."

        "I can do that just fine." Ama mumbled with a pout, knowing that he could still hear her.

        Zuko chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. "I know you can." Ama leaned up to press a short and sweet kiss on his lips.

        Once he pulled away, Zuko gave her an assuring smile and turned away to get back on his mission to get answers. The water bender sighed and went on her own mission. To bake herself some banana bread.

        After 2 hours, Ama had finished her banana bread. She stood in the empty kitchen, leaning against the counter and enjoying a slice when Zuko walked in. His expression was off. Like he was walking on pins and needles.

        "What happened?" Ama asked. Already knowing something was wrong, just didn't know what.

        "Promise not to get mad?" He asked her. The girl scoffed and set down her plate.

        "I think you're forgetting who has the anger issues in this relationship." She chuckled and walked over to him. "You know I'll always be here for you." Zuko sighed and stepped aside and Azula stepped into the kitchen. Ama immediately went into action, pushing Zuko behind her and holding up her arms to be ready to waterbend. "What the hell is Azula doing here?!" She growled.

        "Oh calm down, water baby." Azula smirked. "Zuko invited me here."

        Ama glared at Zuko. He looked down with both shame and doubt. But also like he had no other option. "Oh boy." Ama sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

.☽☼☾.

        Just a few days later, the rest of Team Avatar was invited for Zuko's mission. Ama walked to the meeting room, fiddling with her nails. Moving aside the curtain, the water bender saw Zuko and his uncle Iroh already waiting.

        "Iroh!" The girl grinned, always happy to see him.

        "Ama!" The old man also greeted her happily. His arms open wide for a hug, which she gladly accepted. "You look more beautiful each day I see you."

        "Aw, you're too kind." Ama told him as she pulled away from the hug. "How's the tea shop?"

        "Business is booming. Couldn't be better." He said proudly, his arms stretched out to emphasize it. "I'll go outside to await your friends." And with that, the old man stepped out of the room.

        Zuko's face fell the moment Iroh stepped out. Ama stepped in front of him, cupping his cheek so he would look at her. A soft smile on her lips as she leaned up to kiss him, but the boy moved his head away to avoid it. The girl sighed. While Zuko did get better with his temper and tried to contain it, he still had his moments. "You're worrying again." She muttered.

        "Obviously." Zuko grumbled. "It's been years since I've seen my mother. And now Azula is my only way to find her."

        "Okay so the circumstances are pretty bad, but." She moved his head again to look at her. "This is about your mother, Zuko. If this is the way to do it, then so be it." Zuko took in a deep breath, held it and let it out.

        "Zuko, Ama. Your friends have arrived." Iroh announced and in came Aang, Katara and Sokka.

        "Thank you for inviting us to your home, your fieriness!" Aang bowed in front of Zuko. "We've been out of touch for much too long."

        Ama snickered as Zuko had an unamused look on his face. "It's only been a week." The Fire Lord pointed out.

        "Where's Toph?" Ama noticed their group was down one.

        "She had to stay at the academy." Sokka told them. "Now that folks have seen the lily livers - I mean, her students in action, everyone and their mother wants to be a metal bender, even the Yu Dao Police Chief went to visit her."

        "We came as soon as we heard the message. What's this about?" Katara got right down to business.

        "I recently obtained some new information about Ursa, my mother. It turns out she's from a small town called Hira'a on the outskirts of the Fire Nation." Zuko informed them. "I'm going there to look for her. Uncle Iroh agreed to watch over things here while I'm gone."

        "May you find who - and what - you are searching for, my nephew." Iroh spoke. His readiness to be at his nephew's aid was admirable.

        "That's great Zuko! But it sounds like you've got everything covered..." Aang was excited, but confused.

        "...so, why do you need us." Katara finished Aang's sentence.

        "The information about my mother came at a cost." Zuko tried to hide his expression of regret. "You see-" The Fire Lord didn't get to finish as Azula moves aside the yellow and red curtain, stepping into the room.

        "Zuko, behind you!" Aang pointed at the sister while Katara had already bent water to attack.

        "How did you escape, Azula." Katara flung the water, turning it into sharp icicles midair.

        "Katara, wait!" Zuko shouted. Ama acted quickly, bending the icicles back into water and maneuvering it towards herself in a graceful manner. The water circling her hands.

        "Stay back! We don't want to hurt you!" Aang warned.

        "Speak for yourself, Aang." Sokka held his boomerang over his head, ready to throw.

        "Ha ha!" Azula laughed, making Ama cringe. "Ignorant peasant! You really think you can take me on with a boomerang?"

        "Let's find out." Sokka challenged. He was fuming with rage.

        "Sokka, stop! Let Zuko explain!" Suki jumped in the room in her Kyoshi uniform just before the water tribe boy threw his boomerang. Ty Lee came in after her.

        "Suki." Sokka's arms went above his head in excitement.

        "Azula was the one who got the information from Ozai." Zuko explained. "Because she helped me out, we made a deal. She's going to come with me to look for our mother. And she's going to travel unbound with dignity." Ama remembered the long conversation she had with Zuko before they allowed for Azula to have her demands. "I want you all to come with us."

        "No offense, but that sounds like the worst plan ever." Aang exclaimed.

        "Oh! Oh!" Sokka called out in the middle of his hug with Suki. "New nickname for Zuko! How about bad decision Lord?"

        "Ever since my nephew ascended to the throne, he has yearned for peace, finding Ursa may bring that peace." Iroh spoke then gestured to Azula. "And not just for himself."

        "What, my sister wasn't enough to 'bring you peace.'" Sokka wondered with an investigative tone, leaning on Zuko.

        "Sokka, leave him alone." Ama grabbed her brother's ear, pulling him away while he cried out in pain.

        Aang stepped in front of Zuko with a decision, speaking for everyone. "We're your friends, Zuko. If you need us, we'll go." Zuko had an appreciative look. He was one step closer to finding his mom.

.☽☼☾.

        The group was set to travel the next morning. Ama headed to the courtyard with Katara. It wasn't like they didn't see each other often, but things do change a lot, so they try to make the most of their time when they're together.

        "The iguana bird must have been chasing Sokka for a good ten minutes." Katara told her sister, the two laughing till their stomachs hurt.

        "Hey!" Sokka called, walking towards them from the next hallway with Zuko by his side. "Katara, are you really telling her that story!?"

        "Why not? It's hilarious." Katara teased, only making Sokka more mad.

        As they stepped out into the courtyard, they remembered that they were there for Zuko to find his mom. And to make sure Azula stays in line. Aang air bent Azula's bag onto Appa as the girl stood by with a scowl.

        "I still don't like it, Zuko." Katara said to him, putting her hands on her waist.

        "We'll need to take turns keeping an eye on her, every moment of every day." Zuko informed them. "At least one of us has to be totally focused on Azula."

        "And if worst comes to worst, there are five of us against one of her." Ama added, keeping an eye on Azula. Knowing that this 'worst comes to worst' situation was very likely.

        "I'll take first watch!" Sokka said excitedly.

        "I appreciate the offer, Sokka, but maybe you should leave this to the benders." Zuko kindly told Sokka that he was in no way able to fight Azula.

        "No, I got it covered." Sokka claimed, pulling out his boomerang. "Mr. Boomerang and I didn't appreciate her 'ignorant peasant' comment yesterday. We're gonna show her what we're made of." The water tribe boy then turned to Azula. "Time to go, Azula! And no funny business or else," He dramatically held out his boomerang. "Wack-a-pow!"

        Azula glared at Sokka and sent a small bolt of lightning at his hand, making him drop his boomerang. The boy yelped and fell to the ground in pain. The others sprung into action. Ama water bent an ice block on her hand, Aang earth bent the rock under her so she wouldn't move. And Zuko had already created fire in his fist to fight.

        "Sokka!" Katara called to make sure he was fine.

        "I'm okay!" The brother assured her.

        Katara went over to Azula, bending the ice off of her. "Don't you ever touch him!" She threatened, speaking for herself and Ama.

        "Tell your brother not to wave his toy in my face!" Azula barked back.

        "We made a deal, Azula." Zuko reminded her. "If we're going to do this together, you have to stay calm."

        "Keep your merry band of misfits in check, and we'll all get along fine." Azula claimed.

        "I changed my mind. One of you take first watch." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that he overestimated himself.

.☽☼☾.

        While they were up in the sky, everyone enjoyed the peaceful ride. Well, except for the part where they need to keep an eye on Azula. Aang and Katara sat on Appa's head and everyone else was on the saddle. Ama had her legs crossed as she spend her time carving some sort of animal into a piece of wood. Still too early to understand what she was carving. Zuko beside her, his arm around Ama's shoulders, occasionally glancing at his girlfriend's artwork.

        "Ahhh! The open sky above us, a daring mission before us, and friends all around!" Sokka leaned up front with his arms outstretched to his side. "Just like old times isn't it?"

        "Even better than old times!" Aang responded. "Before I always wanted to kiss Katara and now I actually get to do it."

        "Aw, sweetie." Katara gushed and leaned in for a short kiss.

        "I, for one, could do without that." Sokka muttered and gave an irritated look.

        "Too bad Toph couldn't be here." Katara looked over at the group.

        "Well, instead we have..." Aang trailed off, everyone knowing he meant Azula.

        "So tell me, kids. I've been dying to know. Which one of you miscreants did she approach first." Azula asked in a threatening tone.

        "Uh... What are you talking about?" Ama asked, very much confused. She paused from carving to look around to find if anyone else knew what she was talking about.

        "None of you had even met me yet! How did she convince you to help her ruin my life?!" Azula shouted, leaning forward on her knees.

        "That's enough, Azula!" Zuko moved and put his arm in front of Azula, keeping her back with a heating fist.

        "Put that away, Zuzu. It's just small talk." Azula lied. Hesitantly, Zuko moved back to his original spot. "If there's anything that's enough, it's the excessive PDA."

        Ama and Zuko both glared at her and Zuko just pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "You wouldn't understand, Azula." Zuko grumbled at his sister.

        The female firebender smirked, like she had just found something to pick at. "Interesting choice of words, Zuzu. I seem to remember you saying something very similar about Mai." The couple froze and avoided looking at the 'prisoner'.

        Ama would be lying if she said she weren't a little jealous of Mai. The Fire Nation girl was absolutely gorgeous. Maybe her personality was a little bland, but that didn't mean she was a bad person. She and Zuko had history, plus it was because of her that they were even able to escape Boiling Rock during the war.

        "I miss Toph." Sokka sighed in the tense atmosphere.

        "You said it." Aang agreed.

.☽☼☾.

        The crammy ride continued through the day. Ama went ahead and took Appa's reins so that Katara and Aang could sit in the saddle. She enjoyed the quiet up front. Appa's soft fur and sun hanging low in the sky made her feel at peace.

         "I think that's Hira'a up ahead." Zuko looked ahead at an island in the distance. "If we can't get there before sunset, though, we should set up camp. I don't want to enter town in the middle of the night like a gang of bandits."

         "Good point. Hey Aang-" Sokka turned to the air bender, but the boy had the ugliest face of disgust. His eyebrows furrowing together and teeth baring. "Ah!" Sokka yelled and everyone gasped at the expression. "What, it's not enough that we have one passenger who stares at us with crazy eyes?!"

         "What's wrong with your face?" Katara asked.

         "What? What's wrong with Aang's face?" Ama glanced back, curious to see what they were talking about.

         "I don't know." Aang replied. "But I can't help it! There's something out there. Some kind of spirit. I can feel it's presence, especially in my face."

         "Now that you mention it, I feel it too." Sokka mimicked Aang's face. "That's why I'm doing this."

         "Sokka, this is serious." Katara scolded.

         "As serious as this?" Sokka pointed at his face, still imitating Aang.

         "Knock it off." Katara ordered.

         "Whoa! Did you guys see that giant wolf spirit?!" Aang pointed to the side of the flying bison. "I think that's the presence I'm feeling."

         Everyone looked to the right side of Appa, not seeing any wolf spirit.

         "Did the world spirit look like this?" Sokka bared his teeth.

         "There's nothing down there." Zuko said.

         Katara threw a snowball at Sokka. "What was that for?!" The boy complained.

         "I told you to knock it off!" Katara shouted.

         But while everyone was distracted, Azula took her chance. She stood on the edge of the saddle like she was about to dive down. "Azula, get down from there!" Zuko ordered.

         "I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been riding with you all, listening to you bicker. Instilling some doubt. Too bad not all siblings get along as well as Zuzu and me! Now that Hira'a is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, it's time to bid farewell. I'll be sure to give her your regards!" And with that, Azula dove into the sky.

         "No, Azula! We're too high up!" Zuko shouted, reaching over the edge. But it was took late. The girl was plummeting to the ground.

         Aang dove after her with his air-staff. "I got her!" He called.

         "Nice glider, Avatar. Is it fireproof?" Azula shot a spark of lightning at the glider, lighting the blue flap on fire.

         "What are you doing?! This was a gift!" Aang shouted, dropping Azula to try and blow out the fire. They were already a few feet from teh ground, so Azula could land on the ground gracefully and run off.

         The moment Aang dropped to get Azula, Ama led Appa down after them. As soon as they landed, they all jumped out. "You guys go make sure Aang's okay! We'll go after Azula!" Zuko shouted. He and Ama ran after the female fire bender while the other two water tribe siblings ran to Aang.

         As Zuko and Ama got to Azula, they heard her talking to herself on the other side of the stream. She was hunched over and looked to be hiding something behind her back.

         "Who are you talking to?" Zuko asked her.

         "Why do you care." Azula snapped at him.

         "Keep to our deal, Azula, and we'll find her together." Zuko had an ordering tone, but everyone knew that Azula was the last person who would actually obey him.

         "You need me, Zuzu. I have information you don't. But now that we're so close to Hira'a, I don't really need you anymore." Azula held out her arm, preparing to strike the two with lightning.

         "Please," Zuko begged. He and Ama bending their elements in case there was a fight. "I don't want to do this."

         Azula moved to direct her lightning, but Ama shot water from the river at the lightning bender and freezing it around her body. The rest of the gang appeared beside them.

         "You alright, Aang?" Zuko asked.

         "My glider's a little singed, but I'm okay." The air bender responded.

         "Azula, I've had just about enough of you." Ama grumbled, walking across the stream.

         "Of all the co conspirators she could've chosen, why an uncultured-" Azula started to insult, but stopped, her eyes focused on something behind her in fear. Ama looked over to see what scared Azula. And there was the spirit wolf that Aang was talking about before.

         The wolf was huge, maybe 20 feet tall. It had blue fur on its back and legs, it's underside a snowy white. On it's chest it looked like there were glaring eyes in the blue fur. And it had blood red eyes staring right at them. Snarling at them.

         "Hey. That fear in your eyes?" Sokka called excitedly holding his boomerang above his head. He hadn't seen the wolf yet, but it was standing right behind him. "So you've finally learned to respect the power of Mr. Boomerang!" The wolf snapped at Sokka, but he luckily noticed the large animal in time dodged it narrowly.

         "The wolf spirit must've left the spirit world for a good reason! So please everyone be respectful!" Aang advised them all.

         "Respectful?!" Sokka shouted, running to his friends. "Your spirit just tried to eat my head!"

         "Those markings on it's belly, they sort of look like a face." Zuko noted.

         "Aang, look! That's the face you've been making!" Katara added.

         "You're right. I think I get it now!" Aang said and flew up by the wolf's head in order to speak with it. "Stop, big giant wolf spirit! Listen to me! I felt your presence earlier, see? Just like the design on your fur! I knew you were near because I'm the avatar, the great bridge between the spirits and the humans!"

         "My friends and I were traveling to the town Hira'a when one of us decided to go her own way. If we've disturbed you, please accept our apologies." The blue and white wolf gave Aang a neutral look, before it lunged at him, he jumped back in time. "Yikes!"

         "Aang!" Katara shouted with worry.

         "Your 'respectful' tactic doesn't seem to be working!" Zuko added.

         The group sprung into action with their bending, well, in Sokka's case it was Mr. boomerang. The water icicles and the boomerang deflected off the wolf, and it ate the fire. Then burped smoke.

         "Did that wolf spirit just eat my fire?!" Zuko exclaimed, asking to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

         "And burped!" Sokka added. "It ate your fire and burped at you!"

         "I guess you could say it has a fire-ocious (ferocious) appetite." Ama quipped, earning glares from her sister and boyfriend. "What? It was a good joke."

         "I found it hilari-" Sokka started with a chuckle before Katara interrupted.

         "This is not the time." The girl shouted.

         The wolf spirit lunged at then, Aang in the way. "Come on, wolf spirit! I'm great bridge guy! Don't you wanna-" Appa stepped forward, roaring at the wolf.

         "All right! Giant spirit animal mega brawl!" Sokka cheered.

         "Go easy on him, buddy! We just want peaceful passage to Hira'a!" Aang shouted to Appa. The giant animals growled at each other. The wolf lunged, missing Appa who turned around to wack his tail, the gust of air throwing the wolf back.

         "Woo-hoo! Sky bison: one, fire-eating wolf; zero!" Sokka cheered with his arms up.

         The wolf got up, shaking it's head. "Appa, I asked you to go easy on him!" Aang scolded. "Are you okay, big giant wolf spirit?!" The wolf threw up a cloud of moth-wasps in response. "It just threw up a cloud of moth-wasps at us!"

         "You are the grossest spirit ever!" Sokka shouted.

         "Free me, Zuzu, I'll take care of those spirits for you." Azula claimed. But he rightfully had his doubts. She could just be saying that for another chance to run.

         "We don't need your help, Azula." Zuko claimed. They were all struggling, swatting the insects away.

         "Oh, right. Because you and your friends have everything under control." Azula grumbled.

         "Ow ow ow! Did they eat my whole arm?! I can't see my arm!" Sokka shouted.

         "Try not to hurt them! They're spirit creatures!" Aang begged.

         "Aang, it's getting hard to breathe!" Katara struggled out.

         "I know! But if you hurt them, things might get worse!" Aang said. Of course he feared what the spirits might do if they were disrespected. Aang himself wasn't an expert.

         "I'll admit it, all right? I shouldn't have run off on my own like that. After all we made a deal." Azula spoke in a manipulative tone. "And if you can't trust your family, who can you trust?"

         Zuko looked at his sister, actually considering setting her free. And he did. Using his firebending, Zuko melted the ice off of his sister. Azula generated lightning into a ball of light, drawing the moths in and then threw it into the distance. The moths and the wolf followed it.

         Turning around to see the shocked group of friends, Azula gave a snarky smirk. "You're welcome."

         Once that was over with, the group set up camp. Zuko took first shift to watch over Azula.

         "You sure you don't want some company?" Ama asked her boyfriend once the bundle of sticks was placed for the fire.

         "You need some rest." He told her, setting the twigs ablaze. "I can handle Azula."

         "Okay then. Good night." She said, bending down to place a quick kiss on his cheek and started to walk away.

         "Don't forget your blanket." Sokka reminded her, sitting on the log across Zuko and holding out a wrapped up blanket.

         "Shouldn't you be heading to sleep?" She asked her brother.

         "I drank a lot of water." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. Ama opened her mouth to ask, but then stopped once knowing what he meant. Without another word, she went to the stop where she was going to sleep.

.☽☼☾.

         The next morning, Ama woke up just before the sunrise and immediately started to pack up camp with her siblings. Zuko and Aang went off for some sort of talk.

         "I should go wake up Azula." Katara said, looking at the lightning bender who was still sleeping. Katara knew that it may be dangerous to disturb her, but things needed to be done and they needed to be ready to leave soon.

         "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sokka reasonably asked.

         "Well, we're be on our way to Mira'a as soon as Zuko and Aang get back so I don't see many options." Katara shrugged and walked over to Azula. Ama and Sokka both shared a concerned look, but didn't stop their sister.

         Right before Katara could place her hands on Azula to wake her up, Azula jolted awake, grabbing Katara's arm and shouting "I have proof!"

         "Whoa!" Katara tried to twist the hand off.

         "Get you hand off her, Azula!" Ama shouted, shooting water at the lightning bender and freezing it to hit her hand back.

         "Katara..." Sokka went over to her, questioning if she were okay.

         "I'm okay." The water bender assured. "She woke up all of a sudden and caught me by surprise."

         "Mother... where...?" Azula muttered to herself, reaching for her boot. "The letter! It's gone!" She turned around in the blink of an eye with blue fire in both hands. "Where is Zuko?!"

         "Azula, calm down." Ama told her, bending water to her sides. The girl gave the water tribe siblings a snarl and then threw the fire at a couple of trees. Then she ran off.

         "Do we follow her?!" Sokka panicked, looking between the running girl and the fire that was quickly spreading through the forest. But the girls were already using their water bending to stop the fire from spreading.

         "The fire is spreading too fast!" Ama shouted at him. "We need to trust that Zuko and Azula figure their shit out." A few minutes later Aang showed up, jumping right into helping the others put out the fire. "Is Zuko okay? Does he need my help?"

         "Zuko will be fine, Ama." Aang told her. But the slight panic in his voice from trying to put out the fire worried Ama.

         "I'm going to help him." The water bender dropped her water and was about to sprint to the direction Aang came from. But before she could actually leave, Zuko and Azula walked into the clearing. Which just so happened to be when Katara extinguished the last fire.

         "Aang! Are we ready to leave?" Zuko wondered, not even acknowledging what just happened.

         "You're sister just set fire to half the land-scape!" Aang angrily told him.

         "Even with Aang's help, it took us until now to put everything out!" Katara added.

         "Nature hates you!" Sokka shouted at Azula.

         "So, uh. You guys aren't fighting anymore?" Ama was careful when she asked it.

         "We've arrived at an understanding." Zuko told them. By the annoyed look on Azula's face, he must have been semi-right.

         "That's what you said when this whole thing started?" Sokka complained while Zuko and Azula were climbing up Appa and into the saddle. "Since then she's tried to kill us, like, twelve times!"

         "Come on. Time to go to Hira'a." Zuko called to them.

         "Are you louts coming or not?" Azula glared at them. The rest of the group glanced at each other unsurely, but there wasn't much to do. So, they climbed Appa and resumed their journey.

.☽☼☾.

         When they arrived at Mira'a, the group changed into their Fire Nation outfits to better fit in.

         "We need to hide our identities. We'll get mobbed if people figure out we're the Avatar and Fire Lord." Zuko spoke to Aang more than the others, putting his hood over his hair.

         "Don't worry. After hiding from you for all those months, we're masters of disguise." Aang responded, finishing up tying his head scarf over his arrow.

         "Aang, that headband of yours is cute, but as a disguise it worked a lot better when you had hair." Katara said in a sweet tone.

         "See! A fake beard made of sky bison fur! A classic!" Sokka pointed out the beard and mustache he had made and put on his face.

         "Get away from me! You smell like a wet possum-pigeon!" Azula insulted and took a step away from the Water Tribe boy.

         When they got into town, the first thing they noticed was a huge crowd around a stage.

         "I thought Hira'a was supposed to be a small town. Why is it so crowded?" Aang wondered.

         At the same time, Sokka sneezed, most of his fake beard flying off. "Aww, Sokka, your poor beard." Ama laughed, swiping the remainder of the fur off of him.

         "Ama." The boy whined with a pout.

         The group moved closer to the stage to see. "Looks like they're performing some kind of play." Aang noted.

         "I recognize that scene!" Zuko said with some excitement in his voice. "It's the final battle in Love Amongst Dragons." The group turned to the play to watch the scene.

         "Wretched water spirit! Not that I've escaped your curse and regained my true nature, you shall pay for your trickery!" The actor in the red dragon costume dramatically pointed at the other actor on the stage

         "Have you learned nothing from your time amongst the mortals." The actor in the blue water spirit costume responded. "By threatening me, you invite your own doom." The actors flung ribbons at each other that correspond with their element. The red dragon jumped over the blue actor, the ribbons hitting them. "No! Curse you, foul dragon!"

         "The young man playing the emperor this year was extraordinary don't you think?" An old man in front of them spoke to the old woman next to him.

         "Oh yes!" The old woman agreed. "Much better than last year's fellow!"

         "Remember when mother used to take us to watch the Ember Island players perform this play?" Zuko asked his sister. "Afterwards on the beach, you and I would reenact this very scene. I don't get why I always had to be the dark water spirit."

         "Clearly, I made a better dragon emperor." Azula snarked.

         "Shh, the best part is coming up!" The old man from before shushed the two.

         "How dare you shush me! Do you know who I-!" Azula snapped and was ready for fight.

         "Azula! Please!" Zuko held her back and bought her arm.

         "Though I was trapped in the body of a mortal, you willingly gave me your heart! I cannot help but give you mine in return." The red dragon held the water spirit actress in his arms.

         "Only with your glory hidden in false form could you finally recognize my devotion." The water spirit said back and they kissed through the masks.

         The crowd cheered and clapped at the ending. Katara and Aang kissed at the same time. Once it died down, the crowd began to disperse.

         "Everybody's leaving! What do we do now?" Aang wondered.

         "Let me ask around." Zuko said, turning to the old couple from earlier. "Excuse me. We're looking for information on a woman named Ursa. I believe she lived here many years ago."

         "Ursa... Ursa..." The old man thought, stroking his beard. "Wasn't she the magistrate's daughter?"

         "Oh yes!" The old woman nodded. "Rumor has it she-"

         "Excuse me." Another voice interrupted in between Katara and Sokka, scaring them. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." The man said, taking off the blue mask from the play. "My name is Noren. I'm the director of the Hira'a acting troupe. Ursa was once a member."

         "Really?" Zuko asked with excitement.

         "That's right!" The old woman's memory jolted. "She always wanted to play the dragon empress, but never got the chance! Didn't she-"

         "We should find a quiet place to talk. Away from the crowds." Noren suggested to keep away from the gossiping town. "You're all welcome to my home. We'll share some tea and I'll tell you everything I know."

         "It would be an honor. Thank you." Zuko bowed his head and they followed the man to his house.

.☽☼☾.

        The house was small and simple. Aang and Katara sat at the dinner table and spoke with Noren's wife, Noriko. Zuko, Ama and Azula sat by the door. They were waiting for Noren and Sokka to return with the tea.

        A little girl that they met when they arrived poked her head inside, nervous to approach the strangers in her home. Ama waved softly at her with a kind smile, making the little girl giggle. Finally stepping inside with her hands behind her back, she approached Zuko since he was closer to the door.

        "Wanna meet my doll?" She timidly asked. She couldn't have been older than six or seven years old. She wore pink, with was more common for young Fire Nation girls, and had short brown hair.

        "No." Azula said dryly.

        "Of course." Zuko said at the same time with a cheerful tone.

        "This is Kiyi!" She pulled out her doll from behind her back. It was a small stuffed doll with a pick dress and very short hair.

        "I thought your name was Kiyi." Zuko chuckled lightly.

        "It's such a good name, I used it twice!" She happily smiled.

        "Well, little Kiyi has a very interesting haircut." Ama pointed out the incredibly short cut hair.

        "I wanted to make her prettier, but it didn't turn out very good." The little girl said a bit sadly.

        "My sister did stuff like that when she was a kid." Zuko glanced at Azula. Her arms where crossed while she scoffed.

        "That's right. Only I didn't give my dolls haircuts, I gave them headcuts! Would you like me to show you?" Azula threatened with a proud smile.

        "No!" Kiyi held her doll closs and faced away from Azula.

        "Azula! Stop it!" Zuko warned.

        Noren and Sokka walked into the house with the tea and some snacks. "Kiyi, are you being hospitable to our guests?" Noren asked his daughter.

        "I'm trying." She innocently said.

        "Mind if I join the conversation, dear?" He asked, kissing his wife's cheek.

        "Just sharing some advice about life and love." Noriko replies, blushing lightly at the kiss.

        "Ah! Well, you are Hira'a's foremost expert on those subjects." He praised his wife.

        "According to you." She said bashfully.

        "I must admit, I was a little suspicious when you all started asking about Ursa." Noren offered them all tea. "But Sokka tells me you're drama historians!"

        "How wonderful!" Norika grinned. "It's about time the Hira'a acting troupe got a little recognition!"

        "Drama historians? Really?" Katara whisper-scolded her brother.

        "Great cover story, right?" Sokka whispered back. "I just opened my mouth and there it was!"

        "Ursa, the woman you asked about was probably the troupe's most famous member- but not for her acting." Noren explained. "Years ago, she was, well, taken to the capital city on some sort of official business. We're not supposed to talk about her anymore, but people can't help speculating."

        "Supposedly she married into the royal family." Norika added. "This all happened before I came to town, but even I've heard the rumors."

        "What about Ikem?" Zuko asked. The name was unrecognizable by Ama, but she didn't want to question it.

        "Ikem?" Noren was surprised at the name. "My, you've done your research! Ikem was an actor, too. Ursa's boyfriend, I believe. He disappeared shortly after Ursa left."

        "Folks say he ran off to Forgetful Valley." Norika said.

        "Forgetful Valley?" Aang pondered.

        "A forest at the bottom of a canyon, just outside of town." Norika clarified. "The heartbroken go there to forget their lives. You know, I vaguely remember hearing that Ursa came back to town years later, looking for Ikem. They say she went after him to Forgetful Valley."

        "That can't be true!" Noken disagreed. "No one's seen or heard from Ursa since she was taken to the Capital City."

        Norika sighed. "Well, if it is true, it's awfully romantic!"

        "Romantic or tragic? Forgotten valley is a dark, dangerous place, no one who enters ever returns." Noren's face twisted at his wife's idea of 'romantic'.

.☽☼☾.

        "Noren and Noriko, you've been more than generous. Thank you for the information." Zuko thanked the family as they all bowed at the door. It was already dark out and most of the town had gone to bed.

        "And for sharing your home with us." Ama added.

        "You'll come again?" Kiyi asked, tugging at Zuko's sleeve. "Please please please?"

        "I really hope so, Kiyi." Zuko smiled at the little girl.

        "You're good with kids." Ama told her boyfriend, intertwining their hands as they walked away. Zuko chuckled like he didn't really agree with her. The waterbender hummed and shook her head. "You don't give yourself enough credit, dragonfly."

        Zuko looked down at his girlfriend, her eyes looking up at him and a bright smile. No matter how many times she used that nickname or how often she smiled, Zuko always felt loved by her. He sometimes did feel shame and unloved, which prompted for him to ask her if she still loved him.

        It wasn't like Ama didn't feel the same sometimes. After all, she was just a girl from the Water Tribe. And her boyfriend was, well, the Fire Lord. And sometimes she got the feeling that he didn't trust her and kept things to himself. Just like now. Ama understood that Zuko had his own personal journey, but being kept in the dark when all she wanted to do was help hurt her.

        "Ugh. More than once tonight I was tempted to burn that whole place down! But I resisted for you, Zuzu. I hope you appreciate it." Azula grumbled as they arrived at their campsite.

        "How could you even think that about such a lovely family?!" Katara asked Azula with anger and disgust.

        "Oh please. Their charade disgusted me." Azula grumbled. "Nobody's that happy!"

        "Aang and I are that happy!" Katara claimed.

        "Because you two are idiots." The lightning bender claimed.

        "Hey, Zuko?" Aang started to speak from behind Zuko and Ama. "I'm sorry I blew up at you this morning. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all this. I can't imagine what it's like for you. Even so, I don't think we should try to find Ikem. This is gonna sound harsh, but it's best if it stays lost in history. We'll burn the letter when we have the chance and-"

        "I don't have the letter anymore. Azula took it back." Zuko said. Ama took between the two with confusion. She had no idea what either of the two were talking about. What was in the letter? Why can't they even mention it? As much as she wanted to ask, she kept quiet.

        "And you let her?!" Aang said in a mad tone.

        "We need to focus on the task at hand, and that's looking for my mother." Zuko had a firm tone. "We'll figure everything else out later, including where – and who – I'm supposed to be."

        "Zuko, listen to me! When people come to your throne room and bow, they're not bowing to you." Aang argued. "They're bowing to what you represent: a new era of love and peace! So it doesn't matter who your real dad is, you have to stay Fire Lord!" Ama's eyes widened in surprise and she looked over at Zuko, deep in thought. "You're not Fire Lord for you. You're Fire Lord for all of us!"

        "Zuko, is there something you're not telling me?" Ama's tone was investigative and agitated when she asked him. Zuko's eyes widened, like he completely forgot that she was there.

        "You didn't tell her?" Aang asked him with wide eyes.

        "I-" Zuko started, but was interrupted by Sokka.

        "How much longer do you expect to keep this crew together, Zuko?" The Water Tribe boy was frantic about how escalated Katara and Azula's fight was getting. "I give it another two minutes tops before something's either on fire or encased in ice."

        Zuko sighed and looked over at Sokka and Aang. "One more place to visit and then we're done." He said. "We're going to Forgetful Valley."

        "Great." Ama grumbled, crossing her arms. Azula and Katara's shouting getting louder by the minute. "Just more time for lies and the urge to punch Azula." Then she walked off to get her sleeping bag.

        "What did you do to my sister?" Ama heard Sokka's brotherly tone ask Zuko.

        The Fire Lord looked dumbfounded as he watched Ama stomp off. It took him a moment before running after her. "Waterlily, wait." He called out to her. The girl unraveled her sleeping bag and placed it on the ground. "Can we talk?"

        "I don't know, Zuko. Do you actually want to talk about it or do you just feel like you need to?" Her voice sounded defeated and betrayed, but also angry.

        "I- I actually want to talk." He said softly while the waterbender smoothened out the sleeping bag. Ama wasn't a stubborn person, at least not as stubborn as Katara.

        A large part of her wanted to stay bitter. If he didn't want her opinion on matters, she didn't want to give it. But she still loved Zuko. And the more empathetic side of her told her to hear him out. The brunette sighed as she stood up. Her arms were crossed when she shrugged, signaling that she'll talk.

        The two left the camp and found a tree to sit under. The moon lit the sky enough that they could see each other fine. Ama sat crisscrossed and kept her head facing the ground, picking at the grass beside her. Zuko found it hard to pin down what she was feeling, but the most he understood was that she felt hurt.

        "I didn't lie to you." Was the first thing he said, but Ama's scoff kept him from saying must else.

        "No but you kept something from me." She grumbled. "Look, I'm not mad, I'm just... I don't know. All I know is that you talked to Aang instead of me. Which is all fine. I have nothing against you asking for his advice. Not only is he the Avatar but your best friend. But, am... am I not enough?"

        Zuko was taken aback. His eyebrows pinched together as he looked at her. "Where did you get that idea from?"

        "Zuko, you don't talk to me about anything." Ama ran her hands through her hair, taking her top-knot off and letting her brown hair cascade down her shoulders and chest. "You don't ask for advice when it comes to Fire Lord duties no matter how stressed you get, you don't talk to me about what's on your mind. Yu Dao is the perfect example. And just now, you didn't talk to me about, what exactly, your real dad? What's that about? It's like you don't even want my advice."

        "Okay, so." Zuko was still processing what she had said. "There's a lot to unpack here. I can understand why you feel that way, I guess. I don't talk to you about somethings, cause, Ama, I have so much on my shoulders as Fire Lord, I don't want you to have to worry about my struggles."

        "Zuko, I can handle stress." Ama interrupted. "I'm not only great on the battlefield, but I'm also great at solving problems. I hate seeing you so on edge and then not let me help you."

        "I'm sure you are." He smiled lightly as he looked at her. "I suppose I can start asking for your advice more frequently."

        "And about your dad, or not dad, or whatever?" She wasn't quite sure got to word that question.

        "In the letter that Azula had," He started, leaning back into the tree and looking up at the sky. "It was from my mom to a man named Ikem."

        "Wasn't he the man that Horen said was her boyfriend when she lived here?" Ama recalled.

        "Yeah." Zuko said. "In the letter, it said that I was their son."

        "Wow." Ama took it in. "How do you feel about it?"

        "It would explain a lot about how Ozai treated me, and it makes me hopeful, in a sense." He responded, thinking to himself. "But what Aang was talking about was my legitimacy on the throne."

        "It makes sense." Ama shrugged, leaning into his side. "What are you going to do if it's true?"

        "I don't know yet." He muttered, like he was thinking about it. "There's more to take into account than just myself."

        "Do I have permission to give advice?" Ama teased. Zuko chuckled and then nodded. "I agree with Aang. On keeping it a secret. Cause if you're not Fire Lord, I guess that would mean Azula would be. And that would be a disaster."

        "Yeah, I'd just prefer to cross that bridge when we get there."

        "I can understand that. But you will need to be prepared to make a rational decision."

        "I know." He moved his body sit more across from her. "We make a good team."

        "We've been a good team, I think you just failed to notice it until now." The water bender sent her boyfriend a knowing smirk.

        A deep hum of agreement came from Zuko's throat as he leaned in closer to her. "I promise you, I will never keep you out again."

        "Good." Ama smiled, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek. "And I promise you, I will always be here for you."

        "Can we make out now?" He asked. Ama laughed, her hand finding its way behind his head, pulling his face close to hers.

        "Yeah." She grinned, meeting his lips in the middle.

.☽☼☾.

        The next morning, the team headed to the dark and murky forest known as the Forgetful Valley. The trees looked to be never ending and moss grew on the sides.

        "So this must be the Forgetful Valley!" Aang looked at the forest with awe.

        "How do you know? Are you detecting something with your special Avatar powers?" Sokka wondered.

        "No. It says so on the sign." Aang pointed out the very obvious sign to their left.

        "Oh." Sokka looked over at it and frowned one hearing his older sister laugh at him.

        "So, where do we go from here?" Katara gave a look around the forest.

        "I'm not sure. There's not even a path." Zuko replied.

        "Come on, Zuzu!" Azula called, stepping ahead of the group. "For a true firebender there's alway a path!" She shot large flames of blue into the thicket, burning away the grass and leaves.

        "What are you doing!" Ama shouted, stepping back to avoid the heat.

        "I suppose one of you imbeciles has a better idea on how to proceed?" Azula complained, crossing her arms. Zuko, Aang and Katara were both putting out the fire.

        "Any idea is better than burning down the whole forest!" Ama shouted at her.

        "What'd I tell you last time you did something like this?" Sokka joined in. "Oh, yeah. Nature hates you."

        "Quiet, guys! I'm detecting something with my special Avatar powers! It's kinda making me wanna go..." Aang told them to stop and turned around to face them. His face was twisted up. One eyebrow was arched up, the other arched down and a frown. "Like this."

        "Sweetie, not with the faces again!" Katara worried.

        "No, no. I think Aang is onto something!" Sokka spoke." If you look carefully, there are actually faces all over the place!" and then he stood by a leaf two times the side of his head. "Check out this leaf!" He pointed.

        "Sokka, stop! Aang can't help it, but you're just being a jerk!" Katara said.

        But her brother just ignored her then moved to a squirrel-toad. "And that squirrel-toad!" Then by a tree. "And the bark of this tree!" Then he pointed up. "And that giant flutter-bat over there! Aang, the patterns on its wings sort of look like the face you're making!"

        "Hey, you're right!" Aang realized that Sokka wasn't spewing nonsense like usual. The airbender then ran after the bat. "Don't fly away, Mr. Flutter-bat! I think we're meant to be friends!"

        "Aang, don't run off by yourself! You don't know what's out there!" Katara shouted to him, trying to follow him even though the boy was jumping from tree to tree. "Aang?!" They lost sight of him after a while, but kept running in the direction they saw him go.

        "I'm over here!" Aang called. The group finally found him standing by a still, circular pool of water. "Check this out!"

        "I've never seen water so clear and so still." Katara noted in awe.

        "Like a perfect pane of glass." Zuko added.

        "This feels so familiar... so tranquil." Aang bowed his head like he was feeling the energies around him. "It reminds me of Tui and La's pool in the Northern Water Tribe. Be respectful, everybody. This is a very spiritual place."

        Azula stared into the water and narrowed her eyes. "You again!" She shouted out of nowhere. "Don't you ever shut up?!" She pointed her fingers, generating lightning and shooting it at the pond.

        "Azula, no!" Zuko shouted, despite her not listening.

        "What'd I just say about being respectful?!" Aang shouted in anger.

        "She told you to lead me here, didn't she?!" Azula shot a flame of fire at Aang, who luckily moved to the side. "So she could keep tormenting me with her lies!"

        "That's enough!" Zuko shot fire back.

        "You're right, Zuko, it is enough!" Katara bent the pond water up. "We've tried to put up with her but she's too dangerous!" But before she could actually use the water, throwing stars made of flowers were flung at them from across the pond.

        "These are the prettiest throwing stars I've ever seen!" Aang observed on stuck in a tree.

        "It's like the forest itself is attacking us." Katara said.

        "Because nature hates her!" Sokka pointed his thumb at Azula.

        "Head's up! More are coming!" Warned Zuko.

        Aang bent a pillar from the earth, shielding him and Sokka while Zuko flung his arms to the sides, creating a flame that shielded himself, Ama and Katara. Some throwing stars did slip past the barriers but no one has gotten hurt.

        "I think I understand what's happening!" Ama realized as she stood next to her brother. "Sokka, did you see how that flower shattered against your clubs?"

        "Yeah?" Sokka wasn't catching on.

         Ama bent down, picking up the broken flower and breaking a piece off. Tiny pieces of ice shattering with it. "It shattered like ice. Somebody's bending the water in these flowers!"

        "They're not just bending the flowers, they're bending the vines too!" Sokka warned. The vines twisted and bent at the group. Sokka threw his boomerang to cut the vines attacking Aang. Azula surprised everyone when she burned off the vines attacking Sokka. "Uh... Thanks?"

        "The more peasants I have fighting for me, the better chance I have of surviving the nightmare forest!" Azula justified her one act of 'kindness.' Her fist was still smoking.

        "A little help here?!" Zuko called. The vines pinned his clothing to a tree.

        "Hold still!" Aang told him, using his airbending to slice the vines. But then the vines pinned him onto the ground. Aang worked fast to get the vines off. "Hang on, guys! If we can keep calm, we'll figure something out!"

        "How do you keep calm when nature's about to skewer you?!" Sokka shouted. The vines pointing ends flying at them.

        Katara and Ama shared a glance that only two waterbending sisters could share. They took their beginning bending stance, back-to-back and moved in sync, the two bent the water in the vines and leaves. Circling it around them to keep it from getting to their friends. They both glared into the distance, ready for whoever was there. "Whoever you are, you're not the only one who can waterbend! Show yourself!" Katara's commanding tone came out.

        Two people stepped out of the shadows. They were both dressed in water tribe clothing. The woman had two braids on each side of her head and was leading the taller man by holding his hand. The man was slightly hunched over and had a wooden mast over his face with two holes for eyes. They both looked incredibly saddened and exhausted, but not dangerous.

.☽☼☾.

         The two older people invited the group of teens to a clearing where they had made camp. Just a small clearing by the pond. There was a pot of stew prepared for themselves, but they were able to split enough of it for everyone. They learned that the woman's name was Misu and her brother was Rafa from the Northern Water Tribe.

         "I apologize for attacking you earlier." The woman started to explain herself. "My brother and I just aren't used to seeing other humans around here. When we heard the commotion we thought a forest animal was disturbing the pool. It must remain undisturbed."

         "That's what I told them!" Aang exclaimed, his tone in a very 'I told you so' way. "This is a very spiritual place."

         "That's right, Avatar. There are actually three other pools just like this in Forgetful Valley. They all must remain undisturbed." The woman nodded. She seemed very knowledgeable of the forest, and by the looks of it, they survived there for a very long time.

         "Misu, this stew is delicious!" Sokka complimented, licking his lips. "It reminds me of-"

         "-The seaweed stew of the Northern Water Tribe?" Misu finished with a questioning tone.

         "That's it!" Sokka exclaimed.

         The woman laughed at his excitement. "Rafa and I made do with what we can find here."

         "So how did two people from the Northern Water Tribe end up in a Fire Nation forest?" Katara wondered, speaking on what most of the group were thinking.

          Misu's eyes saddened as she recalled her past. "Growing up, my brother and I were complete opposites. I was quiet and studious. He was loud and brash. I followed the rules. He lived to break them." As she spoke, it sort of sounded like she was describing Sokka and Katara. They were both different in the same way. While Ama was somewhere in between.

         "He'd often bring home things he'd stolen from our tribe's most powerful people: a waterbender's pouch, a warrior's club, the chief's battle helmet." Misu continued. "Each time, I yelled at him to return the items, and he always did. He just wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it. The people he stole from were always so embarrassed that he never got into real trouble.

         "Well, one day his luck ran out. I found him alone on the ice, his face horribly disfigured. It changed his life - our lives - forever. I took him to our people's most experienced healers, but none of them could do a thing for him."

         "So I helped him the best way I knew how. I went to the library and began to study." Misu said. "In an ancient Fire Nation scroll, I learned about a powerful spirit who would visit a certain fire nation forest from time to time. This spirit had the power to give people to heal Rafa."

         "I made it my life's mission to bring my brother here. I knew it would be dangerous for two Water Tribe folk to sneak into the Fire Nation. So I spent years figuring out how to water bend to fight. I had to learn secretly. On my own since-"

         "-In the Northern Water Tribe, women water benders were only allowed to heal." Ama finished the sentence. Cringing at the thought of how sexist the Northern Water Tribe has been and still is in one way or another. "Things are different now."

         "After many failed attempts, we finally made it to Forgetful Valley. We've lived here ever since, hoping to encounter the spirit." Misu finished her life story.

         "How come Rafa hasn't eaten anything?" Sokka asked, noticing that the brother was just sitting there silently.

         "Ever since his injury, Rafa's been caught between life and death, he doesn't eat anymore. He doesn't do much of anything." Misu sulked.

         "So, you've spent almost your whole life trying to heal your brother." Aang seemed interested.

         "Of course, I'm his sister." Misu said, like it was common knowledge.

         "Of course." Katara agreed, looking over at Sokka.

         "No matter how much of a pain they are." Ama added, nudging Sokka, unlike the kind words from Katara.

         Zuko and Azula shifted uncomfortably, looking in opposite directions to avoid each other. "Sorry to interrupt your sob story-" Azula grumbled.

         "Azula! Don't be rude!" Zuko whispered to her.

         "-But we're here on a mission of our own. We're looking for a woman named Ursa." Azula ignored her brother.

         "I'm sorry, but we haven't seen her." Miss regretted saying. "The forest was pretty quiet until you all arrived."

         "So this spirit you're looking for," Aang started to question. "What's it supposed to look like?"

         "It is a she." Misu corrected him. "I don't know what she looks like, but when she approaches, the forest tells us. Face-like patterns begin to manifest on the leaves of the trees, the wings of the insects, and the backs of animals."

         "Hey, we saw that! So the spirit must be near!" Sokka pointed out.

         "Then on a night like tonight, a giant wolf bearing the markings of a face travels from far away to drink from one of the forest's four pools." Misu explained.

         "That's the wolf spirit who puked moth-wasps at us!" Aang exclaimed.

         "Whichever pool he drinks from, there the spirit appears." Misu told them. "The spirit has passed through Forgetful Valley many times since we arrived, but we always seem to be at the wrong pool." Misu sighed in disappointment. "And I believe we missed her again. If this were the right pool, the wolf would have been here by now." She turned to her brother and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, brother. We'll keep trying."

         Aang furrowed his eyebrows and looked over at the pool before standing up and walking to the pool. "No! There's gotta be something I can do! After all, I'm the Avatar, the great-"

         "-The great bridge between the spirits and the humans, we know, we know!" Sokka finished sarcastically.

         "I'm gonna cross over to the spirit world and try to get that giant wolf spirit to come here." Aang cross his legs when he sat down and began to meditate to get into the spirit world.

         "Beh! This is a waste of time." Azula grumbled and stood up.

         "Where are you going?" Zuko asked. But his sister just ignored him and started to walk into the thicket. Making Zuko follow her. "Azula!" He called. Ama watched him follow her, lucky they didn't get far so no one would have to worry about making sure Azula didn't run off.

         The two fire siblings spoke a bit until Azula shouted something about her mother and slowing her down and then ran back towards the camps and jumped by the lake.

         "It's not going to work!" She shouted, generated lighting into her two fingers and pointed at the group. "You hear me, mother?! It's not going to work!"

         "I said stop!" Zuko jumped between Azula and the group. Azula shot the lighting at her brother. Zuko took the lightning through his left arm, directing it though his body, and then shooting it into the sky. The lightning made smoke come from his arms and his hair spike up. "Did you forget, Azula? I know how to deal with your lightning."

         "Whoa. I think I might be scared of you again." Sokka cowered back a bit.

         "Misu and Rafa have nothing to do with our mother!" Zuko told his sister. "How could you even think-"

         "But that's exactly what she wants you to believe!" Azula spoke like a crazy person, confusing everyone. "Zuzu, how could you be so naive."

         "You're right. I have been naive." Zuko agreed. But not in the way that Azula meant. He had been naive to think that Azula could be trusted. He turned back at the Water Tribe siblings, already standing in a fighting position. "Take her down."

         "Finally." Ama smirked, bending some water around her.

         "Gladly!" Katara bent her own water to fling at the fire bender.

         "It's about time!" Sokka also commented, and flung his boomerang. Azula shot fire back, but the others dodged them and focused their attack on her.

         "No, don't do this." Misu pleaded. "The Avatar is trying to bring the spirit here! You mustn't cause such a disturbance!"

         Ama shot water at Azula's feet, freezing it to keep her stuck. Their fight was interrupted by Aang's voice. "She's right, stop!" Everyone was a bit surprised but listened to him none-the-less.

         "Aang, you're back!" Katara excitedly said.

         "Whew! It's just you, Aang! This forest is creepy, I half expected another creepy-face!" Sokka sighed in relief.

         "You mean like those?" Aang pointed at the faces, or masks, floating at the top of the pond and more kept coming one by one. Sokka jumped back with a scream at the sight. "Listen to Misu, everybody! No more fighting! We're about to have a visitor."

         Everyone stared at the water as more and more faces plopped out of the water. Suddenly, the water at the center shot up as a large woman came out. She was made of vines, or wood, either way her body was made of nature. Her head had faces all around, but no eyes and multiple horns on top of her head.

         "I am the Mother of Faces." She introduced herself. Her voice was angelic and soft, but also commanding of respect. "Through me, separateness came into the world. Through me, came identity. The one became many. I am a generous spirit, softhearted and kind."

         "Maybe she knows where my mother is." Zuko whispered to Aang and Ama.

         "Spirits know a lot of things, you should definitely ask." Aang whispered back.

         "Each season, I grant one favor to one human. You may make your request now." The Mother of Faces told them.

         "Wait. Just one?" Aang asked, looking back at Misu and Zuko. He was conflicted.

         "Humans like you often chase after me, begging for new identities. Have you come to do the same?" The Mother of Faces said.

         "See, here's the thing," Aang had a cheerful and hopeful smile while holding up two fingers. "We actually need two favors. I'm sure a big and gigantic yet beautiful and loving spirit like you can handle two favors, right? Your, uh. Face-iness."

         "Do not test my generosity, young Avatar." The Mother of Faces said clearly. "One."

         "They've waited for so long. If there's only one, it should be theirs." Zuko said, looking at the Northern Water tribe siblings.

         "I'm sorry, Zuko. We'll keep looking for Ursa on our own after this." Aang gave his friend a reassuring pat on the back.

         "Go ahead, Misu." Zuko motioned for the woman to talk the favor.

         "Thank you, thank you!" The woman repeated happily.

         "Ridiculous!" Azula shouted, breaking the ice on her foot and storming over to the water.

         "M-mother of Faces, on behalf of my b-brother, I ask..." Misu began to make her request.

         "You're such a constant disappointment, Zuzu!" Azula shoved past her brother. "Even when you're strong, you're weak!"

         "Azula!" Zuko shouted at his ignorant sister.

         "We seek a princess of the Fire Nation named Ursa!" Azula stepped in front of the unfortunate woman. "Tell me where to find her!"

         "No!" Misu called. But it was pointless. The favor was already asked.

         "Ursa." The Mother of Faces showed a holographic picture of Zuko and Azula's mother. "I remember her. I could not understand why a human of such beauty would ask for a new face. To test her sincerity, I offered her one as plain as can be." The spirit energy that created the picture of Ursa turned into a different person, the same woman that allowed the group into her home. Noriko. "She accepted."

         "That's Noriko!" Zuko's eyes widened in surprise. "Azula, our mother is-" He stopped speaking when he looked back and didn't see his sister.

         "She's gone!" Sokka noted, looking around for the girl.

         "I know exactly where she's going." Zuko started to run in the direction of the town. "Back to Hira'a, back to Noren's house!"

         "Wait!" Misu shouted and pointed Zuko into a different direction. "You're trying to get back to the Fire Nation town just outside the forest? There's a shortcut this way."

         "Thank you." Zuko spoke to Misu.

         "You were so kind to us." Misu had a thankful, yet disappointed, tone when she spoke.

         "I'm sorry-" Zuko started to apologize for his sister.

         "Go." Misu urged.

         Zuko didn't think twice before running through the forest. But he wasn't going alone. Sokka and Ama followed him.

         "Hold on, Zuko!" Sokka called and caught up to the Fire Lord. "I know sisters can be a pain to deal with, and mine aren't even crazy. You're gonna need backup."

         "And emotional support!" Ama added.

         "Thanks." Zuko smiled at the two, knowing they would always have his back.

         As they arrived at the house, it was dark out so the lights from inside were on and shining through the window.

         "It's so quiet." Sokka whispered.

         "Too quiet." Zuko responded. He didn't like it. Because quiet could mean they were too late. Zuko leaned on the wall, trying to get a glimpse inside.

         "Zuko what's going on in there?" Ama asked. "Noren's family... Don't tell me Azula..."

         "No. They're fine." Zuko muttered, looking in through the window and seeing the family of three at the table. Noriko, or Ursa, was wiping her daughter's mouth. "They're eating dinner."

         "Whew." Sokka breathed out in relief. "Thought maybe your sister had done something awful."

         "Good thing Misu's shortcut worked." Zuko clenched his fist, knowing that meant Azula was on her way.

         "So," Ama stepped by her boyfriend, looking through the window for a glimpse of the family. "That's really your mom?"

          "That's her." Zuko sighed. And then started to walk to the front of the house. "Listen. I'm going inside. Can you guys stay here and keep an eye out for Azula?"

         "Sure. Anything you need, Zuko." Sokka said confidently, putting his hand on his hips.

         "Zuko." Ama sofly grabbed his hand, spinning him into her. "You sure you don't want me in there with you?" She asked softly.

         "I think this is something I have to do alone. But I'll tell you everything later." He smiled and bent down to her lever, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Leaving the blushing girl, Zuko knocked on the door, ready to talk with his family.

         "You know, it's bad enough that I have to deal with one mushy, affectionate couple." Sokka grumbled as Ama leaned on the wall next to him.

          "Oh, shush. If Suki were here, you'd be the same." Ama teased, raising her eyebrows as she noticed the heart eyes and the gushy expression on Sokka's face. "Okay, buddy. Keep your heart eyes peeled for Azula."

         The next few minutes were quiet. Ama and Sokka kept their focus on finding Azula. And that wasn't much of a problem. The lightning bender didn't exactly try to sneak past them. She charged at them right on.

         Seeing the insane girl speed towards them, Ama bent some water, sending icicles in her direction. Azula responded by generating lightning and shooting it at her. Unlike last time, Ama saw it coming and was prepared. She bent the water underneath her and shot herself onto the roof of the house.

         Azula grumbled something and shot herself up on the roof as well. Backing up slightly, Ama prepared for another attack. "You know, Ama. You really aren't the kind of girl I thought Zuzu would end up with." Azula pulled her strings.

         "I know what you're doing, Azula." Ama grumbled. Azula liked to pick at insecurities and put wedges between people. It was how her opponents were left off balance and opened themselves up to defeat.

         "Oh, what's that?" Azula smirked. "I'm just trying to help. Zuko likes his space, which you obviously don't respect. That's why Mai was so perfect for him."

         Ama narrowed her eyes, throwing a water whip at her to get Azula off the roof. But Azula swung under it and created a blue flame in her hand. Sokka had just climbed onto the roof and threw his boomerang, hitting Azula in the back of her head, which prevented her from throwing the fireball.

         The water bender tried the water whip again. Azula jumped above it this time. While midair, she generated lighting so while falling back down, the lightning hit the roof, creating a hole underneath the three and falling through.

         Ama fell on her back, knocking the wind out of her and she struggled to catch her breath. But not only that, the back of her head hit something hard, immediately giving her the worst headache and distorting her vision.

         "I said get out of my way!" Azula shouted at Zuko while falling and threw a fireball at his chest. Throwing him on the ground. She then turned to look at her mother, who was very confused about what was happening. Like she didn't even recognize Azula. "You finally! I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of this moment!"

         "Mommy!" Kiyi yelled for her mother, but her dad kept her on his lap.

         "Tell me mother, did you have to have a new daughter because your last one turned out to be such a monster?" Azula shouted the question. Both her pointed fingers generated lightning.

         "Stay back, Azula!" Sokka warned while Zuko was still getting their strength back and Ama held her head in pain.

         "Ha ha!" Azula tauntingly laughed. "Back for more, snow peasant?! Where's your little toy?"

         "Right there." Sokka pointed just as his boomerang came back around and hit Azula on the backside of her head, again. "Everybody scatter!"

         Sokka headed to Noren, or Ikem, and Kiyi to get them out. "I need to help my wife!" Noren reached for his wife.

         "Let's make sure your daughter's safe first! Move!" Sokka prioritized, leading them out the door, then looked over at his sister. "Ama, let's go!" But he saw his sister on her side, holding the back of her head and her eyes shut tight. "Damn it. Do I have to do everything?" Running over to his sister and picking up, Sokka got her out of the house just then Azula started getting up.

         "Sokka, is Zuko..." The waterbender started to ask through her splintering headache.

         "Ama, can't you just worry about yourself for once." He sighed, setting her on the ground against a log.

         Then Azula ran out, past the people outside and towards the Forgetful Valley. "Azula!" Zuko chased after her. "Come back!" And soon Noriko was running after the two as well.

         "Ama stay here." Sokka ordered her.

         "Oh please, I'm fine." Ama mumbled leaning on the log to get up. "I can't get knocked down that easy. Ahhh." The throbbing in her head wasn't going away and the sudden movements only made it worse. "Actually, I think I'll just stay here and heal myself." Sokka nodded and ran after the others.

         "Are you okay?" Kiyi asked, taking a seat next to the waterbender. Her brown eyes looked at Ama with innocence.

         "I will be." Ama smiled at her while she created a water glove and placed it on the back of her head. "Are you okay?" She asked in return, her headache already starting to fade. After all, the little girl just had her house broken into and her mother almost killed.

         "Yeah. I just hope that mommy's okay." The little girl looked down.

         "She will be." Ama told her with certainty in her voice. "She has Zuko and my brother with her."

         "What are you doing with the water?" Kiyi moved behind the waterbender and observed the glowing blue light curiously.

         "I'm healing myself." Ama told her just as she finished up.

         "Cool." Kiyi said in awe. She put her arm in front of Ama where there was a cut, probably from when Azula fell through the roof. "Can you do my arm."

         "Of course." Ama grinned, placing her gloved hand on Kiyi's arm. The cut healed almost immediately.

         "Wow." Kiyi grinned and giggled. "You're really cool."

         "Thanks. I think you're really cool." Ama poked the girls stomach making her giggle some more.

         "Can I tell you a secret." The little girl said in a whisper and scoot closer to the water bender.

         "Yeah." Ama whispered back, sinking further into the ground to be more at Kiyi's level. "What's your secret."

         "I'm scared." She whispered, her small arms hugging her legs. "That mean lady looked like she was going to hurt mommy."

         "You're mommy is going to be okay." Ama told her softly. "She just needs you to be brave. When she comes back, she's going to want a huge hug from you."

         Kiyi kept a frown on her face and shrugged. "I don't know if I can be brave."

         Ama had some experience with kids from when she was in the Water Tribe. None of them had their dad's with them, all of them were scared. Either because they thought the Maah, a spirit believed to drown misbehaving children, would come or because they feared their fathers wouldn't come back.

         The waterbender sometimes took it upon herself to speak to them. She'd tell them other stories about the helpful spirits and the animals that were there to protect them. A thought popped into Ama's head and her hand dug into her pant pocket.

         "Here." Ama said, pulling out her carving of a polar bear dog. Kiyi took it timidly and inspected it. "Where I grew up, we had polar bear dogs. They symbolize loyalty, strength and courage."

         "It's pretty." Kiyi fiddled with the little trinket.

         "It's yours." Ama told her. "Promise me that you'll be brave. Always."

         Kiyi looked up at the Water Tribe girl with the biggest grin. "Wow, thanks."

          Just then, the group came back as the sun was rising. Without Azula. But Zuko's mom looked different. At least, she didn't look like Noriko, she looked like Ursa. "What happened?" Ama asked Katara. Kiyi's dad called her over, so it was just Ama and Katara.

         "The Mother of Faces gave Zuko's mom her face and memories back." Katara answered. "But Azula got away."

         Ama groaned and ran her hand through her hair. "Damn it." Then she looked over to Zuko, who was talking to his mom. There was no anger or any hard feelings. But the conversation seemed understanding and happy. "At least we got what we came for." She smiled.

.☽☼☾.

         It must have been one or two hours till Zuko and Ursa walked back to the house. Everyone was inside, except for Ama and Sokka who wanted to be outside. Suddenly, a hand slid onto Ama's shoulder. Turning to her right, the water bender saw Zuko and his mom. Ama immediately stood up from the long.

         What do I say? Hi, I'm Ama. I'm also dating your son. Oh, and I'm also one of the people that got your previous husband in jail. Fun fact. Zuko and I tried to kill each other for the first months we knew each other.

         "Mom, this is Ama." Zuko introduced her, moving to his girlfriend's side and slipping his hand in her's.

         Or your boyfriend can just introduce you. That works better.

         "It's nice to meet you, Ama." Ursa smiled at her sweetly. "Zuko has already told me so much about you."

         "Hehe, I don't know if that should worry me or not." Ama smiled nervously. Zuko and Ursa both chuckled at her words.

         "All good, I promise." Ursa assured her. "I'm just glad my little Zuko found someone that makes him happy." Zuko blushed. But it wasn't like Ama didn't already know he loved her.

         "Shall we go inside?" The Fire Lord motioned towards the house.

         "We shall." Ama responded and they headed into the house.

         All while Sokka sat on the log outside with a frown. "Everyone forgets about Sokka." He grumbled to himself and started to stomp inside. "Honestly. No one around here respects me. It's all 'Sokka, do this. Sokka, do that.' But no 'Hey, Sokka. How ya doing?'"

.☽☼☾.

I would love feedback or if you have any questions, I'd be happy to respond!

Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼