#Noren (avatar)

[godzilla-and-aang-monsters]

Pardovelon

Altura: 105 metros (con vela dorsal incluida)

Longitud: 200 metros

Peso: 16,000 toneladas

Primer Avistamiento: Alto Catumbela [Tierra: Teratoverso]

Guarida: Alto Catumbela [Tierra: Teratoverso] Bahía Camaleón [Avatarverso]

Aspecto: Makucha + Gorgonops + Machairodus + Basilisco Verde + Noren (Avatar)

Controles: Energia Control [Ojos Prismaticos] Fuego Control [Zarpazo incendiario]

Aliados:

Humanos: Aang, Katara, Soka, Iroh, Zuko

Kaijus y otras bestias: Godzilla, Anguirus, King Kong, Mothra, Rodan, Baragon y Gorosaurus

Enemigos:

Humanos: Aang, Katara, Soka, Iroh, Zuko (Inicialmente) Ozai y Azula

Kaijus y otras bestias: King Ghidorah (recurrente), King Kong, Manda y Godzilla (anteriormente)

[phoenix-king-ozai]

The Ozai, Ursa, & Ikem romance debacle…

I truly honestly hope that the Netflix adaptation doesn’t adapt The Search when it comes to Ozai and Ursa’s relationship. Which, thank Agni seems not to fully be the case. It seems that LA Ozai does care for Ursa and his family members, even Zuko. He show respect to Lu Ten and Iroh and even cried when burning Zuko. He even mentioned the “soft” mother Ursa when talking to Zuko and referenced her when saying “don’t talk to me about loss” Showing that he had feeling for her.

The Search is very poorly written and turn Ozai into a very piss-poor caricature of an evil abusive bad man for no good or compelling reason yet even fails to deliver on that interpretation of Ozai and Ursa’s complex and compelling relationship.

This song is basically the Urzai relationship in the ATLA comics!

If The Search wanted to turn Ozai into a compelling, vicious, dangerous, and cruel monstrous villain in Ursa’s and our own eyes. Then why didn’t Yang have Ozai kill Ikem when he THREATENED his father, Fire Lord’s Azulon life in defiance due to his love for Ursa? Yet, for some reason, he had Ozai spare Ikem’s life due to Ursa's “love” for Ozai which Ozai knows is a blatant lie and stupidly desperate!

The realistic and emotionally heart-wrenching scenario would be for Ozai to march towards Ikem, Ursa tries to stop Ozai, however Ozai scarred Ursa’s wrist by burning her via firebending and then backhanded her causing her lip to bleed. Then proceed to execute Ikem by immolation in front of Ursa’s very eyes. This very demented, sinister, vile, and cruel brutal punishment for DARING to raise his hand against Fire Lord Azulon, Fire Prince Ozai, and the Fire Sages wishes would had created a compelling narrative regarding Ursa having complete and justified loathing of her betroth Ozai.

It was extremely foolish, idiotic, unreasonable, and unrealistic to have a no-named peasant like Ikem, who is not a firebender, attack the royal carriage and guards no matter how brave and noble his affection and intentions were regarding the integrity of his childhood love. Fire Lord Azulon and Fire Prince Ozai probably should have immediately immolated Ikem and his familial relations due to his affront against the Fire Lord and his son. Trying to stand up against the authoritarian, oppressive, violent, and vicious absolute monarchical regime of Fire Lord Azulon and Fire Prince Ozai should have come with immense consequences just like the fire nation rebels in Episode 3: Omashu in NATLA.

Zuko mentions that Ozai and Ursa’s along with their family used to be happy, and we saw that in Zuko's flashbacks. Yang, just decided to make Ursa a victim because in his mind: URSA WOMAN, OZAI BAD MAN, SHE MUST BE HELD, HOSTAGE!!! While Ozai and Ursa arrange marriage does make sense and was confirmed by the creators. It doesn't mean that Ozai and Ursa relationship was ALWAYS BAD, or SHE WAS KIDNAPPED! Plus, the Urzai relationship is quite normal in the antiquity of Asian societies that the Fire Nation is based on aka Shogunates of Japan and Imperial Chinese Dynasties!!!

Personally, I am afraid that the ATLA comics are going to screw up the Fire Nation Royal Family Characterization and Dynamics along with making them one-dimensional especially Ozai and Azulon. They might legit have Azulon and Ozai be abusive and beat Ilah and Ursa. I'm so doomer blackpilled regarding ATLA comics considering the Serach. This is probably why the comic writers ignore making a comic Pre-Zuko Alone flashbacks.

Ozai's harshness and ruthless regarding Zuko has nothing to do with Ursa or Ikem forbidden love! Ozai wants Zuko and Azula to both prove themselves. Ozai doesn't favor Zuko or Azula. It is about which child will succeed Sozin, Azulon, and his legacy as future Fire Lord. In fact, Ozai doesn't want Zuko or Azula to think that they are the “favorite” child. He wants Azula and Zuko to improve through competition. Because of the “only the greatest of pressures can forge diamonds” & “steel sharpen steel” mentality. Ozai has the mentality of an imperialist warlord. Ozai isn't trying to be the world's most loving and caring father but rather continue and build upon a powerful and dominant legacy that his forefathers had created before him. He wants Zuko & Azula to be cold, ruthless, heartless, vicious, and brutal imperialistic warmongers like him (Ozai), his father (Azulon), and his grandfather (Sozin).

[simp-per-ethan]

Girl, you're literally the girl Azulon forced to marry his son.

And you're back to your village wearing the same royal clothes thinking no one will notice?

[lee-treehouse]

[omegansamurai]

An Avatar: The Last Airbender/One Piece Crossover Story.

---

Chapter 19: Urgency Back Home

Rated: T

Summary: Back in the Avatar world, Ursa and her new family, as well as Hakoda are warned about the battle. Azula and the gang urge them to evacuate everyone in Capital City. Meanwhile, Iroh talks a bit with Ozai's crew. And Ozai...is starting to feel a little different...

---

Here's a short chapter! I hope it'll tell you a lot of what's happening on the Avatar world side of things! :)

Give me a comment when you can! And of course, a kudos and a bookmark if you enjoy it! :D

[discordiansamba]

hello I am in a new location (on vacation). have something I was rotating on the plane.

zuko takes late to firebending. his younger sister bends flame before he does, and ursa sees the writing on the wall.

ozai is not a kind man. if they stay, she knows it is only a matter of time before something happens to zuko to get him out of the way. she sees the look in his eyes as she watches him.

she makes a deal with ozai- she will take zuko and leave the palace. azula can be his heir in his place.

(it is a deal that requires her to leave her daughter behind with this monster, but she knows she cannot take both. she has to choose.)

ozai agrees... but not really. this is the perfect chance to get rid of them both without anyone tying it to him. he sends assassins after them, but they escape.

ursa reunites with ikem, and they flee the fire nation together.

at first they stay in the colonies, but ozai finds them. through ursa's connections as avatar roku's granddaughter, she manages to find safe passage into omashu.

she lives there peacefully with zuko and ikem for awhile. she takes the name noriko, and ikem becomes noren. zuko becomes li, in hopes that such a common name will make him stand out less.

bumi knows full well they're there, and who they are. he's the one who invited them into his city in the first place.

after the failed siege of ba sing se, ursa fears that it won't be safe for them for long in omashu. bumi arranges for them to travel to ba sing se, letting the three of them quietly slip into the city.

(in the aftermath of the siege, the dai li is in the middle of restructuring. the family of three slips between the cracks.)

zuko was so young when they left the palace, he barely remembers it. his mother told him that his father was an influential man in the fire nation, and was deeply abusive. she had to flee to protect him.

(zuko does not remember his real name.)

he starts firebending in omashu. ursa quietly obtains some firebending scrolls, so he can practice in secret.

ikem forms a small theater troupe in ba sing se, which zuko helps with. he also has a part time job as a tea server. they live quietly in the lower ring, until one day his mother announces she's pregnant.

(she hadn't been trying. it hadn't felt right. but it happened anyways.)

their family of three becomes a family of four. zuko is elated to become a big brother and spoils kiyi rotten.

to zuko, ikem is his father. he doesn't want to know anything about his real father.

ursa fears everything is over when one day, iroh appears on their doorstep. but he calms her fears. he is not here to bring her back to ozai, nor does he wish to try conquering ba sing se again. he merely wishes to teach his long lost nephew a bit of firebending.

(to zuko, iroh is mushi, a retired fire nation soldier who broke with his country's warmongering ways. it's only sort of a lie.)

(iroh is very careful that their lessons do not attract the watchful eye of the dai li. thankfully, zuko and his family are now so entrenched in the city that they escape their notice.)

one day, iroh leaves ba sing se. the avatar has returned, and he has heard rumors of an invasion of the north pole brewing...

the avatar is in his dad's theater. why is the avatar in his dad's theater.

what do you mean mushi is the dragon of the west.

what do you mean HE'S A PRINCE OF THE FIRE NATION?

[ao3feed-zukka]

Fault Lines

Read now on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/vInK4jw by hearmerory Ursa smiled at him. “Can I hug you, my sweet boy?” Zuko felt his throat tighten. He nodded quickly, suddenly aching for the warm, comforting embrace he remembered so perfectly from the bright spots of childhood memory. Without another word, she opened her arms, and Zuko shunted forward on the couch to nestle into her side. She chuckled, wrapping her arms around him like he was still small enough to fit completely in her grasp, and pulled him close. Words: 17803, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 18 of Change of Address Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Ursa (Avatar), Kiyi (Avatar), Ikem | Noren, Kanna (Avatar) Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Iroh & Zuko (Avatar), Azula & Zuko (Avatar), Ursa & Zuko (Avatar) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Child Abandonment, Child Neglect, Family, Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Autism, Neurodiversity, Ableism, Misunderstandings, Autistic Zuko (Avatar), Parent-Child Relationship, Reunions, Alternate Universe - College/University, Alternate Universe - High School, Zuko's Scar (Avatar), Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck, Past Child Abuse, Sibling Bonding, Protective Sokka (Avatar), Domestic Violence, Abusive Ozai (Avatar), Mentioned Ozai (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, Zuko Needs Therapy (Avatar), Everyone Needs A Hug, Bad Parenting Read it on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/vInK4jw

[aoife-arianrhod]

once, i had an empire in a golden cage

i have this habit of creating a story in my head but never writing. wanted to see the reaction to this story idea before drafting more.

Sometimes the person you are looking for is closer than you think

Azula goes on a redemption arc, finds her mother and hatches dragons, becoming the mother of dragons whilst also stopping a civil war. Not necessarily in that order. 

symbolism

white butterflies sightings represent purity, innocence, and spirituality. Seeing a white butterfly can signify a major shift or soul journey.

****

Azula wakes up to see the Kemurikage's are gone and the surroundings are empty; she is guided by a butterfly and finds the temple with a lonely Monk inside. She is taken in and the dream sequence starts to occur but before it can get really traumatic, she is saved by Noren who tells her to get up and leave this place. 

Delirious, Azula can barely move her limbs, she realises that the temple has done something to her. She is physically half dragged, half carried by a girl a few years older than her. They encounter the spiritual monster who attacks to stop them from leaving. 

Even in her state, Azula is still a threat and capable of lightning bending. With the help of the mysterious girl, they are able to walk only to find the temple gone. They meet a refugee camp, this is where Azula starts to change her periphery about war seeing the harm caused to citizens across the fire and earth nation diaspora. 

Goes to the library where she finds dragon eggs and takes it 

She meets Zukos’ rival who wants to continue the war, he recognises Azula - she says no and leaves, fights an agni kun and wins, she lets the Avatar know she is here by shooting to the sky a bolt of lightning followed by blue fire, they arrive but she is gone. She watches as he is arrested by the Gaang.

Azula also hatches a dragon egg and I want the scene below.

And in the first time in a hundred years, dragons were born 

[tobitofunction]

🐉 part 6

Took a while but here’s the next part

part 7 part 8

Everything went so far, one minute everyone is fighting Azula and than suddenly a large tree lady with three faces popped up from the pool, light blue face masks floated beside her,"She's beautiful" you admitted even though the floating face mask made your skin crawl," I am the Mother of Faces. Through me, separateness came into the world. Through me, came identify" she said her voice was soft, it floated through the air like a leave in the wind," Each season I grant one favour to one human. You make your request now" Aang's face morphed to a surprised one, he looked at the two older siblings, Aang than turned to the mother of faces again,"Is it possible to have two?" he asked,"Don't test my generosity young Avatar, one" the mother said," They waited so long, if we only get one they deserve to get it"Zuko smiled at them,"We find Ursa in another way, I promise" you smiled wrapping your arms around his, he smiled down at you,"Go ahead Misu" Zuko said, as the older woman passed him with a grateful smile.

"This is ridiculous" you heard Azula his followed by the sound of breaking ice,"Your such a disappointment Zuzu, even if your strong your weak"Azula hissed breaking the two of you apart to make her way to the mother where Misu was making her request," We seek a Princess of the Fire Nation, her name is Ursa. Tell me where to find her" Azula said destroying Misu chance to help her brother, even though she hurt Haku, your heart broke for her, however the mother of faces answered, showing a face which was familiar to all of you," That's Norkio" Zuko gasped seeing the face of the woman which invited you all to her house before. "Azula is gone, she's probably on her way back to the town" you said,"We take Haku, it be faster," you said climbing onto the dragons back, Zuko followed by wrapping his arms around your waist,"Let me help, knowing Azula you two need all the help you can get" Sokka said,"Gaomagon ao pendagon kostā carry another kempa valītsos (Do you think you can carry another heavy boy)" you said, Haku grunted not sounding really happy about it but still agreeing to it,"Come on up, just a heads up Sokka it can be bumpy mostly since you two are heavier than Suki, Ty-Lee and me combined" you said making Sokka gasp,"Are you bodyyyy" Sokka was cut off by Haku flying off, he clung to Zuko like a baby kola would to his mother.

The second you landed in front of the small house, Sokka tumbled off the white dragon who was side-eyeing the water tribe boy,"That was the scariest, yet COOLEST THING I EVER HAVE DONE" he said but you hushed him at the end,"Kesan tepagon ao iā dozen sheeps istin skoriot arlī, ñuha kostōba valītsos (I will give you a dozen sheeps once where back, my strong boy)" you said rubbing his neck,"What's going in there? Noren's family... don't tell me Azula-!" Sokka said making you turn around both of them had their backs pressed against the wall and Zuko peeked through the small window," No, they're fine, they're just eating dinner" Zuko said moving away from the window, the light from inside still illuminating his face, Sokka breathed in relief, and so did you,"Thanks to Haku, we got here before Azula did" Zuko did walking over to the dragon rubbing his neck,"I'm going inside, Sokka stay here and keep and eye out for Azula" Zuko said,"Can you come with me?" Zuko asked gently wrapping his hand around your wrist,"Of course,Gūrogon care hen sokka (Take care of Sokka)" you said to Haku before walking towards the door with Zuko.

Noren opened the door, his face didn't show any surprise it was like he was expecting the two of you,"I knew you would return" he said with a soft smile, Zuko looked confused but before he could say something Kiyi ran over to the two of you and tried hugging the both of you at the same time,"You returned because we're best friends right" she said making you giggle,"Come eat dinner with us"she said dragging the two of you to the dinner table.

The food was delicious but Zuko didn't eat any of it, he was just staring around the table taking in the comfortable atmosphere," Noriko, could I ask you something?" Zuko than said suddenly,"Of course" she smiled,"Are you happy?" he asked, Noriko was taken back by the question,"What an odd question to ask?" she said awkwardly,"Please just answer it","Of course I am happy. I am where I belong" she smiled which made Zuko smile as well, he began standing up,"Zuko where are you going?","We have bothered them enough, let's go home. We have a wedding to plan after all" he said holding out his hand, you sat there unsure for a while looking at Noriko before sighing and taking Zuko's hand,"Can I go to your wedding?" Kiyi asked, "Of course, we wouldn't want it any other way," you said,"Wait!" it was Noren he rubbed his wife's shoulder and looked at Zuko,"Tell her what you came here to tell, I knew this moment would come sooner or later," he said. Zuko at first seemed unsure but you nudged him slightly and gave him a reassuring smile,"My name is Zuko, I am the Lord of the Fire Nation...and I am your son".

Silence filled the room, Noriko sat there shocked unable to say a word, however soon the silence was broken by Noren," I recognised you immediately due to your scar, I tried to learn as much as possible about Ursa's past. I knew you would come. I'm sorry for lying to you, I hoped I gave you enough information to satisfy you, yet still live a peaceful life with Ursa" he said bowing his head,"Ursa?" Noriko said confused as Kiyi climbed her lap,"That was your old name, my love, from your old life. You were once a Princess of the Fire Nation, you had two children, one turned out to be the Fire Lord" Noren explained,"Mommy, what is Daddy talking about?" Kiyi asked,"You don't remember any of it because an old spirit altered your memories" he explained further,"I also have an old name, Ikem" Zuko's face morphed into a surprised one,"Than I am where I am supposed to be…..with my father and mother” you looked at Zuko with confusion so was Norten, he shook his head, ” Ursa and I-“but cut off a loud scream,” It’s Haku” you said just than Sokka was blasted through the wall, crashing on the table,” You're having dinner without me….that’s so mean,” he said,” What’s going on?”,” Azula? She attacked out of nowhere, I tried giving Haku a command but he didn’t he respond, he's holding her back though” he said getting up,” I did say once a dragon is bonded, they will only listen to the one who they are bonded with” You smirked,” Than give him a command before Azula comes in”, you where about to speak when a lightning strike hits your shoulder making you fly back into a wall. Kiyi shrieked and hid behind her mother who was behind Noren.

Zuko ran over to you checking if you were okay, Haku's growling made him look back," Finally. I can't tell you how long I waited for this moment".

"My shoulder hurts" you mumbled, making Zuko sigh in relief," Get Noren and Kiyi out of here, Azula if focused on our mother. Sokka and I while take care of her" Zuko said watching Sokka hit Azula with his boomerang giving you the opportunity to rush over to Noren and Kiyi,"We need to leave" you said,"But my wife-","Kiyi isn't safe her, the boys got this, trust us" you said Noren hesitated a moment before moving with you.

"Wow," Kiyi said seeing Haku, meanwhile Noren tensed,"No need to be scared, Haku is mental," you said,"And he's getting used to carrying more people, so no need to worry about the weight," you said grabbing Kiyi from Noren and placing her onto the saddle with you following," Dragon's are real, you're even cooler now" Kiyi said as Noren sat behind you,"Sōvegon (Fly)" you said Haku immediately took off, you look downwards and saw Blue flames emerge from the house,"Don't worry, Ursa will be fine" you said feeling Noren grip tighten around you.

Kiyi was having the time of her life flying on Haku,” Haku land” you said Kiyi was trying to copy you making you giggle. “Hello Appa,” you said as you dismounted Haku,” You are safe here,” you said. Here you waited for the other's return, you heard Kiyi giggle and saw her playing with Appa,"This is a ski bison he belongs to the Avatar" you said making her eyes go wide,"Wow the Avatar" she said," Noren is everything okay?"you asked," I'm worried about Ursa" he said,"She will be fine Zuko and Sokka are amazing fighters and it's probably not the first time they fought Azula" you said putting a hand on his shoulder,"I want to apologise again, I shouldn't have lied I just didn't want our peaceful life to be disturbed","It's okay, I would have done the same too. You were trying to protect your family but now have a bigger family, isn't right Kiyi" you said,"What does that mean?" she asked as Noren picks her up,"Zuko and you are siblings you share the same mom....also Noren what did Zuko mean earlier? He called you his father?" Noren shrugged his shoulders,"Does it mean I'm also a warrior princess like you?" you smiled as Kiyi gained your attention again,"Yes, you be living in a palace and we play every day if you want" you said making her giggle.

Couple of hours later Kiyi was sleeping, you placed on Appa,"I hope this okay?" you said patting his neck, Appa roared softly in response,"That means he okay with it" Aang said from behind you, him, Katara and Sokka were waving at you,"Did everything work out?" you asked,"Yes the other water tribe siblings got what they wanted and are heading back to South Pole" Katara smiled,"But Azula got away" she said," What? Where is Zuko? Is Ursa okay?" you asked,"Yes Ursa is okay, she regained her memory and her face, she and Zuko are catching up" Aang said making both you and Noren breathe a sigh of relief,"Isn't anyone else worried that Azula can pop out any moment and attack us?" Sokka asked,"Aang do you know what Zuko meant by calling Noren/Ikem his father?" Aang sighed,"It's not my place to tell you" he said making you frown.

You and others waited for a while for Zuko to arrive with Ursa. Kiyi was still asleep, Noren quickly embraced his wife and you approached Zuko,"Is there something you need to tell me?" Zuko gulped and took your hand and led you a bit away from the others.

You read through the letter Zuko gave you,"So Ursa forged a letter claiming you aren't Ozai son?" he nodded,"Why were you so afraid of telling me this?","As before I didn't know if it's true or not, I was scared if word went to your father he will break the engagement off" you sighed,"My father agreed to this engagement because of your mothers blood, you have the Roku's blood flowing through you, being Fire Lord was only a bonus" you kissed his cheek,"And I don't really care for any of, I fell for you in such a short time because I felt a connection to you and I like you dorky side" you said leaning your head on his shoulder,"Dorky huh?" he said gently playing with your silver locks,"But next time don't hid something this big from me okay?" Zuko nodded,"I promise"

[cartoonfan21]

Katara and Zuko's parents.

[lolabearwrites]

It's Aang in the background with Azula btw

This was one was very hard to do tbh

[headcanonsandcupcakes]

Hey there! Hope you're well. This is not a headcanon ask but I'm curious...

If Avatar Studios comes around and retcons some of the things we've learned over the past few years, and if the comics eventually get decanonized, is there any moment/scene/new discovery you'd be sad to lose?

No worries if you don't care to answer this one lol. Avatar Studios will come and rock our worlds regardless 🤣

Hey my friend! I’m doing okay, how are you?!

Thanks for this awesome ask, it’s a great question!

I think Bryke did say that the comics are part of canon, but they might retcon or clarify things that didn’t make sense or what not. For me, I think this is a good thing from both a fan service and financial perspective.

I think one thing that I will be sad to lose is if they take away Kiyi and Noren. As much as it seems that this fandom doesn’t like that Kiyi is like a “replacement sister”, I think it is a positive thing. For one, it shows the type of life that Azula and Zuko should have had, had Ozai not been the way he was. Additionally, it gives Zuko a second chance to be the brother he never got to be and a breath of fresh air from family drama. Third, it also displays to Zuko (and eventually Mai), what a healthy family can be like, especially since they end up having a daughter :)

When it comes to Noren, it’s pretty much the same thing: Ursa deserves a happy ending and a loving relationship. It’s pretty much implied that her marriage to Ozai was not out of love and she was not happy. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was abused by Ozai behind closed doors. So, by having Noren in the lore, it gives Ursa that healing gauge.

Now, that doesn’t mean that I want her to go to the Mother of Faces and wipe her memory of her children (although I think that was more of a trauma response related to Ozai but that’s not the point), but perhaps she went back to Hira’a and found Noren but didn’t change her face.

But you are right, Avatar Studios will rock our worlds but I have a lot of faith in them ❤️

I know you didn’t ask this part, but one thing I hope the studio doesn’t make canon is making Azula a villain. She deserves healing and her own redemption arc, even if she’s more of an antihero that becomes close with Zuko and the family ❤️

Thanks for the ask! Please send more if you think of them :)

[phoenix-king-ozai]

I haven’t read the comics in detail do you know if there’s any evidence to suggest that Ursa had any siblings? If not. Maybe the reason why she favored Zuko besides the obvious reasons was because her parents favored her and gave her all their attention to being an only child this isn’t a defense for her bad decisions, of course It’s just a theory but it would make sense in my mind if that were the case 🤔

I checked out the ATLA Comics through Fan Voice Overs via YouTube videos and some online free comic sources.

However, it seems Ursa is an only child according to the comics. And the reason she favors Zuko instead of Azula is because Zuko has more of her personality and is less like Ozai. Ursa apparently fantasize that Zuko is Ikem’s son instead of Ozai! 😒🤢🤮

Ursa’s insecurities and resentment over Ozai cause her to neglect and have internal resentment for Azula!

[lesamourslunaires]

MY TUMBLR YEAR IN REVIEW

(i posted 483 times in 2021).

-- my top posts in 2021.

#5 - ana de armas (see the full post).

#4 - irene noren (see the full post).

#3 - tamino (see the full post).

#2 - tamino (see the full post).

#1 - ana de armas (see the full post).

[spark-09butghostfilesbitch]

Childhood Maiko headcanons

Mai and Zuko were pretty good friends before the started to crush on each other.

When they first meet, Zuko doesn't think much of Mai. She's just another one of Azula's friends.

Zuko thought she looked cute with her ribbons and hair(he still does).

Ty Lee was the first one to figure out that they liked each other.

She kept telling Mai, "Oh, but your aura is so much brighter around him. His is a lot brighter too! You two should hang out more."

Mai slowly starts developing feelings for him when she's ten.

After the fountain incident, they avoid each other for days.

One day, Zuko splutters out an apology. Mai actually laughs and assures him she forgave him a long time ago.

Ursa can see something is going on between them. She is reminded of herself and Ikem.

Mai's eyes grow as round as saucers when Zuko tells her he had started to train with Piandao.

Azula teases them, sometimes quite cruelly. Mai is always quiet but Zuko shouts at his sister.

Mai tells Zuko a lot about her home life. Zuko is patient and listens to her.

Zuko thinks it's very cool that Mai trains with knives.

They love to read.

Zuko brings her copies of books and plays, so that they can read together. They plays are very mushy in Mai's opinion, but she enjoys them nonetheless.

Mai also loves Love Amongst The Dragons. It's one of her personal and all time favourite plays.

Zuko loves her sarcasm and deadpan humor. He thinks it's hilarious.

Azula and Ty Lee play pranks on Zuko and Mai, it brings them a lot closer together, even though it's embarassing.

Zuko gifted Mai her first holster for her eleventh birthday. Mai still wears it.

After he came back from Ba Sing Se, Iroh teases Zuko about girls, young love etc.etc.

Zuko is reduced to a blushing mess by the end and he's furious. How does Iroh, who hasn't seen them for close to two years know about his particular liking for her?!

Mai comforts Zuko after his mother disappears.

Zuko is reluctant to receive comfort or hugs at first, but after a while and lets himself be held as he cries about his mother.

They hold hands. You could spot them anywhere together and their hands will always be linked.

They have a communication system through physical touch. A squeeze is meant to give support, drawing circles on their knuckles is a means of calming someone down, a tight squeeze means 'I've got a bad feeling about this/we need to leave now.'

They tease each other but they are not mean about it.

Their first kiss is awkward and fumbling and only lasts a few seconds but they both feel like they can fly.

They give each other fast and hesitant kisses on the cheek. Both are flustered when this happens.

Mai is there during Zuko's first Agni Kai.

She cries at night after he leaves.

They avidly try to avoid thinking about each other. It doesn't work sometimes.

Mai has nightmares about the Agni Kai for weeks, but she pretends nothing is wrong.

A few years after the war ended, Ty Lee tells everyone about the fountain incident. It eventually becomes a classic story at reunions.

Zuko and Mai cannot be more happy they found their way back to each other.

[discordiansamba]

he lingers in hira'a for longer than he should.

he doesn't know why. it's just hard to leave. noriko is true to her word- she lets him stay with them in an empty room. he helps with noren's theater troupe as a stagehand, lending them his earthbending to help them expand their repertoire of effects. he gives the village's children (and quite a few adults) free rides on druk.

it's... nice.

the people there only know him as shun. they don't look into his gold eyes and expect to see someone else staring back. he doesn't carry with him the legacy of a person he's never met here. he's just shun. only shun.

he keeps having nightmares.

he tries to hide it. he doesn't want to trouble these people with his problems. he thinks he's doing a good job of it... until he wakes up in the middle of the night to find noriko sitting by his futon. she smiles, and places a gentle hand on his forehead. go back to sleep. she'll sing a lullaby until the night terrors fade.

(in the morning, she laughs and says that she hasn't done that since kiyi was a little girl. kiyi tilts her head, wondering aloud if she'd ever had nightmares. she doesn't remember having them.

noren looks at his wife, his expression unreadable.)

he's been in hira'a for three months when there's a commotion in the village. he exchanges a look with kiyi, and they go out to investigate.

why in shu's name is appa here?

except he knows why. it's not appa that's the source of the commotion- it's aang. he's not here alone either. sokka, katara, and master toph- they're all here with him. he spots him right away and makes a beeline for him, excitedly calling out his name.

(he half expects him to call him zuko.)

his mood must be obvious, because kiyi plants herself firmly in front of him. I don't care if you're the avatar, she says, it's obvious shun doesn't want to talk to you, so take a hike. aang stops dead in his tracks. he looks hurt.

(for a second, he can see a much younger face overlaid with his.

"do you think we could have been friends," he hears him ask.)

"I'm sorry," he begins, "-we just heard someone say that a dragon washed up on the beach here months ago. we had to come and see."

shun snaps that he's fine, and he can get lost. aang relents, but master toph gets angry on his behalf. then everyone gets involved. they fight. he barely even remembers what he says to them. he doesn't want to hear what they have to say.

they don't want him. they want zuko.

he ends up storming off by himself. kiyi tries to follow after him, but he doesn't let her. he doesn't even know where he's going. he just walks until he's not angry anymore.

...that was probably a mistake. once he cools down, he realizes he has no idea where he is. he must have headed into the forest- and got pretty deep into it, given how thick the foliage is. he doesn't recognize the pond that stretches out before him, either. great. he doesn't even have druk's whistle with him.

he heaves a sigh, and sits down. his uncle had once told him that if he got lost, he should stay where he is until someone can find him. well, he's definitely lost right now.

(in more ways than one, really.)

he can't get out of the swamp fast enough.

he takes druk and flies straight to his next destination without hesitation. they're both exhausted when they arrive, so he hastily sets up camp and promptly collapses. thankfully, his sleep is free of strange dreams.

the next morning, he climbs down to the western air temple.

he's been here before, and he doesn't just mean that in the 'came here once in his past life' sense. he'd come here before with aang and master toph. it had taken a lot of damage during the hundred year war, and they were trying to rebuild it together. master toph thought helping with the effort would help with his training.

(he suddenly understood a little better why they'd spent the whole time watching him out of the corner of their eyes.)

shun wanders idly through the halls. this is where prince zuko finally joined the avatar's group. he wonders where it actually happened. he hadn't even known that it had gotten so damaged because azula had launched an assault on it, following after her brother and sokka after they'd broken sokka's father and suki out of the boiling rock.

(no wonder it hadn't been hard to find.)

he lingers in the western air temple for a few days, before he decides to move on. he's planning to go to ember island next.

emphasis on planning.

he's waylaid by a storm instead. it comes out of nowhere- the sky is blue one minute, and the next, he and druk are being thrown around by powerful winds. he clings, white-knuckled to druk's horns, burying his face to keep it out of the ferocious rain as much as he's trying to avoid seeing the lightning that flashes through the sky.

(at least he knows why he's so afraid of it now.)

ironically, maybe if he'd been watching where they were going, they wouldn't have wound up plummeting into the sea. he remembers keeping a firm grip on druk's horns, and then...

...then he wakes up back in the swamp.

he wakes up back in the swamp, and his hands are pale again. he reaches a shaky hand up, brushing it over the left half of his face. the skin there feels raised and rubbery. like there's a scar. he's not wearing his favorite reddish-brown tunic, or the cloth bandages he can't get out of the habit of wrapping around his arms. the royal armor of the fire nation weighs heavily on his body.

he's wearing prince zuko's face.

"do you get it now?"

he looks up, into his own eyes. prince zuko stares out of his face. he feels a surge of anger bubble in his chest. he's on his feet.

"that's not yours," he hisses. his voice sounds strange to him. too hoarse. all wrong.

(it's zuko's voice.)

the prince just shrugs. "sure it is."

"no, it's not," he takes a step forward, grabbing his collar, "-give it back."

"i can't," he says, "-you're the one who gave me this face."

"why would I do that?" he asks.

"because you wanted mine," he replies.

he lets go of his collar. that's not right. "I don't want to be you."

the prince just arches a brow. his left, like he's trying to mock him. the one on prince zuko's face was burned away. the skin around his eye feels impossibly tight. he wants to say something back, but he knows if he opens his mouth, it still won't be his own voice.

(he wakes up in a tatami room. his face is his own again.)