#and!!!! azula legitimately did try to help zuko when he came back in her own way

[eggcats]

I spent like a half hour arguing with a coworker that Azula deserved a redemption like Zuko and that she's just as much a victim of abuse as her brother AND that Ursa wasn't that great of a mom to either but ESPECIALLY to Azula AND that Azula wasn't given the same opportunities or teaching Zuko was while they were growing up!!!! She literally couldn't have turned out any other way!!!

The convo half went:

"she's evil and crazy"

"she's 14"

-

"she made her own mother scared of her and want nothing to do with her, what's that say about her"

"she's a shitty mom"

-

"she's crazy!!! she's just as bad as their father!"

"the literal only positive attention she was ever given was from ozai, while ursa ignored her or yelled at her for doing bad but never explaining why or teaching compassion like she did with zuko."

[tev-the-random]

What it Ursa took her children with her? - Pt.2

As we were saying:

Little over year has passed since the family arrived in Hira’a, and fateful news gets to them: Ozai remarried. His new wife is someone who is honoured to marry the Firelord and doesn’t mind the fact that his head is so deep up his own arse- anyway, and they are expecting a child, who is to be the Firelord’s legitimate heir.

Azula’s hopes and dreams are shattered. At age ten, she is quite literally being replaced in her beloved father’s life. It’s like she’s never even existed, and she can’t help but wonder what she did wrong.

Zuko is also upset, of course. All those years when Ozai told him he was unfit and worthless come flooding back. But somehow, he already expected things to turn out like this. Unlike Azula, he wasn’t so deeply feeding on hopes that things would go back to normal. He sees it more as a situation that was out of everyone’s control.

He convinces Azula it’s not her fault, and these kids will still be trying to understand and defend their father later down the road. There must be a reason for all of this, right? They start thinking of a reasonable scenario…

Ursa just feels sorry for the poor woman who has to deal with Ozai now.

So we get a timeskip: about three years came and went. Zuko and Azula – treated as kids and not as weapons – lead a peaceful and happy life whenever they’re not thinking of their father and everything they could be doing out there.

They have become known local troublemakers in their spare time. Kids know better than to challenge them, people know not to leave flammable goods out in the open – a strict policy regarding fireworks has been established after a chaotic incident – and failure to keep an eye on them this one time led to… well, let’s just say that the town is still unsure of whether or not they’re is being haunted by evil spirits.

They aren’t allowed anywhere near Forgetful Valley, but bold of you to assume they never tried. In-jokes arise.

‘No, I’m serious: that tree’s face looked exactly like yours, Zuzu. You really should befriend it,’ Azula mocks, remembering a particularly ugly tree they encountered in their adventure.

‘Sorry, I wasn’t looking at it. I was busy looking for whoever it was that asked you,’ Zuko retorts. ‘Since Forgetful Valley has all the kinds of crazy stuff.’

‘Maybe we should go back and look for your impulse control, then.’

‘None of you are going back in there,’ Ursa reprehends. ‘It was very irresponsible of you. Forgetful Valley is a dangerous place, you could have gotten hurt!’

‘Your mother is right, you know?’ Noren comments. ‘I’ve been to that jungle before, and it’s definitely not a playground. But I swear…’ He makes a dramatic pause. ‘I once saw Ursa’s sense of humour in there.’

The kids burst out laughing while Ursa sighs. ‘Since you can find such amazing things in the valley, dear, why don’t you go back there and find yourself actual funny jokes? I’m sure my sense of humour will be around the same corner.’

*More laughter*

(IDK, I write crappy comedy, ok?)

They still have a bit of a hard time making friends. I wouldn’t say they are shy, but they definitely have a talent to say the wrong things at the wrong times, and it’s hard to make deep connections. Sure, they would play with other kids from time to time, but in the end, Zuko and Azula are each other’s best friend.

They’ve cleared an area by the beach that any Hira’a resident knows to stay away from when they’re training.

Azula discovered a great passion for theatre. Not only are her acting skills fantastic, she also seems to be naturally aware of what makes a good scene. People say she’s Noren’s Little Assistant.

She hates being called Noren’s Little Assistant. She would much rather be called Ursa’s Little Star, because goddamn is she a good actress and she needs everyone to know that.

Zuko is more of a plant-lover guy. Unfortunately, he hasn’t inherited his grandmother’s green thumb, and despite Ursa’s best efforts to teach him, it seems like everything he touches dies.

He has grown to show a way with animals, however. Any variety of frogs and toads love him; lizards of all kinds are attracted to him like he’s a magnet; furry animals big and small adore him and any type of bird-like creature seems to think he is the best human being in existence. But his favourite animals are still the turtleducks.

Back in the palace, Iroh eventually learns of Ozai’s bullshit and how he got the throne in the first place. And you know what? The time has come for Iroh to draw a line in the sand. He confronts his little brother, who confronts him back by telling him that, should he try to tell anyone in the Fire Nation the truth – that Ozai was a top-grade traitor who actually had no right to the throne –, no one would believe him. Since his brother won’t be sensible, Iroh decides that’s it: he’s fucking out.

Now a fugitive from the Fire Nation, he somehow winds up owning a lovely traveling tea shop called the Jasmin Dragon. Most people don’t even suspect he is the fearful Dragon of the West, because he’s just so nice?

You can bet he serves blends of tea from all across the nations.

The tea shop is also a good cover up for his exchanges with the Order of the White Lotus. He gives and receives information, and does his best to help villages to either defend themselves or evacuate during Fire Nation attacks.

One day a member of the White Lotus travels to Hira’a for one reason or another and finds Zuko and Azula. This person then sends a letter to Iroh.

Iroh comes to Hira’a to visit the family. He’s glad to see they’re ok, even if he can’t stay for too long. But long enough for some Quality Time – these kids have grown so much!

Iroh doesn’t know of Ursa’s part in Azulon’s assassination, and only assumes she knew of Ozai’s plan. But now, it’s time that her children learned a couple of things, and he is willing to teach them, so that when the time arrives for them to meet their destiny, they should be able to choose wisely and face whatever comes their way. So he asks the children to accompany him in his travels.

Ursa doesn’t want to let them go. They’re children, they should be here living a peaceful life, not meeting some grand, dangerous destiny! What if something horrible happened to them?

Iroh understands the pain of losing a child. He doesn’t want to make Ursa spend her time worrying about losing two, so he respects her decision and soon leaves the town.

But the siblings are not about to just sit here when they know they’re destined for something greater. What incredible knowledge did their uncle hold? Did their father have something to do with this? They always knew there was more to their fate than just living in Hira’a for the rest of their lives, and this is their chance; it’s now or never.

Zuko and Azula are about to sneak out and follow Iroh when Noren spots them. But instead of trying to stop them – he is well aware that he can’t – he gives them two masks and some advice about never forgetting who they were.

Why yes, I am saying that they eventually take the masks and become partners in crime, Zuko as the Blue Spirit and Azula as the Red Spirit, because parallels.

They catch up with their uncle and adventures and shenanigans issue as Zuko, Azula and Iroh cross the Earth Kingdom.

Now imagine this trio: two of the most awkward firebending teenagers travelling with their old tea-loving uncle, who spits proverbs like he’s made of them. The possibilities for both hilarious and heart-warming moments are endless.

Iroh thinks himself a matchmaker. Whenever he thinks he sees some romance going on, he encourages his nephew or niece to make a move. His flaming cupid arrows do more damage than good, yet he only has good intentions at heart. Teens all around the kingdom encourage you to stop, sir.

Their new life is even more humbling than in Hira’a, since they are constantly travelling. But they manage, and they know their uncle is nothing but wise… even if Azula is still quite arrogant and manipulative, and Zuko is impatient and hot-headed, which can lead to a lot of conflict.

Iroh teaches them both how to create and redirect lightning. Zuko is better at redirecting than Azula. Creating it, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated, and both of them get their fair share of explosions while learning. Neither of them really gets a hang of it – although Azula is better at it than Zuko, that’s not saying much – for they still have a lot of identity-related turmoil inside them that won’t let them grasp the energy.

Guess who else teaches them? Other members of the White Lotus. Both Zuko and Azula get some swordsmanship Skills™ from Piandao, some different (and somewhat unwillingly taught) firebending technics from Jeong-Jeong and a lot of things from Bumi, including but not limited to: creative thinking, the art of patience, strategic planning, dealing with pirates and a surprising amount of rocks-related knowledge.

Bumi adopted Zuko and Azula and gave himself the role of Second Uncle. You cannot convince me otherwise.

So one day, little over a year after the siblings joined Iroh, they wind up in a city where this big circus is performing. Uncle Iroh decides to take his niece and nephew to see it. And oh, aren’t they surprised by who they see performing?

Even though Ty Lee was essentially the only one between her sisters to befriend Azula – and consequentially, the only one to periodically spend time in the palace with her –, Zuko and Iroh still have a hard time distinguishing her from the six other girls who look exactly like her, uncertainly calling her all different names before Azula snaps ‘you idiots, that’s Ty Lee!’.

The acrobat is so glad to see her friend again, because damn: it’s been nearly four years since they last saw or even heard from each other! And Zuko, I thought you were dead? This is such a neat reunion, there’s so much for them to talk about! And sure, the circus has to leave soon and so do the siblings, but Ty Lee reassures them that, if they ever needed her, she wasn’t hard to find. This isn’t the last we’ll see of Ty Lee.

Azula doesn’t let it show, but she resents Ty Lee a little bit for choosing to abandon her noble life. She really wishes she could have had a choice.

Uncle Iroh tells the siblings stories about the war that would have some day mesmerized them. But now, his opinions about those events and what he did as a prince general have changed; that, along with what the family sees in their journey – all the horrors brought to innocent people – gives Zuko and Azula a new perspective on what they used to think was a greater good. It will still take a while for Azula to understand that no, these people are no lesser than her and for Zuko to understand why any of that matters.

Iroh eventually tells them the truth about Azulon’s death. Or at least, what he knows of it: their father killed Azulon, banished them, took the throne by force and planned to gain more power at the expense of everyone. This is a lot to take in, and the siblings don’t quite believe it.

After four years thinking about it, Zuko and Azula decided to take their mother’s early words – they went to Hira’a to be safe – and formulate what for them was a reasonable scenario. They believe that Ozai never actually wanted any of this to happen. The whole family had to have been in danger, be it due to some political, social or personal threat, and Ozai wanted to take it all by himself to protect them. So he sent his wife and children away, concocted a plan with Azulon to cover for them and, once Azulon died and left him the throne, remarried to keep appearances. To Zuko and Azula, this makes perfect sense. And they thoroughly convince themselves of that.

They initiate an argument, thinking that Iroh is jealous of Ozai.

Their uncle sees these children are starting to stray from their path, but he knows this is a necessary journey for them. They will never be able to deal with reality unless they face it.

The siblings leave Iroh, planning to head straight to the Fire Nation capital and find out what really happened. Maybe now that they are older, it would be a perfect time to come back home; they surely could defend themselves from any threats.

Of course, they’ll be very disappointed to know that Ozai was just a bitch and never actually cared for any of them.

I don’t have a full formed idea about how their reencounter with their father would go down, but I say Ozai would officially banish both his children from the Fire Nation for trying to cause a commotion – which could easily be perceived as a threat. Not only that, but Zuko and Azula are the children of a traitor; cue for Ozai revealing what happened that night four years ago, confirming that he was the one to kill Azulon with Ursa’s help.

I also think that, after that day, the Firelord would have discreetly helped spread rumours about Ursa that would drag her name through the mud in the Capital – was she cheating on Ozai? Was she selling Fire Nation information to the Earth Kingdom? Was she planning a coup against the Firelord? Her crimes change from mouth to mouth. In the end, no one would take Zuko or Azula back unless Ozai wanted it. But he doesn’t. Not now, at least…

But Ozai also decides to play with his options: he plants a seed of doubt in his children’s minds; should they prove themselves useful later on, it would only take pulling a few strings for them to come crawling back to him. So he tells them that they needed to prove themselves for everyone to see that they weren’t traitors like their mother. They needed to prove their worth so that he could accept them.

Ozai goes a step further with Azula and tells her that, before his demise, Firelord Azulon had a plan. A plan to bring her back and put her in the leading, prestigious role she was always meant to get. But they needed to wait for the right time. There is a right time, Princess Azula. Your hopes were right all along, they will come for you eventually if you prove yourself.

The siblings have a lot to think about while they’re leaving the Fire Nation. They idolized Ozai so much all these years. But the undeniable truth came crashing down on their heads, spoken by the man himself. What would they do now? They didn’t think it possible, but their harsh actions made things so much worse: they couldn’t come back to their mother, they didn’t have many hopes of running into Iroh again, they can’t even set foot in their homeland anymore; Zuko and Azula are all on their own.

Maybe it’s time to turn a new leaf. It starts with them being fairly neutral, not completely loyal to either the Fire Nation or to the rest of the world. During this period, they would argue a lot about what to do or where to go next, getting separated and going their own ways before destiny makes them stick together again, over and over.

They manage to get a few deals and own a few favours here and there, become known thieves as the Spirits, and maybe meet up with Ty Lee’s circus every now and again. Life is hard.

But there is one thing that is about to be a beacon in their darkness…

Time to catch up to the show. Oh, you thought I wouldn’t go there?

Part 3 coming right up!

(I know I said this would be a two-parter, but it got ridiculously long, so I split it again. Three-parter now.)

[jemmasimmons]

I know you said you've gone over all this before, but I don't know/haven't heard a solid Kataag argument before. Personally, not my ship, but I'd like to know more why Kataag? (you know, aside from just canon).

Hey Ella! Yes, of course :) And don’t worry, I haven’t actually really discussed this on tumblr. I was involved in ATLA fandom a lot back in the day, but that was all on forums/Livejournal. (RIP I’m old.) But, even if I had, I’m always happy to share my thoughts. (I’m sorry ahead of time for this being long.)

So, I don’t ship Kataang because it’s canon, per se. I do tend to like a lot of canon ships, but I also love many that aren’t. I would legitimately ship Kataang even things had turned out differently. (I do wish the buildup had been written a little more strongly, but that’s not something that can be changed.)

A lot of shipping metas are written in the style of “Aang vs. Zuko,” in terms of which one is better for Katara. I tend to dislike this because I love both characters so much. So, my approach will focus on what Kataang is instead of what Z*tara is not. I also think that Katara’s choice was not about picking between the two of them, but between picking if she wanted to be with Aang or not. 

Anyway, why I like Kataang! Which is what I like to focus on anyway :)

Their relationship is built on incredible friendship, from the very moment that Katara found Aang in the iceberg. From my own relationship experience, if you can have fun and enjoy time with your partner no matter what you’re doing, it helps you get through anything. Friendship is the best basis for a relationship.

Their relationship is also built on strong trust and respect. The ability to communicate disagreements in a healthy way. Yes, there have been times where Aang and Katara have butted heads, but they always resolved it by talking it through and not ignoring the issue. And they respect each other as equals.

They have a good sense of each other’s personality and quirks. Katara is fiery and emotional, so Aang is always good at soothing her and being the complement she needs. When Aang is flighty, Katara stays and helps him. They each understand why the other is prone to grief and rage, and try to stop the other from experiencing it. They make each other better, which is basically my criteria for a ship I love. 

They support each other’s goals and dreams. Aang does whatever he can to help Katara learn waterbending and support her. Katara supports Aang in his trials and tribulations. They reassure each other when the other is insecure or going through something. They also jump to protect the other at a moment’s notice. 

While they do have good complementary features, at the end of the day their values and beliefs are very much aligned. They want to help people. They want to make the world a better place. Aang doesn’t get mad that Katara lied to him in “The Painted Lady,” instead he praises her initiative and helps her destroy the factory, no questions asked. They are both optimistic, hopeful “goody goodies.” Katara could have killed Azula. Just let her drown in the water. But she didn’t; she chose to spare her. Same way Aang did Ozai. Neither of them forgave their perpetrators per se (I don’t think Aang ‘forgives’ Ozai or Sozin), but they used their forgiveness to form new bonds and give other people chances. 

Aang brings fun, hope, and joy into Katara’s life. While she has been forced to grow up early because of the war, he allows her to experience being a kid and having fun. Having a partner that can bring joy to you in dark moments is something that’s very underrated, and the importance of hope. Each of them brings each other the promise of a better future, which is what they hold on to when everything else is dark. 

And, I do think that all of these feelings also lead to romantic attraction. Katara and Aang have both gotten jealous, have both repeatedly thought of each other romantically. The first and last time kissing came up/happened between them, Katara initiated. I know there are frequent arguments of Aang being too young (looking) for her. But, Aang is one of the most mature characters in the show. (Just the way he dealt with the chakras—those are levels of trauma that people take years to work through if they do at all!) I am certain if Aang had been drawn a bit taller than Katara that people wouldn’t be so against them. In any case, I think that the show has shown Katara’s interest in Aang and that it’s mutual. 

I’m getting a bit long and I don’t want to get out of control, but I think I got the main ideas out. I hope this helps see when I’m coming from and why I do love their relationship so much. I have a real weakness for characters that really try to be positive and good, despite all the reasons they have not to be, and I see that both embodied in Aang and Katara.

Note: Please don’t take this meta as me trying to preach or shift anyone’s thoughts—I’ve learned in shipping that’s not really a thing—I’m just explaining my personal feelings.

[armageddon-generation]

Fixing The Legend of Korra - Book 3

Book 1,  Book 2,  Book 4

THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVE BOOK, SO IMPROVEMENTS ARE RELATIVELY MINIMAL. AGAIN, IMAGINING A 28 EPISODE SEASON

REPUBLIC CITY

Further exploration of what opening the portals did to the world

Show what happened to the people forced out of their homes – forced into housing camps.

Bolin works with General Iroh trying to help these people, dressing up as Nuktuk to give the kids the same kind of comforting distraction he needed at that age on the streets – this lays the foundation for his joining Kuvira much later

Have the triads try to exploit the spirits – capturing them and attempting to sell them as exotic pets/batteries (a prelude to what Varrick does in Book 4 that goes horribly wrong). The Spirits go nuts and attack, and Korra has to act as peacekeeper (defending the triads is something she really hates)

During this conflict a triad member is briefly possessed by a spirit. Korra gets it out, but now he has to live deformed. I’m thinking Shady Shin, because he has a direct relationship with the bending brothers (them helping him shows character growth and is an interesting inversion of the dynamic established in flashbacks, where Shin mentored and corrupted them).

As a criminal, Shin also didn’t get his bending back. In this way – first losing his bending, then being possessed by a spirit – his character is a microcosm of everything that’s happened to the world so far, and it would be interesting to see Korra confront this

The new Air Nation takes him in and cares for/attempts to rehabilitate him

KORRASAMI

At this point Asami is aware she’s starting to feel attracted to Korra – she’s much more self-aware and has much more self-control. Korra isn’t yet aware she’s attracted to Asami – growing up in the South Pole with now LGBTQ role models (Kya’s dating life wasn’t very active) it’s not that she wasn’t aware of fluid sexuality, it’s just she never considered that it would apply to her.

They bond not only over Mako, but also their joint responsibilities (Asami is marshalling the democratic Equalists’ political campaign from Book 2)

By the end of the season Korra knows what they have is more than just friendship, but she isn’t emotionally ready to go there

Asami spends much of this Book running after Korra, and that’s important - she’s been swept up in this grand adventure. When Korra gets hurt and has to leave in the finale, Asami is brought down with a bump - in Book 4 they will have to confront that they can’t run away from responsibility or have a fairytale romance. They have to live in the real world

RED LOTUS

When Tonraq and Zuko meet with the twins to guard P’Li, establish they’re building a more positive (if slightly awkward) relationship with their uncle

Obvious thing, but let’s see an origin story for our group – Zaheer rescuing P’Li, Ming Hua losing her arms and learning to live without them (Korra learns about this and it hangs over her when she’s in the wheelchair) and Ghazan developing his lavabending

Firmly establish lavabending is the result of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom blood mixing, so Bolin’s powers don’t come out nowhere

Have the Red Lotus be the ones who killed Sokka. That raid when Korra was a kid was his last stand. This lends a lot more emotional weight to the characters coming in, and especially if we make them much more likeable with an origin story and greater emphasis on the group dynamic, creating greater emotional conflict within the audience. Plus, this way we actually get to see old Sokka in Korra

Create a genuine will-they-won’t-they between Ming Hua and Ghazan – their attempts at flirting would be Azula-level funny. They never act on their feelings because they’re both destructive and damaged from their long imprisonment (have the group comforting each other over nightmares about being back there). Then end the romance on a tragic note when they die together in the finale – the suicide is double-pronged, a metaphor for their destructive emotional states

I imagine Gazhan and P’Li having a sibling-esque rivalry over who can be the most destructive in battle

Contrast the Red Lotus with the old, out of touch members of the White Lotus trying to manage spiritual activity across the globe – have Jinora, Kai and the new airbenders express frustration towards them.

When Iroh shows up to talk to Korra in the Spirit World, have them discuss his relationship with the White Lotus and how it changed after his death – just as in ATLA, he disapproves of holding on to tradition, honour and the past at the cost of moving forward

Zaheer was an Air Acolyte in his youth; this is a more concrete explanation of how he is immediately such an expert airbender. It also sets up a more intimate and interesting relationship between Zaheer and the new Air Nation – he sees them almost as his children, potential followers     

He begged Aang to give him bending, but Aang refused (for the sake of balance – it wouldn’t be natural). Zaheer’s anger, combined with the White Lotus’ stifling attempts at spiritual control (which Jinora can relate to even today) caused him to join the Red Lotus

Zaheer sees in Korra a kindred spirit – not only did she open the portals, but she returned people their bending after Amon took it away; she is willing to upend the ‘natural order’ Aang clung too, the same order Zaheer wants to upend

Korra protests giving people bending wasn’t the point – Zaheer being an airbender doesn’t make him more special than anyone else (the lesson she learnt in Book 1). She restored their bending because those people needed to be whole again

Zaheer’s attitude towards Airbenders like Kai, a former criminal with little respect for tradition, is a dark, exaggerated reflection of Tenzin’s initial reaction – violent disgust

The Red Lotus’ ultimate goal is to end the Avatar cycle, then extract Raava from Korra. The chaos they’re causing by destabilising the Earth Kingdom and removing Korra will cause Vaatu to grow much faster. Then the Red Lotus will combine the two spirits, producing Gaana, the spirit of Harmony from whence Light and Dark came, returning the world to primordial peace

Although they stop the Lotus, the formation of Gaana becomes a far-off dream for Korra, her endgame for when the world no longer needs the Avatar

(Also have Zuko meet with and talk to Iroh at the end of Book 3, now he can enter the Spirit World. Pretty please.)

ZAOFU AND THE BEIFONGS

Because the plot of Book 3 isn’t as dense, we have more time to stretch our legs with character stuff – the calm before the storm. Establish the Beifongs’ personalities in greater detail (because there are a lot of them) – have them argue and love each other the way families do

Asami ADORES the design & technology work in Zaofu and really bonds with Bataar Sr - he represents an ideal version her father she saw when she was a kid, what she wishes Hiroshi could’ve been

Also use this opportunity to establish Bataar Jr’s mounting resentment before Book 4 - especially if Asami is a better mechanic than him

Bataar Jr and Opal have a close bond when we meet them as the only non-bending kids (they and Kuvira are a tight-knit trio) but over our time in Zoafu we see them drift apart as Opal embraces her airbending identity. Bataar is left alone.

Involve Kuvira more directly – establish that she’s the emotional lynchpin of the family, the negotiator whom everyone relies on. At the same time, she’s an outsider, only allowed at mealtimes on special occasions etc, and she’s painfully aware of that

When Mako starts investigating the mole in Zaofu, have Kuvira team up with them – she takes the hardline bad cop role, but they work well together and get results (Korra jokes Mako certainly has a type because of how similar they are)

Kuvira joins Team Avatar in the finale, and also when they go after Iwae, helping Mako and Bolin fight Ming Hua and Gahzaan (much more viciously than the bending brothers), but gets knocked out. 

In Book 4 when she argues with Su she pulls this specific example: Su is willing to act (or order Kuvira to act) when it serves her own self-interest (i.e. revenge on Iwae) but not when it means taking responsibility for others. Kuvira is tired of being Su’s powerless pawn (if Su had been there to fight, Kuvira wouldn’t have almost been killed by the Red Lotus)

Bopal – Opal is the first person Bolin lets himself be truly vulnerable with, letting down his walls – Mako is very supportive

Create more moral ambiguity around Su. There was a popular headcanon she was part of the Red Lotus/knew Zaheer in her youth, so I’m making this canon. Su brushed/briefly flirted with being part of the Lotus in her youth (she makes a cameo in the Red Lotus origin episodes). This creates a more legitimate conflict between her and Lin (and the future conflict with Kuvira for hypocrisy)

THE NEW AIRBENDERS

Again, this was really well done in the show, I just want more cute Kainora crushing moments tbh.

Have the new airbenders’ relationship with Shady Shin be a direct measurement of how they learn and live by the Air Nomad culture – moving from hostility, to frustration and wanting to give up, to empathy, sympathy, and finally acceptance. At first Shin is angry and violent towards them, but he soon breaks down – he thinks his life is over. Kai’s relationship with him is particularly important – Kai reminds Shin of a young Mako, and Shin is a reminder of what Kai would’ve been without airbending and Jinora.

By the end of the Book (a few months) Kai invites Shin to Jinora’s Master anointing ceremony, and he stands awkwardly in the background

Kya stays with the new airbenders, which has more weight seeing as she’s not ‘officially’ part of the family – she has been accepted/adopted

KORRA, SPIRITS AND RAAVA

To try and lessen the ridiculousness of the Deus Ex Machina in the Book 2 finale, the Avatar state is heavily neutered during Book 3. Now Korra has no past Avatars to channel, the State is much less powerful, and she must learn to operate without it (as compared to Book 2, where she spammed it with reckless abandon), forcing her to find more diplomatic solutions (setting a good example for the airbenders)

Raava’s light is still growing in Korra after being destroyed by Vaatu – their dynamic is now flipped, where Raava is counting on Korra to be a figure of hope and strength she can rely on. This puts more pressure on Korra, but she copes much better now she doesn’t have a thousand Avatars’ voices whispering in her ear – establish she’s actually finding this freedom from tradition beneficial to her job as the Avatar (change is good!)

Have the spirits act as markers for the emotional states of both characters and places – they infest Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se because they’re attracted to the high concentration of chi there. Their emotional state varies, but generally people are adapting well (they’re used to random shit in the slums by now). Mako and Bolin help their family with spirits (they also find Nuktuk hilarious)

By comparison, in the Upper Ring spirits are far fewer because the upper classes treat them like vermin and are trying to push them out. The few spirits that are there turn Dark easily (Korra has to intervene) showing how, despite its pretty surface, the political structure and people on top in Ba Sing Se are corrupt.

When fighting the Dai Li, have Korra directly confront the fact they were founded by a past Avatar (Kyoshi) – emphasising the pattern where she has to deal with a past Avatar’s mistakes. This season is all about Change, so by the end of it have Korra disband the Dai Li

When Korra goes into the Avatar State for the first time in the finale, this is just Raava desperately trying to defend her from Zaheer

I don't know when we'd fit it in (when Korra confronts Zaheer in the Spirit World? When she's hallucinating because of the poison during the finale?) but I NEED a nightmare sequence of what Red Lotus!Korra would've been like - there are so many cool headcanons and fanarts and fics about this. Show the Red Lotus as a true family unit with Korra as the daughter figure, show Korra letting herself loose with Combustion and Lava bending. Show her inner conflict (and dominance) with Raava, who disagrees with her actions

Also it would be awesome if we saw this Red Lotus Korra meet and team up with a dark Equalist! Asami (they both believe in extreme balance) - this sheds new light on their relationship for Korra, and is the catalyst for her realising her romantic interest in Asami - she's witnessing all this destruction and chaos she caused, but she's still happy because she's with Asami

Emphasise how much Korra has become the centrepiece of Team Avatar – she is everyone’s best friend. To Asami in particular she’s become the catalyst and manifestation of everything she likes about herself – her courage, her enthusiasm about helping people, her friends, her own empowerment – the exact opposite of her father

[runrundoyourstuff]

First major apologies, because @elf-kid2​ prompted me this awhile ago and I just now am getting to it. It was a bit of a challenge for me, but I think I came up with something that seems reasonably in-character.

1) In this universe, too, Ozai sees his children as potential tools, and in this universe, too, Ozai sees himself when he looks at Azula. But in this universe, this is a fact that terrifies him. After all, he, too, was a second child who had no legitimate claim on the throne (other than, perhaps, competence and drive). He, too, was ambitious. And he had his own father murdered and seized the throne. What is to stop Azula from doing the same to him? And when he admits it to himself, Azula is a much better Firebender than he was at that age, more a prodigy like Iroh had been, and if Azula wanted, what’s to stop her from murdering him and seizing his throne? When, therefore she is fourteen and speaks out of place in a war meeting (to criticize the stupidity of a general’s plan, rather than its morality,) Ozai uses it as an excuse to banish her. (She is still his top choice for heir to the throne though, so he doesn’t burn her, and he doesn’t give her a seemingly impossible task as a way to come back from banishment, because he has every intention of ultimately calling her back himself, when he is old and dying.)

2) Iroh, who--for reasons maybe sexist or maybe not--never felt the same compassion for Azula as he did for Zuko, does not go with her. Besides, there is no Agni Kai, no burning of her face, to guilt him into it if he didn’t already feel an imperative to go. So he stays around the palace, still more or less consumed with grief for his son--without Zuko’s being in imminent danger to snap him into action. His loyalties, however, are still not to the Fire Nation at this point, and when the Avatar does reappear, he knows that Ozai will try to capture him, and knows that for the sake of the world that cannot be allowed to happen. Iroh leaves the palace to attempt to find him and offer protection, claiming to anyone in the Fire Nation who asks that he merely wants to travel in his retirement. He’s able to keep up this pretense until Zhao captures Aang while Aang is trying to catch frozen frogs for an ill Sokka and Katara. Iroh walks into Zhao’s base a respected Prince and ex-General, and breaks Aang out without bothering to disguise himself--ergo outing himself as a traitor and painting a target on his back. He starts traveling with the Gaang to provide protection and with the ultimate aim of teaching Aang to Firebend.

3) Though in this universe, Ozai doesn’t antagonize Zuko to the same extent as he might have done in another one, he certainly is not kind to his son. He certainly was still willing to kill Zuko before, and still used him as a bargaining chip for Ursa to kill Azulon. Zuko--though he doesn’t know all the details of this--still doesn’t feel safe in this palace, without his mother, without Azula, and now without Iroh. When Iroh is discovered as a traitor, Zuko volunteers to lead a mission to capture him. From Ozai’s perspective, it’s perfect. Zuko--whom he sees as an incompetent bender--is no match for Iroh, and certainly no match for the Avatar, if the fiasco at the North Pole is any indication. As long as Ozai doesn’t provide him with too much backup, Zuko will clearly be killed on this mission, and then Azula will become heir to the throne. He can then call her back with less of a risk of her attempting to murder him. She’ll already be next in line for the throne--why would she bother? 4) Because he never trusted Azula, though, Ozai never fostered the same sense of competition between Zuko and Azula, and Zuko therefore isn’t afraid to go to recruit her to help him capture Iroh once he leaves the Fire Nation. She readily agrees. 

5) The two of them still confront Iroh and the Gaang at Ba Sing Se, they still orchestrate a coup (this time with Zuko’s involvement), and Azula still manages to strike Aang down with lightning. Now, Ozai finds himself with quite a dilemma, because not only did Zuko not die, Azula both conquered Ba Sing Se killed the Avatar as far as anyone knows. He has to invite her home. So he starts thinking of ways that he can legitimately get Zuko out of the picture...

[zutaraverse]

I Always Want to Kiss you Katara... Chapter 3: DMCs

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

A/N: sorry! This (along with the next chapter) has been half written since I posted the last chapter but have only just got round to finishing it! We see a little more of Aang's development while behind the scenes feelings are being brought centre stage. Not much smut here - lets save that for the next chapter ;) Also do keep in mind that the characters here are slightly older than in the series - I don't think any romance would have properly blossomed without at least another year or two of maturity, especially with Katara. As always comments and criticisms welcome!

So here you go, Silliness part three - except not so silliness.. mostly growing-up awkwardness!

The next morning Zuko was not in a good mood for practice. He made Aang meditate for a long time partially because he needed peace and quiet for his aching head and also because Aang looked like he needed something similar. He would have to ask Sokka what had happened with Aang. But he was putting that off because he definitely didn't want to admit what had happened with Katara. Which he could still remember. All too clearly. Zuko didn't really lose much memory when he drank. Just the thought of her, rolling on top of him in the sand, made him blush.

Finally, the lesson over, Zuko ran away from the food that was on the table, and drank as much water as he could. He found Sokka.

"So?"

Sokka whistled. "Its rough. He's got it bad. He doesn't understand that its just not going to happen like he imagines it. At this point I'm not sure whether to let him live with his delusions or not…"

"No. He needs to let go of her," said Zuko, maybe a little too forcefully. "He can't let go of his earthly attachments without letting go of her and so he can't unblock his final chakra. Sokka if he can't let go, he can't use the Avatar state to defeat the Fire Lord."

"Wait for real? That's why he can't go into the avatar state? I thought it had to do with Azula's lightning!"

"Apparently not. And right now, Katara feels like its her fault. She was pretty upset last night."

"Yeah, thanks for looking after her buddy. I know she only properly vents to you. Where's Suki! Maybe she'll know what to do…channeling Kyoshi and all that.." Sokka started walking away, slightly slouched, as if he had a huge weight on his shoulders. Zuko realised he must also be feeling quite hungover, and dealing with Aang was probably not enjoyable. At least not as enjoyable as dealing with Katara had been… But Aang hadn't run away and that was a massive relief.

"He doesn't see her you know," said Zuko suddenly to Sokka's back. "He doesn't see who she really is. To him she's perfectly good." Sokka nodded.

"I know."

"To me, she's just perfect," added Zuko to himself, sighing and rubbing his brow.

Dinner was tense. Toph knew immediately things had happened she didn't know about and was listening very hard at what little people were saying. She was growing more and more frustrated at Sokka's incessant nonsense chatter.

There was a lull in the conversation.

"Alright we're talking about it. Now that everything is straightened out, I think all our training should go into meditation so Aang can practice going into the Avatar state," she said bluntly. Zuko raised his good eyebrow. So Aang had told her too. "You can't cling to Sweetness, she's not into you in that way, so now you can let go of whatever future you were dreaming up with her and unblock your last chakra right? So that should be your new focus."

Aang didn't reply and didn't look up. Katara was looking away too.

"Is it that simple?" asked Zuko. He had a feeling there would be more to this.

"I can try," said Aang in a small voice.

The rest of dinner was eaten in silence. When they finished Zuko got up to help collect the dishes as he did every evening but Katara caught his eye and shook her head.

"Don't worry about it," she said quietly, glancing towards Aang.

Zuko's stomach plummeted and he had to resist gasping for air. Did she remember the night before? Was she unhappy with him? The logical part of his mind said that if she were angry she would very probably make that known… but here Aang's feelings were involved, not to mention Sokka's reaction! He felt a now-familiar squeezing sensation in his chest.

Outwardly he merely swallowed and nodded.

Aang was their first priority.

The airbender had wondered onto the beach and sat in a meditative pose, but Zuko knew him well enough to understand there was no meditating happening. He felt himself swell with pride at Aang not flying away from the situation. The boy was trying, and that meant so much!

Argh, when had he got so sentimental.

Sokka, Suki and Toph were sitting on the steps talking quietly, keeping watch over their friend.

"I think we should talk to him, he's clearly not meditating," Zuko told them. His voice came out rougher than he had intended.

"Yeah," sighed Sokka.

As a group they approached the little airbender and sat around him.

"Do you want to talk through things?" asked Zuko. When had he become the ring leader, he wondered. "What did the Guru tell you to do?"

Aang, sighed and opened his eyes, giving up his pretence. He looked small and worn.

"We talked through the chakras… and we got to the final chakra where I have to let go of earthly attachments… well I just can't do that! And… and then I spoke to your Uncle Iroh and he said I was right not to let go of love… but then the lightning and … I'm so confused!" he cried.

There was a loaded silence. Zuko was frowning.

"Love and attachment… are those the same thing?" asked Toph. "I'm just thinking, did Iroh know about the guru?"

"Ummm… no I didn't explain everything. I think they are the same thing?" answered Aang. "How could they not be?! I love Katara, I can't let go of her!"

"You can love somebody and still let go of them," said Zuko quietly. All eyes turned to him. "To have those attachments.. I think that means… that they live in your head?" Zuko groaned. "I'm not making any sense am I? Give me a second to get the words right…"

Usually this kind of crippling awkwardness would have elicited some teasing from Sokka, but they waited in silence for Zuko's brain to work through things. Thinking things through - Uncle would be proud.

"Sometimes we create people in our head… the way we want them to be… and those people motivate us to act in certain ways. Like I did that with… with my father I guess. But when I let that go it felt like this thing that had been tying me down had suddenly been cut loose. I was able to… see him I guess? See him for what he really was, even though the evidence had been there all along. And… and my mother… she uh she left us physically because she loved us. In a way I guess she let go of us but not of her love for us… What I'm trying to say is, I don't think you need to stop loving anybody, but you do need to let go of them as they are in your mind and appreciate they are their own person instead of a model you try to impress. My father couldn't give me honour. I had to give myself that. And I might be wrong but Katara gives you peace right? So maybe what the guru wants is for you to let go of her so you can give yourself peace instead?" Zuko ended on a higher note, a question. His thoughts were confused but he felt them coming together in some semblance of an explanation.

And that could legitimately be what was happening here right? Another form of his own love for his father, of attaching a part of himself to an image of somebody else. He needed to learn that he can give himself validation and find safety in himself before he could let go.

So if Aang had connected Katara in his mind with happiness, with peace, with comfort… then to let go he needed to know that he could gain those things from himself. But Aang was just a child! He should have been still playing in the dirt with the monks at this age!

Zuko sighed. Aang was young. Zuko had been younger when his mother left, and Aang's age when he had attended his first war council. Sokka and Katara had been younger when they lost their mother too. Toph had been so restricted she decided to find her own way. Suki had become the youngest leader of the Kyoshi Warriors not long after either. It seemed to be their fate to be in these situations.

"Yeah, that makes sense," said Sokka finally. "Katara can't make things alright for you - you have to do that for yourself. And you know, Aang, even if she won't to be with you in that way, she still loves you. So much! You're one of the family remember?"

Aang was looking out to sea, observing the sun as it slowly sank towards the ocean, wide, grey eyes wide with concentration.

"I just don't want to lose her. I don't want to lose any of you," he said quietly.

"You won't lose us," said Suki gently, "and you won't lose her either. We're all with you. Like Sokka said, we're a family now, and that's not going to change."

Aang was blinking back tears but a smile spread across his face.

"Thanks guys. I think maybe I've been unfair to Katara. You're right Zuko, I need to work on seeing her as her own person. I'd like to be alone for a bit now."

The others nodded and got up to leave. Toph gave him an affectionate punch, Suki and Sokka a hug and Zuko an awkward pat on the back. He couldn't help feeling intense guilt at Aang's struggle while the night before he had been passionately kissing Katara and rolling around in the sand.

Zuko rubbed his brow in frustration. He noticed the kitchen was empty, and that cold feeling in the pit of his stomach returned full force. He made himself take deep breaths and go to his room.

Zuko was exhausted but he couldn't sleep. Thoughts about Aang danced around his head, melding with his own experiences. Thoughts about Katara were all too prominent too - of the night before, of stolen glances during the day, of what everything meant - and maybe nothing at all! She was probably embarrassed for getting a little drunk and probably hungover too. But he couldn't help a part of himself hoping she could remember… nor could he help a part of himself hoping she didn't.

He gave up trying to sleep and padded down to the empty kitchen in just his loose trousers. He had considered bending to get rid of some frustration, but he didn't source his energy from that part of himself anymore. Maybe he could try Uncle's method; chamomile. For Uncle, tea was always the answer! He smiled with nostalgia and regret.

He went through the motions of making himself some tea, already knowing he wouldn't make it very well. He blew smoke out of his nostrils. Yet another thing to annoy him!

When he turned to put the pot on the table however, Katara stood in the doorway. She was only wearing a loose shift, and her hair was in disarray, as if she had been tossing and turning in bed. She leaned on her side, arms crossed below her breasts and fixing him with very clear blue eyes.

They looked at one another for a long time - or was it just a second?

"What about now Zuko? Do you want to kiss me now?" she said softly, so softly he thought he had misheard as he carefully put the pot on the table.

"Always," he whispered, not breaking her gaze while his heart hammered far too fast. He realised she visibly relaxed and uncrossed her arms.

He knew she was going to do it before she did. Suddenly she was in his arms, her arms around his neck, lips pressed against his urgently.

Too soon they broke apart, panting. Their foreheads were still pressed together as she giggled softly. By the time they sat down, the tea was stone cold and Zuko had to reheat it, puzzled as to why it would go to cold so quickly.

"You thought I'd forget," she said finally. He looked away guiltily.

"Look Katara I'm really sorry, we were really drunk and…" and what? What could he say? He just wanted to enjoy it while it lasted? Wanted to savour the moment?

"I remember that I kissed you. But I don't remember everything. I don't remember anything after throwing up… I'm really embarrassed you had to see me like that…" She was sipping her tea.

"You fell asleep - I carried you back. I don't mind. You had a lot of rum."

"I think you had a lot of firewhisky."

"Clearly I can take my alcohol better."

"I don't know, I hardly had a hangover today. Got it all up last night," she replied sheepishly, smiling into her cup.

"Hmph."

There was a silence as they both drank their tea.

"Why did you kiss me just now?" he asked finally.

"Because you wanted me to and I wanted me to so I did," she replied. She sighed. "And because… I've been wanting to for a while and we might all die. If Aang can't let go of me it seems we probably will all die. And I didn't want to die never having kissed you … or told you … how much you mean to me." She was studiously not looking at him at this point.

There was a tense pause, and then Katara felt his hand on hers, and that strange lightening going through her body like the last time they were alone in the kitchen together. She looked up and met his intense eyes. They were searching for something, and having found her being genuine, he closed the gap between them, leaning forward in his chair.

Their lips met again, this time slowly working into the kiss, taking their time, savouring it. Zuko's tongue tentatively played with hers and somehow Katara was leaning out of her chair too, one hand gently wrapped in Zuko's hair.

On an whim, Zuko leant forward more in order to wrap his arms around Katara and pulled gently, asking her to come closer without breaking the kiss. She shuffled her chair until their legs were touching and then in one swift move that neither had anticipated she slipped onto his lap, straddling him. That prompted furious increase in pace - Katara bit his bottom lip while Zuko pulled her in closer, one hand on her back, the other on her bum.

Their hearts raced and their lips swelled, breaths became short. Zuko left her mouth and planted kisses along her jaw, tugging at her earlobe with his teeth. He smiled against her cheek when she gasped in pleasure, but continued kissing her, grazing her down her neck as she threw her head back to allow him better access. He felt her shudder in his arms, felt how her hips and his were pressing together, moving in waves against one another, searching for friction.

"Z-Zuko," she whispered, slowing them down. "Wait, wait! I don't… I can't… its just… so much!" She was scuttling away and standing up, leaving him sitting bewildered in the chair - his hair ruffled by her fingers, erection plainly visible through his loose trousers.

She bit her lip as her eyes fell on him, and he sat forwards, embarrassed, unsure as to what was happening. His good cheek flamed red.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable Katara," he started, rubbing the back of his neck, looking away from her.

"No, no you're fine, its just… I can't explain, I'm sorry! I'm… I'm going to go to bed… good night Zuko…" the words spilled from her swollen lips in a rush and she turned on her heal, practically running from the kitchen.

Zuko was left stunned. What had just happened? One moment he was kissing her and the next she had run away? What had he done wrong?

He cursed himself repeatedly while he waited for his heartbeat to settle and busied himself clearing away the tea things. He practiced breathing deeply to let go of some frustration and decided to ask her about it tomorrow. He was allowed to do that right? But at the same time he didn't want her to think he was pushing for anything…. She kissed him though - twice!

He threw his hands up in frustration as he climbed the dark stair to his room, quietly padding down the corridor and letting himself in. With a flick of his wrist the candles lit and Zuko froze.

Sitting on his bed was Katara, looking at him with large blue eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to do that. I got… scared," she admitted.

Zuko raised his good eyebrow. He knew her pride was almost as big as his - and to admit she was scared took some courage. Especially to him. He swallowed and sat down on the bed next to her, careful to not touch her.

"What scared you?" he asked.

"This!" she replied, indicating the two of them. "I don't know what this is Zuko and I don't know when it started and I've never felt like this before and it scares me! I don't know what I'm doing when I'm with you and I want to be around you all the time - but at the same time I feel almost sick when I am around you. And I feel so guilty because of Aang and because of the way I treated you before and because we're in the middle of a war so I shouldn't be thinking all of these things and —" Zuko cut her off by grabbing her wrists to stop her flailing arms and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. She calmed down a little and sunk into it. Slowly Zuko let go of her wrists.

"I understand things are complicated," he started, pensively. "But… I really…like you Katara. More than… more than anybody else. So if you'd like to continue … this… whatever this is… even if you don't want to tell the others, that's … well… I'd like that." Her wide eyes met his and she nodded slowly.

"I'd like that," she said quietly.

"And we don't need to do anything you don't want to," he added, thinking of how she had just run away.

"Or anything you don't want to do either," she replied.

"I don't think there's much on that list," he said, eyes skimming her body, making her blush. "I'm glad to just be near you."

She blushed at both his words and his attention.

"I'm happy to be near you too, Zuko. And I really am sorry for how awful I was to you."

"Katara, its fine. I'm sorry for everything too. I probably deserved a lot worse for chasing you all around the world and for … for Ba Sing Se. I wish I could let you and Aang and Uncle know how truly sorry I am for that. But in a way I needed to go back. I hadn't been home since I was thirteen. I needed to go back to understand that wasn't my home anymore." He spoke sadly, sincerely, absently rubbing the scarred side of his face.

Katara's eyes flicked to his hand as he spoke.

"Zuko? How did you get your scar?" she asked quietly. She watched his expression sharpen, watched him retreat behind old walls he had built around himself. She held her breath as she reached out and gently caressed the scarred tissue as she had in the cave under Ba Sing Se and something softened in his expression.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said in a strained voice.

"If you do, I'm here Zuko," she whispered, brushing his hair back with her fingers. He just nodded and bowed his head so she could reach more of his hair.

"Zuko? Is it alright if I sleep here with you tonight?" she asked after a pause. "I mean in the same bed not… you know…" she added quickly, ducking her head to hide a blush.

Zuko took a long time to answer. Her hand fell from his hair into her lap and she was bracing herself for rejection, to return to her room alone. She desperately did not want to be alone right now though.

"Yeah, you can stay," came his answer finally, as he tentatively took one of her hands.

They lay side by side, holding one hand for a long time although neither fell asleep. Eventually Katara huffed in frustration and turned to face him on her side. She nuzzled into his neck and draped herself on him, both shuffling until they were comfortable. Finally sleep took them and they fell asleep for the first time in one another's arms.