#and zuko and sokka whose ship name i do not know

[yeraskier]

what is the best trope and why is it grumpy/stoic x sarcastic/goofy

[roriaa]

When Sun and Moon meet - S3

Zuko x Fem!WaterBender!Reader Enemies to Lovers

As one of the Princesses of the Northern Water tribe, you were blessed with a gift by the moon. However you were permitted to be allowed to use the gift at all costs. From many hidden waterbending usages, the aftermath of the avatar visiting the Northern Tribe had led to your beginning journey, hiding yourself as a water bender as a princess from the Northern water tribe

Warnings: Fighting, escaping, tears, happy end

Masterlist

҉ * ‧͙ ⋆ ⁺ ༓ ☾ Chapter 12 - Ship Attack

“You don't look so good, '' Katara asks warrily on the fire nation ship we stole. I use both of my hands to pull my hood down “I left Aku behind…” I sigh. Katara pats my back and looks down “I'm sorry we couldn't find him” She said sadly. “No it's not your fault, it's Zuko’s” I grumble in irritation, gripping my cloak harder. “Well it was the whole fire nation, not just Zuko” Toph said behind me. I snapped my head towards her “So you're defending him!?” I argued. “I'm just saying he didn't do all of the mess” Toph answered, way too casually for my liking. As I was about to yell at Toph, Katara stopped me. “You seem to get more hot headed when we talk about…uh…prince Zuko” Katara mumbles the last part which made me glare at her. “Just! Don't mention his name” I lifted my hand up, stomping over to the edge of the boat. “But she was the only one that mentioned him…” Toph said, which earned a hush from Katara.

“Twinkle Toes! That's gotta be you!” Toph said excitedly which made me turn around to see Aang on the floor. I rushed over to Aang along with the others happily. “Aang! You're awake!” Katara said joyfully as Aang grumbled, rubbing his eyes while getting up. “Are you sure…? I feel like I'm dreaming.” Katara rushed over to hug him which caught him off guard. “Don't worry, you're definitely awake.” I giggled, patting his back. “Aang good to see you buddy” Sokka said, his voice somewhat muffled from the fire nation helmet. “Sokka…?” Aang’s voice was draining as he tumbled over, losing his balance. “Uh oh! Somebody catch him, he's gonna…!” Toph hurriedly said, Katara was already rushing towards Aang to catch him. “Fall…” Toph finished her sentence awkwardly. “He needs time to process the situation we are in” I sighed, moving forward to take a closer look at Aang. “Someone should get him a blanket” I lifted my head up to see who was willing to fetch a blanket for Aang. “On it!” One of Katara’s southern tribe members said, already walking to get one. I look at Katara, whose face is filled with worry while holding Aang against her. “I'm sure Aang will be fine, Katara.” I reassured her, making her nod. “Yeah…I know.”

The next day, Sokka sat Aang down as we all sat next to them, eating our breakfast. While Sokka was recapping everything Aang had missed, I looked down at my food, stirring the noodles clockwise. It was obvious that the food ingredients were from Ba Sing Se. I sigh at the memory, the food tasted nostalgic even though I had it not too long ago in Ba Sing Se. I remember the scenery and the smell of that restaurant that sold these, the flavor was sour with a tint of spice. I smiled fondly at that memory, admiring the moon in the cold night sky. Conversation flying by as Aku and I sat in front of the restaurant on the cold stoney floor. Across from the tea house…”Ugh”.

“Y/N is the food not good?” A Southern Tribe member asked me which made my eyes widened. “No no no no no!!” I repeated myself, shaking my hand and head at the same time. “You have been looking at the food quite displeased.” Another said which made me look down. Everyone's eyes looking at me in worry. “I'm just thinking about something…Sorry” I mumbled, quickly and quietly eating my food. Aang looks at Sokka and Katara, silently asking what happened to Y/N which they shrugged at. “Anywaayys the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage! We have a secret.” Sokka comedically whispered the last sentence, leaning forward. “You.” He finished, which made Aang confused. “Me?” Aang confirmed which Sokka nodded. “Yep! The whole world thinks you're dead. Isn't that great?!” Sokka lifted himself up along with his arms happily. I looked over to Aang, seeing him completely shocked, eyes widened with his mouth agape. He immediately got up to maneuver towards the edge of the ship, recollecting his thoughts about the situation he is in.

  ҉   ☾

“I don't think twinkle toes is taking this easy.” Toph said uneasily which I nodded in agreement. I watched Sokka attempting to convince Aang how him being “dead” would be beneficial but Aang couldn't see any positive attributes. I heard a familiar sound ring my ears, looking behind me towards the direction of the sound. It was a fire nation ship. Toph and I walked over to one of the hatches and hid ourselves from the opposing ship. Aang and the Southern tribe siblings joined us. “I hate not being able to do anything.” Aang whispered irritatedly. “Hopefully you won't need to.” Toph said, looking over to the other ship. I peek my eyes out from the hatch, attempting to hear what they were saying until. “They know!” Toph yelled out, jumping off from the hatch, immediately using her metal bending to destroy the ramp, making the captain and his two guards fall. Katara immediately rushed over to move the water in a waving motion, to separate the ships enough for us to quickly sail away. I rush over to the back of the ship, using my water bending to help the ship move across water quicker. I felt the ship move heavily, tipping over my balance. I look ahead of me in worry seeing cannonballs getting shot towards us. Another cannonball came towards our direction however countered by Toph's rock bending, sending dust all over the place. I cough as I cover my eyes from the impact, avoiding getting any dust in my eyes. I open my eyes and the next thing I know, my whole vision is covered by mist. I felt rain hitting my fast shortly after, it was faint till it started pouring. “Oh no…” I looked up realizing it was mainly my fault that it started raining. More rumbling of the ship made the rain stronger. The only good part is that the rain died down some of the fires on the ship from the cannonballs. “Things couldn't get much worse than this!” Sokka yelled out, only to be proven wrong when a serpent emerged from the ocean waves. The rain became harsher the more I became stressed and worried. I cannonball once again came in our direction, hitting the serpent, sending it in an outrage. I wince at the sound coming from the serpent, slithering over to the other ship caging it with its body. “Thank you universe.” Sokka said relieved. I watch the ship with the serpent getting farther away, the rain dying down in the process. “And what do you know, the rain stopped as well” Sokka spoke up again. I whistled “Yeah how convenient.”

“What do they have in store?” I turn to Sokka and Toph. “Food!” He said excitedly, already picking out stuff to buy. Currently waiting for Katara and Aang who were talking in the ship. Aang was heavily persistent on revealing that he is the avatar to the world which we were all against, for his safety. I stared at Sokka who was holding whatever he could get his hands on. “What…ingredients…?” I sighed. “Uhh food ingredients.” Sokka shrugged. My eyes twitched in irritation “Sokka you-” I turned to see Katara, who didn't look like she was in the best mood. “Where's Aang?” I ask, which made Toph and Sokka turn to face Katara. “Aang still doesn't feel too good,” Katara sighs disappointedly. We all look at each other clearly upset. “It's okay. maybe tomorrow he might join us” I attempted to lighten the mood. The trio nodded as we continued to get food for our dinner.

  ҉   ☾

I eat my food peacefully outside looking at the moon. It was the closest feeling to the northern tribe, my family, Yue.  I didn't think I would get this homesick before, missing the food and company so quickly. I giggle to myself happily thinking how much relief they would have if the avatar defeats the fire lord. Once I came back, they promised to hold a memorable feast. I'm sure excited for that moment to happen. I finished my food, and turned on my heel to go to my room. I take one more look at the moon, it's unusually brighter than it was before, like it was casting a spotlight at something. I shrugged, it's probably nothing and walked over to my room.

I open my eyes, stretching my limbs against the mattress under me. I lifted my body up from the mattress, making my way towards the door, grabbing my fire nation cloak along with me. Reaching for the door while wrapping the cloak around me, a guest opened my door immediately. I stepped back in shock seeing it was Katara. “Oh Katara? What happened?” I asked worriedly, seeing her face even more saddened than yesterdays. “Aang ran away…I just told Sokka and Toph” She said sadly. I gasped but hugged Katara. “We will find him, don't worry.” I smiled which she nodded at. We all gathered on top of the ship, “When did he leave?” Sokka asked Katara. “He left last night, while most of us were sleeping,” Katara explained. We all huddled around the map, thinking where he would be at this moment. “Alright Katara, Toph and Y/n we are all going to go on Appa and search for Aang.” Sokka said, already hopping on Appa who was perfectly fine searching for him. No one had any complaints, silently getting on Appa. 

“Have you guys found him?” Katara asks us, also looking around the ground. “Yeah I see him.” Toph said out loud. We looked at her deadpanned as she shrugged, laying on Appa. Momo all of a sudden jumped off of Appa, flying towards the volcano. “He must be there!” I pointed towards the volcano, Appa immediately flying at the direction I was pointing at. To our relief, Aang was there lying on the edge of the rocks. “You're okay!” Katara ran towards Aang in complete relief, embracing him once she reached him. Tears softly fell off her face as she hugged Aang a little closer, all of us embracing the two of them shortly after. “I have so much to do.” Aang softly said. “I know, but you'll have our help.” Katara encouraged Aang. “You didn't think you could get out of training just by coming to the fire nation, did you?” Toph joked, lightening the mood. “What about the invasion?” Aang asks, looking at Sokka. “We’ll join up with my dad and the invasion force on the day of the eclipse.” Sokka explained. I felt something poke me repeatedly. “What in the world is-” I grab it out of the water and lift it up to our visions. “Oh…” I said awkwardly, looking at Aang's glider completely destroyed. “It's your glider…” Aang reaches out to grab it. “That's okay…if someone saw it, it would give away my identity” Aang sighs. “It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive.” With that, Aang air bends up towards the point, near the volcano. Spinning the glider between his fingers and placing it down on the magma flooring. He turns back towards us, landing next to us. His glider, slowly burning down in the process…

<- Back - Next ->

a/n: WHEN SUN AND MOON MEET IS BACK WITH S3!! HOORAY!! This took a while however its officially back and ready. Updates should come out regularly once a week now. Hope yall enjoy! Make sure yall take care of yourself!! :)

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taglist: @luvkvni @katovano @karmaswitch @someonesmember @velvet-spider @sh3sa1dwhat @nerdisthenewcool @meiraloves2dmen @fqnfics101 @iluvme547 @leaderwon @yukihatesreoyo @heart4hees @4l3x1s @kkissaku @corpsebridenightamare @newjellis @fatkish@pbeckn26@jasminesacademia @kyo-kyo1 @fl9wey @icantwaittoliveandlearn

[gaybd1]

Chris rewatches and liveblogs the awful The Last Airbender movie for the first time since it was released 13 years ago

ok I saw this once when it was in theatres when I was in high school and I never watched it again. I remember being disappointed and uncomfortable originally

I only remember Aang was pronounced differently and Katara was some blonde chick I remember literally nothing else so here we go

oh damn ok right away the bending animation is kind of giving but the weird cursive stylization of the element names in the intro… not a fan bc my bad Chinese reading self can’t read it and I wonder if that’s even like a real style lol I wouldn’t be surprised either way

Also like just KEEP the TV intro instead of plagiarising but a little to the left?? sorry I know I’m nitpicking

Why are Katara and Sokka like MAGA-white that’s SO uncomfy

Sokka is not giving me the correct vibes

Why would Katara go with Sokka to go hunting?? p sure that happened in the cartoon too but ???

Already changing my mind about the costumes and possibly the Sokka vibes

Okay Aangs tattoos fuck actually

Okay yeah the tone of this whole thing is so boring I can’t put my finger on it yet like something is DEFINITELY missing

Okay yeah the costumes suck

ZUKO??? why is his hair so boring why is his scar so tiny

Gran Gran is white too?? but all the other villagers aren’t lololol okayyyyy

First impression of the sets (like the SWT village were good) but actually they suck they make ZERO sense there are just like open windows and no door?? But it’s cold outside???

OH NO what did this film do to Appa I’m so sorry sweetie look how they’ve massacred my boy

IS THAT UNCLE IROH IM AHSJDKLFNFGSJSKD

EEROH again I guess that’s more accurate but WHY

The vibes in this movie are all off lolol how did Nickelodeon endorse this?????

Still not sure why this feels so flat like I really don’t care about anything happening?? Maybe bc the original show is so character driven and this movie hasn’t even let us get to know any of the characters?? I remember thinking the first time I watched this that it moves way too fast so I guess this all could come down to a pacing problem

Gran Gran’s explanation to like send them after Aang makes no sense at all actually

I know they were trying to be like accurate with the costumes (a laugh tbh) but I do think it was a mistake to get rid of the color associations

MOMO OH NO I’m so sorry sweetie

Again with the air temple set, the vibes are right but it doesn’t look quite like anything I ever saw in SEA or in research...

The sequence where he finds out the airbenders are gone is pretty good. Seems they could do more with that than in the show but okay now he’s having some weird vision with a dragon????

Wait Soe-ka? Knock it off w the names I s2g where is the franchise continuity

Are the gonna explain the weird ass dragon vision??

The FN ships are so bad

Zhao is not creepy enough. Asshole enough though.

I KNOW I’m nitpicking but even the food seems wack

Weird that the firebenders seem to be only able to manipulate fire here, not create it

I do wonder about the authenticity of the costumes. I’ve heard they suck but I’d be fooled which begs the question, why not just BE authentic to the cultures they’re supposed to represent

Is it the acting that’s flat here, the writing, or the directing? Whose fault is it??

Interesting choice to have the earthbenders imprisoned within reach of their own element. I kind of like that, showing how defeated their spirits really are

Of course they gave away Katara’s motivational speech

These bending motions CANNOT be based on real martial arts lmfao it seems so clunky

Wild how I just don’t care about any of these characters lol

The writing isn’t ALL bad like I actually like the way different plot elements were connected for the sake of the movie but the execution is just so bad

Princess Yue leads the NWT? Again… a Choice

Wild how they are leaving the best episodes out of this narrative. Like the ones that gave the characters life

LOVE that there’s an African-inspired Earth Kingdom village, I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot actually

Why does the Fire nation look like that?? Why does Ozai look like that??? Why are we introducing Ozai already I don’t like that choice either???

I HATE the Fire Nation aesthetic SO MUCH

Ozai is not evil enough AT ALL

I DO like the creative directions they took w diversity in the Earth Kingdom like in different towns

AGNI KEE I’m

Aww lil Azula is cute

What a weird ass way to fit in Zuko’s backstory. Again, I don’t find myself caring about it at all

Starting to really hate the bending actually. The elements don’t seem to be interacting w the movements of the bender at all

The statue room looks cool

The dragon again wtfff

The Blue Spirit. Cool but it doesn’t hit as hard bc we don’t CARE about Zuko or his past and tbh it probs won’t make any sense to a casual viewer anyway

Also why does his mask need to come with a wig I mean it looks so unserious

Iroh just creeps me out idek why

OH we’re blowing up Zuko’s ship NOW okayyy

Aww some Sokka/Yue vibes but it’s a real shame I don’t give a shit about this version of Sokka

I think one reason I don’t like this version of bending is it takes so much handwavinv before anything even starts happening

Not digging this NWT aesthetic either tbh

Pakku??? Why does he look like cheap knock off Theodin? Why is he like… nice???

Why is Aang trying to talk to this Dragon Spirit and not like… Roku?

Wild how the one thing they left the same from the actual show was how Zuko snuck into the NWT lol

Hate the spirit oasis, actually

Least helpful Dragon Spirit ever

Cool that iroh is the one who can make fire out of nothing (he obviously taught Zuko) but lolol what a random time to do that

Okay the scene between Yue and Sokka before she turned into the moon was nice. Probably the most emotion we’ve seen in the whole movie

More morbid that her body is still there though lol

And no Ocean Spirit to fuck things up??

Drowning someone w waterbending is very dark but actually a great touch

I like this idea of Aang mourning his people and using that to harness his waterbending and then he can beat the FN on his own without a spirit’s help. That’s nice.

Also the music for that scene was nice. The only good soundtrack all movie too

So he’s just scaring them with water?? Lmaoooooo not even like killing anyone they just all ran away?? that’s actually…. A fucking terrible plot point never mind

Sweet he gets another chance to like. Accept his role as avatar and bow back to everyone?

AZULA

Okay yeah that was AWFUL

[zoethespiritwolf]

Hi!

I don’t know if you’re taking requests right now. But I was wondering if I could request a Sokka x reader? She/her. I was thinking of a modern setting, but everyone still has their bending and y/n is a fire bender. So naturally Sokka and y/n start out as enemies but grow to be best friends, until one day y/n suddenly goes missing. The gaang does everything they can to look for their friend but Sokka is the one to take her disappearance the hardest. He admits to his friends that he has feelings for y/n. They find her alive a week later (you can pick where they find her). After she’s recovered Sokka finally tells her his feelings.

Sorry if it’s a weird requests. I just thought this might be an interesting storyline.

Hi! Yes, I do take requests, I just haven't been active lately due to various issues😅

This was actually a very interesting scenario, although a bit complicating, but still very fun to write.

I decided to change a few minor details and make into a two part miniseries, but regardless, I hope you enjoy it, anon! <3

Ps: part 2 will come soon

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(I unfortunately couldn't find the original artist. If you know who it belongs to, please, let me know, I'll credit them right away)

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I love her, damn it!

Part 1

Ship: Sokka x f!firebender!reader

Warnings: swearing, mentions of injuries and gun wounds, a bit of angst, but it ends well

Genre: angst-to-comfort

Fic type: scenario

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

It had never meant to come to this. At least, that's what the members of Team Avatar thought when they managed to get themselves into this situation.

They had found that key information was stored at one of the heavily guarded military bases in the Fire Nation. Information that they needed to bring down the government and leader of said nation. Yet when they had successfully broken in by using their bending abilities and careful planning and managed to obtain the info, one of the previously knocked-out guards had woken up and set off the alarm.

However, that wasn't the worst of it. They had managed to bust out of the building itself but had yet to get past the borders.

"There!" Katara yelled out, pointing her finger towards a military jeep.

"Everyone get in!" Zuko yelled at the group as he turned back to use his firebending to hold back the soldiers along with (Y/n).

Both of them used their abilities to burn and block their attackers as others scrambled to get into the car, with Aang at the steering wheel.

"Get in you two!" Sokka yelled out to the two newly joined firebenders from the back of the car, shielding his face briefly with a stolen police shield when a bullet flew his way. "We have to go! NOW!"

Zuko and (Y/n) turned their attention to the others in the jeep before looking back in front of them to the defeated soldiers. The older boy then started sprinting off to the jeep while the girl stayed behind to look if they wouldn't be followed when they departed. Unfortunately for her, she could see more Fire Nation soldiers coming down the front corridor, holding either rifles or machine guns, some empty-handed which meant more firebenders.

"Start driving! I'll catch up to you!" (Y/n) yelled out to her teammates.

"Are you insane!? No!!" Sokka yelled back.

"God damn it! Listen to me for once Sokka!" the girl yelled back. "Start driving! If you don't, none of us will make it! GO!!!"

Sokka wanted to argue further but jolted forward when the jeep started working and driving away. Fortunately, he had caught himself at the edge of the doorway, his eyes turning back to the firebender he considered a former enemy and now rival.

The girl looked back and made eye contact with the sea-blue eyes of her rival. (Y/n) noticed how Sokka's brows were furrowed downwards and eyes blazed like the flames that only a few firebenders like Princess Azula could produce.

"How pretty they are," she noted to herself briefly before turning back to the soldiers in front of her, guns ready to shoot at them.

She pulled back her balled hand before thrusting it in front of her and releasing a large blast of flames at them, knocking most of the soldiers back. (Y/n) slightly rose to the toes and in a swift twirl turned the opposite direction and chased down her friends' jeep.

She didn't think about anything else, only Sokka's stretched-out hand. The girl willed her tired body to run faster after them and had already stretched out her hand in return before a sharp pain suddenly came from her calf.

Only then (Y/n)'s and Sokka's brains registered the gunshot. The boy propelled himself as much forward as he could before he would tumble out of the back completely trying to grasp her hand. But it missed, just barely, but missed regardless.

And once again, their eyes locked on each others. Both pairs widened in shock and horror as (Y/n) plummeted to the dirt path when her leg finally gave out.

The firebender could faintly hear the screams of her name from her friends over the deafening sound of her heartbeat in her ears. (Y/n) looked down at the source of her agony and saw that the bullet had indeed managed to get itself deep into her calf. And the longer the girl looked at it, the pain intensified.

She heard the clocking of guns and turned her gaze upwards to see that the soldiers had caught up to her and readied their guns. (Y/n) weakly raised her hand upwards and looked back in the direction she had been running only to see the stolen car driving further and further away.

"At least they made it," (Y/n) sighed as she thought of this.

The girl then felt her hand being seized and cuffed, as the soldiers yanked (Y/n) to her unsteady feet, making her grit her teeth together as to not release a scream of pain. She knew they would use it against her if she showed any weaknesses.

When they started to drag her into the base she had tried to escape, she glanced back down the road where her friends had taken off, not seeing the car anymore, only a black fading dot in the distance.

"At least they'll be safe," she girl thought before her view was obscured by the closing metal doors.

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

"We have to turn back!" Sokka yelled at the front passengers of the car. "(Y/n)'s still out there! She could die!"

"We have to leave her, Sokka." Zuko replied tiredly, "We are too far away now. Besides, even if we did now turn around and drive back, what then? What's your plan? Busting back into the base full of heavily armed guards and firebenders and hope to magically find her?"

''YES!!" Sokka yelled, his brows further creasing downwards further by the second.

"Sokka, we won't make it," Katara reasoned as she turned to look back at her distressed brother, "we barely made it out ourselves. We can't go back. At least not now-"

"We escaped because she bought us time!" Sokka argued back, "We need to go back to her! We owe her for this!"

"Sokka, we'll get her back," Aang chimed in still driving the car, "but right now, we need to get somewhere safe so that we can clearly think of a way to rescue her."

Sokka stayed silent at this comment. Deep down he knew this, he knew more than anyone that they needed a plan to get her out and that they couldn't just bust her out with their abilities. But the urge to get her back near him, the fear that he might lose her and she would die because he wasn't fast enough, the things he hadn't yet said..

The water tribe boy slumped down the wall of the jeep and sighed dejectedly. He ran a hand through his done-up hair before hesitantly bringing it in front of him on his lap. It's the same hand that couldn't grab (Y/n) when he had the chance, and he hated that fact.

"You really love her," Toph murmured in astonishment beside him.

Sokka briefly looked at the blind girl beside him whose eyes were widened in genuine shock right at him. The boy opened his mouth to deny it, but the words got stuck in his throat, unable to come out. He then turned his gaze back at his hand in his lap and stared at it for a few seconds before murmuring back, although more to himself than to the others.

"Yeah, I do."

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Part 2

[spartanxhunterx]

(I’ve watched like 8 episodes so forgive spelling mistakes or wrong names)

Ok, this might get long so… fair warning.

For this AU I was thinking, What if Aang wasn’t frozen on the night he was but Many years later.

When he’s in his late thirties.

The general idea being that, when the comet came and the Fire nation attacked, Aang did not run. He stayed at the temple to help as much as his 11 year old self could.

He watched Master Gyatso Die that day, as he suffocated himself and a room full of Fire Nation soldiers. This caused him to enter the Avatar state due to sheer rage, the state allowed him to be able to save many but not all members of the temple.

For years afterwards he would seek out a waterbender and Earthbender master is teach him, all while fighting off the Firenation and slowing their spread of destruction.

He was able to Master both water and Earth but could not find a Firebender willing to teach him.

During another night of travel he was besieged by a storm and frozen in the Ice like in Canon.

-

When Sokka and Katara accidentally free him he is much quicker to pick up that a lot of time has passed and while Cautious about possible close by Fire nation soldiers he’s still as nice and goofy as his 11 year old self.

He is, however, very concerned about how he can see signs of trauma on the two of them but is willingly to not push for details.

Aang is a lot more serious at times, having matured quite a bit over the years. He knows that the two kids who saved him deserve to be happy though, so he still explores with Katara and gets her to penguin sled down the hill, gets her to be the kid that she is.

Things progress pretty normally like in canon, so when Zuko turns up at the village all Aang can focus on is that scar, that deep burnt scar.

He knows Firebenders are resistant to fire, he knows it takes a lot to burn one of them. So he’s wondering who and why would someone grab onto this boy, this child, for so long that he has such a visible burn.

After he escapes, he does try to send the kids back home but also knows that they’ll probably be targeted should they be left undefended, so he lets them stay with him.

Besides, who better to teach Katara to waterbend then an Avatar whose already mastered Waterbending?

They still make their way to the South Pole anyway, as a way to lose Zuko’s ship but also so that Katara can be formerly recognised Waterbending Master.

When on the Kyoshi islands it’s Aang who encouraged Sokka to learn the Kyoshi Warriors fighting style, cause he knows that non-benders need every advantage in the world, also that Sokka could do with a big helping of respect woman juice.

When they make it to the earth Nation city (where bumi is) Aang doesn’t play the “old grandpa and his grandkids” gag. No, he says he’s an Earthbender and proves it by, you know, earthbending in front of the guards.

(It sends the Cabbage guys last Cabbage off the side of the cliff.)

Bumi and Aang do recognise each other immediately and Aang is able to pass the tests, up until Bumi still kicks his butt in the fight. But the whole thing is a joke on Sokka and Katara, with them in the growing rock watching it all go down.

The lesson here being that, people can be deceptive while also being in power.

-

Any time Aang encounters Zuko he always prioritises talking to him over fighting, trying to get him to see how he’s been mistreated, how the burn on his face is proof of his nation’s cruelty, even towards their own.

This does result in Zuko questioning everything a bit sooner but his uncle did a lot of the work over the three year period anyway.

-

Meeting Toph results in a switch going off in Aang, he hates seeing the way Toph is treated and while she can clearly take care of herself, she shouldn’t be treated the way she is. So he manages to convince (Read: Threaten) her parents into letting her join him.

Aangs main goal is to find a Firebender willing to teach him and to get the small gaggle of kids he’s dragging along to learn from masters and see the beauty of the world, even in its current state, all while teaching them that they can still be kids and there’s nothing wrong with that.

One of the best parts is that Aang isn’t the “last” Airbender in this AU. He’s the last “known” Airbender.

This is cause during his time before he was frozen he managed to get many of the Air nomads from around the world to hide, in a secure hidden place wedged between mountains so steep you’d need a Flying Bison to get there by sky.

The only other way is to Have a Master Waterbender, Earthbender and Airbender create an air bubble to travel under the surface of a deep lake where the other end come out in a large pool connected to the area inside. The earthbender being required cause the actual passage is blocked off by stone.

Or, have an Avatar do it all.

Which is why they have never been found. Cause all the Air Nomads are in the place, the Earthbenders refuse to help the Fire Nation and the Waterbenders keep getting killed.

Ultimately the Air Nomads are safe for as long as Aang is the Avatar.

Aang promises to take them to see the Air Nomad home some day. (Maybe after he’s ripped the Fire lord a new one for burning Zuko.)

I was thinking maybe Zukka? Or what’s the ship ugh… Zuko/Sokka/Suki with Katara & Toph being like sisters.

Just, Dad Aang whose somehow adopted a gaggle of feral children. Really.

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

Love of My Life

It was then Katara’s turn to stare up at the fiery sky, the multitude of clouds glowing in red and orange glory. “Aang,” she murmured, his name falling from her lips like a prayer. “Please.”

After the final battle, Katara and Aang reunite.

(Written for Day 3 of Kataang Week 2021: Missing Scenes/Post-Canon, hosted by @kataang-week. Read here on AO3, or continue reading below.)

Azula was taken away at some point, maybe by the Fire Sages, but her bloodcurdling screams and broken sobs were hardly a pinprick at the back of Katara’s mind as she kept her attention trained to the lightning wound blasted across Zuko’s solar plexus. Her hands glowed with the water she was continuously pulling from the now-burst piping system in the courtyard around them. She had no enhanced spirit water as with Aang, but fortunately Zuko’s injury was less severe and—thanks to her quick defeat of Azula—no longer life-threatening.

Zuko winced, and guilt flashed through Katara’s stomach for silently dismissing his pain. “Sorry.” She moved the water further upward on his chest, over a spot where the skin was more blistered. “Better?”

A low hiss escaped Zuko’s lips as the cool liquid skimmed the wound, and he managed a weak nod. “Thanks.” His voice was raspier than usual. To be expected. “For this, and for… and for stopping Azula.”

The urge to laugh rose in Katara’s throat, which she immediately suppressed because Tui and La, what was wrong with her? How was now an appropriate time for laughter? “Well, you’re welcome,” she said instead, giving him a weary smile, “but next time, how about you don’t taunt her about the lack of lightning, hmm?”

Zuko grimaced, and Katara knew that particular reaction had nothing to do with the wound across his chest. “Let’s just hope there will never be a next time.”

Katara couldn’t argue with that.

The following minutes were quiet as Katara slowly moved the water up, down, and around Zuko’s injury, her hands themselves hovering less than an inch above his chest. While she knew it was only a figment of her imagination, Katara could’ve sworn there was still blue lightning—Azula’s lightning—flickering across the wound, sparking at her fingertips and prickling across her skin.

Maybe, then, it was this lingering remnant of the Avatar’s slayer that had Katara so on edge. Maybe that was the reason why tension still thrummed through her body despite that she and Zuko were safe now, despite that they’d won.

“He’s going to come back.”

Zuko’s words broke the heavy silence, startling Katara so badly her concentration flew out the figurative window. The water around her hands lost its glow and splattered across Zuko’s chest like she’d emptied a full bucket on top of him. Frantic apologies spilled from her lips as she bent the water off his upper body with similar haste, but Zuko—wincing—pushed himself into a sitting position before she could begin the healing process again.

“Zuko, what are you—”

“Aang is going to come back,” he repeated, staring at Katara with an intensity that probably shouldn’t have been possible for someone in his grievously injured state. A testament to her healing skills, truly, and also to Zuko’s general stubbornness.

“I know he will,” Katara said after a pause, bending the water she’d again collected around her hands into the leather waterskin that hung at her hip. “If memory serves, I was the one telling you that on our way here.”

Zuko chuckled. “I know. Sorry. You just seemed like…” His eyes flickered across her face, searching for vulnerability Katara refused to bare. “Like you needed the reminder.”

Katara sighed, not meeting his gaze. “Look. I know Aang will come back. I know he’ll win.” Spirits, maybe he had won already. “I mean, he’s the only one who can. But I guess I’m still—” Katara cut herself off with another sigh, blinking back exhausted tears. “Fine, you’re right. I guess I’m still worried.”

Aang would return victorious, yes, there was no doubt in her mind. But at what cost? What price would he have been forced to pay? Sacrificing his body through the loss of a limb? Sacrificing his soul through the loss of that which his people valued above all else? Katara knew, she knew that if anyone could stop Ozai without killing him, it was Aang. But what she didn’t know was—was how.

Spirits, Katara wouldn’t be able to handle it if Aang returned to her broken in a way she couldn’t heal. She’d already witnessed him die once, watched his body go limp as life left it. She wasn’t ready to watch his spirit disappear, wasn’t ready to watch hope leave his heart, too.

Zuko opened his mouth, presumably to offer more words of comfort to her, but he was interrupted by Appa’s body stiffening—the sky bison was so large it was impossible not to notice the reaction. He’d originally been standing guard, for all intents and purposes, while Katara healed Zuko, but now his eyes were glued to the sky as he released a bellow that shook the stone of the courtyard beneath them.

Katara grabbed Zuko’s arm to keep him from toppling over, but instead of resettling himself, Zuko tried to stand up, as if the giant wound on his chest was nothing more than a mere papercut.

“It’s Aang!” was the only explanation he gave as Katara relented with a huff and helped him to his feet. “It has to be. What else would get Appa acting like this?”

Privately, Katara agreed with him. Hope beat in her heart so rapidly it ached. But since Zuko had wildly, unexpectedly, completely out of the blue transformed into an optimist—seriously, had the lightning gone through his brain?—well, that meant she had to be the one to temper his optimism with a little realism.

“It could be a threat,” she responded honestly, not releasing Zuko’s arm until she was certain he’d gathered his balance.

Zuko shot her a doubtful look. “You sure?” He pointed at Appa, whose tail had started shaking—okay, yes, probably with excitement, Katara would admit that much.

It was then her turn to stare up at the fiery sky, the multitude of clouds glowing in red and orange glory. “Aang,” she murmured, his name falling from her lips like a prayer. “Please.”

Seconds later, those otherworldly clouds split open to reveal a Fire Nation airship, and on the exterior Katara could see flashes of blue and green fabric—Sokka and Toph, it had to be. Spirits knew she probably should have been concerned about who was steering the balloon, but once it was clear the ship was heading steadily towards the ground and wouldn’t face a disastrous crash, Katara’s mind returned to its previous mantra.

Aang. Aang. Aang.

“Remember to breathe, Katara.”

Katara shot Zuko a mild glare at his wry tone, but exhaled, because he was right—she’d been holding her breath. In fact, she was still holding far more tension in her body than could be considered healthy, but Katara knew that overwhelming stiffness wasn’t going to ease until she saw her friends alive and well, until she felt Aang’s heartbeat in sync against her own.

Katara’s breath hitched as the airship came to a stop far from herself and Zuko, hovering above the stone ground of the courtyard. It was much larger up close—no wonder it couldn’t land properly. There was a deep rattle as a metal plank, of sorts, some kind of steel pathway lowered from the ship and scraped across the ground with an earsplitting screech. Onto it stepped—

“They’re alive!” Katara gasped, blinking back elated tears as Sokka, Aang, Toph, and Suki—and Momo atop Suki’s left shoulder—stepped out onto the platform. One of Sokka’s legs was in a splint and he had to lean onto Suki’s side for support as he hobbled along, but— “They’re all alive!”

Aang was alive.

They’d done it. A little bruised, a little broken, maybe all around worse for wear, but—

They’d done it.

“Come on,” Zuko urged, taking an unsteady step forward and immediately wincing. He didn’t let the pain stop him, though, powering another foot ahead. “Let’s meet them halfway.”

Katara rolled her eyes, ducking under Zuko’s arm to brace him against her side, careful to avoid his injury. “Idiot.” Standing on his own was one thing, but walking by himself was an entirely different matter. She could already tell Zuko was the kind of person who made a terrible patient.

But Katara walked with him all the same, slow and steady. As they got closer, she could better see the physical state her friends were in. Toph had only a few scrapes across her arms and face. Same for Suki. Sokka had clearly done a number on his leg, as he was hardly putting any weight on it despite the well-made split, and not to mention that Suki continued to brace him while he walked. Aang was—

“Appa!”

Well, Aang was getting smothered by Appa, Katara noted with silent amusement as the sky bison practically tackled Aang to the ground, nuzzling and licking him with unabashed eagerness.

“Buddy, I’m okay!” Aang managed to wheeze out amidst his laughter, giving Appa a tight hug. “I’m okay, I promise.”

He seemed to be telling the truth, at least based on what Katara could discern from afar. His orange robes were torn to oblivion, with only his Fire Nation pants remaining. She could see minor burns across his chest and one area on the left side of his ribs that looked to her like it would become a painful bruise, but overall—

“If you guys are here with no Azula,” Sokka joked as they all came to a stop, snapping Katara’s attention away from Aang, “does that mean Zuko finally gets to rule the Fire Nation?”

Katara allowed Zuko to keep some of his weight on her even as they stood still. He laughed at her brother’s comment. “Katara’s the one who technically defeated her in the Agni Kai. Maybe that makes her the Fire Lord.”

Katara groaned and rolled her eyes, ignoring the amused snickers of her friends. “Tui and La, no. I refuse. I resign. I—I abdicate. The throne is all yours, Zuko.”

She turned her attention to her brother’s injured leg as Suki began recounting the details of their battle in the air, including how they’d managed to pilfer an airship of their own. Up close, Katara was relieved to see that no bone had broken through the skin in Sokka’s shin or thigh—that would have made it much harder for her to heal. She made sure Zuko was stable on his feet before stepping away to study the injury further. But as she crouched at Sokka’s side and went to bend water out her flask for the preliminary healing process—

“Hey. That can wait.”

Katara blinked, staring up at Sokka in utter confusion. “Excuse me?” His leg was broken, she couldn’t just—

Sokka jerked his head towards Aang, who was busy freeing himself from beneath Appa’s weight. “Go greet the hero of the hour. My leg will still be here when you get back.”

Toph snorted. “Of the hour?” She shook her head. “Give him credit, Sokka—Twinkle Toes is the hero of the century.” Momo chirped before jumping from Suki’s shoulder onto Toph’s, as if agreeing with her.

Katara turned to look at Aang, her mind tuning out the rest of her friend’s teasing banter that followed. He was—Aang was more than the hero of the century, at least to her. More than the Avatar, more than an airbender, more than—

Aang must have felt her eyes on him, because he paused in petting Appa to turn around and give her a shy grin. “Hi, Katara.”

With those two words, the dam burst, and Katara sprinted over to Aang with all the speed of a roaring wave. Her arms crashed around his bare shoulders like water beating against the shore, and Aang wrapped his arms around her waist in return. Katara could only squeeze him tighter, his face pressing into her shoulder.

“You stopped him,” Katara whispered. Her words were shaky, or—spirits, maybe it was her entire body that was quivering. “Ozai. You stopped him.”

Aang nodded into her shoulder, and Katara slackened her grip just enough so he could lean back and reply. “Yep.”

Katara’s right hand instinctively rose to cup his face. She could see it in his eyes—tired, yes, but still so full of hope, the warm gray as rich as the shimmering moon. “You found another way, didn’t you?”

Aang smiled at her, laugh lines crinkling at the corners of his eyes, and spirits if that wasn’t an image Katara wanted traced into her memory for the rest of time. “Ozai is alive. But he can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

Katara had a million questions, the first being the obvious How? How did you do it? But no query fell from her lips despite her overwhelming curiosity. Instead, all she could do was stare at Aang, tears of relief sliding down her cheeks as she smiled and smiled and smiled and—

“I am so proud of you,” Katara said, the words halfway to a sob as she pulled Aang into another crushing hug, marvelling at how perfectly his body fit against hers. “I knew you would do it, Aang, I knew it. Only you could.”

Aang laughed. “Must’ve been your belief that got me through it.” His arms tightened around her, as if he, too, needed the unspoken reassurance that Katara was there, that she was real, that they had won, the same way she needed such comfort from him. “At one point, I’m not even sure I believed I’d succeed.”

“It’s a good thing I never doubted you, then,” Katara whispered, and Aang laughed again.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Katara wasn’t quite sure what Aang was thanking her for—her faith then, her presence now?—and in truth, she had a feeling Aang didn’t precisely know, either. But what did precision matter? They were here, together, alive. Beaten and bruised but not broken beyond all repair. Neither of them had lost what they couldn’t live without.

For Aang, the vestiges of his peaceful people. And for her…

Aang.

Katara hadn’t lost Aang. Not like she had before, not like she couldn’t bear to ever lose him again.

“Alright, lovebirds! That’s enough time spent hugging the life out of each other. Come tend to the wounded, please.”

Katara rolled her eyes at her brother’s obnoxious interruption, but she released Aang after a final tight squeeze. She really did want to take a look at Sokka’s leg. Besides—she and Aang now had all the time in the world. All the time in a peaceful world, at that.

Aang followed her back to the rest of their friends, and Katara had just knelt down to examine Sokka’s injury when Aang burst out into loud, unprovoked laughter. The sudden sound made her jump, and it was only thanks to some quick thinking—and inelegant bending—that she avoided spilling the water from her waterskin all over the stone courtyard for the second time in the past ten minutes.

“What’s so funny?” Zuko asked, the apparent reason for Aang’s laughter. “What did I do?”

“No—you didn’t—” Aang cut himself off with a wheeze, and Katara couldn’t stop herself from glancing behind her to see what on Earth had him in stitches.

Aang pointed at Zuko’s chest, biting down hard on his bottom lip in a clear attempt to withhold further laughter. “That. Azula shot you with lightning, right?” When Zuko nodded, he said, “And Katara healed you?”

“I did,” Katara confirmed. Sokka gave her a disapproving look, probably because she was yet to begin healing his leg, but—well, this time Katara had no real excuse beyond her own intrigue. Whoops. But it wasn’t as if his splint wasn’t holding up perfectly. The expertise with which it was secured suggested Suki had been the one to fashion it, and that meant Sokka would be fine for a quick moment longer.

Aang’s laughter returned in full force, one arm wrapped around his stomach while his free hand gestured wildly behind him. “We—We match!” He turned around, and—

“Oh, for Agni’s sake,” Zuko groaned, and Katara found herself unable to contain her laughter. In a matter of seconds, they were all laughing at Aang’s revelation. Even Zuko, once he’d gotten over himself.

Tui and La. Katara loved her friends, she loved her life, she loved being alive with her friends by her side and—

Aang.

She loved Aang.

Oh, spirits.

[seyaryminamoto]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[stitch1830]

Misc #1 "All I do is drink coffee and say bad words

Same tho. Actually not the same bc I just drink coffee. Day and night. That’s it.

......

Aang was studying at his favorite coffee shop with his friends. They all had their respective work to do, but there was strength in numbers when it came to productivity… Usually. Sometimes.

Okay, not really, but it helped to know that they were all in it together.

Currently, Katara was complaining to Sokka about how his organization system of ‘writing things down on his arm’ was not sufficient enough (which he argued did work because he had never missed an assignment to date), Zuko shuffled between actually trying to study and talking to his uncle, the owner of the shop, and Suki and Aang were the only productive ones it seemed. Both were actually studying for upcoming exams and successfully blocked out surrounding conversations so that they could get shit done.

Aang was on a roll, and he was hoping that he would be able to finish studying early and have the weekend to himself, then all of a sudden, someone new joined their study group.

Someone pretty.

He never met the young woman before, but she apparently knew almost everyone else at the table.

“Here Toph, come sit next to me,” Zuko said. The girl, Toph, sat between Zuko and Aang, and Zuko introduced the two.

“Aang, this is Toph. Toph, Aang. Toph and I knew each other growing up, and I invited her to come study with us.”

“Nice to meet you,” Aang replied.

Toph nodded in his direction. “Likewise. Now Zuko, where’s my fucking coffee?”

Zuko didn’t even blink at her crass demand, and placed a coffee in Toph’s hand. And that was when Aang noticed what should’ve been obvious: she was blind.

He didn’t have much time to think further on the revelation, for Toph turned back to him and began a conversation. “So Aang, is it? Odd name.”

“Toph,” Katara whined. “Do you have to be so… opinionated?”

“It’s not an opinion, Sugar Queen, just a fuckin’ observation!”

“That was kind of your opinion, Toph,” Sokka replied.

“And no one asked for your shitty comment, Meathead but here we are, listening to it.

“All I said was that it was an odd name. Not that it was bad, or gross. Just odd. Would you agree or disagree, Aang?”

All eyes turned to him, waiting to hear his reply.

Aang raised an eyebrow at the table, but retorted, “I think that these are bold words coming from a woman whose name is Toph.”

Toph grew a shocked expression on her face, and Aang worried that his jab was too harsh, but she just laughed it off and replied, “Aangy’s got fucking clapbacks! I like it.” Aang laughed at that, and both Toph and Aang took a sip of their beverages.

And after that, the two fell into a conversation groove that no one else could match. They volleyed remarks and jokes at each other, made snarky comments about school or the work they had to do, and told embarrassing stories they had about their mutual friends. Anyone that walked by them would’ve assumed that Toph and Aang had known each other for years.

As the day stretched on, the coffee refills piled up, homework was ignored, and many swear words were thrown around the table, mainly by Toph. And then all of a sudden, the day was over, the shop was closing, and it was time to go home.

The group gathered around the exit of the coffee shop and finished up their conversations before they parted ways for the night.

But Aang didn’t want the night to end. He spent the entire day ignoring his responsibilities just to talk with Toph, and he didn’t regret it one bit. And despite having spent study time chatting with the mysterious girl, he felt like there was so much more to learn about her. So he dared to be bold one more time before the night ended.

“Hey Toph, what are you doing after this? We could, uh, grab something to eat if you’re hungry.”

Toph smirked at Aang and continued the playful banter they started up hours ago. “You asking me out, Aangy?”

Aang laughed, but didn’t outright deny the question. “Hey, all I’m saying is we have a lot of topics we need to finish discussing and the night’s pretty young. We could start up new conversations too, if you’re up for the challenge, that is.”

“You act as if I have more shit to say to you,” she teased.

“What, you’re really gonna tell me there’s nothing else you’re thinking about?”

“I’m a simple woman,” she replied. “All I do is drink coffee and say bad words.”

Aang smirked and shook his head. “Oh, I think there’s more to you than meets the eye.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That so?”

“Mhm.” Aang nodded. “And I plan on finding out as much as I can. If you’ll let me, that is.”

Toph said nothing for a moment, just sipped on her to-go beverage while Aang waited patiently for an answer.

Then, she pointed a smirk in his direction, grabbed his hand, and lightly pulled him along with her. “Let’s see what you can find out, Aang.”

......

Too many prompts to choose from, but here they are (This one came from the Sentence Starter Prompt):

Sentence Starter Prompt

Emotional Prompts

Prompt List

Send a prompt and a ship! (ATLA)

Or just send me asks lmao.

[thelastspeecher]

Spirit Touched - Chapter 2: Nuktuk

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4   Chapter 5   Chapter 6   AO3

I got impatient and posted the second chapter.  Here’s some more tiny Zuko for your soul.  And a chance encounter...

Again, this fic is inspired by @muffinlance‘s fic Salvage and fanart that @agent-jaselin did of it.

——————————————————————————————

              Zuko stood on the deck and breathed in deeply.  The salty ocean air filled his lungs, bringing up the memories of the years he’d spent at sea, making him forget for a moment the cursed situation he was now in.  He was forcibly reminded of his circumstances when he stepped forward and tripped over the still too long shirt he was wearing.

              “Don’t worry, little prince,” Panuk said, “we’re going ashore today to get you some clothing.”  Zuko got up into a sitting position.  He crossed his arms.

              “Great.  More people to see me in this state.”

              “Don’t worry, Nuktuk, no one’s going to think you’re anything but a regular toddler,” Toklo said, walking over to Zuko and picking him up.

              “Don’t pick me up without asking first- wait, what did you call me?”

              “Nuktuk.  Isn’t it cute?  It’s the name my parents almost gave me.”

              “Why are you calling me by a Water Tribe name?” Zuko sighed.  Toklo ruffled his hair, which had grown into a soft layer of black fuzz.

              “Because as far as anyone in this town is concerned, you’re Water Tribe,” Hakoda said, walking over.  “Specifically, a member of the Water Tribe named Nuktuk.”

              “Why?” Zuko asked.  To his chagrin, it came out as a whine, something that had been happening more and more often lately.

              “A toddler on a Water Tribe ship won’t attract attention if that toddler is Water Tribe.  It will attract attention if that toddler is Fire Nation,” Hakoda said.  He took Zuko from Toklo.  “You’ll be coming with me to get clothes.”

              “Why do I even need to come ashore?” Zuko muttered.

              “If I’m getting you clothes, I need to make sure they fit,” Hakoda said shortly, already marching off the ship, Zuko grumbling wordlessly in his arms.

----- 

              “He can wear that out,” the shopkeeper said to Hakoda.  The shopkeeper nodded at Zuko standing nearby in typical green and brown Earth Kingdom clothes.  “I saw what he was wearing when you brought him in.”

              “Yeah, Nuktuk here tossed all his clothes overboard when no one was watching him.”  Hakoda looked at Zuko.  “What was the reasoning you gave for that, again?”  Zuko crossed his arms and looked away, his mind racing.  What would a child say?

              “…I don’t know,” he finally mumbled, failing to come up with something. The shopkeeper chuckled.

              “What a classic kid response.  ‘I don’t know.’”

              Apparently, that was the right answer.

              “Thanks,” Hakoda said to the shopkeeper after he purchased Zuko’s new clothes.  “Come on, Nuktuk.”  Zuko followed Hakoda out of the store.  Hakoda looked down at Zuko thoughtfully.

              “…What?” Zuko asked.

              “When Sokka and Katara were your age, they liked riding on my shoulders,” Hakoda remarked.  Zuko scowled.

              “I’m sixteen.”

              “You’re four.”

              “Hmph.”  Zuko looked away.  “…Are you offering to let me ride on your shoulders?” he asked after a moment.

              “If you want,” Hakoda said with a shrug.  Zuko’s desire to maintain dignity and his childish urges battled.  The childish urges won out.

              “…Yes,” he said quietly.

              “All right.”  Hakoda lifted Zuko and placed him on his shoulders.  “Hold on.”  Zuko grabbed fistfuls of Hakoda’s shirt.  Hakoda began to walk.

              From his vantage point on Hakoda’s shoulders, Zuko could see more than he had since the spirits cursed him like this.  Actually, he could see more than he could even before he was cursed. It was refreshing to be able to see more than peoples’ legs.  They walked past a young woman outside a flower shop.

              “Sir?” the woman called.  Hakoda stopped and turned to look at her.  “Your son is very cute.”  Zuko turned red.  Hakoda chuckled.

              “Thanks.  All his mom.” The woman chuckled as well. Hakoda continued to walk.

              They spotted Kustaa just as he was leaving an apothecary.  Kustaa raised a silent eyebrow at the sight of Zuko on Hakoda’s shoulders.  Zuko blushed again.

              “Let me down,” he instructed Hakoda.  Hakoda didn’t do anything.  Zuko sighed. “Please.”

              “Well, since you said the magic word…”  Hakoda removed Zuko from his shoulders and set him on the ground.

              “That was a wise move,” Kustaa said.  “The town square is just over there, and you’d hate for anyone else on the crew to see you riding the Chief’s shoulders.”

              “Hey, Nuktuk!” Toklo’s voice called.  The men and Zuko looked over.  Toklo stood in the square, waving something Zuko immediately recognized. “I got you those fire flakes you like!” Before the words had even left Toklo’s mouth, Zuko was running over.  He bumped into someone, mumbled an apology, and kept running.  Once he got to Toklo, he jumped up, trying to get the fire flakes from him.  However, Toklo held them just out of reach.

              “Don’t run off like that,” Hakoda scolded as he finally caught up to Zuko. Zuko ignored him in favor of continuing his attempts to get the fire flakes.  Kustaa joined them as well.

              “We should leave,” Kustaa said softly to Hakoda.  “The men Zuko just bumped into were Fire Nation.  They were out of uniform, but it was obvious what they were.”

              “Thank you for letting me know,” Hakoda replied quietly.  He raised his voice.  “Toklo, stop playing keep away.  You and Kustaa take Nuktuk back to the ship.  I’ll wait for the others.”

              “Why?” Zuko asked.  He grabbed the fire flakes from Toklo and began to stuff them into his mouth happily.

              “You’re going to have to take a nap soon,” Hakoda reminded him.  Zuko scowled.  Kustaa took Zuko’s hand and led him out of the square.  Toklo trailed after them.  Hakoda looked around, but didn’t spot the men Zuko had run into. He let out a sigh of relief as he sat on a rock to wait for the rest of the crew.

              It’s a good thing Zuko didn’t attract any attention from the Fire Nation men. Who knows who they were, and what they would have done if they’d gotten a good look at him.    

-----           

              “You see, Lieutenant Jee, when we enter the village not wearing our uniforms, we are treated much better,” Iroh said as they exited the tea shop with bags of blends recommended by the owner.

              “Yes, you’re right,” Jee said with a slight nod.  Like the rest of the crew of the Wani, he was treating Iroh gently after the loss of Zuko.

              “Hey, Nuktuk!” a voice called.  Iroh and Jee looked over.  A young man, Water Tribe, judging by his appearance, stood in the town square with bags of food.  The man waved a container of something that every Fire Nation child would recognize. “I got you those fire flakes you like!”

              Promptly, a young boy, on the cusp of being called a child rather than a toddler, raced past Iroh and Jee, knocking into Iroh.  A man rushed after the boy, who was presumably Nuktuk. Another man stopped in front of Iroh and Jee and smiled apologetically.

              “Sorry that he ran into you.  My nephew can be excitable,” the man said.  Iroh chuckled.

              “No need to apologize!  My nephew was the same at that age,” he said jovially.  The man inclined his head slightly and joined the rest of his companions in the square.  All except Nuktuk were dressed in traditional Water Tribe attire.

              “Rare to see Water Tribe around here,” Jee said softly.  Iroh waved a hand.

              “Leave them be.  They’re clearly a family, probably refugees.  Look at them.”  The young man that had purchased fire flakes was holding them just out of reach of Nuktuk, making the boy jump for them.  Iroh smiled. “They aren’t doing any harm.”

              “Yes, sir,” Jee said.  Iroh watched Nuktuk thoughtfully.  “Sir?”

              “That young boy…he’s been touched by the spirits.”

              “How- how can you tell?”

              “It sticks out all over him,” Iroh said, as if that answer made complete sense.  He sighed. “It’s kind of the spirits to bless someone like him.”

              “…A war bastard half-breed?” Jee asked.  Even from this distance, it was obvious Nuktuk’s skin was too pale, his hair too dark, to be full Water Tribe.  Iroh frowned at Jee.

              “Yes.  But perhaps it would be better to use kinder words when talking about a child,” he said firmly.  Jee merely nodded in response.  “We should board.  We can’t keep Zhao waiting any longer.”  The two men walked away, Iroh glancing at Nuktuk every now and then, his heart heavy with memories of Zuko and Lu Ten.

----- 

              Hakoda knew a toddler bursting with energy when he saw one.  Usually, said toddler wouldn’t hesitate to expend that energy.  But most toddlers weren’t teenagers two weeks ago.

              “You look like you could use a chance to stretch your legs,” he remarked. Zuko, who had been fidgeting nonstop since breakfast, looked up.  Once again, he had been assigned to work on nets with Tuluk, as that was the easiest chore for the former teenager, current toddler.

              “I’m fine,” Zuko said.  He wiggled in his seat, seemingly without realizing it.  Tuluk poorly stifled a laugh.  Zuko scowled at him.  The trademark glare had been taking a gradual decline in efficacy for some time before the spirits intervened.  Now that Zuko was a child, the expression only made him cuter.

              “You’re more jittery than a polar bear-dog with new pups,” Hakoda said. Zuko wiggled again.  “Luckily, you can run off some of that energy when we dock.”

              “I’m not going ashore as a child again.  The first time was humiliating enough,” Zuko muttered to his feeble netting knots.  Hakoda sighed and sat next to him.

              “Your current rules include doing what is necessary for someone your age. It’s not healthy to force a four-year-old to sit still for hours on end.”

              “It’s a good thing I’m not being forced, then.”

              “Are you sure?” Hakoda asked.  Zuko eyed him.

              “No one told me to sit still.”

              “You did.”  Zuko dropped his netting and cocked his head curiously.  It was an expression to be expected from a toddler who didn’t understand how the world worked.  It was less expected from Zuko, whose youthful appearance masked sixteen years of experience.  “You’re forcing yourself to sit still.”

              “But-”

              “I admit, this is the first time I’ve seen a toddler task themselves with behaving so well,” Hakoda continued.  “What I said still applies, however.  Your body wants to run around, but you’re holding yourself in check.” Zuko picked up his netting again. He played with it.

              “There’s not much room for running around on a boat, anyways,” he mumbled.

              “Which is why you’re coming ashore.”  Zuko scowled.  “That’s an order.”

              “…Yes, Chief.”

              In Hakoda’s experience, a toddler forced to stay still for too long would release the pent-up energy in a potentially damaging way.  The likelihood of something breaking went up drastically if that toddler was a bender.  Hopefully, by letting Zuko run off the energy on land, they could avoid any firebending outbursts on their very flammable ship.

----- 

              A few hours later, the Akhlut docked.  Under normal circumstances, they would wait longer in between stopping at ports. But as Hakoda watched Zuko toddle down the gangplank, he couldn’t ignore how painfully abnormal the current circumstances were.

              “Are you coming?” Zuko asked once he was on solid ground.  Hakoda was once again reminded of his own children; that might as well have come from Katara when she was four.  He followed Zuko ashore.  Zuko crossed his arms.  “Now what?”

              “Now we find an open place where you can run around,” Hakoda said, heading for the beach.

              “How long am I expected to ‘run around’?”

              “Generally speaking, children your age only stop when they use up all their energy and literally collapse.”  Hakoda glanced at Zuko.  “Given your situation, however, I’ll be fine with leaving once I notice you slowing down.” Zuko nodded reluctantly.

              “Is anyone else coming?” he asked.

              “No.  We’re near General Fong’s base.  He’s not that pleased with us, so I’m keeping the number of crew who might be spotted by his men to a minimum.”

              “Not even Healer Kustaa?” Zuko asked.  Disappointment shone in his voice.

              “You’ll get to see him soon enough, don’t worry,” Hakoda replied. Zuko pouted.  They continued their walk in silence.

              They hadn’t been walking long when Hakoda began to pick up on the faint sound of children playing.  He looked at Zuko out of the corner of his eye.  Judging by how white his already pale skin had become, the firebender heard as well.  They turned a corner.

              “This looks like a good place,” Hakoda said.  They had arrived at a slightly secluded cove filled with young children and mothers.  The children, ranging from infants to a few years older than Zuko, chased each other across the sand, playing games Hakoda remembered from his own childhood.

              “Good?” Zuko hissed, clearly scandalized.  “There’s- there’s children here!”

              “Yes, and you are one of them.”  Hakoda put a hand on Zuko’s back.  He gently pushed the boy forward.  “Go play with your peers.”

              “They’re not my-”  A girl about Zuko’s age ran past, tapping Zuko on the shoulder.

              “Tag!” she shouted.  Zuko stared after her dumbly.

              “Aren’t you going to play tag?” Hakoda prompted.  Zuko looked down at his feet.  “Do you know what tag is?”

              “…No.”

              “It’s a chasing game.  Whoever is ‘it’ tries to touch someone.  If they touch someone, that new person is ‘it’.”

              “Oh.”  Zuko remained where he stood.  The girl that tagged him came back over.

              “Are you gonna play?” she asked.  Zuko opened and closed his mouth silently.

              “Yes, he will,” Hakoda interjected.  “But he’s a bit shy and he’s never played tag before.  Would you help him, please?”  The girl beamed, showing off a gap-toothed smile.

              “Yeah!”  She looked at Zuko.  “What’s your name?”

              “Nuktuk,” Zuko mumbled.  The girl giggled.

              “That’s a funny name.  C’mon, Nuktuk!”  She grabbed Zuko’s hand and pulled him away from Hakoda, towards the energetic children.

              Hakoda watched for a few minutes, ready to intervene if Zuko was too out of his element.  But as he’d seen happen before, Zuko slipped into childish behaviors easily.  Hakoda took a seat near the group of mothers keeping an eye their children, nodding politely at them before resuming watch of Zuko.

              Watching the former Fire Prince run with the other toddlers, the dull headache Hakoda had since that morning began to fade.  There was nothing to indicate that Zuko was different from his peers.  All Hakoda saw was a young boy enjoying himself.  The rare sight was enough to make him smile.

----- 

              Zuko played for much longer than Hakoda expected.  Most people had left the play area by the time the young firebender called it quits.  Hakoda quickly got rid of his smile as Zuko trod over, rubbing his eyes.

              “Done?” he asked.  Zuko let out a yawn and nodded.  “You looked like you had a good time out there.”

              “Yeah,” Zuko mumbled sleepily.

              “Maybe you should try to run around the deck every now and then?” Hakoda probed.  Zuko yawned again.  “It won’t be as fun as today, but it’s better than nothing.  And we can’t just land whenever you need to blow off some steam.” Zuko merely nodded.  “Would you like to ride on my shoulders back to the ship?”

              “Yes, please, sir,” Zuko said.  His voice was thick with sleep.  Hakoda lifted the tired toddler, gently placing him on his shoulders.  Zuko grabbed handfuls of his shirt and leaned against Hakoda’s neck and head.  Hakoda headed for the way they came.

              Quickly, Hakoda stopped trying to make conversation with Zuko during the walk back to the ship.  All questions received significantly delayed single word answers.  Just as he caught sight of the Akhlut, Zuko began to snore.  Hakoda chuckled.  His buoyant mood vanished, however, as he neared the ship.  Two Earth Kingdom soldiers stood by the gangplank, speaking with Bato.

              “Is there a problem?” Hakoda asked upon arrival.  The soldiers looked over at him, then at Zuko.  Hakoda raised an eyebrow.  “Well?”

              “We were wondering why your ship was docked and didn’t seem to be picking up supplies,” the shorter of the two soldiers said.

              “I was trying to explain to them that we didn’t need supplies,” Bato said. He frowned at the soldiers. “Which shouldn’t merit a visit from the Earth Kingdom Military.”

              “You’re near an important base.  We have to be careful with foreign ships,” the short soldier replied.

              “Our ship is clearly from the Water Tribe,” Bato snapped.

              “Fire Nation soldiers could have captured a Water Tribe ship,” the short soldier said with a shrug.

              “No self-respecting Fire Nation soldier would pretend to be Water Tribe,” Hakoda scoffed.  The four-year-old proof he was lying let out a loud snore.  Hakoda removed Zuko from his shoulders, carefully, so as to not wake him up.  “We had to stop so that Nuktuk could spend some time ashore.  It’s not good for someone his age to be at sea nonstop.”

              “Why do you have a half-breed child on your warship?” the taller soldier asked, speaking for the first time.  Hakoda stiffened.  Before he could respond, Bato came to “Nuktuk’s” defense.

              “Don’t call him that,” Bato said shortly.

              “He is, though.  Anyone with half a brain could tell he’s part Fire Nation,” the tall soldier argued back.

              “His parentage isn’t important,” Hakoda said, trying to keep a level tone. “Nuktuk is Water Tribe.”  The soldiers exchanged doubtful looks.  “To answer your question, he’s the lone survivor of his village.  We stumbled across him as we left the South Pole.”

              “Why haven’t you dropped him off somewhere?” the short soldier asked. “It’s not safe for a child to be aboard a warship.”

              “We haven’t had a chance to visit a Water Tribe village since we picked him up.”

              “The Earth Kingdom has plenty of orphanages,” the short soldier said.

              “We wouldn’t leave a Water Tribe child in an Earth Kingdom orphanage,” Bato said.  “He deserves to grow up among his people.”

              “Should’ve left him in the Fire Nation, then,” the tall soldier muttered. Bato glared.

              “Are you going to let us board our ship and leave?” Hakoda asked before things could continue to spiral.  “Nuktuk needs to be put to bed.”  The soldiers exchanged another look.

              “Fine,” the short one sighed.  The two soldiers walked away.  Once they were out of earshot, Bato turned to Hakoda.

              “What took you so long?”

              “He had more energy than I thought,” Hakoda replied.  Zuko shifted slightly in his arms.  “He really needed this.”

              “I can tell.”  Bato went up the gangplank, Hakoda close behind.  “Did the two of you enjoy yourselves?”

              “Him more than me.  Though it was entertaining to watch him learn common games.”

              “You found some children his age?” Bato asked.  Hakoda nodded.

              “Other than not knowing what tag was, he fit right in with them, too.”

              “Of course he didn’t know what tag was,” Bato muttered.  Hakoda snorted.  “What?”

              “I can see right through you, Bato.  You’re getting soft on Zuko, just like the rest of us.”

              “…Maybe I am,” Bato conceded.  “But if I am, it’s only because he reminds me of Sokka.”  Bato’s eyes widened.  “Oh!  Speaking of Sokka, apparently the Avatar’s sky bison passed over the base not long ago, likely on their way to the North Pole.”

              “Really?”

              “Yes.  The soldiers mentioned it while they were trying to strong-arm me.”

              “At least they didn’t stop.  I would hate to have missed them.”

              “I don’t know about that,” Bato said after a moment.  Hakoda eyed him.  “How do you think we’d explain ‘Nuktuk’ to them?”

              “The same way I explained it to the soldiers.”

              “Katara and Sokka would see right through it.”  Bato ruffled Zuko’s short, fuzzy hair.  “Kid doesn’t know how to act like he’s Water Tribe.  Or how to act like he’s a normal toddler.”

              “Fair enough.”  Hakoda and Bato came to a stop outside the infirmary.  “Who knows how Zuko would react to seeing them, anyways?”

              “Probably with his first temper tantrum.”

              “Ugh.  Don’t remind me he’s at that age,” Hakoda muttered.  Bato let out a bark of laughter.  “Tell the crew to cast off.”

              “You got it.”  Bato strolled away.  Hakoda ducked inside the infirmary.  Kustaa took the sleeping toddler from him.

              “You really tired him out,” Kustaa remarked.  “What did you do, practice hand-to-hand combat with him?”

              “No.  He just…ran around like a kid.”  Kustaa looked at him inquisitively.  “We found a group of children his age.  After they taught him how to play their games, he played with them.  It was like he was a normal toddler.”

              “Hmm.”  Kustaa set Zuko down in his pile of furs, then pulled out a scroll.  He scribbled something on it.  “I’m keeping a log of each time Zuko acts his current age.”

              “Do you think that might help return him to normal, or at least figure out how the spirits did this to him?”

              “It might,” Kustaa said with a shrug.  He put the scroll away.  “I’m trying to collect as much information as I can.  Some of it might be helpful, most of it probably won’t be.  But we’re in uncharted waters, Chief.  I can’t risk deciding a piece of information wasn’t relevant enough to be noted.  It might end up crucial.”  Kustaa gently tucked Zuko in, covering him with the blanket he’d worn around the ship before getting better clothes.  “Hopefully, we’ll come across a waterbending healer at some point.”  The healer looked up, meeting Hakoda’s eyes squarely.  “As far as I can tell, that’s the only way we might be able to return Zuko from a grumpy toddler to a grumpy teenager.”

              “That’s the only way?”

              “Well, there is the possibility that the spirits might decide to stop this test or punishment or whatever it is.  But that’s a very slim chance.”  Hakoda nodded.

              “I’d agree with that.  Tell him to find me when he wakes up.  I’ll give him a new task to do until dinner.”

              “Depending on how much you wore him out,” Kustaa said, “he might not wake up before then.  But if he does, I’ll send him your way.”

              Hakoda exited the infirmary, only to be promptly accosted by Toklo.

              “Chief, did Zuko really play with a bunch of other kids?” Toklo asked, starry-eyed.

              “Yes.”

              “Aw, man!  I wish I was there!  I bet it was adorable.”

              “…It was,” Hakoda said after a moment.  Toklo groaned loudly.  A weight settled in Hakoda’s stomach.  With the chaos of Zuko being touched by the spirits, Hakoda hadn’t had time to tell Toklo about his brother.  He hated to ruin Toklo’s good mood.  But he couldn’t delay it any longer.  “We need to talk,” he said softly, putting a hand on the young man’s shoulder.

              “We do?”

              “Yes.  Come with me.”

----- 

              Zuko sat next to the mast, his arms crossed, desperately trying to stay awake. He didn’t need to go to bed as early as the Chief kept forcing him to, and he was determined to prove it.  His eyes drooped closed.  When someone sat next to him, he snapped his eyes open again. He looked at the person joining him.

              “Oh.  Hello, Toklo.”  Toklo nodded. He was visibly shaken.  Zuko cocked his head, confused and concerned. “Are…are you all right?” he asked finally.

              “…No, little prince.  I’m not.”

              “Oh.”  Zuko placed his annoyingly minute hands in his lap and looked down at them. “Why?”  Maybe it had something to do with why Toklo didn’t join everyone else for dinner.  Toklo never passed up the chance to have Zuko sit in his lap while they ate.

              “Did you know?” Toklo asked quietly, drawing Zuko out of his thoughts.

              “Know what?”

              “About my brother.”

              “You have a brother?”

              “Yeah.  And he’s- he’s-”  Toklo’s face contorted.  “The Fire Nation captured him,” he said in a thick voice.  Zuko’s heart plummeted.  “They tortured him and then they- they killed him.”

              “I- I-”  Zuko was at a loss for words.  He looked around for some guidance.  Everyone on deck was determinedly not watching them.  He swallowed and put his hand over Toklo’s.  “I’m sorry.”  Toklo choked back a sob.  “Do you- do you want to go somewhere less out in the open?” he asked finally.  He couldn’t stand the idea of Toklo losing any dignity over this.  Toklo nodded and stood.  Zuko got up as well.  He took Toklo’s hand and led him belowdeck.

              Those on the deck waited a reasonable time before going down as well. The first to stumble across Toklo and Zuko was Panuk.  They were curled up in Toklo’s hammock, Toklo holding onto Zuko the same way Zuko had held Seal Jerky the first day of being spirit touched.

              “Should we move him?” Panuk asked Kustaa.

              “He’ll be fine for now.  The first time he gets up to pee, he’ll go to the infirmary,” Kustaa said with a shrug. Panuk looked at him.

              “The first time?”

              “Oh, he’s been waking me up at least twice each night so that I can take him to the latrine.”  Kustaa snorted softly.  “At least we don’t have to get dressed and then walk through the snow in the dark like back home.”

              “Yeah.”  Something contemplative flashed across Panuk’s face.  “Zuko wouldn’t be happy if he had to do that.”  He watched Zuko and Toklo sleeping.  Kustaa finally sighed.

              “I’m going to get one last thing to eat before bed.  Do you want anything?” he asked.  Panuk shook his head.  “All right.  Sleep well, kid.”

              “There’s an actual child on the ship, and you’re still going to call me ‘kid’?” Panuk asked.  Kustaa chuckled.

              “Look on the bright side.  At least you don’t have people mothering you like Zuko does.”

[thisentertaining]

Avatar: The Last Archivist

The main characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender as different Avatars from The Magnus Archives.

I did 14 characters, one for each entity. 

Trigger Warnings: Basically every TMA entity. Specifically mentions of claustrophobia, cannibalism, suicide, manipulation, ect.

____

There is a boy, with eyes like a stormcloud, deep and fathomless. He has arrows tattooed on his head, on his arms. When you ask about them he laughs, and says ‘when I’m upside down’ as though that was all the explanation. He asks if you want to do something fun, a roller coaster, skydiving, a trampoline park. When you agree, it is fun, at first. You close your eyes to protect them from the rushing wind. When you open them again, the ground is gone. There is no down. There is only sky, and you are falling. Beside you he laughs, bright and joyous and childlike, though it can hardly be heard over your screams. His arrows are pointed up, wherever that is. As he cannonballs past you for the 3rd, 8th, 19th, 76th time he says that ‘fear is what makes it fun’. His ‘woops’ cover your sobs.

There is a girl, dressed in blue with loops in her dark brown hair. She watches you with soft, sad eyes and says ‘It’s so sad, isn’t it? Being the last.’ ‘The last what?’ you ask, but you know. ‘The last of your kind. There is no one to teach you how to reach your potential. You’ll never be able to train anyone to be like you. You’re the last.’ ‘I am.’ You say, feeling cold as a painful pressure settles on your chest. It feel like you could drown in your loneliness.

There is a boy, one who looks similar to the girl, who loves meat. Grilled, roasted, stuffed, boiled, hunted, farmed or store bought. Any kind of meat, cooked in any manner, at any time. In the moments where he is not eating meat, he is thinking about it. He eats, and he eats, and he eats, until he is long since the point of caring what the meat is. Who the meat is. As he finishes his plate he looks to you and licks his lips.

 There is another boy, pale of skin and gold of eye, with a burn that stretches across his face. “I will capture my prey.” He vows. “And then my honor will be restored.” He hunts, and he tracks, and he follows a prey that can never escape. If you find yourself his prey, you can hide and run and fight, but will sone find his claws surrounding you. However, even as he catches you, his mind is on his next target, for his prey is not what he truly seeks. He will never achieve what he really wants, but still he hunts for it. He knows that the capture is the least thrilling part of the chase.

 With him travels an older man, a man who is kindly, portly and always grants a smile. He offers you a cup of tea and a game of Pai Sho, but from your first sip and his first move, he Knows you far better than you know yourself. He gives you tea exactly as you like it, and every move you make he has something to meet it. His words are proverbs and pretty saying, but all touch a part of you that he should not know. He Knows. He Sees.

 There is an island in this world, where women with painted faces and fans of blades congregate. Practice. Fight. They learn to use the force of others against themselves. They learn to go for the throat They are more willing to fight than to ask questions. In the water there is a monster that they feed the ships that dare get close. In their hearts there is a monster that they feed the souls of those who survive to reach the land. Tearing them apart until blood and bone can be used to paint warnings on their faces.

 There is a boy. He is at home in the woods, living in the trees and filth and gime. He collect people. Children. They build homes in bug-filled trees until they have their own hive infesting the forest. A piece of wheat sticks in his mouth, green-blue and fuzzy with mold. He sees sickness in those that invade his home. He sees corruption in those outside of his hive. He stands at the foot of a dam, working on the logs until rot eats through them, purging the woods of the existing host and giving more room for his parasitic hive to grow.

 There is a girl with long white hair. She has a kind smile, and mourning eyes. She tells you ‘You’ve always known that this was your fate.’ And you realize that you did. ‘You were given life for a reason, it makes sense that this would be asked of you.’ It did. What reason did you have to live except for this. You always knew it would come to this. ‘You are doing this for your people. It is your duty. It is a noble sacrifice.” You nod. You take whatever it is she offers you. And you End.

 There is a man who is in the dark. He does not see truth, does not see life. He walks in the dark and in doing so imagines himself bigger than he is, and imagines others as smaller. He wishes to spread his darkness, an insipid thing that seems to be a tangible presence in any room he is in. When you are near him, colors leech away to a point that the world seems to exist in black and white and grey, no matter how much light or color you attempt to introduce. If given enough power, he would gladly blot out the light of the moon itself, plunging the night into wholly his domain.

 There is a young girl whose feet never leave the ground. In her hair there is a constant layer of dirt and dirt. Her eyes are milky-white, but she never trips and never struggles. You ask her if she needs help and she laughs and laughs and laugh. She seems to grow as she does, until you realize that you are sinking. You are up to your ankles-shins-knees-thighs- in the dirt. She says that she cannot see, but in the ground she is no difference for her or anyone else. She says that one cannot stumble or trip or fall if they cannot move because of the ground’s embrace. She says that strength and sight and title means nothing to the earth. She sinks into the ground with a happy sigh right as the ground meets your eyes. Then you can see no more, and as she said, the earth cares not for your struggles.

 There is a girl who is an acrobat in the circus. One may assume she would be a stranger, but no. She is quick to introduce herself, to identify herself apart from those she is often lumped with. However, there is something… not right. Her body bends and moves in a way that it Should Not, that the human body Can Not. She twists and flips and bends until her form is completely unidentifiable as one of flesh and blood and bones like yours. Her smile stretches a bit wider than lips should allow. She can make you do things, or make you stop, a few simple pokes and your body will no longer listen to your mind. A few more nudges and your mind will no longer listen to you.

 Her friend is a Stranger though. A girl wo dresses plainly, with a face as expressionless as a mannequin and a voice that is as dry and as bland as an uncooked grain of rice. She holds knives sharp enough to flay your skin from your body. Sharp enough to flay your identify from your self. She reacts to little and speaks to less. You may know her name, but she will never allow you to know who she is.

 The acrobat and the stranger dance and dangle at the strings of the web. Their friend, a girl of sharp features and a sharper mind. She wields cruelty and knowledge and vulnerability as tools, weapons that allow her to say and do exactly what she needs to make others follow her desires. She will talk to you, and she will lead you. You will follow her without question, without thought, until your feet are stuck fast in spider silk. She can lead anyone into her web with a smile. All but one. She has never dared try to ensnare her Father.

 The girl’s father is cruel. He has ambition that supersedes the ability of every man, and does not care for consequences so long as he advances for his personal goals. He will burn through a bush and care not for the wildfire he started behind him so long as he can continue further. If anything, he will delight in having caused it. No one is safe from the destruction. Not his people, whom he destroys without reason and without care. He delights in the anguish they feel and the anguish their demise causes. Not his son, who bears his burn and hunts for an honor never lost. Not the world, which is slowly being burned around him. Not an ember touches his skin. If her were to burn you, he would likely never notice.  

 Aang – The Vast

Katara – The Lonely

Sokka – The Flesh

Zuko – The Hunt

Iroh – The Eye

Suki/Kyoshi Warriors – The Slaughter

Jet – The Corruption

Yue – The End

Zhao – The Dark

Toph – The Buried

Ty Lee – The Spiral

Mai – The Stranger

Azula – The Web

Ozai – The Desolation

 Thanks for reading!!  

Yeah, I don’t know either. But if anyone else is a fan of these and wants to make fanart of Martin and Iroh drinking tea together and complaining about loving over-dramatic nerds who do not react normally to acts of love and kindness, you would have my eternal thank.

[callioope]

Continuing my reactions to Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

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

Quick/General Thoughts

Uhhh pretty wild there is both a solar eclipse and a super comet happening in the same summer… anyways!!!

Ba Sing Se was so messed up omg

Aang

SMH more adults trying to take advantage of Aang. I was furious with the Earth Kingdom general who tried to force Aang to fight the Fire Lord well before he was ready. Clearly he was not ready! And then the audacity for him to attack Aang and then Katara to provoke the Avatar state was whole levels of messed up. 

The Great Appa Kidnapping: Yeah, so, as soon as the sand traders took him, I was like, “Oh no. I’ve heard about this. They are going to be in trouble!” But even then I didn’t know it stretched out over so many episodes. These episodes broke my heart! Aang’s complete distress at having lost Appa. Then the episode from Appa’s POV. Poor Appa! He goes through so much. It’s devastating. And then both Appa and Aang both dream of how they originally met each other? UNFAIR. CRUEL. HOW DARE THE CREATORS DO THIS TO ME. (I’m being facetious I love it I live for this kind of drama this is how i express they were doing good storytelling)

The whole “final chakra” being about letting go of attachments… hmm that felt VERY Star Wars of them… Filoni is this your doing? (Although actually I don’t remember seeing his name on any Book 2 episodes.)

Sokka

My fave continues to be the long-suffering Sokka, just trying to get his family to Omashu, it shouldn’t be this hard!!! This was literally what I wrote at the time of watching “Chapter Two: The Cave of Two Lovers,” and OH LITTLE DID I KNOW!!! [cut to Book 3… lmao… anyways]

Sokka making a map to help keep track of the maze-like cave/tunnel is actually really clever. I can’t believe people think he’s stupid. I mean, sure, it didn’t end up working, but that’s because the cave was magic or whatever, and that is beyond his control!

Side note, but lol at Sokka’s purchases and love for shopping. His ridiculous belt! How excited he was that it matched his bag!

Second side note, I was pretty excited to see that gif where Sokka is making that “I’m watching you” gesture and then goes “Water tribe!”

Katara

Yeah, notice how I don’t have much to say about Katara? It’s not that I don’t like her or that I don’t think she’s interesting, but. I just don’t really have a lot to say about her. 

I was amused by how she handled those bullies. My impression before I started watching was that she was going to be this like, pure and GoodTM character, but she definitely has her flaws and that is better.

I really liked the scene where she is able to calm Aang down while he’s in the Avatar state. There was good build up to that, showing her worry every time he entered it and her awareness of the fact that he only ever enters it when feeling upset. The fact that she was able to do that clearly Meant Something. So again, I suppose, I really feel up to this point that the show is very much like “Aang/Katara Endgame!” it felt very obvious to me. And I knew before starting the show that Zuko and Katara are a thing — but Aang and Katara is just so heavy handed that it was impossible for me to ship them with anyone else. They were just foundational to the show. Like it always felt like a foregone conclusion to me, almost as if they were established from the beginning although they obviously weren’t.

Toph

I spent like, the second half of Book 1 thinking “WHEN TOPH WHEN TOPH!” Imagine my ire that she still isn’t around for the first five episodes of Book 2, which is titled “EARTH” my goodness.

But OH was I delighted by “Chapter 6: The Blind Bandit”!!! I loved her intro, I loved how Aang is just immediately in awe of her skills when he sees her. He knows she’s exactly the teacher he’s been waiting for. “She waited and listened!” he says. Yes. I love it. (But also, lol at Sokka booing Aang.) Despite this, Aang really does not handle that first interaction very well!

So frustrating how her parents were treating her. “She’s fragile and helpless!” what a thing to say about your daughter. [Also you literally named her “tough”?!] And he is basically going to imprison her, wtf. & how do you get off saying “the avatar is no longer welcome here”?! smh children whose parents try to “control” their kids always end up being the most rebellious.

I was amused that “my dad changed his mind” apparently was a popular lie daughters use on this show. *facepalm*

I liked the contrast between how Toph wanted to teach Aang and how Katara thought he should be taught! That was interesting. And yeah, Toph certainly lives up to her name. 

Zuko & Iroh

Spent a good portion of the early part of this season wondering how Zuko and Iroh could possibly be related to the awful Fire Lord (and Azula for that matter — jeez she is nuts!), and longing to know what happened to Zuko’s mom. (Obviously that would be answered soon!)

Knowing that Zuko eventually joins the Aang crew, but also remembering that I never saw Iroh with them, made me SEVERELY worried that something terrible would happen to Iroh. And I spent the entire rest of the series worrying about that. Uh, especially since, apparently Iroh is hopeless at Survival 101. Honestly that was surprising to me. 

Zuko deciding they needed to split up was devastating!!! No!!! I loved the adventures of Zuko & Iroh!! He said, “There's no reason for us to stick together,” and I was like, “Yes there is you idiot! Because you’re family and you love each other!!!” I was so sad. I mean, also Iroh is currently the only person who likes Zuko, so, you know, that might be a good reason to stay with him. Just a thought. 

The last thing Zuko needs is to be alone, that will NOT be good for his issues. And lo and behold, look! Immediately, he’s struggling on his own. But I did like that episode (“Chapter 7: Zuko Alone”) because we get to see Zuko’s mom! (Uh, did she have a name?) Turtle ducks are so cute.

“Everything I’ve done I’ve done to protect you.” THIS. SLAYED. ME!!!!!! I mean, y’all know Rogue One is my jam so this parallel with Zuko’s mom and Galen Erso????? I lost it. I just lost it. Plus, though it isn’t confirmed until later, we can tell she’s sacrificing herself to save Zuko and just. (A) what a completely messed up family, but (B) MY HEART. SHE BETTER BE ALIVE is all I’m saying.

Interesting side note: they never show Ozai’s face in the early seasons. 

If you assumed that I was delighted to see Iroh has been tailing Zuko this whole time, you’d be correct. I had hoped that was the case and was very glad it was. Although *facepalm* again at Zuko. I suppose he had no way of knowing Katara had healing powers but it was so frustrating knowing if he had just listened to them for one minute they could have helped Iroh after Azula blasted him. At least he made him tea and nursed him back to health. 

If the evil advisor of Ba Sing Se had files on everyone and knew everything that went on… I mean… did he know about Iroh and Zuko? 

I didn’t jot down any notes about this at the time, BUT. Man. Did I ADORE Zuko and Iroh’s adventures in Ba Sing Se. I mean it was a nice relief from all the other crazy stuff happening. (Not happy to see Jet though. Ugh.) 

Finally, though, Zuko’s betrayal at the very end of the season totally shocked me. Because of spoilers, I knew he’d join Aang’s crew, and so it was so confusing! And such a regression, I really didn’t understand it and was very worried about what it would mean for his redemption arc — but more on that in the next post, don’t want to get ahead.

Azula

Oh. Boy. Again, I knew she was going to be crazy, but I don’t think I was prepared for just how messed up she is. “Do the tides command this ship. You said they would not allow us…” Jeez that is pedantic in a very bizarre way and obviously not what was meant… Yikes.

Also, Azula is much better at finding Zuko than Zuko is at finding Aang. Just a stray observation.

“Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home.” [insert IT’s A TRAP gif here]

“If the Earth Kingdom finds us, they'll have us killed. If the Fire Nation finds us, they'll turn us over to Azula. Earth kingdom it is.” Yeah, this line was hilarious but also sad. It really said a lot about Azula, and Zuko and Iroh’s relationship with her.

Had no idea Azula had her own crew. It was incredibly clear that Ty Lee felt coerced to join her and didn’t really want to, but that was less clear to me for Mai. Mainly seemed like Mai was bored with where she was and was just like “shrugs might as well do evil stuff.” 

I did know that a character named “Mai” would eventually be Zuko’s love interest (and it is pretty heavily portrayed that she has a crush on him), so at this point, I was very much like, “Hmm. This character is too apathetic and annoying, I don’t want her to end up with Zuko!” Plus, the fact that her name was pronounced “May,” (which was not how I thought “Mai” was pronounced) and I knew Zuko would have a thing with a lady in a tea shop, I wasn’t 100% sure Zuko/Mai were end game. 

“She’s crazy and she needs to go down.” I think Iroh said this. I just don’t know what to say. Why is Azula the way she is? That’s never entirely clear to me. In some ways, it’s implied she was just Like That (in the flashback where mom is like “What is wrong with you?”) and perhaps she’s just her father’s daughter. I don’t need a reason, per se. Idk. I just don’t know what to say to her. She clearly needs help. 

[dhwty-writes]

Zutara Week Day 4 - Celestial

Great, I fell behind... I’m sorry for the late contribution, but at least that means two stories today. Again, I advice you to check out the previous parts before reading, otherwise this won’t make a lot of sense. Have fun!

Read on AO3

"This has gotten out of hand," the Avatar chided and all Katara could do was try to stand tall and proud. "Katara, what in the names of all spirits?"

"I was just here to help," she defended herself. "Not once did I initiate the violence."

Aang sighed and leapt off Appa's saddle. "Where's the governor?"

"Technically that would be me." She hoped that she hadn't jumped too much upon hearing Zuko's voice next to her, his hand softly on her back to steady her. "But if you mean the man responsible for all of this, you better hurry to save him from Toph. She's having a field day."

"I will," Aang announced and brushed past them to get to Yozin.

"That was odd." Katara looked up to see Zuko frowning.

"What was odd?"

"Oh, I-" He glanced down and Katara could have sworn to see him blush. "Don't take me wrong, I just thought there would be a warmer reunion between you two." He looked away. "Not that it's any of my business."

She frowned. What on earth did he- oh. "Aang and I aren't a thing anymore," she stated matter-of-factly. "I haven't really seen him since."

He winced and took a hurried step back. "Oh. Um. Sorry. I didn't know."

She smiled and pat his cheek affectionately. "Go listen to the palace gossip a bit more. It's been public knowledge for a year now." She yawned and her shoulders slumped. "I guess I really should get some sleep."

"You can stay here!" he blurted.

Katara quirked an eyebrow.

The blush on his cheeks rose higher. "I mean, since the hospital got destroyed and all. I'm sure there's a room to be found where you can rest."

She smiled. "Thanks, Zuko. I'd appreciate that."

He smiled too and wandered off in search of one of his guards to show her to a room. Shortly after she collapsed on a rough futon and slept.

Katara slept for hours and when she woke, she found a plate of rice and a teapot beside her bed as well as a bowl of water. After the meagre meal and a quick waterbending bath she decided that she should better go and look at the havoc they had wreaked in the previous night, check on her rebels, treat the injured-

She was wandering through the abandoned corridors of the ship when she heard the yelling. 'Oh no,' she thought, sprinting in the direction of the noise. She wasn't feeling nearly well-rested enough to go through another battle and she doubted that Zuko was either.

She burst through the door onto the deck and dashed to the railing. But instead of attacking firebenders she only saw a pavilion where the old Team Avatar had sought shelter from the sweltering humid heat and Zuko and Aang seemed to be engaged in a ferocious argument. And while Sokka and Suki at least tried to calm them down, Toph stood idly by, apparently observing the clouds passing by.

Katara sighed. She wasn't sure if she hadn't preferred firebenders.

Calmly she walked over to them. "Hi everyone," she greeted them with a smile. "What did I miss?"

Aang scowled and crossed his arms, looking more like the twelve-year-old she had once broken out of an iceberg than a twenty-two-year-old avatar. Zuko huffed angrily and also looked to the side. He looked terrible, she noted and privately asked herself if he had slept at all. But that was a concern for another time.

"Sokka?" she prompted.

Her brother just shrugged and crossed the arms.

Before Katara could huff in frustration Toph answered: "Sparky and Twinkletoes are having an argument about whose responsibility this whole thing is. It's stupid."

"It's childish," Suki added.

"It's beside the point," Katara decided.

"Oh, sure, take his side," Aang muttered and it felt like the temperature dropped a few degrees.

Katara had to close her eyes and take a deep breath before continuing. "I am not taking any sides, Aang, I didn't even know what sides there were. But I've been here for three months, I think I know more about this conflict than most people."

"She's got a point," Sokka muttered.

Aang scrunched his nose. "Alright. So, let's hear the story."

She nodded and started telling the same story she had related to Zuko already. Well, mostly. It was a lot more matter-of-factly and less emotional. She didn't even know why she had felt the need to tell Zuko the other story. She didn't even know why she couldn't tell the others the true story. But when she was finished Aang and Zuko had both seemed to have sufficiently calmed down.

"And tonight?" Aang asked. "What happened?"

She frowned. "I'm not even sure. Ask those who have attacked us."

"Katara..." he pleaded.

She rolled her eyes and continued with her report: "It was just past midnight when I heard some unrest in the street. I sent two of the people staying at the hospital-"

"The rebels?"

She gritted her teeth. "The rebels. Anyways, I sent two of them to see what was going on. They returned half an hour later with burns all over their bodies. They had encountered about six guards in the streets, harassing the people in their houses. Ten more set out, I guess they got caught in fights somewhere along the line. I stayed back healing the injured and was just minding my own damn business and then they started attacking the hospital. I went out, stood my ground, Zuko showed up an hour or so later. I guess you all know the rest of the story."

Aang said: "Governor Yozin-"

"Yozin," Zuko interrupted him, "he's no governor anymore."

"Yozin," Aang admitted, "said that some of your rebels were causing unrest. Ignoring the curfew. Attacking the guards."

She quirked an eyebrow. "And you believe that."

"I am obligated to listen to all sides of the conflict."

"Aang, I can't believe you're this gullible! You know the drill; they will say anything they can to make us look like the bad guys."

"I know, Katara, and I also know that that's a two-way street."

"Even if that was true," Zuko chimed in, "Yozin had no right to command the guards. I had stripped him of his offices already. Besides that, he tried to declare he was ready to kill me this morning. He committed high treason."

"You asked me to come here, Zuko. So, I am here, let me do this my way."

"I asked you to come here when I thought this was a petty squabble. Things have changed. This is a Fire Lord problem now, not an Avatar problem."

He snorted. "No, I think this is exactly an Avatar problem! This has gotten out of hand."

"I know, Aang! But there's nothing you can do here. There's no conflict you can resolve because the only possible resolve is removing the cause. There's no gap you can bridge because that gap is far too wide. There's nothing the Avatar can do because what's needed here are politics. And that is a Fire Lord problem."

"Maybe we should try talking to Yozin-"

"Aang, I really don't want to overstep," Sokka said with a sigh, "but I think we're way past that point."

"Well, then why didn't you call me weeks ago, why didn't you-"

"I tried," Zuko said the same time Katara answered: "You know why."

All the eyes shifted to her and Katara looked away. "I'm sorry. I should probably go and see to the wounded." Before anyone could say anything, she bolted.

She found Ni in the town square that bore the evidence of her rampage last night and nearly winced. All that she had built up in the last weeks and months was destroyed and then she wasn't even there to clean up the mess.

Instead Ni had stepped in, relentlessly ordering the poor townspeople around that looked just as exhausted as Katara felt.

"I don't know why you even needed my help," she said in a poor attempt at a joke.

"Katara!" Ni exclaimed and her face lit up as she ran over to hug her. "I was so worried."

"Don't be," she tried to calm her down. "I don't go down that easily."

She smiled. "I didn't expect you to."

Katara tried to smile, too, but it came out as a grimace more likely than not. "How can I help? Any wounded?"

The woman gave her a critical once over. "I think you'd help best if you got some rest. You won't be much help if you're about to keel over."

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Everything's fine now. The Avatar's here after all. And I'd like to take my mind off things."

Her face hardened as she took the hint. "Right. And I guess that went just swimmingly." Katara looked away in an answer. Ni sighed. "Didn't think so. The injured are just two streets in that direction, the only house left standing. Your little earthbender friend didn't take kindly to firebenders hiding in the others."

She nodded and went on her way.

"But don't think I won't be keeping a close eye on you!" Ni called after her, finally drawing a tentative smile from her.

Healing was just what Katara needed now. It was tiring and trying with the hot sunrays boiling her flowing power until nothing was left but fickle steam. Oh, how she hated the days in the Fire Nation where she could barely feel the pull of the moon. But that way she had no other choice than to focus completely on the task before her. That way at least she didn't have to think of Aang and the unpleasant break-up a little over a year ago.

Ni came around when the gruelling heat of the sun just started to let up and brought food and tea Katara took thanking and ate quickly. Some of her rebels had nasty burns that not even Yugoda could heal. Still, she was glad that she had returned to the healing hut and the old master after the war. As much as she loved fighting, loved the feeling of her blood simmering and boiling with the thrill of the battle, the icy fear when a hit was just a bit to close, the war wasn't in need for warriors now. It was, however, in desperate need of healers. And she would never turn her back on people who needed her.

She just turned around a corner to get some bandages for one of the guards to wrap up his frost bites and of course - of course - that was the moment when Aang showed up.

"You should rest," he said.

"You don't have to tell me what to do," she replied stubbornly.

Aang sighed. "Please, Katara. You fought an entire night, slept half a day and spent hours now healing people. You're overexerting yourself."

"I am more than capable than knowing my limits, thank you very much."

"Katara, please," there was an agonised look on his face. "I just want to talk. Please."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was alright. She could be an adult about it. She could handle this conversation. They were bound to have it at some time, after all. "Okay," she said.

"Okay?" he repeated.

"Let's talk." She fixed her with his gaze. "But not here."

"Anywhere's fine by me." He sounded relieved.

She jerked her head towards the door and they stepped outside, where the heat still made the air flicker.

"So," she asked.

It took a while before he answered. "Katara, that was really reckless."

She didn't have to ask what he meant. "I know, you don't have to tell me." He could be talking about anything - coming here, staying, stepping in, stepping up. She knew that he didn't approve.

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because I was selfish, alright Aang? I was selfish and I wanted to prove that I could do something like this on my own. I have done it on my own in the past. I never meant for it to get out of hand."

"I know. I know that you couldn't have left for your life. And I'm sorry, too. For lashing out at Zuko and you, that wasn't right."

"Hm," she said.

"I'm also sorry for how things ended. I get it now. It's better if we're friends. The world needs us as friends. And I do, too. I'd like to be friends with you again, Katara."

She looked up at him smiling. "I'd like to be friends with you again, too, Aang." Then she pulled him into a tight hug.

When she let go, she felt like she had just shucked the weight of Appa off her shoulders. "So," she said and bumped into his side. "How's life?"

"Oh, you know. Calmed a spirit down in the Earth Kingdom. Opened an orphanage in the Southern Air Temple. Rode the unagi."

"Again, Aang? Why on earth would you do that?"

"I lasted almost five minutes this time! That's-"

"Two less than last time?" She shot him a grin and he pouted. Then they both laughed.

They started walking together, swapping stories watching the sun make its way across the sky until it set and it felt like they were really friends again.

"Right," Aang said as they reached the harbour. "I'll be staying with Appa. Good night, Katara."

"Good night, Aang," she answered and stood slightly lost on the quay.

"You're back late," Zuko's voice cut through the humid air of a Fire Nation night from where he stood at the railing of his ship. She hadn't even seen him standing there.

She crossed her arms and quirked and eyebrow. "Well, you're up late."

"Couldn't sleep," he answered as she drew closer. "Too much on my mind."

"Hm," she agreed quietly and stepped on the ship. "Have you slept at all?" she asked leaning on the railing beside him.

"A bit," he deflected her question. "How'd it go with Aang?"

"Alright, I guess. It seems like we're friends again."

"Is that- is that what you want?" he asked tentatively.

Katara sighed and looked up at the stars. "I don't know," she admitted. "I think it was good to get some distance. Maybe we needed that to get to know each other again. Sometimes that's just how it goes."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw him avert his gaze. "I guess so," he murmured and she wasn't even sure if she was meant to hear it.

"That's not what I meant," she answered regardless, "that's not- That between us- these four years-" She scrunched her nose, not really sure where she was even getting at. "I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I regret it. And that I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you have to be sorry for," he said quietly and when she turned to look at him there was a hesitant smile dancing around his lips.

"I still am. We lost four years of our... relationship." She closed her eyes, just relishing in his presence. "And... I missed you. I really did." Then she leaned against his side, placing her head on his shoulder.

He hummed lowly. "I missed you, too," he whispered against her hair.

They stood silently like this for a while until Katara moved. "What now?" she asked.

"I brought something to drink," he answered. "If you want."

"Oh, keep talking," she joked.

He didn't. Keep talking, that was. Instead he turned and slid down the railing, laying his cloak out and patting the space beside him in invitation. Katara took the offered seat and the offered bottle and took a deep gulp.

"Did I ever tell you how much I hate your summers?" she asked and bent a trickle of sweat from her brow.

"You haven't." He quirked an eyebrow. "You're welcome to go back to your frozen wasteland any time you like."

She scrunched her nose. "Maybe I will. At least there the stars are right."

He hummed. "I remember. When I first started travelling, I was very confused. No-one had ever told me that the constellations changed."

She snorted in surprise. "You were in the navy."

"Not really but that's beside the point. I wasn't trained for the navy. The first year or so was a living hell while I tried to figure out how navigation worked."

That made her laugh and spit out half of the undoubtedly expensive alcohol they were drinking. "What I'd give to have seen that."

"As if you would've done any better," he grumbled.

"Excuse me? Of course I would have. We're sailors, for the spirits' sake. Our whole history is written in the stars."

"It is?"

She nodded.

"Tell me."

And so, she did. She told him of the polarbear-dog she had always seen at home that guarded the south and her cub that had wandered too far from its mother and got lost in the east. She took his hand to show him where it had left small footsteps in the sky. She told him of the boomerang that had shone brightly in the night sky when Sokka had been born and the penguin-seal and the whale and the sea-snake. She told him of the spirits dancing in the sky in the north and of Tui and La. Of balance and opposites and push and pull while they watched the moon travel across the sky - Yue, she told him, Sokka's first girlfriend who had sacrificed herself after the siege of the north.

"Wait-," he slurred, "he hadn't been joking? His first girlfriend really turned into the moon."

"Of course," she frowned. "How would you make something like that up?"

"You guys have been through some wild shit..."

She scoffed. "Tell me about it."

They were silent for a bit while Zuko drank again. "'S wrong, you know?"

"What is?"

"The moon's not with the sea. He's in love with the sun."

"No, that's not true," she protested. "I just told you. It's the moon and the sea, Tui and La-"

He groaned and covered his face with his hands. "No, don't you see? 'S the moon and the sun. Round and round and round they go, always chasing each other but never touching."

Her face fell. "That's sad."

"Yeah," he looked up at her, "it is."

Katara shrugged and drained the bottle.

"What now?" she asked again.

"Go to sleep? Morning'll come soon."

Her heart felt suddenly very heave. "And when morning comes?"

He shrugged, too. "I'll go back home. I've been away longer than I meant to. And longer than is advisable." He shook the empty bottle. "What about you? Off to the next revolution?"

"I think I've had my fair share of revolutions for some time." Katara sighed. "Still, there's so much to be done here."

"I know," he agreed. "But the fighting has died down. They have food and water. The healers are arriving tomorrow morning. Governor Yozin is on his way to a nice prison and I have appointed an interim governor until I find someone up for the task. Our work here is done."

"But it is not enough!" she protested.

"No, of course not. But the rest will be decided in stuffy council chambers not in dirty town squares."

"I don't want to leave them."

"And I'm not going to. Neither do you have to."

She turned to look at him and furrowed her brow. "What are you saying?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Come back to Caldera with me? Finish what you started?"

She hesitated. She probably shouldn't. She hadn't been home in quite some times and she didn't particularly care for the Fire Nation. Sokka would be taking off come sunrise headed to the South Pole. She could maybe get back to teaching for some time. Build a few houses. That would be fine. But she didn't want to.

Because even though she didn't particularly for the Fire Nation, she happened to care for the Fire Lord. Quite a lot, actually. Probably more than was good for either of them. And so, before she even knew what she was saying, she answered: "When do we leave?"

[fghartwork]

A note to Zutara authors and authoresses:

I respect what you do, and I completely aspire to be an author! I know it is no easy task however, and I wanted to share a few notes from the perspective of a Zutara fanfic reader, a Zutara Shipper, and a diehard Avatar fanatic.

I will speak for myself, and dare to speak for the other Zutarians, when I say that we ship Zutara because of their dynamic 'as is' on screen. I recently put up a challenge, and the Zutarians answered the prompt with really well thought, in depth answers, but none that stretched outside of what is canon.

So here is what I want to say.

When writing a fanfic, as a reader, you should know that I am looking for fanfics that accurately reflect Zuko and Katara's characters as we see them on screen, in the show.

Personally, here are some major Zutara fanfic turn offs for me:

1. Predatorial, possessive, Sex God Zuko

The Zuko I remember was awkward, learning to make friends, serious, reflective, introspective, and respectful of the women in his life.

As we see in the show, Zuko and Mai's relationship in the beginning is strained, but he never insults her (other than 'your just a big blah' lol!) hurts her, or underestimates her. With Jin, he is a little rude, but it stems from his social awkwardness more than his ill intentions.

Before Zuko gets to know Katara, he sees both Sokka and Katara as "Water Tribe Peasants" (This actually makes me laugh, bc Azula does the same. They are both entitled, rich, brats, but we know that Zuko's arc evolves him for the better) We know that by the end however, he really gets to know both Sokka and Katara, and comes to respect them very much.

2. Mean, aggressive, Zuko.

-No No Nooooo! Zuko was a brat who threw temper tantrums before he matured, and became simply sleep-deprived, dramatic, and slightly overreactive. He is not an abusive reflection of his father! Aggressive, surly, rude Zuko feels (for me) so out of sync with his character.

3. Pushover Katara.

This one makes me laugh, because I do not know what show y'all watched, but in the Avatar I watched, Katara is anything but a pushover. I some fanfics, Zuko bullies Katara....in a sexy way I guess? Some fics really blur the line between bantering and bullying, and Katara's character just kind of shrinks under Zuko's grumpiness...this is a turn off for me, and very out of sync with her character.

4. Unexperienced Katara.

Many fanfics that I have read, make Zuko the sex god and Katara completely unexperienced...as we see in the show, they both have dabbled in flirting and some relationships, but nothing so exaggerated. Actually, Katara is much smoother than Zuko, when it comes to dating and relationships.

5. One more majorrrr turn off are Toph's nicknames. Oh my goodness, some authors go so nickname happy with Toph's character that I cannot even finish a fic because I am overwhelmed with how many "Sparkys" and "Sugar Queens" litter the page. Please take it easy, good people of the fanfic realm.

A lot of fanfics seem to make the mistake of altering Zuko and Katara's characters for the sake of romance or sexy scenes, but really, we ship them because their dynamic and their chemistry as it is in the show, is already perfect. It's just that neither of them made a move.

Here are some fics I think did a really good job of reflecting Katara and Zuko's characters, creating great romantic tension, and staying pretty accurate to the Avatar World.

How Your Heart Beats

(This one went a little overboard with Zuko's sensitivity, fantasies, and awkward situations, but all around it felt natural, and ended up being both moving and hilarious).

The Prince's Choice and a Warrior's Gambit

(This one is in an AU, it is filled with lots of fluff and plot filler, a little much for me, so if I am honest, I skip to all of the parts where Zuko and Katara interact directly-And they are good 👌🏽)

Prince of Panty Dropping

(The title is 'read bait'. It is not vulgar, I promise) This one is comedy, so their characters are exaggerated, but it feels natural to me, and is very funny.

Moonlight and Sunshadow

I haven't finished, but it's great so far! Though it is in a slightly altered AU, their characters are not only reflective of the show's, but I would say an accurate estimated extension of what their characters would be like older and with more 'screen time' aka, interaction (including Sokka, Suki, and Iroh) that takes talent, creativity and close attention to detail.

I want to give a nod to one more piece:

Brightest Nights and Darkest Days

Sighhhh.... I have complicated feelings on this one. The writer is very skilled and creates an absorbing narrative. The romantic scenes are on point. The plot tension is compelling, and the ending has a powerful gut punch.

However, Zuko and Katara's characters swing back and forth from more accurate and relatable, to completely foreign.

Zuko is an insufferable jerk, and not in a cute way 😭 Katara is portrayed as almost a ditz, and not in a cute way!!

Iroh's character seemed unnecessary here and intrusive.

There were 2 other characters whose names I forgot, but were also unnecessary .

I have a love-hate relationship with this fic.

I know the authoress may read this, so I want to respect her and her work. In all honesty, I very much admire her style and skill in writing.

To close, I want to note that as authors, you have the creative authority and license to write your fic however you want, and I respect that. I also admire the fact that you devoted hours, days, weeks of your life to fulfill your creative vision and to entertain your audience.

If nothing else, I hope my insights serve as a spur for discussion among readers and as some food for thought among authors.

If you made it this far, thank you and best of wishes. 🥰🙏🏽

[attackfish]

Do you have a hc for avatar toph?

I have so many ideas for Avatar Toph that it already has its own universe tag: [Link]. And it's own fic, Bring the Sky Down to Earth: [Link].

1. The first thing that happens after they set sail is that Sokka asks if there's a way to send a letter to his gran gran, telling her they're going to the North Pole, and might be longer than expected. Iroh introduces him to the messenger hawk. The second thing that happens is that Zuko locks himself into the cabin he now shares with his uncle and refuses to come out. This lasts about as long as it takes for Toph to show that her metalbending works on locks.

2. Honestly though, Iroh can understand the impulse. It's clear their life has gone completely off the rails. He would quite like to lock himself in his room too, and ignore the rest of the world.

3. Messenger hawks are smart birds, but it's asking a bit much to expect one to fly somewhere it's never been. This one, whose name is Phoenix Queen Rin, who by the way is a character in a famous Fire Nation epic play, but who Sokka has dubbed Hawky, and the crew know as Rin-Rin, takes the instructions to fly to Gran Gran at the South Pole and decides this means to fly to the grand commander of the South Shengang Navel Base, one Comander Zhao.

4. The letter reads, "Hi Gran Gran, turns out Avatar Toph made Zuko promise to take us all the way to the North Pole, may be gone longer than we thought, love you, Sokka." It doesn't take a genius, which after all Zhao is not, to figure out what that letter means. He readies his (admittedly small) fleet to stage a "rescue" mission for the Firelord's wayward brother and son, and to capture the Avatar. He'll come home covered in glory, and hopefully be promoted away from this frigid little barren rock of a navel base, and get to show up the Dragon of the West himself in the process. Not bad at all.

5. For the first time since the beginning of Zuko's banishment, Zuko and his crew agree on just how they feel about Zuko's mission. The Avatar is on their ship, and she is dangerous. She has already torn the interior of the ship to pieces, and forced them to run aground. The frame that supported the ship's hull has been damaged beyond repair, and the ship has been weakened dangerously. They want Toph captured and restrained, and they want this mission over so they can get off this ship before it's scrapped. Zuko doesn't know what to do with all this agreement and support, and he definitely doesn't know what to do with the fact that they're all looking at him to come up with some way to give them what they want.

[theycallmebabycakes]

Responding to the ask post! Tell me about the 4th fic you have written!

The fourth fic I’ve posted is Waterlogged, in the bnha ‘verse. It’s about a sailor who picks up All Might and Gran Torino, whose ship was wrecked by a storm. Unfortunately, my inspiration for bnha in general has fallen off (for now! I know I’ll come back cause I always do!) so the fic lays unfinished. I am/was planning on revealing that their ship was sunk by a person whose quirk lets them control weather, and not by a freak storm like they think/thought it was.

More about an unpublished fic below!

The fourth fic I wrote (unpublished) was... an Avatar: the Last Airbender sequel. It is/was such an old fic that I actually started writing it before Legend of Korra came out. It’s about the Avatar after Aang, of course, from the Southern Water Tribe like Korra was. 

This Avatar’s name is Antui, and she has an identical twin sister, a non-bender, named Kala (a play on Tui and La!). Antui isn’t a very good waterbender, always a little too stiff and just plain bad at her forms. Kala, though unable to bend, has a natural gift for the movements and forms in both physical combat and bending. She helps her sister study her forms by performing them with her, mirrored. The girls intentionally let themselves get mixed up with one another, so that Kala can avoid conversations she doesn’t like, and Antui can ditch her lessons or chores.

When she finds out she’s the Avatar, Antui is in denial and runs away much like Aang did when he was told. But instead of being frozen in the ice, Aang himself interferes and convinces her that she’ll be okay, especially since she has her sister to help. Kala, for her part, followed her sister out to sea in a little boat she stole. The girls end up on a little island, and decide to go out and explore the world together like Aang did. Without the crushing pace Aang was forced to, though.

I was always planning on Aang’s children teaching Antui airbending (eventually) but when I saw LoK I loved Tenzin and his siblings enough that I partially rewrote the fic to include them. Tenzin has trouble keeping up with which of the twins he’s talking to.

Other members of the cast were: a firebender girl (still unnamed) who used blue fire like Azula, but with a personality closer to Ty-Lee. An earthbender (also unnamed) who tends to dodge responsibilities, and uses pebbles in fighting instead of great big boulders.

Cameos would include a brief but very fun training session with Toph, Katara teaching Antui how to heal while Sokka taught Kala that there’s nothing wrong with being the non-bender in a group of powerful benders, and Zuko’s children actively trying to continue his legacy of recovering the Fire Nation’s honor. Zuko himself was probably going to be retired from his role as Fire Lord, tending a certain tea shop in Ba Sing Se. And, of course, Kala would train with the latest generation of Kyoshi Warriors.

And there was going to be a discovery in the last ‘book’: a small group of airbenders, hidden in a hollow mountain. They’ve spent so long hiding from the Fire Nation that they didn’t even know the war was over. They’re the descendants of non-bending Air Nomads, and have lost much of the culture. Their airbending is also a little bit different, since they didn’t have any masters to teach him. Tenzin would have a lot of work to do, but the Air Nomads would be able to return!

[pigeoncentric]

i did an A:TLA rewatch and took notes because that’s just what i do, and here’s the notes if anyone wants to see my thoughts

i haven't watched atla since about a year before korra started airing, so like, around 2011. i should also mention that i never watched korra through to the end, but i guess i'll do that after this. if i feel like it. i do know that the biggest bottles were never popped

i have such a clear memory of the first episode. it must've been on nickelodeon pretty often, even though when it was airing, i only watched it occasionally. i remember they also aired the library episode super often.

aang's voice is so tiny and sweet

i gotta turn off my dumb adult brain and put my dumb kid brain back on so i can better appreciate the nickelodeonness of it all

sokka and zuko's first interaction.......

zuko's intimidating approach and then his tiny teen voice

SOKKA AND ZUKO'S SECOND INTERACTION............

zuko's like "i'm going home." with aang. he must be feeling an incredible mixture of feelings, thinking he has the avatar and can reclaim his Honor. but he also must be terrified to go back, and in disbelief... fortunately he's not going home like he said and there are even more confused feelings in between

i just remembered that iroh's voice actor dies between seasons :(

thinking a lot about dante basco... no thoughts in particular, just a lot of them... and how he shipped zutara lmao

"my troubles cannot be soaked away!"

hei bai looks like a ben 10

mounts list (added to as i progressed through the series): zuko's rhinos. earth armored ostriches. metal noshing mole. north pole goatyak. azula and friends' fur geckos. sabertooth moose lion if you're not a wimp. appa-sized beetle. moose with aquatic features. Eel Hound.

you can't out-mom-friend katara. even when she's yelling and being reckless

it's true... airbenders are weak to nets.

the n*tfli* captions are making several mistakes. eat my ass ne*f*ix and hire me to do flawless captioning instead you dumb fucks

YEAH! even by episode 13 in season 1 we already know zuko is a good boy! well also by episode 12. and earlier. well i've seen the series before.

i've just learned that zach tyler eisen is the voice of aang and i have to give him huge props for having the perfect voice. i pay a lot of attention to voice acting, usually in a nitpicky way, and i've never heard an english voice actor whose voice is perfect on the level of ikue ohtani... and when he was like 12 years old. incredible. i'm not being remotely sarcastic

i gotta be 100% honest. i had completely forgotten the existence of zhao and that he's actually a pretty important character, at least in season 1. also his voice actor is pretty good. generally the voice acting is good in this show, and i'm picky.

god the animation where aang makes one catapult catapult the other is so good. also appa just picked up and grabbed a guy. with his fist. wait how many toes does appa have? is that 18 in total? also appa has scutes on his ventrum. anyway i love that appa can pick up and grab a guy but generally chooses not to. gives it more weight when he does choose to

zuko tells turtle seals to be quiet and then touches them unkindly :(

zuko busted out of katara's ice orb instead of melting it :\

zuko put his hood up like iroh told him to but aang just has his naked bald head in the snowy cold :(

seeing zhao grab and bag the moon spirit fish made me feel sick. such a foul act

god. the quality rope. i noticed sokka mention it and was like, "was this a chekhov's gun or a red herring" and then a few minutes later there was a pointed pan over to the quality rope.

anyway examining the quality of the voice acting here leads me to a thesis i might gather evidence to prove: american english voice acting for cartoons is far higher quality than american english voice acting for anime dubs. or is that just something obvious that everyone already agrees on

anyway anyway, the episode ended without the quality rope being put to use. unless i missed it, which is entirely possible.

jesus i heard azula's first lines and got an instant flashback to all the tumblr drama about grey delisle and her tumblr account and how she pretended it wasn't hers or something let's just erase all of this from my brain right now

this is kind of out of nowhere and borderline inappropriate but i'm glad characters in avatar are illustrated with nipples when they're shirtless... it always disturbs me a tiny bit when shirtless characters are depicted with zero nipple, not even a hint of nipple. (Aladdin.) not just because it implicitly stigmatizes something everyone has, but also because this scenario always plays in my head where it's like, a little kid sees a cartoon character without nipples and they think, "so i'm not supposed to have these..." and they start feeling weird and bad about themself... all you need to depict a nipple is a single unobtrusive dot. nothing visually offensive or explicit about it.

even to an audience who doesn't understand any cultural context, you can't not see the significance of zuko and iroh cutting off their topknots...

fandom seems to see sokka as the silliest one when in fact at least 40% of his entire role as a character is to be the tsukkomi

underrated moment: "you've got an elbow leech." "WHERE?! WHERE?!"

zuko should be a good boy and only steal if it's from pirates

stealy zuko stealing money and buying iroh a teapot !

god i forgot what a tiny baby voice toph has... so tiny

zuko trying really really hard but doing a bad job hammering (tears)

azula set up zuko and mai for a lucky sukebe...

when zuko's mom told him not to forget who he is, she didn't mean to remember that he's a prince and an heir as he revealed to the unsuspecting earth kingdom village. she meant to remember that he's someone with at least the base level of empathy and compassion, unlike most of his immediate family...

i still think aang's voice actor did a great job but i bet it sucks to be a young boy doing an excellent young boy voice and then when you grow up a little and presumably experience some puberty you just Cannot do the young boy voice anymore. hopefully in most cases where that happens, it's at least not abrupt

placing a bet that the writer for episode s2:e10 (the library) is different than most of the other episodes. i don't like it very much, at least in the first several minutes. if it's a name i recognize from the credits of several other episodes, i might be a bit disappointed in them. seriously, there's one stinker after another. and with such a great concept of an episode...

i didn't recognize the name of the guy who wrote this episode so i thought i was right but no, he wrote a bunch of episodes. must have been off his game for this one... either that or i'm in a very unforgiving mood and don't realize it... also when i went on wikipedia to look at who wrote which atla episodes, i learned that the animation for the show was split between two animation studios, and they're both korean. ah, i guess that doesn't mean all the animation took place overseas, as DM movie has a headquarters in the US. according to wikipedia.

oh, they're BUZZards... i get it... i gotcha.

aang with a vengeance is both scary and sad to see. but he does understand that property damage is nothing compared to a life

people who love azula are the exact same as people who love vriska: [comment redacted]

they have american birds in the avatar world. i keep hearing an eastern wood-peewee going "pee-pee-uwee" in the background :3

the serpent's pass seems geologically implausible.

sokka should really get face paint all over his face when he kisses suki. or like, the cartoonish image of when someone is covered in lipstick lip smacks, but it should be suki's makeup color

appa's been through so much and now he has to meet a boarcupine?!?! fortunately he still knows how to pick up and grab... but still :(

he touched appa's scutes and read them like a palm...

longshot translated his meaningful stares into out-loud words for katara and friends

zuko forgot that azula always lies :(

zuko should know that being redeemed in his father's eyes is the opposite of what he wants...

i LOVE aang's passionate tsungi horn dance

there are spring peepers in the fire nation

god the dripping of the rotten clams is so excessive

you know how ultrasonic humidifiers can create water vapor without heating it into steam, by vibrating it super fast? let's try that with waterbending, it'll be cool

two different bad guys have been skipped across the water like a rock

i love the fake time lapse of cleaning the river... and it showed how with pollution in real life, stopping the source of the pollution is not enough. it needs to be removed as well

sokka deserves LOTS of credit just for being able to handle a boomerang.

GOD THE SLOW PAN OVER THE BEAUTIFUL SWORD (in 3:4)

sokka also deserves LOTS of credit for being able to admit he doesn't know everything.

i managed to forget that zuko turns his back on iroh, while remembering that at some point, iroh gets buff

the voice of sokka's master is the voice of the boulder. right? right? no? are you kidding me? i suck at this

seems like kissing azula would have immediate consequences, like something melting

zuko is poorly socialized

zuko still forgot that azula always lies. even when she's being somewhat humanized in an episode like this.

so avatar roku had earthly attachments he did not let go of, presumably. such as his wife. did he have unfettered access to the avatar state? that's what i would ask him during this expositionfest if i was aang.

so sozin could do heatbending... that's amazing. i think i missed that the first time around.

that's right, zuko came back and his hair is long enough, but he hasn't recreated his topknot.

hawky is the only atla animal that poops on camera.

if you're gonna bend sweat, you might as well bend spit, and it's a little easier to obtain

wait so... is combustion man also a heatbender? i'll have to look into it later. [looked into it later: the avatar wiki has termed it "combustionbending?" are you shitting me?]

ooh it's the bloodbending episode! i'm pumped.

someone made a post about how when they watched this show and they were a kid they were thinking about how the characters are hot, and now they're watching as an adult and the characters are all tiny children... that's how i've been feeling. also season 3 episode 8 aang's voice sounds a little bit pubertous.

anyway damn this bloodbending episode is outright traumatic. good shit

oh, now zuko's topknot is back.

appa's armor covers each individual toe <:3c

i seriously misremembered the course of zuko's character development. and the timeline of the invasion in general. but now i understand that zuko has to tell his dad to eat shit face to face.

watching zuko's "zuko here" practice speech hurts 100% as much as it did the first time i saw it. and when he's delivering it to the gaang it's impossible to watch. i didn't put my hands on my head-- they just went there unbidden.

i kinda can't help picturing dante basco's face every time i hear zuko talk. the whole time. it's sometimes not optimal to know the faces of voice actors. especially when you're like me and you're not good at pushing out unwanted mental images.

what the fuck, combustion man? he just loves assassination so much you can't take back any orders. also i can't help but imagine that if you put a slice across his third eye his combustion would be fully inhibited. well i guess that's not a problem anymore.

i like that the gaang are a variety of heights, and that they're all noticeably shorter than most of the adults they meet. it just makes it feel realistic

if it was a US max security prison and prisoners were escaping they'd probably just fucking murder them

i love how when mai starts up the gondola again and azula is like "what is she DOING!" and ty lee just makes an "iunno" noise

tfw your best friend abandons you because you wouldn't let her murder her own brother

chit seng didn't get to free his girlfriend and best buddy :(

funny how azula seems almost docile when she's getting everything she wants. typical narcissist. well ok not the least bit typical.

sokka ate the rose. i remembered this scene Too clearly. but i didn't remember that.

um... was that the full moon? when katara bloodbent that guy? i should've looked at the sky... i went back and looked and still didn't see if it was the full moon. maybe the wiki knows. i don't care enough to look it up properly.

i was wondering when the melon lord would show up

none of the teens understand the obvious solution of defeating the fire lord by beating him INTO SUBMISSION (or oblivion) instead of killing him. just like in every anime fight ever. it's over when you acknowledge you've lost or you can't fight anymore, not when you die. (for the #1 best example of ending a fight the right way, see the way luffy defeats crocodile.)

so i know aang's gonna defeat the fire lord by essentially hitting him with a forced purification beam to the face and make him realize the errors of his ways or something. the fun part is how we get there

bumi bending entire houses through the air

aw i forgot the turtle island didn't have a cute face.

jyong jyong firebent a jet platform to fly around on?!

i guess the firelord can fly around like bakugou katsuki

i forgot that aang took away his firebending... and sokka hops up to him like "well, look at you, buster"

i'm glad i decided to watch this again. even if i didn't do a great job paying attention tbh. well i did spend a bit of time carving a little wooden spoon while i was watching. anyway i was thinking i wouldn't move right on to korra but rather read some of the atla comics that i know exist but have never read whatsoever. i wonder if i can find them in some kind of library...

  i found the comics illegally on the internet and read a whole bunch (up until the end of the "zuko finds his mom" arc). i didn't write my thoughts down as i was reading, so i don't remember them. that's how my worthless brain works. i do remember that i found the comics satisfactory as an accurate extension of the show, and that i feel ambivalent about how azula is written/treated in the comics.

i don’t know if i feel like rewatching korra yet.