#azula is NOT power hungry

[balanceoflightanddark]

One of the great misconceptions about Azula is the notion is that she's self-serving. That everything she does is to further her own gains, and she'll backstab everyone else in the process whether it be family or friends. Something that's supported by Bryan himself in the Season 2 commentary:

“Yeah, unfortunately in real history, there are people like Azula, who are just so charismatic, but sort of soulless that they’re… You know, but they’re able to climb to positions of influence. Same with, uh, people like Long Feng, unfortunately throughout history. People who are willing to sell out their own–own countrymen, just for their own, uh, security, you know, their own job security.”

And in many ways, that's how it's framed. Azula bringing her brother back to the country is always framed by everyone as using him as leverage in case the Avatar was somehow alive. We see her brutal recruiting of Ty Lee. We don't see a whole lot that suggests that Azula is doing this for anything other than personal gain. After all it's a trait that's pretty endemic to the Fire Nation, especially with her fellow main antagonists Ozai and Zhao.

The thing is though...Azula's problem wasn't that she was selfish.

Her problem was that she was selfless.

Let's wheel around to when she brought Zuko back home. Mainly, there was no way in hell she could have known about the spirit water. She only learned of the possibility when Zuko indirectly brought it up, and that's when she starts to think up of the leverage angle. Plus, it's been said a thousand times before that Azula didn't necessarily need Zuko to secure Ba Sing Se. And even if she did, she could've easily backstabbed and captured him with the Dai Li if she wanted to secure her path to the throne while also taking the glory of slaying the Avatar.

She didn't. Instead, she allowed Zuko to take the glory and return home in honor with no strings attached. Even when her initial orders were to capture Zuko to begin with. And in doing so, damaged her own claim to the throne since the "rightful" heir returned with a tad bit more glory than her.

And we all know how that eventually ended.

This wasn't exclusive to Zuko. Arguably her biggest Achilles' heel was her unwavering devotion to Ozai, something that she was carefully groomed to do once Zuko proved to be an embarrassment to her father's name. Almost everything she did was to get in his good graces and his acceptance. And she didn't except any reward for it either outside of approval. She was initially stunned when Ozai wanted her to be the Fire Lord, clearly not expecting him to bestow such honor upon her.

Course that was spoiled a bit when Ozai proceeded to throw her to the side. All that work, all that devotion, years of trying to be the perfect servant...wasted.

Mind you, Zuko and Ozai are probably the only two family members in the series to have shown her something regarding affection. Her relationship with Iroh was strained and more formal than anything, while Ursa made her feel like a monster. Even her friendship with Ty Lee and Mai was poisoned because her belief that she was a weapon and thus expendable warped her genuine affection into something more akin to a military unit. Again, all to prove she was as ruthless and heartless as her father.

Azula's problem wasn't that she was power hungry, cause she never expected to get power. Her problem was that everything she did, she did for somebody else. Think about it. She wanted Zuko home so she sacrificed her path to the throne. She wanted Ozai's approval so she became something she hated. Azula was desperate for some kind of acceptance, otherwise her mother's rejection wouldn't have shaken her so bad.

It's not like we have don't examples of selfish and egocentric behavior from the series. Zhao was willing to put the entire world at risk by killing the moon just to stroke his own ego. Ozai was willing to burn down the Earth Kingdom (killing who knows how many innocent lives) and proclaim himself as Phoenix King just because he could. Even Zuko was willing to put the safety of the world and backstab his own allies just for a chance to return home and claim his birthright.

Azula...doesn't come even close to those levels of narcissism and self-interest. Cause she based herself around pleasing others and wouldn't stand up for herself when she was crossed, both from personal experience and a low sense of self-worth. In many ways she was like Zuko in trying to please her father.

It's just unlike him, she wasn't presented with a way out.

[i-wish-i-were-softer]

Ozai can be the most terrible parent in the history of parenting but he didn't ignore azula's powers just because she was a girl.

[the-badger-mole]

Why don't you think Azula deserves a redemption arc? I don't necessarily disagree with you, btw, I just want to know what made you think that.

I didn't mean that in a moral way, exactly. Morally, I don't think redemption can be earned as much as it can be lived up to (which, btw, I don't think Azula would). What I meant was that as a character, her story didn't deserve a redemption arc because it's not what's been set up. If she had been "redeemed" through her mental breakdown, it would cheapen her arc, and Azula doesn't deserve that. Someone (I think @sokkastyles) mentioned on my post over the weekend that Azula's arc was complete as it was, and I agree. It was a fantastic arc, too. It just ended sadly, and I feel like a lot of people just don't like that. Which is fine. That's their prerogative. That doesn't mean that there was something missing from Azula's story. And it doesn't mean that her arc deserves or needs a redemption.

As I've said before, I do think that there could be a redemption for Azula, but it would need a lot of work to make it worthwhile. First of all, they would have to break Azula down the point where she would not only see her need to change, but have her want to change. She is nowhere near that point at the end of the show. Which is fine. She doesn't have to be. Let Azula be a villain. If she's your fave, embrace that your fave is a villain. It's okay. I am a HUGE fan of Maleficent (the only Maleficent). Yes, her arc had to end with her defeat, but she made defeat look fabulous!

[harrowscore]

finished atla and thoroughly enjoyed it... but what i'm going to do without my girl azula now?? her ending was so sad (and yet exactly what i expected)

[opalescent-apples]

I think some people sincerely love evil women and some people have so much internalized misogyny that a girl who rolls her eyes is a girl who kicks puppies.

honestly

[venussaidso]

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐭.

Kathryn Merteuil from Cruel Intentions is portrayed by Ketu natives. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amy Adams, and now Sarah Catherine Hook.

Characters that I randomly thought would be Kathryn Merteuil's daughters, just so happen to be played by Ketuvians; particularly known for having manipulative, cunning, power-driven personalities.

This relentless pursuit for power and control extends to other Ketu characters. I have explored this theme already in my Ketu Dominant Themes post, I just didn't use female characters as my examples.

Cersei Lannister is an extreme version of this archetype, set in this non-modern, brutal world in Game of Thrones, known for her psychopathy.

Being extremely ruthless and cunning, with a thirst for power and control and an unchecked ambition, it doesn't come as a surprise that she is portrayed by a fire sign native Lena Headey (Venus nakshatras share these themes, as well).

Reminded me of Cate Blanchett's character from Cinderella, Lady Tremaine, who has a desire for control and maintaining power. She is absolutely heartless and cruel.

The same actress also played Hela who driven by power, is absolutely cunning and even more ruthless, possessing this superiority complex.

Having this deep desire to dominate and conquer, it comes as no surprise that the actress has an Aries stellium; proving it true that the rashi comes first, as the signs alone can be known for these negative, power-seeking traits. These fiery traits in the Ketu section are specifically exaggerated. The Ketu rulership seems to not only exaggerate the traits of the fire rashis, but darken them too. Technically; Ashwini is Dark!Aries, Magha is basically Dark!Leo and Mula is just Dark!Sagittarius lmaoo.

Just shortly describing Hela's Ashwini traits, I thought of Azula, who is voiced by Magha Sun Grey DeLisle.

Having a fiery determination and borderline exaggerated Leo traits; much like Hela, she is obsessed with being domineering. Known for being cunning, extremely ruthless and driven by power and control.

Another Hela-type character is the formidable antagonist, Artemisia, played by double Ketu native Eva Green in 300: Rise of an Empire.

Similar to Azula, she is driven by vengeance and is relentless about it. She is extremely strategic and power-hungry, seeking dominance over others and causing destruction.

Both Magha ASC Eva Green and Magha Moon Katie McGrath played the character Morgana, though with different arcs.

Eva Green's version of the character is more overtly power-driven and manipulative, as she has a double whammy effect of the Ketu nakshatras. While Katie McGrath's portrayal is her journey to villainy as she grows a thirst for vengeance and power, becoming a formidable force in the series.

Madison Montgomery from AHS: Coven! Played by Mula native Emma Roberts, she is undeniably ruthless and chaotic.

She seeks power & status in the witch world, being cunning, mean-spirited and manipulative.

In the same season, AHS: Coven, we also have the ruthless and powerful, vengeful witch Marie Laveau played by Magha Sun Angela Bassett. She means to assert her place in the world, embodying LEGACY (Magha nakshatra nod, much like Azula who strongly represents legacy and her ancestors).

And alongside her is Ashwini native Jessica Lange playing Fiona Goode, another ruthless, cunning Ketuvian/Fire sign character obsessed with power, youth and maintaining superiority over others.

Speaking of power-hungry witches; Ashwini Moon native Kathryn Hahn plays Agatha Harkness, who has a lust for power and control, finding herself completely fixated on Scarlet Witch's powers and wanting to gain control over such an immense force to master it within herself.

Magha Moon Helena Bonham Carter played the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, the character having a very fiery temper and an obsession with control. The Leo characteristics being exaggerated by the nodal rulership, she has an oversized ego and an extreme sense of self-importance, ready to inflict punishment on those who slight her.

A far lighter, less sinister, version of this Ketu archetype, is the Evil Queen in Mirror Mirror, played by Magha Moon Julia Roberts.

She still fits this highly manipulative, power-hungry archetype, her motivations rooted in status and control over the kingdom.

These characters thriving on power and control speaks to the emptiness and wounds they hold within. People who naturally possess power do not seek it, yet it seems to be a theme for these Ketuvians to be hungry for it. As if there's a beast inside of them that wants to suck things in and conquer, which makes sense for the Ketu x Jupiter polarity as Jupiter has excess to give out and Ketu wants to possess it (as I've talked about Ketu constantly absorbing things & people intentionally or not). The more cunning portrayals show how these characters live through their domineering force, deliberately using it to pull things under their control; ready to combat any outside forces that mean to take away their status and things that signify power to them. This combativeness is specifically shown in Ashwini Moon Blair Waldolf who becomes very combative when threatened. I believe people forget that Ketu alone is different from Ketu nakshatras. The fire signs will always remind you that they're fire signs, that's why observations like "Ketu nakshatra people have zero ambition and only seek spirituality and they represent nothing" is a completely one-sided statement and a disregard to how the houses and signs ruling these nakshatras operate. If this observation were the case, then I wonder what the Ketu gold-digging archetype implies if not everything I talked about.

[manias-wordcount]

I hope you’re having a good week I have a request if you’re interested in Azula X read reader has the personality of scar from the lion King the animated version obviously 

S/o with the personality of Scar HCs (Azula)

𝗔/𝗡: 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗺! 𝗶 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆!!

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?

𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚?

With this type of personality, your relationship with her tends to have two modes

Mode one is like lovey-dovey sickly sweet because you guys just get each other

In that classic children’s media villain way y’know

Like every conversation between the two of you will be fluid and you can complain about things to each other openly because you guys just understand each other and have such similar personalities

Literally, it’d be so easy to just shoot the shit with each other like this and boss other people around because you two just radiate power and confidence 

(although she’s the only royal here, you’re faking it to you make it lmao)

But since you guys are so similar, mode two is when you guys can’t stand each other

You both can be powerful hungry and uncaring towards others, so it can be really hard to stand each other when one sets the other off into a bad mood

To be frank, getting this relationship to work is going to be difficult since Azula and someone with Scar’s personality are bound not to be good people

But there’s someone out there for everyone- including you and her too

[zuko-always-lies]

What a lot of "power-hungry Azula after the throne" takes miss is that Azula was already securely the heir before the series started. Not only was she Ozai's favorite child, but Zuko had already lost his birthright by being banished. Although throughout Book 1 there is a small chance that Zuko might regain Ozai's favor and his status as Crown Prince by capturing the Avatar, at the end of Book 1 Ozai declares Zuko a traitor and has him hunted as a fugitive. From that point on, Zuko regaining Ozai's favor is extremely unlikely, at least without Azula putting her thumbs on the scale. Iroh also theoretically has a claim to the throne, but he has persistently failed to press it, so any direct threat from his corner also seems unlikely, and of course Ozai would never recognize Iroh as his heir.

With Zuko completely disgraced and Iroh a non-threat, the biggest potential threat to Azula's "right to the throne" actually comes from another quarter. If Ozai remarried or took a concubine, their children might threaten Azula's position, especially if they were male. Ozai might even desire a male heir and favor one over Azula. Azula would still have 14 years and many accomplishments on them, but this would still be more dangerous than "traitor Zuko" making his return to grace. However, since Ozai seems to have shown little interest in having more children in the many years since Ursa left, this is strictly a hypothetical threat.

Without these hypothetical half siblings of Azula, Ozai is essentially stuck with her as his heir. Aside from the disgraced Zuko, Ozai has no one other to choose, even if he wanted. There might be some distant relatives of the royal family available, but they would have weak claims and Ozai would have to be truly desperate to choose them over his own, prodigious daughter.

Azula's status as the next Firelord is thus essentially secure at the beginning of Book 2. All she needs to do is keep breathing, not screw up in an absolutely horrific way, and not get her only potential competitor back into her father's favor. Even if she wants the throne, she already essentially has it in the bag. It doesn't make sense for her to do anything particularly crazy or desperate to secure it, or even really expend much energy or thought on an already "solved" problem.

Meanwhile, Zuko desperately wants to be crown prince again but is literally a traitor marked for death, so him doing something crazy to try to regain his "rightful place" makes perfect sense.

[theotherpacman]

offsetting all my hateposting with another positivity post

things I didn't get to in my first positivity post but have since remembered

the part where katara uses her waterbending to put out the flaming arrow and stop the bombing???? cool as shit. A+ use of waterbending

having jet sneak them into omashu was pretty damn good. it's not like the live action show could've realistically pulled off the goofy fake beard thing, and it introduced jet as this kind stranger doing something significant for them at great personal risk to himself, setting him up to be a Good Guy, at once making him more complex (he isn't just angry and power-hungry - he really wants to help people) and making it hit harder when katara learns that he's,,,, a terrorist

"that wasn't you. that was me" honestly iconic

that moment where sokka goes "oh us southern water tribe warriors are more known for our hand-to-hand fighting" and suki is like "!!!! flirt opportunity!!!! I shall impress him with my fighting prowess and thus woo him!!!!!" and then she kicks his ass like ":D :D :D and now we shall kiss" omg babygirl ur too good for him

I added this to my first positivity post in an update but azula as a prodigy archer!!! adds to her characterization directly as highly talented and multi-skilled in various combat techniques, and symbolically as very precise, efficient, perfectionistic. love it

zuko's diary. oh my god zuko's diary

seriously first of all zuko as a calligrapher and artist deepens his characterization as skilled in areas his father deems worthless and weak, and secondly aang getting his hands on the thing helps him see into zuko's head more which is cool, but more importantly zuko losing his own personal diary to his fucking nemesis is a hilarious choice can you imagine how that would've driven him insane

that lady in omashu who smacked zuko with a brush bc he was beating up a child. queen

[blorboazula]

I've been reading a bunch of Azula fics, I have three pet peeves (and they bother me a lot because I read "Azula-friendly" only).

Azula shot Iroh with lighting: she didn't. I've just watched one or those bending compilations and her shot even makes the fire noise. there's no crackling of electricity, there's not the whole bending movement she does for lighting.

the same goes for Mai, she was going to shoot fire. (it's not as if we see her shooting with two fingers multiple times...) fire is faster, she's good at it, that's a primary weapon.

sending the Kyoshi warriors, Ty Lee and Mai to prison is the worst thing she could have done. it makes sense to send Suki to the Boiling Rock, as it makes sense that Hakoda was there, they're the leaders. having prisoners of war is not a war crime. actually, war crimes ≠ acts of war. sending the Kyoshi warriors to prison after fighting them is exactly what you expect of people in a war.

Ty Lee and Mai committed treason on her face. that's not even about the betrayal, that's just a whole ass crime. that's the crown princess, the second most important person in the fire nation, literally the only one left to take the throne. if this wasn't a children's show, they'd have been executed before Azula could move again after being chi-blocked.

sure, being resentful about being in prison is fine, but if you don't want to go to prison, perhaps don't commit treason in front of the god-damned crown princess?

now, the worst of all: Azula always wanted to be Fire Lord.

Azula...

born fifth in the line of succession...

who has her grandfather, her father, her uncle, her cousin and her brother in front of her...

Azula always wanted to be Fire Lord.

you mean the kid that has abandonment issues?

not even counting that. after the whole shit with Lu Ten dying, Azulon dying and Ozai usurping the throne. she still has 1) her father in the throne and 2) Zuko as the crown prince. to want to be Fire Lord even then, when she's a lot closer to it, is making her want the people she loves the most to be dead or exiled.

even if you don't believe that she loves someone. why would she bring Zuko back home, restore him as the crown prince, if she wants to be Fire Lord? leave the guy there, betray him after he helped you, that would make more sense for a power-hungry secondborn daughter of the secondborn son than bringing your only competition to the throne.

I don't know where the idea that she always wanted the throne comes from, I just know it's stupid and doesn't fit anything in her show characterization

[prying-pandora666]

Look at this for a moment.

Notice how Azula, a 14 year old child at her oldest in the show, is now somehow a “woman” and not a girl.

Notice how Ozai isn’t her father and only remaining parent. He’s just “a man”.

Notice how the emphasis is on Ozai’s power as something Azula desires, as if she’s the power-hungry equivalent of a gold digger rather than an abused child who can’t defy her father who also happens to be the unquestionable ruler of their highly-militarized nation.

Notice how Azula being motivated by wanting her father’s love and approval—a normal desire for any child but especially one who hasn’t received love—is somehow “reductive”.

And yet Zuko having the exact same motivation despite being two years older somehow isn’t?

This is misogyny. And it’s been so internalized that they can’t even recognize it’s coming from inside the house.

Fandom is a mess. Can we please talk about the sexism and ableism surrounding Azula discourse?

You don’t have to like her or agree with her redemption to recognize this is not okay.

[high-on-cactus-juice]

honestly I’m kinda annoyed by people who view Azula as some irredeemable psychopathic monster cause that’s such a misunderstanding of her character and everything she represents.

don’t get me wrong my girl is crazy in the series, but she’s also just a 14 year old girl who was raised as a weapon her whole life by a goddamn EVIL DICTATOR. while her other parent was emotionally unavailable due to her own mental issues at the time (I’m not saying that Ursa was a bad parent, I’m saying that Ursa was fucking traumatised by being forcibly married to a tyrant, and she ended up seeing a reflection of her husband in young Azula). when one of your parents is a tyrannical power hungry ruler and your other parent is emotionally unavailable because they associate you with their trauma, of course that’s gonna fuck you up???

Zuko represents everything Azula could have been. the two siblings are placed as fundamental opposites because Zuko is the one who achieved his redemption while Azula descended further into madness. however we do ignore the fact that a big part of the reason Zuko chooses redemption is because of the actions of other people, because of the support he had from Ursa and Iroh and later the gaang members. and if Azula had been given the same circumstances from the start she could have been redeemed too, just like Zuko.

but she wasn’t given any outside perspectives of the world outside of her fathers brainwashing ideology. so of course she listened to the one parent that she was left with because that’s what she thought love was. she was a child who was raised by only being exposed to her father’s propaganda, in other words literally cult brainwashing.

people don’t understand that Azula is a tragic character and not a psychopathic one, because she COULD HAVE been a redeemed character, she had all the POTENTIAL to be redeemable, and the only reason why she wasn’t redeemed towards the end was because she actively CHOSE not to be redeemed. because how can she go against all she has ever known?

notice how when Iroh talks about Azula he says she is “crazy and needs to go down” because that’s the truth and that’s what needs to happen in that moment, BUT he doesn’t at any point say that Azula is irredeemable, because he knows that if she was given the same chances as Zuko she could have been redeemed.

also people throw around the word psychopath a little too easily. Azula does care about others to some extent, she has emotions and complex feelings that she doesn’t know how to express due to her fucked up upbringing, and unstable mental health. hating Azula has low key become a gateway into stigmatising people with mental health disorders and I don’t like that. if you’re gonna dislike Azula think of a better reason than “oh she’s psychopathic and heartless boohoo”

[atla-recluse]

Has it ever been discussed, what sort of things Zuko had to have been taught by who-even-knows, to be so throne-hungry at the age of just 16?

Was it Ozai teaching it to Zuko? Iroh teaching it to Zuko? Was it Ozai teaching it to Zuko through a young, impressionable Azula?

Or is Zuko just that naturally preoccupied with power and control, but able to hide behind his younger sister's far greater raw power and skill and her being preferred by the main bad, to get away from these accusations?

[kigozula]

As Long As We’re Together - Sokkla Saturdays 2024

Day 7: Part Two

FF.net & AO3

Sequel of my last week's entry. Part One.

Sokka insisted on eating some food. He took them to a restaurant. Despite herself, Azula accepted Sokka's treat. She was hungry. They sat outside and kept staring at each other questioningly after ordering their food.

"Well, are you going to explain what's going on?" Sokka finally asked.

"Are you going to explain what's going on with you?" Azula asked back.

"I asked first. Besides, why would the Fire Nation Princess cry alone on creepy streets in a completely different nation form Hers, wearing an apron?"

Azula actually smiled a little at that. He was right. Her situation was in fact weirder. Sokka couldn't help but smile back at her.

"I escaped. Zuko arranged a marriage for me behind my back." she told him blatantly.

"He what?! Is he out of his mind?" Sokka said leaning slightly over the table, clearly taken aback.

"Yeah, I thought so too." Azula said.

"How did you learn of this?"

"I heard Uncle Iroh telling him, it was about time Zuko finally told me that he planned to marry me off. Before he could do that I ran away. We have been on good terms with my brother since the war ended, but his bond with our uncle is worrisome in my eyes." Azula explained. She looked down sadly.

Sokka felt a surge of anger. Zuko had his flaws, but he has been motivated to be a good brother Azula. He asked Sokka for advice on that once. How did it come to that? It was clearly Iroh’s doing but Zuko still shouldn’t accept that. Azula was right, Iroh was too much influence on Zuko.

But saying this wouldn’t help the situation. Sokka needed to reassure her that he would stand by her side. Surely helping someone you know was natural. But he felt his protectiveness more than just that. He wouldn't allow Azula to feel alone. She didn't have an easy life either.

He slid his hand toward hers on the table and took her fingers gently in his palm. It was Azula's turn to be taken aback now.

"I will do anything in my power to help you and protect you Azula. I'm with you, as long as you allow me to. You can trust me."

His eyes were blazing with honesty.

Before she could say anything, the waiter brought their food, and the pleasant touch of their fingers ended.

"Your turn now." Azula said when they started eating.

"Why would a warrior like you, who is best friend with the Avatar walk on creepy streets with an apron on himself?" Her voice slightly teasing.

Sokka huffed.

"I lost a bet."

Azula broke into laughter. Sokka would have gotten mad if it hadn’t been the first time he saw her laugh. Her laughter made him blush instead of angry.

"How did that happen?" she asked forcing her laughter to stop.

"We made a bet with my sister. I might have gone a little overboard and told her she would never be able to beat me at a "boomerang race". She said if I lost, I'd work in this teashop for a week. "

Azula broke into a stronger laughter this time.

"I tripped and fell down Azula! Otherwise, there is no way she could have beaten me!" Sokka squeaked.

Still, she couldn't stop laughing. Sokka looked rather cute while he explained his story.

"Glad I could improve your mood princess."

"I'm sorry Sokka, I just can't..." she tried to say in between laughter.

Sokka joined her laughter soon enough.

They ate, laughed, and talked leisurely. It felt genuinely nice to be in each other's company.

Working in the teashop didn't feel horrible anymore. They joked around. From the outside it looked like they were glad to be in this situation. After their shift ended they would hang out in a restaurant and go for a walk.

Until their good mood shifted, when certain people entered the teashop right before it was closing time. It was the third day for Azula in Ba Sing Se.

Zuko arrived with Katara, Aang and Toph next to him. He left his soldiers outside the teashop.

Her brother looked worried, she had to give him that.

“Azula, what is that? I barely slept for days in worry something might have happened!” he said roughly.

Azula gave her brother a harsh glare, but before she could say anything Sokka gave her a short reassuring look and rushed toward Zuko. Anger pouring off him.

"Are you out of your mind? How can you do something like this to your sister Zuko?!" Sokka yelled.

"Calm down Sokka." Zuko replied furrowing his eyebrows.

"You can't force her to do anything you hear me?" Sokka told him.

Zuko found his explosion a little too much but responded anyway. He tried to at least. Because Katara burst into laughter.

All eyes turned to her.

"Hey Sokka, can you give us some tea." she said.

"Oh, nice apron Sokka." Aang began laughing too.

"I am sure Azula's apron looks much better." Toph teased now. She knew the Princess was working here too.

Sokka just growled.

Zuko's eyes landed on his sister.

"Azula, I was never going to force you to anything. You are my sister, and I really wish you trust me." Zuko actually looked sad.

"I heard Iroh talking to you about how you should tell me that you plan a marriage for me." Azula said.

"Did you hear the rest of it?" Zuko asked. He looked at Sokka and then at Azula again. An interesting situation was happening.

"I told uncle that I never planned such a thing. Then he asked me if he could make you a suggestion. But before that I wanted to talk to you of course."

"Isn't this just perfect?" Toph said smirking.

"What?" Azula and Sokka asked in unison.

Katara started laughing again.

"What's so funny now huh?" Sokka asked annoyed.

"The person Uncle Iroh suggested you marry Azula..." Zuko started.

He paused, closing his eyes. Maybe this whole thing was a sign.

"Uncle believes you guys would match very good together." Zuko said.

Time seemed to stand still. Azula looked at her brother, then at Sokka who looked just as stunned as her. Katara and Toph smirked and Aang winked at her, looking happy.

"My brother and you." Katara interrupted.

Azula and Sokka were standing side by side, but their heads turned to the side so they could see each other's eyes.

"Well, I spied on you guys and sensed your feelings for one another flourishing." Toph whispered to herself. For she could feel how happy they were in each other's company.

[yxngchen]

LOVE the pattern of the Power Hungry Father with Two Children dynamic throughout atla and lok. Ozai/Azula/Zuko, Yakone/Noatak/Tarrlok, Unalaq/Eska/Desna. idk if it’s on purpose but it is so interesting every time

[venussaidso]

The sCrEaM I let out

Because they truly are alike even their downfalls were so parallel. I just knew watching Joo Seok-kyung that she'd be Ketuvian. Like I was so RIIIIIGHT and the Azula parallels are sending meeee my poor evil baby girls. Mommy issues. Daddy turned them into raging power-hungry monsters. Both have a brother who is far more redeemable.

These scenes parallel for me because this is what their relentlessness has led them to.

I feel like I was going crazy seeing the dark, overly ambitious, deeply insecure, megalomaniac trope for Ketuvians because they were supposed to be these spiritually inclined demotivated monks but now I'm standing on what I initially claimed forever now 😂

Also, Azula is literally the most skilled fighter, she could've easily ruled the world had she not been so power-hungry to the point of irrationality. Like I said before in my Ketu Themes post; these characters can be relentless about resources and materialism (due to lack, insecurity or emptiness), that they can easily be powerful and successful, but because of the nature of Ketu, that shit either drains them, possesses them or crumbles in the end.

Again, the downfall of Tony Montana and Daniel Plainview are a testament to this. Both portrayed by Ashwini natives. Both the films closing off with their deserved demise (There Will Be Blood being more hinted if anything), in a murderous psychotic breakdown.

Both characters had a rise to success from their 'businesses' which ate away at their soul, literally draining them and in turn they drain everyone else around them.