#i’m thinking Avatar agni kai azula and zuko

[newtthetranswriter]

Hi, I saw that your ATLA requests are open again! Could I get a Zuko x f/reader, where they were childhood best friends until he was banished? The reader joined the avatar after running away and now they meet again for the first time? And they kinda hate each other and fight but at the same time avoid hurting each other? Thanks!!

Word Count: 1388

Paring: Zuko x reader

Warnings: Canon typical violence, probably ooc zuko (it’s my first time writing for him)

A/n: I’m so sorry it took so long for me to finish this. I kept trying and had to rewrite it multiple times cause I wasn’t happy with how it was turning out, but I think it’s good now. I hope you enjoy and remember to hydrate or diedrate.

A/n2: I just wanted to add that I changed the timeline slightly. Zuko was still banished at 13 but instead of Aang being found when Zuko is 16, he’s found when Zuko is 18.  Also, yes I know they run into Zuko after the fortune teller episode but it was just the best spot I could work reader into joining the Team.

    Being the daughter of Ozai’s closest advisor gave some pretty great perks, like growing up alongside Prince Zuko. Zuko and I were as close as two friends could get, we would spend most of our time together avoiding Azula and feeding the turtle ducks. When we weren’t playing we were practicing our fire bending together, again being a high ranking advisor's kid got you a lot, including lessons with the royal families firebending  teachers. For the longest time it was me and Zuko against the world, but alas all good things come to an end. Shortly after we turned thirteen, Zuko was invited by his father to a war council meeting where he spoke up against a general’s plan. Having offended his father Zuko was subject to an Agni Kai where Ozai burned him and then banished the young prince, sending him on a wild goose chase for the Avatar.

    I tried to go with him but Zuko pushed me away telling me I need to stay safe in the walls of the Palace. I had, at the time, agreed, but after two years of watching the ���Great Fire Nation’ destroy the world, I had enough. One night when I knew ships bound for the Earth Kingdom were docking to pick up new soldiers, I snuck out of my room in the palace with only a change of clothes and snuck onto one of the mini ships. I stayed hidden on the ship for days, sneaking food from the kitchen when it was empty at night. The first stop the ship made outside of the Fire Nation, I took my chance and fled into the Earth Kingdom.

   I spent three years moving around different villages in the Earth Kingdom, mostly avoiding any signs of the Fire Nation. If a village I had been staying in got attacked I would leave. It may sound bad but if I stayed to help, I’d only end up back in the Fire Nation and likely executed for treason so the best choice was to keep moving whenever they got close. Although that plan changed when rumors of the Avatar’s return started to surface. Taking the information as a sign to start fighting back, I packed up what little things I owned and left the town I had been staying in.

  Spending a few weeks following sightings of the Avatar hoping to catch up with him eventually. I miraculously managed to catch up with him and his friends when they were helping to protect a village from an erupting volcano. After assisting them, I explained that I had run away from the Fire Nation and wanted to help them end the war. It took a lot of convincing but they eventually agreed to let me join them on their journey to the Northern Watertribe.

   After a couple of weeks of flying, making stops for food and letting Appa rest, we eventually made it to the Northern Tribe. Not long after our arrival in the north, the Fire Nation attacked. After trying to take out the ships on his own, Aang decided he needed to go into the spirit world in search of help. Joining Aang, Katara, and Yue, I positioned myself near the entrance of the Spirit Oasis ready to be the first line of defense in case anyone tries to stop Aang. 

   I zoned out of the conversation Katara was having with the Princess as she was just explaining that as long as no one moved Aang’s body everything would be fine. Right as I was about to agree with Katara for saying we could protect him, I heard a voice that I thought I would never hear again.

   “Well, aren’t you a big girl now.” Sure, his voice was deeper and void of any emotion other than anger. I knew it was him. Moving closer to Katara, I motioned for Yue to run and continued to watch my old friend’s confrontation with my new friend. I could hear a quiet ‘no’ leaving Katara as she realized someone was here to take Aang. “Yes. Hand him over and I won’t have to hurt you.” Zuko said, getting in a fighting stance.

   Katara responded by also taking a fighting stance. Using the distraction of the two of them fighting I moved to place myself in front of Aang so no stray attacks could hit him. Normally when fighting firebenders I would step in, but seeing as it’s currently the night I know waterbending is more powerful and so I let Katara deal with Zuko. I watched in amazement as Katara used a wave of water to push Zuko up a wall and then freeze him there. 

   After trapping Zuko, Katara ran to make sure Aang was ok. While she was distracted, I felt a slight increase in energy come from my bending, knowing that it was likely day break I turned back to where Zuko had been trapped. “Katara stand back and keep an eye on him.” I said getting in my own fighting stance. She let out a confused sound as a blast of fire was sent directly at her. Acting quickly I deflected the attack.

  “You rise with the moon … I rise with the sun.” Zuko said not paying attention to the fact his attack missed.

   Taking his momentary pridefulness as an opening, I sent my own attack his way kicking a stream of fire at his legs effectively knocking him down. “So do I dipshit.” I said as he jumped back to his feet, confusion written across his face. “Surprised to see me? Now if you want to get to Aang you have to go through me.” Getting ready for a counter attack. When one didn’t happen I took another shot, sending a ball of fire towards him.

   Snapping out of his confusion, Zuko quickly deflected. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be safe, back in the Fire Nation.” He asked, not bothering to fight back. 

   “I haven’t been in the Fire Nation for three years, Zuko. I left after all that happened to you and then watching the Fire Nation kill thousands of innocent people, I couldn’t sit and watch them destroy the world for no reason.” I explained, sending attack after attack his way. “You of all people should understand that your father doesn’t care about the innocent lives lost and just wants to keep this war going.”

   Up until mentioning his father, Zuko only deflected my attacks. But as soon as the Fire Lord was mentioned, he sent his own volley of attacks my way, though for some reason it felt like he wasn’t giving it his all. “How dare you speak poorly about my father. He gave you so much, let you learn fire bending from the same masters who only teach royalty, let you live in his palace, and here you are saying he just wants an endless war.” 

   Rolling my eyes, I continued to send attacks his way. After what felt like hours, but was probably only twenty minutes, Zuko got the upper hand. He sent a well timed blast at my stomach as I was trying to catch my breath. It wasn’t strong enough to burn or leave any lasting damage but just enough to knock what little air I had out of my lungs and send me tumbling to the ground. While I was down I heard Katara start to fight back but it was quickly followed by the sound of her also hitting the ground. Still trying to catch my breath I sat up and watched as Zuko grabbed Aang and ran.

   When Sokka and Yue entered the Oasis, I couldn’t help but feel that it was my fault Aang was taken. I listened as Katara explained that we had both tried to fight him off but he got the upper hand and knocked us both down. When Sokka turned to look at me, I just shook my head. Not wanting to face the fact they all now knew I have history with Zuko and were probably thinking I pulled my punches because of it. Turning away from the group as they decided it was best to go after him and find Aang, I declined, not wanting to be caught pulling my punches against Zuko again.

[drunknillawafer]

right down the line: zuko x firebender!reader | part 7

You grew up close to the Royal Family due to your father's position as a General, but you ran away from home after the agni kai against your best friend, Zuko. Now, you've joined the Gaang and plan on doing your part in ending the 100-year war.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

hi part 7... picking up right where we left off... i think I'm going to post a masterlist & keep it linked on my pinned to make it easier to sift through and find, esp since i do plan on posting other fics once i finished my very first >.< also i want to post the songs i listen to while I'm writing and some visuals hehe... just to make it much more immersive. again i do not own these characters and they are not mine! (except my mc i guess) like comment reblog if ya like... enjoy! about 1785 words

⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

We’re standing on a sand-colored platform of a structure currently being renovated or changed to fit Fire Nation standards. The usual for when they occupy lands that don’t belong to them. Aangs in front of me, with Sokka to my left and Katara to my right. We form a triangle and I'm thankful for the partial covering.

I’m thinking of the best way to summarize the threats ahead of us, just in case they try to change the plan. There’s a good chance this will go south.

“Mai, in the center, has good aim with her blades, but it’s Ty Lee, on the left, you should keep an eye out for.” I try to give my friends the run-down on my, I guess, old friends one would say. But we’ve only got so much time before all three of them realize that I’m here.  

They lower King Bumi from the top of the building using a metal crane. They’ve got him in a coffin-shaped cage with only his head showing.

“You brought my brother?” Mai speaks first, breaking the silence between the two groups. She squints at the sight of me, but I’m too far away for her to be sure it’s me.

“He’s here.” Aang solemnly replies. “We’re ready to trade.” In these moments, he’s got the grace of a 112-year-old.

Suddenly, Azula speaks to Mai in a hushed tone we can’t quite hear. Fine is never fine with Azula, nothing is ever the way it should be with her. There’s bound to be some trick up her sleeve that only feeds into her misery.

“I’ll help with the girl on the right, she’s the most vicious,” I warn them. I briefly make eye contact with Sokka. We haven’t talked about what was said and now wasn’t the time, but I couldn’t help but yearn for his gentleness. A reminder that I wasn’t like the enemies in front of us, but someone new. Someone he couldn’t hate.

Then, Mai steps forward. “The deal’s off.” With a lift of her gloved hand, King Bumi is raised once again by the crane.

“Bumi!” Aang cries out for his old friend and starts heading towards him, defying the laws of gravity bestowed upon the rest of us. It’s enchanting to see an air-bender. It’s so different from the rest of the elements. He looks like he’s flying.

As he does so, Azula strikes, and I see her blue flame for the first time. She must’ve perfected her oxygen levels for complete combustion; but if she’s the Azula I’ve always known, I know how to beat her. This time, I won’t go easy. I won’t make that same mistake again for nostalgia.

Aang’s head covering flies away as the air moves around him and his arrow is exposed.

I look down at Azula’s reaction and she’s close enough now to hear.

“The Avatar. My lucky day.” The princess smirks, re-organizing her plans for Omashu in her head.

“Remember, don’t let Ty Lee touch you!” I warn Sokka and Katara and dash toward Azula, offering Aang some support against the crazed fire-bender.

I follow her upward, burning the knot on the pulley to cause the rope to lift.

Azula can see me through the grids as the ropes pull us to the top of the building, and I can see her in real-time realize who I am.

“Well, if it isn’t the Royal traitor. Seems like you and Zuzu still share a brain.” She gloats.

“Leave the Avatar alone, Azula. I mean it!” We break through the ceiling made from wood and reach the roof of the building under construction.

She attacks Aang with a blue blast, causing him to break the metal chain. Aang instantly heads downward with King Bumi. He cushions their fall with an air bubble, and they land on the well-known ramps of Omashu. Azula quickly follows them using a cart, and I’m on her tail. If only I had Sokka’s boomerang right now, it makes so much sense to carry one in these situations.

We catch up to Aang, giving Azula the chance to strike him and Bumi.

I distract her with my own fire-blasts, making sure to lean forward and crash into her cart.

“Out of practice?” She questions.

“Out of patience.” I growl, punctuating my sentence with a blast from my right hand.

As we continue our fight by speeding through the ramps, I see Appa in the distance. Relief washes over me as I conclude Sokka and Katara must have gotten away from Mai and Ty Lee.

Aang attempts to lift Bumi onto Appa’s saddle with his bending, but he miscalculates and Bumi’s off to land on the ground. But his friend won’t let him go on his own. Together, they land on another ramp and head down to ground-level.

Azula’s right behind them, and I’m right behind her.

She attempts another attack, but a rock blocks her offense and bursts her cart into dust. I leap off mine before the impact breaks my cart too and we both land on our feet, an homage to our identical upbringing.

She lets Aang go for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on until she turns around to face me. We're still standing on the ramps.

“The key to never losing is knowing when you’re beat.” She says with her hands in defense, signaling that she’s waving the white flag.

I’m still in fight mode. I’d never let my guard down around her, not now, not ever. “You’ll always be beat as long as I’m here.”

She pauses to truly grasp my presence. It’s been three years since we’ve seen each other, and everything’s changed. We used to be on the same team, never friends but bonded by our birthplace. It’s the first time we no longer owe each other pleasantries. Azula, however, uses sweetness as a weapon. “Where have you been, Y/N? You’re missed at the Royal Palace.”

“I doubt it.” Zuko and his mother haven’t touched that home in years, making it impossible for anyone there to actually miss me.

“Your father misses you.”

“I know you’re lying, Azula.”

“You’ve never trusted me; I’ve never liked you. Now we don’t have to pretend do we?”

“Leave us alone,” I get in my fight stance. “Got it?”

“Fine. Loud and clear.” She dashes away in her infamous run toward the unfinished building, probably to catch up with her friends.

Fine isn’t fine. It’s I’ll get you somehow. I think to myself.

I watch her figure fade into the distance, when it hits me: “Seems like you and Zuzu still share a brain.”

Did Zuko abandon his ship?

Is she lying? She would have no reason to lie about something like that, other than to get to me or Aang. I can’t pinpoint a motive. I still won’t believe her 100 percent, but I’ll keep it in my back pocket.

I slide down the ramp Aang took and find the both of them at the very end, standing on a platform in another unfinished building. Once I’m off and my two feet hit the floor, Bumi bends rock to lift his metal enclosure up the ramp in a fit of laughter.

We both watch him go. “Your friend is very… eccentric.” I tell Aang, as he’s standing with Momo on his shoulders.

“Yeah.” I turn to face him, something’s wrong. He’s disappointed.

“He’s not going to teach you earth-bending?” I assume.

“No, he has to stay here to protect Omashu. I guess I got to find another teacher.” Now, he looks like a twelve-year-old boy with the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. There’s no way he’s meant to do this alone. I’d rather be here helping him than with Zuko.

“We’ll find one in no-time.” I reassure him.

“Who were those three girls?” He changes the subject.

“They were old friends too. Azula is Zuko’s sister.”

“Wow.”

“I know.” I sit on the edge of the platform, waiting for our ride with my feet dangling. Aang sits next to me, and for now, we’re just two kids talking, staring at the beautiful Earth Kingdom in front of us.

“What was it like… to grow up with them?”

“It was easy with Zuko. Azula… not so much.” I wince.

Aang’s face contorts, as if he’s remembering a distant memory. “Was Zuko good? Yaknow, back then?”

A smile creeps up on my face. “He was.”

“Do you think he still could be?”

Aang and I stare at each other. We’re choosing to live in the moment before my answer. The moment in which the possibility of Zuko changing his mind, realizing his mistakes, and helping us stop his father exists.  

“I don’t know.”

☆

The heat and the prickly bushes are upsetting him further with each and every single step. Looking for food when you’re used to someone cooking for you is daunting, Zuko realizes. How is he ever supposed to live like this? How did Y/N?

As he’s walking back to let Uncle know he couldn’t find anything edible, he touches the side of his hair. It’s grown back a bit since cutting it, slicing off his ties to the Fire Nation. Trading in the red for green, hoping to camouflage with the land and the Earth Kingdom people.

What a stupid idea, he thought. How could anyone ever confuse him with anyone else with the scar on his left eye?

But it seemed to be working so far. His sister hadn’t found them, and they haven’t been arrested for their crimes against every other nation.

In the humid morning, on his long walk back to where his uncle was staring at a tea leaf, he thought about the Northern Water Tribe.

He wondered if Y/N was okay from his strike. Maybe the water-bender girl could heal her, and she’d be okay again. He didn’t mean to. He’s been this hard and heavy with everyone else for the sole purpose of returning home, he forgot Y/N was his home. He’s been in fighting mode for so long, he’s forgotten to turn it off.

She wasn’t home, though. She was with the Avatar. Defending him and betraying her nation. How did she get there? He wondered. He had so many questions about everything. Zuko’s sure she had just as many questions for him.

Could he find her now that he was labeled a traitor?

Where his mind led made his empty stomach drop.

If he found her, he’d find the Avatar. Then, he could go home. But if Y/N was not there, would he still want to go back? Did his father’s acceptance matter above all else? It didn’t for Y/N, but she was always braver than him.

Zuko wasn’t ready for that thought, so he pushed it away.

It wasn’t hard to do when your stomach was louder than your thoughts.

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

tag list <3: @camilleverreault @staygoldsquatchling02

[phoenix-king-ozai]

Why the Live Action Netflix ATLA shouldn’t had Zuko fight back in the Agni Kai duel!

Apparently, the Live Action Netflix Adaptation had decided to have Zuko accept and fight back during the Agni duel between father and son. This I believe was a major narrative mistake that shouldn’t have been changed from the original animated version.

Ozai became infuriated that Zuko was a “coward” that would not defend his honor and pride in front of his father and the entire royal court. Which is why Ozai demanded Zuko to get up and fight him or he would be “taught” respect. This is also connected to other “macho” bushido beliefs and attitudes that firebending men and boys are encouraged and expected to fulfill in the Fire Nation’s violent, authoritarian, fascistic militarized society and culture corrupted by Sozin’s militarism and imperialistic ideology. We see this with Zhao when he insults Zuko for sparing his life and calling him a coward. “ Your father raised a coward!” Commander Zhao B1 E3 The Southern Air Temple.

Zhao would rather get burned, scarred, deformed and possibly killed than have his face and possibly life be spared by Zuko’s compassionate actions. Both Ozai and Zhao were disgusted and disappointed by Zuko’s belief and attitudes toward empathy, mercy, and surrendering. This also explains why Zhao refused Zuko’s help during the fight with Tui and La Avatar State empowered Aang! Fighting a glorious battle to the death even when outmatched and showing no mercy but ruthless is honored and praised in Elite Fire Nation society and culture.

The point that I’m trying to get at is! Zuko not agreeing to the Agni Kai and kneeling infuriated Ozai which led to Zuko’s scarring and banishment because of Ozai’s dissatisfaction, disappointment, and disgust in Zuko’s fear, terror, and unwillingness to duel his father aka a member of his family. Zuko’s terror and desire to not fight his father also conflicted him in the Agni Kai causing him not to act against Ozai. This is the main reason Zuko’s fight with Azula was so impactful. Zuko didn’t want to fight his family yet had no choice regarding his father and sister.

I glad that despite Zuko fighting back in the Agni Kai in Episode 6: Mask of NATLA. That the showrunners stayed true to the characters: Ozai and Zuko along with the themes of the Agni Kai. I’m also glad that they didn't make Ozai have a favored child. Ozai wants Zuko and Azula to both prove themselves. Ozai doesn't favor Zuko or Azula. It is about which child will succeed Sozin, Azulon, and his legacy as future Fire Lord. In fact, Ozai doesn't want Zuko or Azula to think that they are the “favorite” child. He wants Azula and Zuko to improve through competition. Because of “steel sharpen steel” mentality. Ozai has the mentality of an imperialist warlord. I think Ozai, Zuko, Iroh and Azula’s characterization were well done and faithful! Iroh being confronted over Ba Sing Se was amazing as well and tied to his grief of Lu Ten’s death.

[theofficialpresidentofmars]

not super thought out but atla au where Lu Ten survives, and Zuko is the royal child to die and haunt the narrative.

Not entirely thought out in terms of how it happens, because I still want it to be the result of Azulon’s order to Ozai carried out, rather than his mother saving him from it. Unfortunately because that order is a direct result of Lu Ten’s death, I’m still working out the details, but the gist is that Iroh gives up on Ba Sing Se for some reason or other, Ozai tries to pinch the throne again, and for whatever reason, Azulon decides that it’s still a fitting punishment for Ozai to kill Zuko. But this time, Ursa doesn’t overhear Azula, she doesn’t get there in time, and Zuko is slain by his father in the dead of night.

(Azula tried to warn him. It was his own fault that he didn’t believe her.)

Perhaps Ursa retaliates, killing Azulon and attempting to do the same to Ozai before her banishment, perhaps Ozai twists the story but banishes her anyway, perhaps she simply lives with unbearable grief in the palace and shuts off from the outside world.

Iroh doesn’t go on his massive spiritual journey, but the corruption within the palace walls does inspire him to reconsider many things he considered to be truth. He starts off down a similar path, albeit slower. Lu Ten is a few steps ahead of him, but he’d always sort of been anyway.

Lu Ten is probably hit the second hardest, behind Ursa, at his little cousin’s death. It was unfair and injust, and unfortunately, not above what he’s come to expect of his own nation. Something needs to change, and he’s starting to think that maybe long term diplomatic solutions with the other nations as the war proceeds isn’t quick enough or good enough at all.

Azula has to deal with this funny thing called grief, which manifests unexpectedly and in odd ways. She didn’t expect to grieve for her brother, and constant suppression makes it more unpredictable than most. She’s not radicalised by it, but she starts to become disillusioned with her father and palace life as a whole. She’s still open to murder for power, but something about killing a child in the dead of night without even an Agni Kai to sanction the violence seems… unrefined. Barbaric, even. Beneath her, in any sense. She’ll have to do better when she sits on the throne.

When the Avatar cracks out of the iceberg, Lu Ten is the first to take his side. Not quite so dramatically as his little cousin would have had the flair for, but secretive work from within the castle walls. Calls for meetings on grounds of diplomacy. Lightened military in areas the child might traverse through. Perhaps even a captive exchange with a certain stronghold where the cage meant for the Avatar was not quite up to standard, just weak enough for the bars to break deep enough into the forest for a quick escape to be made… his methods raise eyebrows for sure, but Lu Ten knows that sooner or later he’ll have to make a bigger move.

Iroh sits on the fence, and is often the one to raise an eyebrow, but does nothing to reprimand or encourage his son’s increasingly borderline treasonous acts. He has not made up his own mind yet on how he himself shall proceed- the game has begun, but his tile is still behind others, waiting to see how the board will look before it makes its first move.

Azula enjoys the company of her cousin more than she would like to admit- he’s teaching her everything he knows about how to become a good Firelord, and he’s a much better teacher than the ones her father picks. Of course, the way he values her emotions and wellbeing is a glaring weakness, but it’s one that she’s willing to let slide. Lu Ten isn’t a very good liar either, and she loves to know more than people think she does, so she’s also willing to not say anything about the fact that he’s very clearly hiding something. She likes the feeling of control that poking at this mystery gives her, when he has no idea she’s doing it.

Lu Ten is wondering how easy it would be to bring his little cousin over onto the right side of history. He knows he’s not being subtle, she has the glint in her eyes that she gets when she’s learning more than he means to let slide, but what she doesn’t know is that that’s his plan: it’s the best way to keep her interested, and she’ll be more open to any idea she comes to her own conclusions about.

Eventually, hijinks ensue, the two get kicked out of the castle to go participate in the actual war, and meet the actual Avatar, to which more hijinks ensue when Team Avatar starts receiving incredibly mixed messages from the Fire Nation’s special forces: there’s the friendly one, who they’ve met, who seems to possibly be actually working in their best interests, and then there’s the smaller one who might want to murder them, and they’re… on the same side? They just can’t seem to figure out, and it seems the two of them have no clue either, which side that is.

The time away from home also ends up opening old wounds, and both of them get to finally process some of the repressed grief that didn’t get to see the light in the suffocating environment of the Fire Nation palace.

———

Lu Ten learns something he didn’t know about the night Zuko died.

———

She knew.

She knew, and she didn’t tell anyone, didn’t try to help him, didn’t try to protect him.

She knew, and she made fun of him, wound him up, left him on his own.

He’d spent years wishing he’d been home, instead of somewhere in the outskirts of the Earth Nation, so he could have maybe done something, anything about it, but he’d always known that there was nothing he could have done, because he hadn’t known and wouldn’t have in time.

But she had known. And she had laughed, and left him to die.

[ilove-yuji]

Jujutsu kaisen x Alta au (unfinished)

Aang - Yuuta. I think they share similar traits, plus their original stories are kinda similar!

Katara - Maki. Again a pretty obvious choice considering both Maki’s and Katara’s personalities and even sharing the struggle of defying misogynistic elders.

Sokka - Yuji. These two both share the comedic relief role! And their personalities also match.

Suki/Toph - Nobara. I genuinely couldn’t think of someone to cover toph (I wanted ages to match) so I’m having nobara do a 2-for-1. I really feel like she covers both here.

Zuko - Megumi. Omg who could have thought that the emo kid with the sad backstory matched up with the emo kid with the sad backstory!! What a mystery!!!

Fire fam

Ozai - Zenin clan. I’m gonna explain this more in depth in my storyline notes , but yeah evil zenin clan… who could have guessed

Ursa - Mamaguro. Obvious, considering both stories. I might go more in depth on the whole Toji situation in storyline notes.

Iroh - Gojo. Deeply cares for Megumi and wants him to go on the right path? Perfect I say

Ozai’s Angels

Azula - Sukuna.. maybe…

Ty-lee - Tsumiki. Similar personalities but little age difference we can fix!

Mai - Mai. I will explain how this happens, since I’m keeping Mai and Maki as twins.

Storyline Notes

Sokka x Suki doesn’t happen because nobara and yuji are sibling goals.

Mai x Zuko doesn’t happen because they are related in cannon (jjk), and it’s weird to swap that around you know?

Kataang for life peace out

Maybe a little zukka action…

Zenin clan is taking the place of ozai, so they favor whoever Azula is gonna be, Megumi speaks out at the meeting and gets challenged to an agni kai, loses to his dad (Toji, but still working out how it’s gonna work) and gets sent out to find the avatar. Gojo/Geto (still deciding) join him on his journey.

Megumi and Tsumiki are not gonna grow up together

Maki and Yuji grow up together, not related though.

Maki and Mai are still twins! but during a fire raid when they were around 5 years old, Mai gets kidnapped for being a water-bender. Mai resents Maki for not ever coming for her. Causing her to fake it as a non-bender in the fire kingdom. Gojo takes her into his care, not too long after taking Megumi into his care.

Maki and Mai have no relation to the Zenin clan.

More on the Toji situation, Toji would be very mistreated my the Zenin clan, leaving and falling in love with mamaguro. When Megumi is 4 years old the Zenin clan kidnap Megumi and kill mamaguro. This deeply hurts Toji so he returns to how he was before mamaguro. Gojo, being ordered by the Zenin clan to go after Toji for his crimes. Gojo kills Toji, and Toji asks him to watch over Megumi. Gojo makes his wish and 2 years later is officially megumi’s guardian. (The reason Gojo is ordered by the Zenin clan is unknown, and the reason Gojo knew about Megumi was because there were rumors of him being a firebender.)

This is mostly a rough draft to get my thoughts on digital paper.. if I work out some of the kinks I might make a fic. If anyone has any ideas let me know!!

Also my first tumblr post!! Yippie!!

[sokkabaddiebender2021]

ok y’all i finally finished the neflix live action avatar and…….don’t hate me……..but i enjoyed it 😭 my standards for entertainment is honestly on whether or not it entertained me, so honestly i question my standards.

first off, the visuals and score was absolutely amazing. the fight scenes were well choreographed, and the bending, which i was super nervous about, looked actually amazing.

i think we can all agree the writing and dialogue was pretty choppy at times, and the delivery could be better at times. but i also think (most) of the energy of the original characters was captured well. katara honestly got done the dirtiest because why was she so…….not passionate??? i’m hoping later on she gets more so because that’s a key trait of katara. i was very disappointed with that :/

what they did to suki too……..i liked her being a little awkward and such because it makes sense but i felt like too much of her character was dedicated to her having a crush on sokka. like where is her attitude, her ferocity?

i think aang was played very well by gordon cormier, especially considering this is a child actor we are taking about. his line delivery isn’t going to be great and yes he is a real boy so he can’t be as cartoony as some would hope but i think he was absolutely adorable.

surprise surprise, i loved dallas liu as zuko. i think there were some pretty whack line deliveries but he really captured the anger and cringeyness of zuko well. his martial arts were also also incredible, his fight scenes were my favorite to watch. the scene with him crying quietly on the bed when ozai banishing him shattered me, his subtle acting is underrated honestly.

i have my beef with ian ousley as sokka mostly because of the controversy and such, but i can’t lie he did play sokka well. yet again, as for the last characters, some line deliveries were iffy but he was still a very believable sokka.

so for the writing, i have LOTS OF OPINIONS. there were things they cut that definitely upset me, and that was just because of their lowkey questionable pacing. as much as i hate the slimeball, i missed a lot of the interesting parts of zhao’s story that they cut like his agni kai, jeuong jeuong (aang’s fear of fire??), zuko SAVING him. i feel like they had something interesting there with building a fake alliance with him and zuko, and they didn’t build more off it. [edit] that so, the dude who played zhao had me losing my shit. his line delivery was hilarious and i just love that zhao just gives that manager no one likes/that one creepy math teacher in high school vibes (only combination i could think of y’all).

the additions to zuko’s story was something i absolutely loved. i found myself actually getting very emotional with a lot of the flashbacks, and the 41st division being his crew 🥹🥹 but then i find myself being upset that we were shown other flashbacks so early (like the death of katara’s mother??).

i actually hate the hate azula’s actress is getting. she’s playing a 14 year old……like a 14 year old?? she wasn’t even in season 1 in the og so ofc she’s gonna not be the same, i’m hoping this means they’re building up her up to her fierceness in season 2.

one last critique PLEASE GET A WIG BUDGET GOOD LORD THOSE WIGS WERE BAAAAD. and also a lot of their costumes looked fake or like plastic this was actually my least favorite part 😭

overall, not as horrible as people make it out to be, i had a good time but obviously the og will always be the higher quality product. i’m just glad the young actors seemed to really be passionate for the project :)

[jellyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

I’m looking for an avatar au i read a while ago where Azula interfered at the Agni Kai and fights ozai (he strikes her with lightning), and later she and zuko run away, get spirit masks and fight together (I have no idea against who), later ty lee and Mai join them to (they get masks too) and they join team avatar (I think?).

Does anyone know the name of the au?

[azure-firecracker]

I have the threads of an Azula theory.

Disclaimer: This is about the Last Agni Kai, which I haven’t watched in a while because it makes me cry. Also this is a theory. It’s a train of thought. I’m not proclaiming it to be absolute truth or anything.

But I was thinking about Azula shooting lightning at Katara. Now, Azula isn’t exactly making the most strategic decisions here since she’s having a…rough time, to put it mildly. But I was also thinking about what her thought process could have been (since her exterior only really goes to show that she’s…having a rough time).

Now in Azula’s eyes, she knows she’s not winning this fight. Between Zuko having improved and her being a mess, she’s clearly fighting an uphill battle. She’s going to lose and she knows it. She also probably thinks Zuko won’t kill her. Although they’ve battled before, it would take really specific and clear intent to kill on his part since they’re not like…on an airship or a gondola. They’ve been shooting big up until this point, but they’ve also kind of been toying with one another.

Then Zuko asks her where her lightning is. Something she probably hasn’t considered using, because up until this point, she didn’t think she would have to. And she sees Katara. But here’s the thing: did Azula plan to have Zuko jump in front of the lightning and fail to redirect it? You have to keep in mind that Azula hasn’t seen the majority of Zuko’s interactions with Team Avatar. She hasn’t seen him be this selfless, hell, he’s never BEEN this selfless until now. Azula also, as we’ve seen, struggles to understand real, unconditional love. She certainly wouldn’t jump in front of lightning for anyone except maybe Ozai, and that’s…not unconditional. So would she understand this? Maybe not. And Azula doesn’t know anything about lightning redirection. What makes her think that Zuko wouldn’t be able to redirect the lightning if he jumped in front of it. After all, he did redirect quite a bit of it.

So if we follow these theories (and again, they’re only theories), this leaves one possibility: Azula was actually trying to kill Katara. But why? Azula doesn’t care about Katara. We’ve never seen her delight in violence for the sake of it. Why not focus on the fight at hand? If I were her, I wouldn’t want to risk involving Katara at all. She’s struggling enough as is, and even she should know that Katara’s a powerful opponent. They were evenly matched in Crossroads of Destiny.

Let’s think about Azula’s mental state right now. Her brother and her best friends have all abandoned her. Her father’s love, the one thing she hung onto, is meaningless and she’s only realizing this now. At her lowest point, she’s been reminded of her mother: the first person to call her a monster, and that is what she believes she is. No one loves her. She has nothing left to fight for. And the one scrap of validation she has left, which is being better than Zuko, is slipping away. What’s left? Why stay around in this state?

So: what if Azula was trying to kill Katara so that she could make Zuko furious enough to kill her?

Just a thought.

[missaccuracy]

I came across this post that has my head scratching, and would like to know your thoughts?

https://www.tumblr.com/johnskleats/765505658076430337/azula-would-have-lost-the-final-agni-kai-no-matter

All I can say is that I’m pretty sure that’s not what the creators intended. I’m looking forward to seeing your thoughts on this. 😊

Okay, so I want to say first, I'm not going to attack this person, I'm just going to give my opinion.

There's some truth in the post, but the OP also says some really weird things.

So, first of all, Azula didn't use her cunning in battles because she's insecure, but because she's just...smart and cunning. Her insecurity only came out when people close to her started leaving her in the end, before that, she hid it pretty well, as she learned to do. When Azula hit Iroh with fire (not lightning, seriously why does everyone confuse fire with lightning in that scene?), she did it because she was cornered, and shot Iroh to take out the most experienced fighter out of the group. And also to distract everyone so that she could escape, not because she's insecure, but because she was thinking rationally and knew she couldn't beat all of them all by herself.

"Killing Aang with lightning was SUPREMELY stupid on her part, and she wouldn't have done it unless she was cornered. She didn't even stick around to make sure he was dead or have any of them followed because she was scared."

This is the first time I have seen someone call Azula killing Aang with lightning stupid. Really, how is it stupid, her goal is to win the war and she just ended the Avatar cycle when the Avatar is the only person who can stop the war. If anything, what she did was incredibly clever.

But yeah, I think she didn't follow them because she looked pretty scared:

(This is a scared face, lol)

I think Azula didn't follow them because firstly, Iroh held them off a bit, and secondly, Azula didn't know about the spirit water Katara had, so she was sure the Avatar was dead and she was happy that all her plans had worked out.

Azula isn't afraid to fight, she only runs away from fights when she knows there's no way she's going to win, and she was actually smart enough NOT to risk her life when she knew it would be pointless.

There's one thing I agree with: Azula was trying to make up for the lack of love in her life. And don't get me wrong, Azula's insecurity is something that was always with her, but it was hidden deep and all of the things Azula did before her friends left her and she started slipping, she didn't do out of insecurity, she was just trying to find the most effective and smart way to win her battles.

"Which is why she would never win against Zuko if they both reached their full potential, as they did during the comet."

And it's true that Azula wouldn't have won in her mental state, but it's important to note that Zuko and Azula weren't both in their full potential: Zuko was at his best, while Azula was at her worst, we don't know how the fight would go if Azula healed one day, worked through her issues and became mentally stable.

[waterfire1848]

I'm not sure if you heard of the Salt and Ashes fanfiction series, but the type of scar Azula gets there is unnerving and sad...I don't know if she was banished in this scenario for you but can you do something with this? Oh and make is Sokkla too please?

Hello, anon!!!

I’ve heard of it but I’ve never read it. Although @akiizayoi4869 tells me it’s a great read and I trust them so I’ll have to add it to my read later list. However, I do apologize if the characterization is a little off since I haven’t read it yet. 🫣 (I did change the banishment reason though just so it’s not a complete copy and paste.)

1. Being the second born daughter, Azula is raised to follow her father and brother’s lead on everything. She’s not raised as a future Fire Lord but as someone who is supposed to protect and serve the Fire Lord which is Ozai and will soon be Zuko. Azula doesn’t object to this way of life because it’s what she’s been raised it. She still learns all the same things as before: her firebending is strong, she knows hand to hand combat and she knows lighting (although that’s kept under wraps because she doesn’t want to seem like she’s upsetting the social order by learning before Zuko). The only thing she’s allowed to show off is her bending and that’s because she’s expected to use it to protect the members of the royal family who will actually rule one day. (Zuko: I wish you could rule one day. Azula: Say that in front of father and he’ll think you’ve gone insane. Zuko: I know, I know. I just…I wish I didn’t have to rule sometimes. Azula: Maybe you’ll get lucky and it’ll be revealed that you’re the son of a peasant. Zuko: Ha-Ha. So, in this scenario, I’m a peasants son and your mom and dad’s kid? Azula: Of course. Don’t forget what father always says ‘you knew your place from before you were born. You knew you had to come second.’ Zuko: I can’t even imagine you as my older sister. It would be so weird. Azula: Yup. So weird).

2. A month before the Agni Kai would have happened, an assassin breaks in and almost kills Zuko. Azula hears his screams and runs to save him, which she goes but she’s still badly hurt. While she’s worried over her brother (sporting a very familiar burn), Ozai orders her to let with him and claims he’s disappointed that she couldn’t protect the next Fire Lord. When Azula tries to apologize and say that she’ll do better, Ozai waves her off. He says that she’s proven herself beyond useless and Azula gets mad. She yells at Ozai (because she’s been working her tail off for 14 years) which proves to be her undoing because the Fire Lord comes close to her and lays his burning hot hand over her mouth. (Ozai: Maybe this will each you to shut your mouth). When Azula wakes up, she finds that one side of her face is perfectly fine but the other side has a large handprint burn on it and it’s burned through her cheek, so her teeth are visible. Azula breaks down upon seeing her scar for the first time. She has some trouble speaking, her teeth feel weird, the burn is kind of on her neck so moving her neck and face is uncomfortable sometimes and she thinks she looks like a monster. (Iroh: I brought you something, niece. Azula:… Iroh: I know you are upset and scared, but I think this will help. *Hands her a scarf to wrap around the bottom half of her face*). Azula is sent to capture the Avatar because she failed to protect Zuko. Iroh, hating to see his niece being away, decides to come with her.

3. Azula travels for years looking for the Avatar. She constantly wears a scarf in an effort to hide her scar not only because the wind from the boat hurts her exposed teeth but because she knows no one likes to see her scar. Finally, she does find the Avatar and he’s with two Water Tribe teens. She chases them throughout the EK until Zhao starts following them and forcing Azula to stop her chase. (Azula: I am still your princess! I- Zhao: I don’t take orders from some second born brat, especially a princess. It seems being at sea for three years has made you forget how things work both here and in the Fire Nation. You have no power here, Princess Azula). (Would you believe Azula doesn’t stop chasing after Aang?) In their time at sea, Iroh has helped Azula see that the Fire Nation is wrong to discredit her simply because she’s a second born girl. She’s a powerful bender, smart and completely capable, her gender and birth status shouldn’t matter. Azula doesn’t 100% believe this but she does believe it more when Aang comes around than she did when her father scarred her.

4. (Time for Sokkla!) While going after Aang, Azula is captured by Zhao and so is Sokka. They two are thrown in the same cell and, before he leaves, Zhao removes Azula’s scarf so that her scar is on full display (and from where Sokka is sitting it’s impossible for him to miss it). Sokka’s eyes widen when he sees it which makes Azula think he’s disgusted by it or wants to make some kind of quip about it. (Azula: Say one word. I dare you. Sokka: No word. No word. Azula:… Sokka:…I just… Azula: Say what you’re going to say. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. Kids start screaming when they see it, adults tell me I look ugly, some drunk idiot once told me he’d rather kiss a hippo-cow than look at my scar for a second. Sokka:….I think it looks cool. Azula: Cool?) Sokka and Azula start talking and the two really start to get along. Sokka tells her about the South Pole, his interests and some of the adventures he’s had with Aang so far while Azula tells him about the palace, being a princess and her life at sea. Sokka is pretty surprised when Azula tells him she doesn’t have a shot at the throne because she’s a girl (Azula: Really? Don’t the Water Tribe’s have a similar system? Sokka: I don’t know about the North but I did a couple months ago. I was angry because I thought I wasn’t man enough. Actually, Aang wouldn’t be here today if I wasn’t sexist to my sister. Azula: Huh? So what changed? Sokka: I got the stuffing kicked out of me by a group of warrior girls. Azula: HAHAHAHA! That’ll do it!) Before leaving; Sokka tells Azula that she should come with them but Azula says she can’t and they go their seperate ways.

5. Flash forward to the North Pole where Azula and Sokka meet up once more but so do Azula and Zhao. Zhao still kills the moon spirit but Azula doesn't let him leave from there and attacks him in the middle of the spirit oasis. He tries to escape and leave but when the giant fish sees him, he grabs Zhao into the ocean and Azula refuses to lend a helping hand, instead just watching as Zhao claws at the snow to try and keep himself alive. However, as Azula is turning around, Zhao grabs her leg and tries to drag her in with him. Sokka notices this and rushes to help her, kicking Zhao's arm off of her ankle and saving her life (Zhao only gets a hold of her scarf before falling into the ocean). From there, Azula really doesn't know what to do. Her father will have heard about the North Pole and she doesn't know if she really can go after the Avatar or his team anymore since Aang (technically) helped her defeat Zhao and Sokka (100%) saved her life. Sokka, once again, offers her the chance to come with them and join their team, which Azula agrees to this time. In the Fire Nation, Zuko is being dispatched to go find his sister and Team Avatar and bring Azula and Aang back to Ozai. (Ozai: Iroh is a traitor and your sister, Azula, has forgotten her place. I have a task for you.)

[acceleracers-baby]

Acceleracers HCs! What Element Would They Bend?

I just finished the Avatar Live Action and now I have brain rot about these movies AND the original ATLA show.

———

Teku

(Nolo Pasaro, Vert Wheeler, Shirako Takamoto, Kurt Wylde, Karma Eiss)

Metal Maniacs

(Taro Kitano, Tork Maddox, Monkey McClurg, Porkchop RIggs, Markie Wylde)

+Bonus Round

(Brian Kadeem & Banjee Castillo)

———

Teku

Nolo Pasaro - Okay, when I rewatched the Acelleracers recently, I literally had to look up the voice actor for Nolo because I genuinely thought it was Dante Basco (Zuko) for a second. They sound so similar. Plus Nolo’s firey personality and his pride really make me think he’d be a Firebender. “Tork! I challenge you to an Agni Kai!”

Vert Wheeler - I feel like I don't need to say it, but I’m gonna… Vert’s a Waterbender! Water is the element of change and Vert is all about adapting to the different tracks. He’s also a surfer- so… yeah I feel like this one is pretty self-explanatory. I swear this dude would become one with the ocean if it was possible. I can’t get the image of him making a surf board out of ice and just using the full moon to make the biggest waves possible for himself.

Shirako Takamoto - Shirako is so chill all the time I can’t help but see him as an Airbender. I also feel like he’d use his bending in the most creative and chaotic ways possible like manipulating the air around his speakers to make them sound louder or clearer. Not to mention that he’d use his bending to mildly annoy the Metal Maniacs. Think blowing their tools just slightly out of reach or speeding by them on an air scooter.

Kurt Wylde - Kurt has such strong Firebending vibes that it literally inspired this post lol. He just seems like such a hothead. He’s got the sass and air of superiority that comes with most Firebenders. It doesn't help that he and Mark have a sibling rivalry that reminds me of Zuko & Azula. Kurt also seems like he’d be able to manipulate lightning, and I’m not just saying that cause he looks like Mako.

Karma Eiss - Karma also gives off Firebending vibes. Her drive for perfection fits the precision a Firebender needs in order to safely manipulate their element. One wrong move and it could mean trouble. Karma would have her element fully mastered. She would have the wisdom to take skills from other bending disciplines and apply them to her own style. She can bend both fire and lightning, and I feel like she’d be skilled enough to turn up the heat for those blue flames!

———

Metal Maniacs

Taro Kitano - Oh, look at that. Another Firebender. I mean come on! He’s the leader of the Scorchers in World Race. His car has a classic flame paint job!! The Fire Nation was literally modeled after Imperial Japan!! There are so many connections I could make here, but what really convinces me is his overall attitude. He follows a strict honor code, and just like Karma, he’s got the control a Firebender needs to be successful. I feel like he’d make a great Lavabender too.

Tork Maddox - I’m getting strong Earthbender vibes from Tork. He’s built as sturdy as a rock, and his personality is just as solid. He stands his ground a lot in the Acceleracer movies, and although he’s got some fire behind his eyes, it’s usually only in response to being antagonized by one of the other racers. He’s the very foundation of the Metal Maniacs and like any good Earthbender, he seems to listen before he reacts. I also love the idea of Tork being a Metalbender.

Monkey McClurg - Monkey strikes me as a Nonbender, but if I had to give him an element, he would be an Earthbender. Mainly because I feel like he could make a great Metalbender. That being said, at my core, I really think he would end up not being able to bend, but he would make up for it by being an extremely creative inventor. He just reminds me of Sokka so much with how resourceful he is.

Porkchop Riggs - Porkchop is a full on Earthbender, baby! In fact, If Monkey ended up not being able to bend, he’d be who Monkey goes to for all of his Metalbending needs. He is one with the dirt. Especially since he's terrified of water.

Markie Wylde - Markie is 100% a Firebender as well. Like his older brother, he’s hot-headed and cocky. He gives off those Book One Zuko vibes in most of the Acceleracer movies. I don’t think he’d have the precision to be able to produce blue flames, but I do feel like he could pick up combustion. Could you imagine Markie with combustion tattoos up his arm instead of the stuff he's got now?

———

Bonus Round

Brian Kadeem - Okay, I wanted to put Kadeem in the Earthbender category due to Sandbending, but Kadeem’s personality SCREAMS Airbender. He’s got too many pacifistic tendencies and is just so damn loveable I can’t not associate him with Aang. Not only that but due to the scenes in World Race where his mentor comes to him in visions, I feel like he would be able to connect to the Spirit World quite easily.

Banjee Castillo - Surprisingly, I feel like Banjee would be an Airbender too. If not an Airbender, then probably an Earthbender. He’s just so quick-witted and has such a lighthearted view on life that I can't help but stick him with the Airbenders. Also, the way he teases people (like when he waves at Kurt as he passes him in World Race) reminds me of when Aang is being mischievous.

——— Thanks for Reading ———

[drunknillawafer]

right down the line: zuko x firebender!reader (part 9)

You grew up close to the Royal Family due to your father's position as a General, but you ran away from home after the agni kai against your best friend, Zuko. Now, you've joined the Gaang and plan on doing your part in ending the 100-year war.

Part 8 Part 10

hiiii omg yall know ill never leave yall hanging!!! i love this fic like i want to finish it to the very end and even had some older zuko & reader stuff... maybe even some korra time period stuff... like!! reminder: characters are not mine I do not own them... word count approx 2500... let me know how u like it! don't forget to reblog like comment if u do like it hehe >.<

⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

It wasn’t the throbbing headache pulsing in my right temple from my lack of sleep. It wasn’t the danger looming over our shoulders in the form of a Fire Nation metal machine. It wasn’t the shouts and trembles of earth from Katara and Toph’s adjustment to a fifth member on the team. It wasn’t the fact that Appa had crash-landed and some tree branches from the speed of dropping cut my bicep. No, it was not any of those things that finally drove me over the edge.

It was what Aang said when he was inevitably driven to madness because of our current situation.

It’s one of those rare moments that Sokka is standing outside of a group outburst.

“You’re not carrying your own weight, Appa is,” the young-air bender begins, “We didn’t have trouble flying when it was just the three of us!” My sigh punctuates his confession.

Without another moment passing us by, Toph grabs her cross-body bag and heads toward any direction that would take her the furthest from here.

Sokka steps in her way as a last effort for resolution. Oh, how it must feel to stand outside of the tension, holding the ability to remain neutral. “Wait!” He tries. She moves him in one swift kick and the dirt from under him grazes him to the side.

I’m right behind her.

“Where are you going?” The boy in blue questions me. His begging blue eyes glaring into mine.

I shrug it off. “With Toph! The three of you will be fine.”

Did they all think this about us—Aang, Katara, and Sokka about Toph and I: newcomers to the group of children burdened with saving the world? I push it aside with the rest of the questions I don’t want the answer to. It didn’t matter anyways. I’d never leave them for good.

The dirt crunches under my boots. A forged path in the spring forest leading us further and further away from the commotion. It’s just me and the earth-bender walking side-by-side with no plan in place.

It had only been a week since her official admission to the group but we both quickly registered that we’d prefer the walk to be silent. After the last two days, peace and quiet were preferred. Mandatory. A requirement.

You could feel the breeze as we begin the warmer time of the year. Flowers blooming, baby birds learning the tunes of their being, and Appa shedding. I can’t help but breathe in and out as I let the changing of the seasons cleanse me.

Toph speaks first. “Were they like that when you joined?” 

I briefly think about what I’d been up to since I met them. Aang shared how he learned he was the Avatar before going in the ice. I told them where I’m really from and what I can do, something I’d never done with anyone outside of Zuko. I ran into Zuko at the Northern Water Tribe, and he kicked me in the ribs and caused a rift between Sokka and I. Over it. Unfortunately, Aang met Azula. And now I’m here. Walking away from it all with a child I met over a week ago.

I’m also just a stranger she met a week ago, so at least it goes both ways.

“I’m not sure.” Which was true. Was it Aang’s crankiness from the sleep deprivation or did the harsh words have some truth behind them? He could’ve been defending Appa. Still. I couldn’t help but let it burn.

As we continue our walk in silence agreement with each other, she stops her movements. Her pause halts my footsteps as I watch her use her senses. She confirms any suspicion and stomps her foot down in the direction of a boulder that’s clearly hiding something behind it. A line forms as rock bends toward the culprit like a lop-eared rabbit digging underground. Suddenly, I hear a thud and a groan.

Both of us quickly make our way to investigate and we’re confronted with an old man lying on his stomach, rubbing his lower back from Toph’s damage.

“That really hurt my bottom.” The familiar voice hits my ears—It can only be one person.

Iroh.

He grunts as he stands up on his two feet to face us. The old General’s not wearing any of the classic royal clothing he wore the last time I saw him. The moss-colored robe contrasts the memories of crimson I have. But most of all, he has cut off his ponytail.

The rumors are true, then. Azula was in fact not lying to me. Zuko abandoned his post, and she’s most likely tasked with catching him. Somewhere along the lines our paths crossed and the big metal machine that’s been chasing us no longer remains a mystery.

The dots connecting cause a smile to escape me. It always comes back to him, doesn’t it? In some way, in some form, his presence in my life is inescapable. Almost as if the universe is pushing us together, but I don’t know why. Am I stuck with having to figure that part out too?

“Y/N.” Iroh greets me. “Who is your friend?”

“Who are you?” She asks, he’s the intruder—not the other way around.

Everything in me would like to run in the other direction, but I remember Iroh protecting the moon spirit over the Fire Nation. He can be trusted, I believe. “It’s okay, Toph. Iroh is an old friend.”

He feigns offense that’s only obvious to Toph. “I’m not that old.” 

“No!” I’m immediately wary of my next words. Even after all these years, I wouldn’t disrespect a General. It was instilled in me from the moment my father found out I could speak. “I meant like. I know him.” Nervously, I laugh and at my expense, the young earth-bender can trust this old man we bumped into in the forest.

☆

“Here is your tea.” The three of us are sitting around a small fire warming up a tea pot. Three handle-less cups are placed and ready to be filled.  Iroh grabs the kettle, and I watch as he gracefully pours us our share of tea. “You’ve separated from your group?” Politely, he breaks the quiet.  

Toph remains silent and the responsibility of answering the question falls on me. “We… got into a disagreement. To say the least.” I take a sip from the wooden cup, and it tastes as good as springtime feels.

He couldn’t help but question the lack of supervision in attendance. “Aren’t you a little too young to be traveling alone?”

“Aren’t you a little too old?” This wins Toph a laugh from the former General.

“Perhaps I am.” His humble reply softens the cloud looming on top of us. It seemed to calm us down: the tea and the view of the endless landscape. Tall trees with mountains in the distance. The sun beginning to rise over the east casting the skies with lilac and blush pink.

The young earth-bender goes on. “I know—I look like I can’t handle being by myself.”

This prompts a shared glance between Iroh and I, a secret conversation to affirm if this was what the fight was about. I tilt my head a bit to the left to say yes. He understands.

“I wasn’t thinking that.” Solemnly, he replies.

All day, Toph had spent defending herself against Katara so much that it had cast a lens over the conversation. Immediately, she’s defensive. A true earth-bender, mighty and as stubborn as they come. She needed to be if she was to survive this world. “You wouldn’t even let me pour my own cup of tea.” She argues.

Iroh’s earnest intentions paint his face. “I did it because I wanted to, nothing else.” One hand holding his warm tea and the other over his chest.

“People always assume I can’t take care of myself. But I do it and I do it by myself.” She states, confident as ever.

“You sound like my nephew.” The mention of him causes my heart to drop. I can’t tell if it’s racing or resting at the pit of my stomach. “He thinks you need to always do things on your own without anyone’s support.” I keep my eyes glued to the ground praying Iroh isn’t looking at me.

I’ve managed to keep him away from my thoughts when the sun shines. Training, hunting, gathering, and constantly moving place to place keeps me distracted. Sokka helps too. But when the light goes away and the moon comes up, he comes and visits me in my dreams.

When I’m dreaming, my heart can’t feel the difference between reality and fiction. The yearning fights to come out of my body in my sleep. I wake up feeling the ache of missing him in my bones.

And the dream itself is always the same. I find myself with our current selves, gone rogue from the Fire Nation, but we’re not fighting. We are walking side-by-side in some earth town, neither of us wearing our home colors. He’s smiling and we’re laughing. The conversation I can never make out, but it gives me what I need: a false replica of what we used to be and how I used to feel. At this point I can feel tears wanting to escape my eyes, both in my dream and in real life.

I wake up with the sun softly kissing the sky purple and the cycle begins again.

It wasn’t realistic, but I had been hoping the Northern Water Tribe would be it. I’d never see him again.

Iroh continues. “There is nothing wrong with letting people help you, you know.” Toph’s shoulders drop as she begins to calm down from a two-day fight. The mention of Zuko doing nothing to her, she would have no way of knowing who he is.

The question I never thought I’d ask rests at my tongue. I struggle to say it out loud in proximity to other people where someone might hear me. “Where is… Zuko?”

In honor of the shared truths, Iroh confides in us. “I’ve been tracking him.”

“Is he lost?” Toph asks.

“Sort of.” I put the cup down, wanting to stick to every word. “His life has recently changed and he’s going through very difficult things. He doesn’t know who he is, and he went away to figure it out. By himself.”

It’s almost hard to buy: Zuko all alone out there. He’s never needed to feed himself one day in his entire life, he’s always had people who would remember and do it for him. What would he do? Wander around without speaking to anyone? No, he’ll meet someone and maybe they can teach him something.

From what his uncle is telling me, he’s going to need it.

Zuko.

Changing from empathetic to merciless to empathetic again?

“Now, you’re following him.” Toph’s speaks for both of us.

Iroh sighs. “He doesn’t want to be around anyone right now. But if he needs me, I’ll be there.”

The last three years at sea must have shown Iroh something about Zuko that’s worth protecting. He’s looking past the space his nephew has put between himself and everyone else.

“He’s very lucky.” The young earth-bender comforts the old man with her words. “Even if he doesn’t know it.”

By now, the argument with Katara seemed so little. Aang’s words were fading in the distance. The metal doom machine chasing it remained large and now that I knew it was Azula, I had to get back to tell them.

Toph stands and I take this as the ending cue to our impromptu tea stop. “Thank you.” She tells him.

“My pleasure. Sharing tea and bottled-up emotions are one of life’s gifts.”

“I meant for what you said. It helped with my… disagreement from before.” Toph hooks her bag over her shoulder and motions for me to follow her. I’m on my feet with nothing but my swords with me.

Iroh has always been as wise as a winged lemur. He knows what to say and when to say it. Hopefully, one of these days it can get through to his nephew.

“Thanks, Iroh.” I don’t tell him for what specifically, but I think he knows. The small update on my old friend to let me know he’s safe. What’s going through Zuko’s head would have to be something I ask him personally about.

Before we begin our journey back, Toph leaves Iroh with some wisdom of her own. “Maybe you should tell your nephew that you need him, too.”

☆

The old town is desolate, dry, and arid. It’s a single strip with abandoned buildings scattered all around. There seems to be no civilians around. It’s perfect for Azula.

The three of us, Toph, Iroh, and I found our way to this empty shell of a village. Toph sensed multiple people with different directions depending on who you want to find. We’ve decided she’ll go look for Sokka and Katara and I’ll go with Iroh to find the royal siblings. “You’ll be fine by yourself?” I double-check with her before going.  

“Do you even have to ask?” She gloats. “There!” Toph points us in the general area we need to go toward, and we go our separate ways, better adjusted than before to fight this fight.

As the old man and I step closer and closer to one of the empty wooden homes, we find Zuko passed out on the ground. We slightly jog to him, reaching him before Azula distracts us.

His ponytail is gone too and he’s already grown some hair back. I’ve never seen him like this, I can’t take my eyes away. Zuko looks as if he is sleeping and if I squint, I can see my friend and not just his rage.

Iroh stands over his nephew as he wakes up. I wonder what he’ll first see, me or his uncle.

“Y/N?” He grunts. Whoever knocked him out must’ve did it good.

“Get up.” Iroh sternly tells him, almost like an order. He’s not going to let him go down now.

The old General holds his hand out for Zuko to grab onto and the prince gets up on his feet.

Without a second thought, my body reacts first to being in close proximity with him once again. I get into my fight stance, unsure of his next moves. Our eyes meet and I make sure there is no sign of nostalgia in my glare. I’m angry. “Don’t wanna fight?” I tell him.

He doesn’t get in a defense position. Zuko just stands there, processing the consequences of his actions. “No.”

“You did the last time I saw you.” I make sure to add every drop of bitterness in my words.

“That was—” He clears his throat and holds his hands up, “Look, remember what we said when we were younger?”

Where is he going with this? “I’m not following.”

Clear as day, he states. “Fine isn’t fine.”

“Azula always lies.” I finish for him. When we were younger, we made up a quick phrase to help us with his younger sister’s alarming behavior. Well, to help him with her. Zuko wants to believe his family, he wants to give them a chance no matter how much they lie to him or hurt him. In the Fire Nation, a trait like this can only be used against you.

It seemed like a childhood rhyme you forget about, but I guess he didn’t. And now, it’s come in handy. A quick way to explain our current battle.

“We can’t let her get him.” He pleads.

“So, you can?”

“I don’t know.” It was the first indication of a glitch in his unwavering loyalty toward his father. Not a yes, not a no.

He’s finding himself. Iroh’s words run through my mind. He’s choosing patience when it comes to Zuko and for now, just now, I have no reason to doubt it. We must stop Azula. Even if he tried something, I don’t think Iroh would let him. And that’s enough to calm me down.

I lower my hands in surrender and nod. “Fine.”

Zuko’s eyes are digging into mine, desperately trying to find me but I’m not letting him.

I practice this all the time—in my dreams. Zuko and I are on the same side once again, but the sun is glaring at me and I know I where I am. I know our past means nothing here.

This is reality, where me and him aren’t friends anymore.

tag list: @camilleverreault @staygoldsquatchling02 @yunloyal @lily-ann-b <3333

[awaywiththefaeries120408]

The theory that Ozai killed Lu Ten

I’ve heard this theory a couple of times, I’m not here to prove or disprove it, but… if true, it would be kind of hilarious?

I mean, Lu Ten is one of those characters who, unfortunately for him, really only has importance in death. His death sets off so many important changes and events, namely his father (Iroh’s) outlook on the Fire Nation and the war, but also the order in line for Firelord.

We all know how it works: Lu Ten dies, Ozai tries to convince Azulon to skip past Iroh and go straight to him, Azulon refuses and tells Ozai to kill Zuko, Ursa finds out and murders Azulon first, Ozai becomes Firelord, Zuko eventually fights an Agni Kai against Ozai and gets banished, finds the Avatar, finally teams up and learns firebending from the dragons, fights Azula, becomes Firelord. And that’s a very condensed recollection of the story but the idea is fairly simple: Lu Ten’s death set up the domino effect for the Fire Nation to lose the war.

And if you think about it that way, and pair it with the theory that Ozai did have a hand in his nephew’s death… well then it becomes kind of funny.

[jubilantmedusa]

I finally started watching Legend of Korra. Just finished Book 1.

It was ok? Even though ATLA is one of my favorite shows of all time, I’ve never been super interested in watching LOK, mostly because the more modern, urban setting doesn’t appeal to me per say. But I needed to watch something while feeding my newborn, so here we go! Finally doing it.

Random thoughts:

I like Korra. We love a nice, impulsive hothead. They were smart to make her so different from Aang.

I’m meh on the rest of Team Avatar so far? I was warming to Mako before he got pulled into the love triangles (because who can resist a broody firebender). Bolin I wanted to like but I find him a bit annoying so far. Asami had a few nice moments but was also injured by the love triangle. This is rough because the ATLA characters were just so lovable, even very minor ones.

I am warming up to the older characters. Tenzin grew on me. He had me when he was getting all annoyed a probending refs. (Side note, but if Aang were around he would totally be giving Tenzin a hard time over bending too serious for probending - Aang in center the air scooter, he loved games, he would have probably liked bending games.) Lin is gruff but who doesn’t love gruff? She reminds me of early Murphy from Dresden Files but in a good way.

Given that ATLA had airships and tanks, the fact that there are cars and airplanes isn’t that weird. But it does feel a little weird.

A bender vs non-bender conflict could have been very interesting, but it wasn’t well done and the escalation made no sense. Might expand on this. I have lots of notes for how this could have been improved.

The pacing and the tension of the season wasn’t bad. It just… there were missed opportunities.

Amon’s mask was cool though. He wasn’t bad as a villain.

Tarrlok too. I guess I enjoyed the villains more than her heroes, hmm. His last scenes got to me.

I am so annoyed that season one is about learning airbending, but we spend way more time on pro-bending. It’s basically ignored until the last episode.

Same for the spiritual stuff, which… makes the last scenes interesting.

Like I said… I have notes.

Probending is kinda boring. I can think of way more interesting bending sports. I wanted to like it. But every time it was featured, I just thought about earth rumbles and Agni Kai’s and Katara encasing Azula in ice… we could have such a cooler bending sport.

Tenzin’s kids should be way older. He waited until later in life to have kids, which is a bold move for the last airbender. (But whatever, these are the people who said Roku is Zuko’s great grandfather which makes no sense mathematically.)

I don’t like Tenzin or adult Aang’s beards. Just not a fan.

Katara’s alive. Aang, Sokka, and Toph appeared in flashbacks. Zuko is the only one we didn’t see. But we did get his grandson! Who is around the age Tenzin’s kids should probably be.

I noticed in the avatar wiki that Jinora’s (and all the air kids) ethnicity is listed as Air Nomad and Water Tribe. But they have a mother! And she does not look very water tribe. So I submit to you my first head cannon: Pema has both earth kingdom and fire nation ethnicity. Meaning Aang’s grandchild have the blood of all four elements.

[edenmar]

I’m interested in animation because I’ve always loved watching so many different animations growing up, and I love how different animators have unique styles. I love how some animations can have the most childish art style, yet have the most deepest stories behind them / hidden in them. I never did pay much attention to the work of detail in the art styles growing up, but now that I’m older, I try to see every detail and really appreciate it, even the smallest details.

My 3 favourite animated things are:

1. Adventure Time. I’ve always loved Adventure Time because almost all of the characters make me laugh so much. The show is a mix of funny episodes like Finn and Jake playing this card game that went super extreme. I remember the animations of that card game made it look so intense. And I remember this scene that had no dialogue because Finn and Jake had to be quiet, and the animations of them made me laugh so hard, I even have the clip saved on my phone. I remember Jake got bit by a spider, but he couldn’t make any noise so they just animated him silently screaming in pain and crying. Yet, it also has the saddest backstories for some characters like: Marceline and Ice King. I remember telling people in my class in grade 3 that I watched Adventure Time, and someone called it a “boys only show” and them saying that made me insecure . And I never understood why they said that, I still don’t understand why!

2. Avatar: The Last Airbender. I absolutely love ATLA with my whole entire heart. I’m sure I’ve rewatched it like 50 times by now. I remember me and my little cousin would test each other on memorizing the dialogue and what movement the characters do in the next scene coming up, hahah. I love the art style so much but in my opinion, it’s more than just a cartoon. The backstories of literally ALL the characters make me feel bad for them, even the villains (Except Ozai, I will never feel bad for that guy 😆). I think the last few episodes, the animations blew me away. The fight between Aang and Ozai looked so intense with all the movement they were doing and when he was taking away his bending and going into avatar state. And the Agni Kai between Azula and Zuko was amazing! The way the lightning and orange/blue fire was animated was so amazing. During sad scenes, the way they animated their faces when they cry or show vulnerability, it really made me feel for them. Plus all of the voices actors are amazing. I’ve cried over this show because I really felt it in my heart.

3. Five Nights at Freddy’s. If I could get into the storyline and lore behind FNAF, I think this post would be as long as the bible. It’s so sad knowing that these “scary animatronics” are actually kids/people who got murdered. The way they animated the jump scares in this game is great, it’s fast and surprising and I love how we can even see the inside details of the animatronics sometimes. Some animatronics may fool you with their cutesy exterior, but they can have the scariest jump scare / be the hardest boss to beat. The music is great, SFX even greater, but the art style is amazing. I really wish that I could just know how the artists came up with all the different ideas for the different characters and scenery. Also the voice acting is on a whole other level. So good!

[marmot-bee-person]

I’m bored so hi

I’m gonna just go on a tangent about Keiza and Miyara (my OCs who anyone who may be reading this can find in 2-3 earlier posts). Not Banhi because Banhi’s storyline has too many secrets to reveal right now.

So I guess I could discuss Miyara and Keiza’s lives before they met.

Miyara first.

Miyara’s father is Hakoda’s younger brother (I think I mentioned this in my original post but anyway) Ido, and her mother was a descendant of escaped airbenders, Laya. When Miyara was about 18 months old, her parents were both taken prisoner by the Fire Nation. She doesn’t know what happened to them (though obviously we know that Laya had a kid with a Fire Nation soldier). She lived with her maternal grandfather, [name undecided], until he died when she was five. Her mom has two siblings, Isha and Nalen. Isha took Miyara in until Isha died when Miyara was 8 (also Isha had a kid, Sio), and then Miyara lived with Nalen until Nalen went with the other men and so did Sio’s father, so then Miyara and Sio (at this point ages 9 and 6) went to live with Gran-Gran to Katara and Sokka, even though Sio isn’t actually related to Gran-Gran or Katara or Sokka. This whole time, Miyara has been an airbender but it’s a really big secret because her grandpa was like, ‘don’t let anyone know you’re a bender, look what happened to all the other airbenders’ and then she’s dragged fishing with her cousins and they find another airbender (y’know, Aang) and at that point she doesn’t even know how to start that conversation and then Aang doesn’t find out until the North Pole.

Keiza, on the other hand, is Ursa and Ozai’s youngest kid. I always liked the idea that Azula and Zuko are almost exactly a year and a half apart in age, and I heard somewhere that most firebenders are born in summer, so Azula being a summer baby and Zuko having been born in the dead of winter (though they’re pretty near the equator, so I’m not sure how much weight this theory holds) is what I’m gonna say. Keiza was born 3 days before Zuko’s 3rd birthday (my sister was born 3 days before my 2nd, which is where I got the idea). But now I’m on a tangent within a tangent. So anyway. Keiza was a pretty nice kid growing up and got along pretty well with Zuko and their mom, but she was a pretty good firebender (also she learned archery cause she was 5 and begged until Ozai was like, ‘ugh, fine, but you’d better stay good at firebending’). Keiza was kind of Azula’s tag-along-little-sister, kind of their friend (like I’m undecided but pretty sure in the Zuko Alone flashbacks she’s playing with Azmailee) and also got along real good with Zuko. Ozai couldn’t even be bothered to remember her name half the time. Then their mom disappeard and she developed a deep-seated, deeply-buried anger at her mother, which boils over the course of the show until the search. She was like 8 then. Then Zuko spoke out at the war meeting and she was at the Agni Kai, watching in morbid fascination (she wanted to look away but found it oddly fascinated). This is when she actually realized that her family was fucked up. Then she, being 10, thought it would be a good idea to climb over the barrier and run to him. This did not go well, as she stopped about two yards short and threw up. Then she spent 3 years on a boat with her crazed brother, slowly realizing that the war was also fucked up, and by the time she was 13 she was ready leave. And then Zuko captures Aang and she’s like ‘screw this!’ So she joins team avatar.

Also Keiza and Miyara are BFFs (which I think would literally be ‘best friend forevers but anyway).

I feel like one or both would come across as ADHD but that might just be that I have ADHD.