#if aang was two years older i genuinely think the ship wars would have been UNIMAGINABLY terrible

[bloodbenderz]

Can I ask what your season 1 Lok reboot looks like?

this is about 3k words i checked lmfao dont say i didnt warn u

a key part of the whole thing is that korra gets way more perspectives and more experiences representative of like, normal people in republic city bc i think something that really defined what a good avatar aang was was how many people he met and got to know and how he didnt exclusively or even mostly associate w cops and bureaucrats and leaders. so mako and bolin. well first of all their backstories are a little more fleshed out and we get a less black and white view of the “triads” (lol) and mako and bolin’s experiences w them. cuz the show very much does the whole thing of like Criminals Bad but dont worry even tho mako and bolin did commit crimes theyre not Criminals!! so just a little more nuance on the alleged gang problem and the poverty in the city

korra does start out very naive w very black and white ideas (ex. “you guys are CRIMINALS?”) i think a really good way of developing her away from her sheltered naive worldview is putting her in whats clearly an incredibly complicated city w an absolute cesspool of political conflicts, ethnic tensions, the lasting effects of colonization, etc and having her try and understand the needs of “the people” in a more complicated way than “i have to save the good guys from the bad guys” ykwim? and i think the absolute WORST way to do that is what they did. bc we get mako and bolin who could contribute genuinely compelling thematic elements to the story: one parent who was indigenous and one who was from a colonizer background in the decades directly following the end of the war, kids who grew up in poverty apparently without any familial support, and who now are trying to be “respectable” members of society (especially mako). and then most of that is pretty much tossed aside bc asami swoops in w her capitalist dad and her piles of money and the class issue is just never talked about again.

so the way i’d fix all that is like. introducing more, like, normal people. some nonbenders, more workers, more immigrants, etc, to show what daily life is actually like for people. because. we dont know! we dont have any context about whether the nonbender oppression thing is actually an issue bc we dont KNOW any nonbenders with normal lives! and spoiler: the nonbender oppression thing is not an issue. bc it doesnt make historical sense. lok is set 7 decades after the end of the war. that is not by ANY stretch of the imagination long enough to heal from the scars of imperialism, ESPECIALLY not when lok is also set in a settler colonial state. like that fact should have featured PROMINENTLY in the political and social setting! realistically, nonbenders arent an oppressed class, earth and water nation people are, regardless of bending status! as in all settler colonial states, the colonizers and their descendants (in this case fire nation people) retain most of the financial and political capital, leaving the colonized and racialized immigrants (in this case earth kingdom and water tribe people respectively) generally impoverished and politically suppressed. like aside from the fact that theres no way toph would have become a cop, it’s so ridiculous to think that an established privileged class of fire nation colonizers would EVER accept being policed by earthbenders!

imagine how much more nuanced and interesting it would be to set republic city as a remnant of a colonial past still fraught w the violence and tension that colonialism and the associated ideology imposed?? instead of some vague ideas of criminal who wear 1920s outfits and harass shopkeepers think about why extralegal and violent groups like that might form! earth kingdom people trying to push for the reclamation of their land? ethnic groups protecting themselves against corrupt cops? ESPECIALLY w the history that the fire nation has of SPECIFICALLY jailing and killing earthbenders and waterbenders BECAUSE of the potential they have to resist against fire nation imperialism like it just makes no sense at all that earthbenders would be privileged on land that, 70 years ago, they would have been imprisoned on! like these various paramilitary groups falling along these different ideological or ethnic lines, fire nation or earth kingdom or water tribe, pro colonization or anti colonization, pro cop or anti cop, pro immigrant or anti immigrant, and then you juxtapose that w depictions of a govt thats failing to keep this all under control w tenzin trying desperately to keep it together despite the fact that it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the state has no interest in taking the conflicts seriously and would rather just point vague fingers at criminals and gangs? and THEN you bring in korra, who has no idea about any of this and thinks that all its gonna take is kicking some ass every couple days, meeting normal people who offer all kinds of different opinions abt the efficacy of the state and the different violent or nonviolent groups and ideologies clashing in the city and the way all this shit is affecting people’s lives and livelihoods and relationships w other citizens??

theres so much good shit there so many incredible things u could do w that like Where do we go after colonial atrocities? is it possible for a settler colonial state to take revolutionary or indigenous ideas seriously? is liberal reform enough in a state like this? and then all the growth that korra could do going from a simple black and white life about mastering the elements to this messy complicated sociopolitical knot of a city? and all the different kinds of characters u could introduce in this city? like why would u EVER think that the most interesting characters that this story has to offer is a police chief a congressman and a billionaire????

but anyways. that’s what the Setting of my idealized version of lok is. as for the actual plot, it is as follows

it starts out similarly as the show. republic city is MUCH more fraught w political tension and violence and korra knows this but assumes that it’s just a matter of throwing a few gang leaders and corrupt officials in jail. tenzin manages to come see them in the south pole and intends give korra real lessons while he’s there but they receive news of a terrorist attack in republic city only a few days after he gets there so his family has to pack up and leave again.

korra stows away to republic city (katara catches her leaving and gives her blessing im a SUCKER for that moment). she does have a hard time adjusting but she doesn’t do what she did in the show lol the first person she meets in the city is this older woman who works on the docks, directs her to a place where she can eat and gives her a roof to sleep under for the first night. so korra’s first exposure to republic city is just about forming connections w ordinary people like ship workers and a family owned restaurant and people practicing their bending in the park. and by the time she reaches air temple island a day or so later her head is spinning w all this new information and the way that nothing is really what she expected it to be. tenzin gives her his own perspective on everything and pema gives her her own perspective on everything and even those two seem wildly different from all the people she’s already met. and so korra starts to get a kind of outline of the conflicts plaguing the city as extremely complex and a lot more influenced by older ideas of fire nation imperialism and earth kingdom land reclamation than she had any idea about.

mako and bolin are still pro benders but not like. super famous like they are in the show. korra’s picked up a couple friends by now and one of them takes her to a gym where a lot of amateur pro bending (is that an oxymoron? lol) matches happen and thats how she meets mako and bolin and joins their pro bending team. Unfortunately for korra, this gym is run by lin beifong, and also has the distinction of being one of the most notoriously anti settler state organizations in the country. lin beifong is NOT a cop but she runs this gym (and the pro bending league) as a way to offer support to local earth kingdom/water tribe youth, teach self defense skills, a center of community organizing, and sometimes to act as a front to hide revolutionary/combat organizing against the pro fire nation paramilitaries/police force. tenzin is DISTRAUGHT that korra does this and this is where the friction btwn them comes from bc (from tenzin’s perspective) she does things like this without thinking or even fully understanding the context behind them and tenzin will have to deal w the political fallout of the avatar openly aligning herself w a very divisive figure in the community and (from korra’s perspective) tenzin is too unwilling to take sides in a conflict that’s claiming lives and when the state is clearly not taking sufficient steps to protect people well then why the hell shouldnt she align herself w lin beifong, who IS taking steps to protect and support people?

as korra more fully integrates herself into the city and learns more abt how different people think abt everything going on this is where the real exposition abt the equalists begins. they’re a paramilitary group w an ideology thats gaining increasing support among middle/upper class fire nation people, esp nonbenders. on the face theyre abt putting checks on “bender oppression” but really it’s an excuse to persecute and surveil earthbenders waterbenders and airbenders, bc fire nation people have all this leftover fear about benders who arent fire nation Rising Up Against them and these people who r using their Savage Excuse for Bending to terrorize good innocent (fire nation) people. theres all too frequent terrorist attacks that the equalists claim credit for mostly against monuments to earth/water/air nation people and earth/water nation community centers (one like it was the event that forced tenzin back to republic city) but also like the govt doesnt take a lot of these seriously or if they do only a couple people are charged without doing damage to the entire organization

this is also around the time that they meet asami and she becomes part of their friend group. asami likes pro bending but her dad HATES it so she sneaks out to watch matches at lin beifong’s gym (korra says ironically like don’t u know how ~divisive~ that is and asami answers that the only reason its Not divisive is that gyms like beifongs are the only place where nobody recognizes her). and asami alongside korra is also kind of developing a more nuanced perspective on the city that she lives in cuz obviously the only worldview she’s ever been exposed to is her father’s right? and she keeps pushing it off making excuses not to bring mako and bolin and korra around to her house or even not to be seen w them in certain neighborhoods until they call her on it and she’s like Well honestly my dad might do something awful to u! and i dont wanna risk it!

and as time goes on we see more abt asami’s home life like her father’s hyper conservative politics and asami keeps these secrets abt her hobbies and her friends from him but she’s still clearly under his influence and mako bolin and korra r getting increasingly worried abt it cuz like...asami seems to tend to make excuses for him so that she wont have to be drawn into conflict and originally they think its just her being privileged and thats def part of it but the more they find out abt it the more they realize what a tight fucking grip he has on her and the way that like. asami sneaking out once or twice a week is the Only thing she does for herself. and it really starts freaking them out how influential this billionaire is and all the information theyre getting from asami abt what a piece of shit he clearly is. and so that whole plot thing comes about and shows us how deeply embedded these “equalist” ideas are in conservative republic city politics and how much influence theyre actually having in policy making and law enforcement.

asami suffers in the aftermath of this like being forced to truly confront the harm her father is doing both to the city and to herself. and she ends up leaving home when this discovery really breaks. but bc of the deep corruption in govt and police sato isn’t really....dealt with? like this big story breaks and everyones like Oh, My God! Hiroshi Sato Is Funding An Illegal Paramilitary Group! and theres all kinds of inane political discourse about it and he’s arrested but he bails himself out immediately and his finances are examined but he maintains control over them and after a few weeks the gang (bc they Have become close among all this w much less interpersonal drama lol) has to admit that this news story hasnt done what they thought it was going to it hasn’t dealt the equalists a real hit its just given them a very high profile ally

and this is when things really start to ramp up in terms of action like up until now korra’s daily activities are mostly like hanging around in the city w her friends  (which in part entails doing little avatar stuff that people dont feel comfortable going to police with, like Can you help me my ex husband wont pay child support or Please help i got robbed and i really needed that money for rent next month or Help my son keeps skipping school can you talk to him cuz im worried abt him being safe and doing well in school) and pro bending and airbending lessons (which i know ive neglected this part of the story in terms of her whole spiritual/physical conflict but it’s more of a subtle thing like it’s one of tenzin and korra’s more frequent arguments like tenzin says she needs to focus on spirituality and korra asks why she even needs to bc republic city is a sociopolitical problem not a spiritual one) but now the equalist threat seems to really be looming on every level of society like the storyline of equalists preventing pro bending matches happens here and everyones just at a total loss of what to do next. plus increasing and scary rhetoric about tenzin and his family that destroying the last airbenders is necessary to preserving the integrity of the united republic

and so theres the equalist takeover of the city. the people who are mostly resisting this are lin and ragtag group of people who have been resisting colonial rule for a long time (including suyin, who is part of a communist anti colonial community outside the city, because i said so and i think it would be fun), people who have been visiting her gym for years, members of her amateur pro bending league, plus asami and korra and tenzin. korra and tenzin have a sweet moment (bc they do genuinely care abt each other a lot even if their relationship has been marked w a lot of tension and arguing) where tenzin says like you know i think that ive lost focus on the kind of spirituality that might actually help you. korra says what do you mean? and tenzin kind of gestures to where theyre sitting with people buzzing around organizing to take care of innocents and civilians and to fight the equalists and he says this is a kind of spiritual too, isnt it?

and something something plot plot blah blah i havent decided on the details of the plot climax yet but that’s the climax of korra’s character development and what helps her connect w her spiritual side in order to protect the city: the realization that community is its own kind of spirituality. and it kind of represents the real development that i want her to have going from somebody who thinks that the world is divided into criminals and victims and she has to save the victims Into the kind of avatar who understands the people that she’s bound to serve. she becomes an avatar of the people!

and then happy ending lol korra and asami get together lin and tenzin reconcile after years of being at odds the show ends on a hopeful note that the inhabitants of republic city and the united republic as a whole Can move on from the scars of colonialism by reckoning w the remnants of fire nation colonial ideology and reparations to the earth kingdom people whose land this is and destruction of colonial systems that have maintained and enforced colonial violence all these years

[runephoenix6769]

ATLAB / LOK and Nickelodeon’s Enforced Gendered Viewership.

https://thesummoningdark.tumblr.com/post/619001411756310528/gayna-scully-prokopetz-silkktheshocka With regards to this long ass post. (And I’m gonna slightly deviate from the original topic.) The really messed up thing with Nick, with concern to Korra. I read somewhere that when they were first doing concept designs for LOK, that the Nick execs railed against a female avatar cause they thought/(wanted to market) Avatar Last Airbender as strictly a Boys show. When faced with the designs of a really buff, muscular Korra, Nick wasnt overly keen, because they thought her supposed lack of femininity would put boys off

They wanted her to be more feminine (even though Korra was meant to be a more physical Avatar in comparison to Aang.) And Mako would be more front and centre in aiding Korra. Guess what they found when they market tested the designs?  Girls were absolutely thrilled. And the boys? The boys couldn’t give two shits about Korra’s supposed lack of femininity. They loved the fact she could punch through shit. They thought Korra’s design was ‘cool’ and ‘badass’!

(my opinion) So whilst the Nick execs were all patting themselves on the back that their fucked up view and enforced gendering of viewer ship still carried some weight, they obviously didnt think to actually look/take on board the actual content of ATLAB and maybe wonder why exactly it was so immensely popular and who exactly the fandom base was made up of. 

ATLAB had some of the strongest, most well rounded female characters on tv at the time. There’s a reason why Azula, Katara and Toph are so popular. Why Suki, Ty Lee and Mai are so beloved.  

Not a single one of them is a damsel in distress. Hell, more often than not they handed the boys their ass in a fight.  Azula and Katara are bending masters in their respective element at 14 and Toph, a blind girl, at 11, in a world that it is heavily implied that most bending Adults have not reached that level of skill.  Toph creates her own off shoot of Earth Bending by being the first metal bender.  Azula is seen as an outlier by being able to create and bend lightening, never mind her signature and unique blue flame. Katara, under duress, masters  the rare ability to blood bend,  (being second person to do so that we know of in ATLAB) and has such a command of waterbending she can quite literally suck moisture out of the ground creating a barrier that torrential rain cannot penetrate. 

Even in the small snippet we get of Avatar Kyoshi, she is ruthless and takes no prisoners.  (and one of the main reasons why people have been clamoring for Kyoshi content spawning the books the ‘Rise of Kyoshi’ and the sequel that is following this year, ‘Shadow of Kyoshi’.)

If the Nick execs had cared to take notice of the themes and arcs of some of the characters they might have seen how part of Sokka’s character arc was growing from an ignorant misogynist to a young adult who learned over time and regularly took a hefty gulp of respect women juice.  (A message that the Nick Execs might have benefited from when dealing with LOK.)

Aang, the titular protagonist learns bending from two of his female peers and often defers to their superior skill and knowledge, until he masters them. Were the Nick execs that dense that they genuinely believed that all these amazing female characters, created by Bryke and colab narratives by Ehasz, were there to appeal only to boys?  To represent boys? The ratio of male to female main heroes/villains is 3 boys, 6 girls and 2 male adults. (one adult we dont even see until the last season.) The ATLAB fandom was massively made up of girls, and by virtue those girls would more than likely migrate to LOK, specifically because it was a female Avatar hoping for the same depth of character and positive representation, which makes Nick’s whole fucked up enforcing of gendered viewership all the more baffling.  Again, had the Nick Execs not watched ATLAB if they thought they could tout it as ‘just’ another action show and its subsequent spin off LOK?

ATLAB at it’s core is about the interpersonal relationships, the struggles one faces when growing up, dealing with dark themes in a way that kids can understand and older viewers can relate. The war is the back drop, the action part of the draw but not main spectacle. 

Had they not done their research, saw the trend of who exactly the audience consisted of and thought, ‘hey maybe its a good idea to maybe stop enforcing, dictating gendered viewership?’ and maybe not continue to labour under the belief that ‘girls dont like action’! Legend of Korra and ATLAB are still being discussed to this day and not only because it has the industry standard of redemption arcs by which all redemption arcs since have tried to emulate and hold a candle to. (SPOP I’m looking in your direction, congrats btw.) but also because of its representation, strong female characters and compelling villains.  Outside of Korra (/Asami), guess who are the most popular characters? Kuvira and Lin Beifong. 

Now getting back to the actual content of the OG post. There aint alot or ATLAB or LOK merch in general outside of comics and plushies.  (There was a poor attempt made at merchandsing on the M Night Shabigamoo’s god awful adaptation..... but shhhhhhhh, we aint even gonna get into that.) But of the merchandise that is available one in particular stands out as being in high demand.

I typed into google ‘Azula Funko Pop’ and this is the first image!  

(Look at that price, it’s insane!) 

Now that might be a case of price gouging because she was a US Gamestop exclusive but it in no way detracts from the fact that FUNKO POP is aware of just how popular Azula is therefore by virtue she is a prime candidate for exclusivity and would have collectors clamoring to buy her. 

Even Aang in the Avatar state isn’t an exclusive nor is the new Legend of Korra funkos that were meant to be released this June/July ,( which now might be pushed back Covid19 pending).

Now, who exact was Azula created for?  Yes, a foil for Zuko and a way to explore familial dysfunction, a mirror to what Zuko could have been if he hadn't been banished and had the support and guidance of his Uncle Iroh. Her subsequent mental breakdown is heart wrenching and a compelling take on what goes on underneath a villain’s impenetrable armor, that the ravages and victims of war are not just found in the body count. 

But for most of the show, Azula is flouncing round the world with her two more than capable and dangerous in their own right, sidekicks, Ty Lee and Mai thrashing the gAang for the most part, kicking ass and taking names whilst also successfully heading a relatively bloodless coup of Ba Sing Se.

How on earth with all that could Nick still be so bull headed as to continue to double down on maintaining it be a show strictly marketed to boys and then get pissed when it when girls flocked to it? And the comments made in the OG post are correct. Nick showed their displeasure by fucking around with LOK’s time slot on more than one occasion, claimed it’s ratings were dropping (no shit sherlock, wonder why?) before moving it to the web. (where ironically, it thrived.) and then they slashed it’s budget forcing Bryke to trim the animation in places, namely the outfits of the characters, so they could put the money towards the animation of scenes they had been building up to such as Korra’s style of metal bending, which would be more fluid given her OG element was water. 

Now imagine the show we might have gotten if Nick hadn’t been a bunch of arseholes, hadn’t tried to enforce their outdated misogynistic views and thrown a massive hissyfit? 

Roll on the live action re-imagining with Bryke at the helm. I’m sure Netflix wont be trying to claim or market it as ‘a show strictly for boys’! And thankyou to Bryke, for this.

[zi-i-think]

5 | Crankiness runs in the Family

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (oc)

Word Count: 7000+

.☽☼☾.

          The sky was clear, the oceans as blue as can be, and the day couldn't be more perfect. The group was going back to the Fire Nation from Hira'a. Returning with Zuko's mom and her family.

         Kiyi and Aang were riding on one flying dolphin-fish beside the boat while Ama rode on another. All of them had the biggest smiles on their faces. Ama never rode on a flying dolphin-fish before. And she never saw any harm in trying new things.

         She saw Katara wave at them from the boat, so she waved back, before setting both her hands on the dolphin-fish's back again to steady herself. She loved the feeling of the water spraying on her skin and smell of the sea.

         "Kiyi! Come back!" A voice shouted. Ama looked over, seeing Ursa by the railing, shouting for her daughter. Zuko stood close by in his Fire Lord robes and crown.

         "Don't worry, Ursa. She's perfectly safe with Aang." Ama heard Katara tell Ursa. Aang immediately flew off the dolphin-fish with Kiyi. Ama followed suit, water bending to get back onto the boat.

         "I promise, Kiyi wasn't ever in danger." Aang assured Ursa while Kiyi clung onto Aang.

         "Kiyi!" Ursa grabbed a hold of her daughter and held her in a close hug as she sat on the ground. "I can't lose you! I can't!"

         "Let go! Let go!" Kiyi fought against Ursa. And when her mom did let go, Kiyi went straight to her dad and hid behind his legs. "Daddy, I wanna go downstairs!"

         Ikem stared at his wife with concern. He picked up Kiyi and the little girl buried her head in his shoulder, facing away from her mother. "All right, honey. Whatever you want." Ikem carried Kiyi inside the ship.

         Zuko sat next to his mom and put his hand on her shoulder. "Give her time." He assured her.

         "I know. Not every little girl has to deal with her mother changing faces." Ursa rationalized.

         "Ursa, I'm so sorry I worried you!" Aang jumped in. "But believe me, flying dolphin-fishes are among the gentlest creatures in the world."

         "No, Avatar. I'm the one who should be sorry." Ursa held up her hand, refusing Aang's apology. "I'm embarrassed that I overreacted like that. Now, if you'll excuse me." The former Fire Lady stepped away from her son and Aang and stood by the railing to look out at sea.

         "You shouldn't worry." Ama stepped next to her boyfriend, noticing his slightly furrowed eyebrow and frown. "Things are going to be fine."

         "I know." He muttered, putting an arm around his girlfriend. "It's just been years since she's been back. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable or unsafe."

         "She might at first. After everything your dad put her through. But she'll feel safer as time goes by." Ama told him honestly. Zuko nodded. There wasn't much he could do after all.

.☽☼☾.

         The day went by and night time fell upon them. Sokka, Katara, Ama and Aang packed their things and loaded them on Appa.

         "You guys are leaving already?" Zuko asked as he walked towards them.

         "Yep." Aang answered.

         "Going back to Capital City is going to bring up all sorts of stuff for your mom, for Kiyi, for all of you." Katara started to explain.

         "You need to figure it out as a family." Aang told Zuko.

         "We'd just be in the way. Especially dolphin-fish riders over here." Sokka quipped, putting his arms around Aang and Ama and bringing them close to him.

         "You guys haven't really had any bonding time yet, dragonfly." Ama said, getting out of Sokka's grip to step closer to Zuko. "This will be your chance."

         "I guess that makes sense." Zuko sighed, saddened to see his friends leave so soon.

         "What, you can't part with me for a week?" Ama teased, making the Fire Lord blush.

         Zuko pulled his girlfriend in for a hug. "Just a week right?" He whispered in her hair so the others wouldn't hear how clingy he sounded.

         "I promise. It won't be more than a week till we see each other again." Ama chuckled. When they pulled away from the hug, Ama leaned up to place a soft kiss on Zuko's lips.

         "Oogies!" Sokka complained just for the fun of teasing them, while Katara and Aang just giggled.

         Zuko pulled away as soon as Sokka spoke with an annoyed expression while Ama gave her brother the middle finger. Zuko turned his attention to the rest of the group, giving them all individual hugs.

         "Thank you guys. For everything." Zuko genuinely meant it. He truly didn't know where he'd be without his friends.

         "Happy to be there for you, buddy!" Sokka pat Zuko's back.

         Once they were done with their goodbyes, the group got into Appa's saddle and took off. "We'll see each other again before you know it!" Aang shouted, everyone was leaning on the edge of the saddle waving down. "Yu Dao's inaugural celebration is in a week."

.☽☼☾.

         A month had passed and not only had Ama not seen Zuko, but she hadn't even gotten a letter. She stayed with Aang and the others as they solved troubles from town to town. And if she were being honest, she missed it. Traveling to different and new places. She loved to meet the different people and learn their cultures.

         But she didn't forget that she hadn't seen her boyfriend for a month. It wouldn't have bothered her as much if she knew why he didn't try to communicate.

         At Ba Sing Se, Aang was leading a meditation with his Air Acolytes. The rest of the original members of Team Avatar finished their shopping and packed it all on Appa.

         "Hey, sweetie! You guys done?" Katara asked as they poked their heads into Iroh's tea shop. All of the acolytes had left, so they assumed their session was over.

         "Just finished!" Aang exclaimed.

         "Perfect timing! We just got everything packed on Appa!" Sokka pointed his thumb at Appa. They went further into the shop to bid their farewells to Iroh.

         "Where are you headed?" Iroh asked them.

         "To the South Pole!" Sokka said excitedly. "It'll be our first time back since the end of the war."

         "We've been planning this trip ever since running into a couple of Katara's old friends at the Earthen Fire Refinery!" Aang added.

         "They were right. We should've gone back sooner to help rebuild." Katara spoke.

         "Plus, we'll finally get to see dad." Ama smiled, excited to see her dad after so long.

         "And go penguin sledding!" Aang was excited to do the usual child-like activities he doesn't usually do as the Avatar.

         "And eat some of auntie Ashuna's seal jerky!" Sokka's mouth was practically watering at the thought.

         "What? You hate auntie Ashuna's seal jerky!" Ama chuckled at her brother.

         "You mean I hated auntie Ashuna's seal Jerky!" Sokka corrected her. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

         "Ama, I didn't know you were going to the South Pole." Iroh stated, tilting his head in confusion.

         "No, I was supposed to go with them from the beginning. Zuko was supposed to come with, but." Ama just shrugged instead of completing her sentence. She didn't want to look like it bothered her that Zuko sent no attempts to communicate.

         But Iroh could still tell it made her upset. He pulled her into a comforting hug. "You know Zuko. He doesn't want to worry people. I've heard that there was some trouble in the Fire Nation." Ama just nodded as she pulled away from the hug.

         "Thank you, Iroh." Ama gave him a fond smile. "I'll be sure to come back soon."

         "Let's get moving!" Aang announced, already walking out. "Weather's perfect right now. If we hurry we can probably get to-" Before he could finish what he was saying, a red messenger hawk with the Fire Nation insignia flew down and perched onto Aang's shoulder. Taking out the message, Aang read over it.

         "Aang, what is it?" Katara asked.

         "It's from Zuko." Aang told them. "He needs me." Ama's heart clenched a little. Oh, so he can send Aang a message but not me?

         "So," Katara had a disappointed tone. "You're going to the Fire Nation, then?"

         "I think I have to." Aang replied. "Hey, why don't you guys come with me? I'm sure it won't take long!"

         "It's spirit world stuff." Sokka pointed out. "When was the last time spirit world stuff didn't take long."

         "And dad's expecting us." Katara added.

         "I'll go." Ama stepped forward to stand next to Aang. "I don't like being kept in the dark."

         Katara placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "You go help Zuko, Aang. Take Appa so you can meet us at the South Pole after things are settled."

         "I'm sorry, Katara." Aang hugged the waterbender.

         "Nothing to be sorry about. It just comes with dating the Avatar." Katara said sadly.

         Once saying their goodbyes, Aang and Ama mounted the flying bison and headed to the Fire Nation. Ama kept her arms crossed as she looked at the passing clouds.

         "Are you okay?" Aang looked over at her from Appa's head.

         "He promised he wouldn't shut me out." The water bender said sadly. Aang frowned at her hurt expression.

         "I'm sure Zuko has an explanation." Aang did his best to cheer her up. Ama just muttered a 'maybe' and moved to lay down on the saddle. She stared up at the sky, letting her eyes grow heavy to get some rest.

.☽☼☾.

         The moment Ama and Aang walked into the meeting room, Ama felt like a huge boulder was flung at her. And she actually knew what that was like after the countless times of sparring with Toph. Actually, no. It felt worse than that.

         Standing by the rectangular table was an older gentleman, looking like he was giving a presentation. And sitting at the table was a boy Ama had never met, Zuko, and Mai.

         It wasn't like Mai and Ama had bad blood. But they weren't necessarily friends. When Ama met the Fire Nation girl after Zuko's coronation, she really tried to have a conversation, but Mai didn't seem all that interested in anything. Plus there was the jealousy that Ama did her best to ignore. And seeing Mai there after Zuko and she hadn't had any connection for a month definitely wasn't helping her green monster.

         "Zuko!" Aang greeted happily when he and Ama entered the meeting room.

         "Avatar Aang! Ama!" Zuko stood from his seat to greet the two. "Thank you for being her buddy."

         "No problem." Aang assured him. Even through he would much rather be at the South Pole with his girl friend.

         "Hey, waterlily." Zuko turned to her with a nervous tone.

         "Oh, you know you fucked up." Ama pointed at his chest with a glare. Zuko's eyes were wide and his mouth agape. "I expect an explanation later."

         Zuko nodded and them moved aside, revealing Mai. "You remember-"

         "Mai!" Aang greeted happily.

         "Hello, Aang." Mai smiled at him. The airbender, unlike Ama, was able to make anyone like him with his cheerful attitude and grin.

         "And this is Kei Lo." Zuko introduces the last man in the room. "Mai's boyfriend." Ama hated that her body instantly relaxed a little when Zuko mentioned that Mai had a boyfriend. "And finally, please meet Constable Sung. He's leading the investigation into the kidnapping." The last man in the room was introduced.

         "I'm honored, Avatar." Constable Sung bowed.

         "Nice to meet you, Constable-" Aang bowed back, but his mind back-tracked at what Zuko said. "Wait, kidnapping?!"

         "Last night, my little brother Tom-Tom was taken by a band of dark spirits." Mai had a tone of worry and concern. And who could blame her. Even she shows enough emotion when it comes to family.

         "You saw them?" Aang asked.

         "I fought them." Mai told him. "They were kemurikage."

         "Who?" Ama wondered.

         "Dark spirits who supposedly haunt the mountains just outside my home village, I recognized them from stories my parents used to tell me." Mai explained. Ama had a frown. Usually fables told by parents were only meant to scare their kids. Not actually true. It wasn't making sense why these spirits would appear now.

         "Several reports of dark spirit sighting came in from all over Capital City, though Tom-Tom was the only abductee." Constable Sung pointed at multiple areas on a map behind him.

         "Constable, were these reports from-?" But Aang didn't get the chance to finish his question due to some ruckus in the hallway by the door.

         "Get off me!" The voice of an older man grumbled at the guards and pushed aside the red curtain to enter the room. "My son's missing, and you're worried about Palace Protocol?"

         "Apologies, Fire Lord!" One of the guards had a horrified expression as he poked his head into the room. "We asked him to wait, but-"

         "It's all right, he's the victim's father. He ought to be informed." Zuko held up an arm to assure the guard that everything was fine.

         "Mai! I should've known you'd be here!" The middle aged man, named Ukano, stomped to the raven-haired girl.

         "Father." Mai sounded surprised, like she didn't know he'd be here nor that she wanted him here. Ama looked between the two. So this grumpy old man is Mai's dad? No wonder she's so dismal. The guy's a blowhard.

         "This is all your fault, daughter." He pointed an accusing finger at her. "If Tom-Tom were still with me in our home, he would've been safe! I would've made sure of it." Mai was silent as she looked down at the ground in guilt. "You may hate me, but you know I'm right."

         "Oh, come on!" Kei Lo interrupted the family dispute. "No house it safe from dark spirits!"

         "You stay out of this, boy!" Ukano looked at the boy with hate, but also a tingle of betrayal.

         "Please, everybody! Calm down!" Aang stepped between the two men with his arms on each side of him. "All this arguing isn't helping us find Tom-Tom! We need to put our heads together and figure out what to do next!"

         "I'll tell you what needs to happen next!" He then turned his attention to Zuko, pointing a finger at him. "Our 'Fire Lord' needs to grow a spine! Everyone knows the spirit world begins acting up when the human world is weak!"

         Zuko's gold eye's raised in surprise at the accusation. He had his own doubts about his own leadership and it was no secret that many of the citizens didn't like him on the throne either.

         "No! That isn't how the spirit world works!" Aang disagreed. And his word should be more trustworthy as the Avatar, especially over some bimbo. "The balance between the human and the spirits has nothing to do with strength!"

         "Show that you're worthy, Zuko." The man stepped even closer to Zuko. "Declare a curfew to keep your citizens safe! Then send out an elite task force to fight the dark spirits!" Zuko, put his hand to his chin, giving the plan some thought. "Take down just one of them and we'll show the spirits that humans aren't to be trifled with!"

         "If that is your wish, Fire Lord, I'll begin gathering a Task Force. It may take some time, though." Constable Sung said.

         "Don't do it, Zuko." Aang urged. "A curfew would just make some folks more fearful!"

         "I have to agree with Aang." Ama crossed her arms over her chest and leaned on one leg. "Plus, how's a task force supposed to fight spirits? You can't use normal bending."

         "Let's first figure out exactly what happened to Tom-Tom. Then we'll know what to do next." Aang suggested strongly.

         "What the Avatar says makes sense." Mai agreed.

         Zuko shut his eyes to think. He was conflicted. Here he was given two completely different pieces of advice, and he had it was his job to make the better decision. Mai's father came from a more offensive perspective, one that many of the Fire Nation citizens still had. Then he had his closest friends telling him that there was a different way of going about the problem.

         As soon as his eyes opened again, Zuko sent Aang a thankful smile. "Wise advice, Avatar."

         "This is ludicrous." Ukano raised his voice in anger. "You'd rather listen to some fool who knows nothing about the Fire Nation than one of your own citizens. As he talked he kept stepping closer to Zuko with a threatening look.

         Ama had it with the angry old man and protectively stepped in front of Zuko. "I'm going to need you to step out." Ama's tone was authoritative and she gave Ukano a hard glare.

         He glared back at her. "I refuse to listen to some snow savage whore." Everyone in the room gasped at his words. He'd been incredibly bold the entire time, but this was most definitely out of line.

         "You have no right to speak to her that way." Zuko's said lowly and angrily. He stepped around Ama, getting dangerously close to Ukano. He would've liked to kill him on the spot. "Constable, please escort Ukano out."

         Constable Sung nodded and started to lead Mai's father out of the room. "I knew it!" Ukano shouted. "You're unworthy of the throne, Zuko. You're an impostor!" Zuko's glare turned into a surprised look. Like the words coming out of Ukano's mouth clicked something in his mind. "Impostor! Impostor!"

         Zuko turned around at Mai, who looked incredibly embarrassed of her dad. "Mai, when the New Ozai Society attacked me and my family weeks ago, was your father part of that?"

         Mai was quiet for a moment, like she was thinking something over. "Not that I know of." When she said that Kie Lo looked confused, like they both knew something the others didn't.

         Zuko hummed. "I thought I recognized his voice."

         Aang butt in, already prioritizing Tom-Tom. "Mai, I need to know everything you know about the Kemurikage."

         "I've already told you." Mai grumbled. "They're just an old legend."

         "An old legend, huh?" Zuko thought. "Then I have an idea about where to find out more." He started to walk out of the room with a destination in mind. "Follow me." Ama and Aang were close behind, but Kei Lo an Mai stayed in the room to discuss something quickly.

         "Are you alright?" Zuko looked over at Ama with concern while they waited outside the room.

         "About what? The fact that my boyfriend didn't even send me a messenger hawk for a month or that I was just called a 'snow savage whore'?" Ama grumbled, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at Zuko.

         "Whichever is bothering you the most." Zuko whispered. He didn't want to see her mad or upset, even though he knew he probably deserved it.

         "A month." Ama spat out. "One minute you act like you can't even part with me for a week then the next you won't even speak with me? I understood you sending Iroh to the Yu Dao inaugural celebration, but then I heard nothing from you."

         "Things have been busy." He justified with a shrug.

         "That's not it, it takes 5 minutes to send a messenger hawk." The Water Tribe girl didn't get mad often. But when she did, you didn't want to be the one she was mad at. And Ama hated the feeling like she was overreacting, even if she weren't. This was why she tried to solve her problems before they escalated.

         Zuko sighed. "When we first arrived, my family and I were almost assassinated by the New Ozai Society." He explained. "The last thing I want is for you to be a target. Especially, since you're-"

         "From the Water Tribe." Ama interrupted.

         "Yeah." Zuko looked defeated.

         "Oh for crying out loud." Ama scoffed. "We already talked about this when we went to find you mom. You promised not to do exactly what you're doing right now. You don't want me to worry about things, but Zuko, the thing that worries me the most is you shutting me out."

         "Plus, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Ama pokes his chest roughly. "Who was the one who took out Azula? Me. I can fucking blood bend."

         "I know." Zuko sighed. He was so in the wrong. And he knew it. He opened his mouth to apologize but Mai and Kei Lo finally stepped out of the room. And as room as they did. Ama started walking to the entrance of the palace to leave, and she could feel everyone's eyes on the angry girl.

         "Ama, you're going the wrong way." Aang's voice said, and it sounded like he was a little scared to say it, given the awkward atmosphere.

         The waterbender did a sharp 180 turn and passed the other four again. "I knew that." She grumbled with her index finger pointed in the air.

.☽☼☾.

         Appa landed at the front of the Fire Sages Capital Temple. In the dark, the temple looked majestic with the fire-lit torches decorating the dark walls. Zuko led the way up the stairs, walking with purpose.

         "Whoa. What is this place?" Kei Lo marveled at the structure.

         "The Fire Sages Capital Temple." Mai answered his question.

         "You've been here before Mai?" Kei Lo wondered how she knew that.

         "Once." Mai recalled. "An ex thought it'd be romantic to share a meal over the burial site of his ancestors."

         "And he was right. It was romantic." Zuko looked back at them. He meant it to be more a quip than to be serious. Still Ama couldn't help but let her jaw drop in jealousy. She and Kei Lo looked at each other with the same face. The two knew nothing about each other, yet here they were. Sharing the same look.

         Aang looked back at the two awkwardly, Mai and Zuko already stepping into the temple. "So! You guys! How about we, y'know-" He had no idea what to say. "Get goin on the, uh- Whatever it is we came here to do?!" With a quick breath in and out. Ama walked in, Kei Lo following.

         "Great Sage Shyu!" Zuko greeted the sage close by the entrance. The old man was sweeping the floor, a chore no one finds exciting, so he grinned when he saw the Fire Lord approaching with the Avatar close behind.

         "Fire Lord! Avatar! What a pleasant surprise!" Sage Shyu greeted.

         Aang and Zuko both bowed before him. "So good to see you again, Shyu!" Aang said respectfully.

         "I'm sorry it's been so long since my last visit." Zuko apologized. "Things have been busy."

         "You know what Fire Sage Kaja used to say: the busier we are, the more attention we must pay to our interior life." Fire Sage Shyu pointed out.

         "True, but-" Zuko tried to explain.

         "My brother Sages and I recently revived a couple of old practices that may be of interest to you! In fact, I'm teaching a new meditation class that-"

         "I'd love to hear more, Shyu - I swear - but right now, my friends and I need to get into the catacombs." Zuko hated to interrupt, but hey, they were all in a rush.

         The Fire Sage sighed. "Of course." The old man walked to the middle of the temple, where a circular design with locks only a fire bender could open stood.

         "Does the Fire Lord visit often?" Aang wondered. Everyone was standing off to the side to allow the Sage to do his thing.

         "Sure. Sometimes for the view, sometimes for the dusty old scrolls in the catacombs." Fire Sage Shyu answered a bit bitterly. "Never for my meditation classes." He then lit 6 small fires around him onto the designed locks before punching to the ground. The center, where he stood, stayed still, but the designs split apart and moved to the side, revealing the downward spiral stairwell.

        Aang and Zuko lit fires into their hands for light. Zuko led the group as they walked single file and Aang was in the back. As soon as they hit the bottom, the hallway was wider. The roof was curved and it looked like there was a very large creature's ribs decorating it. Based on the large dragon skulls that decorated the walls, Ama could only assume the ribs once belonged to a dragon.

        "So this is where the Fire Lords are buried?" Kei Lo asked curiously.

         "Yes." Zuko said in a serious tone. The catacombs reminded him of the last few generations of his family. Something he took no pride in.

         "Reserve a place for yourself yet?" Ama asked. She knew she shouldn't, but the petty thought was there and the words came out without her consent.

         "What's that supposed to mean?" Zuko turned around with a confused look but an angry tone.

         "Oh calm down, Fire Lord Zuko. It was just a question." Ama spoke calmly, just to annoy him.

         Luckily, Kei Lo interrupted the couple bickering. "Is that supposed to be Fire Lord Sozin?" He pointed at the large image of the old Fire Lord that was on the wall.

         "My great grandfather, yes." Zuko answered. They all stared at it for a moment.

         "Looks like a crank." Kei Lo said.

         "Crankiness runs in the family." Ama sent a taunting smirk at Zuko. He sent her a glare and Ama quickly glared back. Quips like this were the usual little taunts that Ama and Zuko had, but given their current relationship situation, Ama meant it more harshly.

         "So, how's this visit gonna help us, Zuko?" Aang grabbed his attention.

         "Just follow me." Zuko grumbled, continuing to lead then down the passage. The left was a black and white mural with people fire bending, dragons, a sun, and other pictures. "Look at this." Zuko admired. "This mural illustrates the history of the Fire nation, including it's myths and legends."

        "Oh, yeah." Aang observed it.

         Then, at the end of that hallway was the entrance Zuko was looking for. The fire emblem was on it and four metal dragon head fire locks at arms height. "But it all stops here?" Aang asked, talking about the brief murals of Fire Nation history.

         "When Sozin came to power, he ordered the rest of this corridor sealed off, as if Fire Nation history began with him." Zuko explained.

         "Why does it all stop here?" Aang wondered.

         "He wanted access, just in case. You can still learn from the past, even if you officially deny its existence." Zuko answered. "I'm guessing we'll find a clue about the kemurikage behind that wall." Zuko pointed at the entrance to the next corridor..

         Aang observed the tall doors for a moment before turning back to the Fire Lord. "You know, there's something just like this in the Sage's temple on Crescent Island! Zuko, if you and I send fire blasts into each of the dragon's mouths, the whole thing will open right up!"

         "Worth a try." Zuko shrugged. The two stepped back and got into position to blast flames into two dragon mouths at the same time.

         "Ready when you are." Aang said.

         "You might want to stand back." Zuko told the other three.

         "We're fine, thanks." Ama said dryly with her arms crossed and putting her weight on her right leg.

         Zuko clenched his jaw. He knew what he did was wrong, but he really didn't know where all of Ama's rude behavior towards him came from. He didn't have time to talk to her about it, though. There were other things to worry over. So he focused his attention on the wall they had to get through.

         At the same time, Zuko and Aang shot their flames into the dragon's mouths. But it didn't budge. "Let's go again." Aang suggested. And they did try again. And again. And again. And then a couple other times.

         "Nothing." Zuko grumbled. The frustration in his voice was obvious.

         "Huh. Maybe if we give it one more try-" Aang suggested again.

         Kie Lo ran to one of the dragon heads and observed it with both his hands and eyes. "You've given it twenty tries already! My turn."

         "I didn't know you could fire bend, Kei Lo." Aang commented, scared that he had offended Kei Lo in some way.

         "I can't." Kei Lo said matter-of-factly then he turned to Mai with his hand out. "Mai, can I borrow four of your throwing knives?" Mai looked very curious at what he was doing, but handed him her knives. Kei Lo stuck the knives into the dragon's nose, fumbling around like he was looking for something. "If you had taken the time to study the dragons - instead of just blasting away - you would've noticed that the locking mechanisms aren't located in the dragons mouths."

         "Wait, you gonna pick the dragon's noses?" Aang looked disgusted, despite the dragons being fake. "That seems awfully disrespectful. Not to mention gross."

         "Babe, can you help me out." Kei Lo asked Mai, holding up two of her knives.

         "Sure." Mai agreed and took the knives from his hand.

         "'Babe'?" Aang whispered to Zuko.

         "You're not really one to talk, Aang." Zuko dryly said, referring to the 'sweetie' nickname Aang and Katara have.

         Kei Lo held his arms around Mai, from the back, his hands holding her wrists in a guiding way. Her hands were in two separate nostrils of two different dragons. Ama would have laughed if her mind weren't elsewhere.

         Am I over reacting? Ye- No! Zuko refused to talk to you. You're constantly worried about him and in return he just keeps you in the dark! I'm not some damsel in distress! And now with Mai here- wait. Is he jealous?

         Ama's eyes traveled from looking at Zuko to his line of sight. He was looking at Mai and Kei Lo. But not in a jealous way like Ama thought. He was actually happy that Mai found something that could bring a smile to her face, something he could rarely do. Ama's tried to reason that he wasn't giving them a jealous look. But the things Azula said before were getting to her and her own jealousy wasn't letting her see things clearly.

         "Give each a counter-clockwise twist-" Kei Lo instructed, he had his hands in two of the dragon's nostrils just like Mai. "- Now!" The two twisted teh knives at the same time and the giant door moved to the side to open.

         "Well, look at that!" Aang ran ahead. "You were right, Zuko! The mural keep's going!" Aang stared at the walls.

         "I'm impressed." Mai locked arms with Lei Lo and a smile on her face. "Any other criminal talents I don't know about?"

         "Stick around. Maybe you'll find out." Even though they were already dating, Kei Lo flirted with Mai, sending her a sly wink.

         Zuko walked faster to keep up with Ama's pace. "Ama, we need to talk."

         "Why does that sound so familiar." Ama put her pointer finger on her chin like she was in thought. "Oh yeah, cause we always seem to 'need to talk' nowadays."

         "Why are you being so cold?" He hissed. He didn't want to get angry at her, but she was pushing his limits. Her demeanor made him feel like he couldn't even hold her hand. He thought if he did, she would twist his hand and break it.

         "I don't know, how about I ignore your existence for a month and then you can tell me how you feel." Ama had a fake excited tone. But she rolled her eyes once she was done talking.

         "Well if you were mad at me then why even come?" Zuko questioned. "And why defend me when Ukano was being threatening?" Ama huffed and crossed her arms.

         Because I miss you. Because I care about you. Because I love you.

         "Because I needed an explanation. And all I got was a lousy excuse." Ama told him. What she said wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth.

         "Come on, waterlily. I apologized." Zuko begged. He just wanted to hold her hand. To feel her soft, cool skin against his rough, hot skin. He loved every part of her. Each emotion and each expression. But not when she was hurting.

         Ama stopped at the intersection for the next corridor and looked at him. Her mouth was agape and her eyebrows pinched together. "No, Zuko. You didn't apologize." Zuko's eyes widened and thought back. Trying to remember if he did. But he didn't and he just realized. Ama left him standing there and followed the group ahead. "Oh, look, more of Zuko's cranky ancestors." She said loudly for him and the others to hear.

         "They don't all look cranky." Aang defended Zuko, holding his fire up to one of the murals. "This guy's more... stoic." Aang looked over at Zuko who made his way to the front of the group. "How many Fire Lords were there?"

         "I'm not sure. The history books I studied as a kid all began with Sozin." Zuko replied, looking at the first man painted on the wall. "But I bet this is the first one who united the Fire Islands.

         "Guys, I think I found what we're looking for." Kei Lo called them over, and everyone crowded around him and the mural behind him. "The spirits who kidnapped Tom-Tom – that's exactly what they looked like!" The mural behind them had dark ghost-like figures and terrified looking people painted on.

         "The kemurikage." Mai muttered.

         "Creepy." Aang commented.

         Ama figured that the mural wasn't enough and moved away from the group. There was a little compartment that looked kinda like a house and inside was a scroll. "And this must be their story. Can I get a light Aang?" She asked, pulling the red scroll out.

         "I got it." Zuko said immediately. He stood by her closely. Ama looked over at him. The fire illuminating his face and the reflection was in his golden eyes. Ama could stare into his eyes forever. It was her favorite feature of him. Because when he got excited or happy, they sparkled. But in the moment, it hurt her. Because her unusually stubbornness made her feel dirty to admire him.

         Snapping back to the task at hand, Ama looked over at the scroll while Aang, Mai, and Kei Lo crowded around them to see the scroll. "Long ago, long before the Fire Nation came into existence, warlords ruled the Fire Islands." She read. "They fought one another for territory and often the common people were caught in the middle. All the warlords were cruel and ruthless.

         "But worst of them was a brute named Toz. Feast or famine, Toz demanded annual tributes from all the villages in his territory. One year, a village dared to refuse Toz his tribute. And so, to teach them a lesson, Toz had all the village's children kidnapped. The children were never seen again, and the village's mother's died in sadness."

         "How horrible!" Aang exclaimed. "Where was my past life in all this?!"

         "Maybe this was before the first Avatar." Zuko suggested.

         "Shut up. I'm not done." Ama grumbled and started to read the scroll again. "Soon after the mothers' deaths, dark spirits began to haunt Toz and his men. Every so often, they would drift into the warlord's encampment in the middle of the night. The next morning, a child would be gone. Out of fear, Toz's men abandoned him. His regime collapsed. However, the dark spirits - the Kemurikage- continue to appear, even to this day, their sadness insatiable."

         "Eesh." Kei Lo spoke. "Maybe Sozin kept ancient Fire Nation history locked away because it's so depressing."

         "Tell me about it." Mai commented.

         "Ama, I think you summoned something by reading that scroll!" Aang said in worry. He saw a smoke-like glow come from one of the murals. "Look!" He held out his hand as the light went around his wrist. "Whoa." He awed. "Neat." Aang ran down the hallway, following the light.

         "Aang! Where are you going?" Zuko called after him. "It could be dangerous down there."

         "But I think it wants me to follow it!" Aang called back. Ama set the scroll back where she found it and ran after him, everyone else at her side

         "This kind of thing happen a lot?" Kei Lo wondered.

         "With the Avatar? All the time." Zuko replied.

         "Interesting friends you got there, Zuko." Mai grumbled.

         "Where are you leading us, little wisp of smoke?" Aang asked out loud.

         "Probably somewhere dark and dank." Mai quipped to Kei Lo.

         "Kind of like where we are now?" He joked back.

         "Oh, it'll be worse." Mai grumbled. She was never one to look on the bright side of things.

         "You know, you're pretty cute when you're pessimistic." Kei Lo flirted with a smirk.

         "Yeah, I know." Mai said back.

         Aang was giving the side conversations no attention. His focus was on the smoke. "Hey, smoke! Can you wait-" he talked to it like it was a living benign, which it may have been. The glowing blue smoke went to the mouth of a dragon statue on the wall. "No, don't go-" And the smoke disappeared inside. "Oh, monkey feathers! I bet this is another lock. Kei Lo, you think maybe you could-" Aang pointed.

         "No problem, Avatar Aang." The enthusiastic young man was already approaching the statue with two of Mai's knives. Sticking them in the dragon nostrils, he twisted them and the wall rumbled as it spun open slowly.

         "Looks like a crypt!" Aang observed stepping through the new door and down the steps.

         "Cool." Ama stepped in after him and had a look around. There wasn't much to see, just some more dragon statues and blank walls.

         "I'm not going in there." Mai instisted, standing her ground.

         "Kei Lo, maybe you could come along, in case there's something else to unlock." Aang hated to ask. It wasn't that he didn't trust Zuko alone with Mai, he knew Zuko wouldn't try anything. It had more to do with Ama's obvious jealousy and angry behavior.

         Kei Lo hesitantly looked back at the two. He on the other hand didn't really know much about Zuko and Mai's relationship. Still, he followed Aang and Ama down into the crypt. "Sure."

         Zuko and Mai didn't really have much to say at the moment. But it wasn't like the silence was uncomfortable. "This enough light? Because if the flame isn't big enough, I could-"

         "It's fine, Zuko. The less we see of this place the better." Mai responded dryly.

         "Oh, okay. You're right." Zuko agreed. "Kei Lo seems nice."

         "Yeah, he is." Mai agreed, smiling lightly at the thought of her boyfriend.

         "It's good to see you happy. You smile a lot when you're with him." Zuko smirked at how she smiled.

         "Yeah, he's good at doing that." Mai said. She didn't always like showing her emotions, but when it came to Kei Lo, she didn't seem to mind. "You and Ama don't seem to be on good terms." She spoke the obvious.

         "Tell me about it." Zuko grumbled, looking down at the floor in regret. "I know I messed up, and usually she lets things go, but not this time."

         "I'm not a therapist." Mai said dryly.

         "Right, sorry." Zuko rubbed the back of his neck.

         "But, you're my friend. Plus you're helping find my brother, so I guess I'll help you out." Mai sighed with a small teasing smirk. "You're really bad at letting people in Zuko. And Ama is starting to get really tired of it. I know what heartbreak looks like. And she has that look."

         "I've hurt her too often." Zuko sighed.

         "Yep." Mai unapologetically said and then poked his chest roughly. "And you better fix it before you lose her permanently."

         Zuko gulped at both the Mai's threatening tone and at the thought of losing Ama. Spirits, that's the last thing he wanted.

         Meanwhile, Ama, Aang and Kei Lo were following the bright smoke. It led them to a room with four columns at the corners of a coffin. Ama and Aang entered curiously while Kei Lo peeked in. He wanted to get out of there in both fear of the thoughts of spirits and because the thought of Mai and Zuko being together alone was eating him up. "Doesn't look like you need my help! Maybe I should-"

         "Kei Lo, something's happening!" Aang gasped.

         The glowing smoke spiraled in front of the coffin and turned into the spirit on the murals. The kemurikage. "Greeting, Avatar." A feminine and breathy voice spoke.

         "You.. You're one of the kemurikage - the original ones from long ago." Aang spoke respectfully while Kei Lo hid behind him.

         "I am." The spirit replied. "For centuries my sisters and I haunted the warlords of the Fire Islands, for their crimes we haunted them. We haunted them until the Islands were united into a single nation. The first Fire Lord, the one who rests in this crypt brought the warlords to justice and ushered in an era of prolonged peace. Our sadness receded. We never again set food in the human world."

         "But then why return now?" Aang wondered. "Why are you haunting people again?"

         "I repeat, Avatar." The spirit spoke more firmly. "From the time of the first Fire Lord until this moment, we have not entered your world."

         Aang's eyes widened. He didn't know who or what took Tom-Tom, but he did know that they weren't the kemurikage. Once respectfully bidding farewell to the spirit, Aang and the others were quick to get back on Appa head back to the city.

.☽☼☾.

And there's that! Things are going to get so much better the further you read. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼

[kiroh4918]

The Terms of Writing Fanfics, Reading Stories and Watching Movies… According to a Lazy Teenager.

Fellow Humans and non-Humans from Fandoms Near and Far,… I welcome you to read a document I basically just made. This is:…

“The Terms of Writing Fanfics, Reading Stories and Watching Movies… According to a Lazy Teenager.”

Firstly, I would like to address The Different Types of Ships…

Now, this isn’t about how different relationships interact, that will be discussed later in The Hogwarts Guide to Relationships. This is discussing what happens to the ships.

Firstly, we have a sailing ship – obviously, this means a ship that is canon. Examples: literally everywhere mate. Most ships are sailing ships.  (This is the un-original term).

The Sunk Ship (The other un-original term). A ship that doesn’t work out. They move on. The ship starts to sink, and they get on little dinghiess and sail to shore for a bit, before preparing to start sailing again. Sometimes the ruins of these ships are found and excavated (they become friends), sometimes they can even sail again (They get back together).

Then we have our Battle Ships. This is the canon ship that is a constant battle with non-canon ships, I like to call Pirate ships. These are the two ships we get major shipping wars with. Fans are fighting all day and all night to prove their ship is superior. It’s nasty stuff man. Examples of these kinda ships are Romione (Ron x Hermione) vs Dramione (Draco x Hermione) or Kataang (Katara x Aang) vs Zutara (Zuko x Katara.)  There is nothing wrong with the pirate ship, it’s just not canon, and that’s fine.

Also, who else is back on the Avatar train because Netflix is releasing a live-action.

Next, we have the ghost ship: both characters have or will die during or before the story. Permission to cry about these kinda ships – granted. Examples include Jyn and Cassian, from Rouge One.

Now we come to the greatest and most painful ships of all. The Titanic. These are the ships with heartbreak. These are the ships where the characters love each other, but one has to leave. The ships where they just don’t work, but they still love each other. And these are the ships, where one character dies, and the other is left broken. They never move on. Or should I say, their heart will go on? Obviously, an example of this is Titanic, but other examples are The Hunch Back of Notre Dame but not the Disney version, the Victor Hugo one where Esmeralda hangs. And Captain America, the first one, where he dies and wakes up like 70 years later.

Secondly, The Worthy Death…

Okay, so we have all cried watching a character die before. It’s just hard man. But have you ever watched a show where a really cool, strong character that’s gonna save the day, just chokes on a cashew and dies? No, you probably haven’t, why? Because it's dumb. But, have you watched a movie where they ride into battle on their white stallion and save the day, but they end up dying after they have won the battle? Yes, most probably. Because they are worthy of a good death. Maybe, they have been living in boundaries and they finally break free. Or the figure out how to win and then die in the arms of their first love, (I’m still in mourning over the second last episode of Teen Wolf season 3). Or maybe this character dies saving their child, and then the child goes on to save the day. RIP Stoic.

Now most writers will always give their characters appropriate endings, because well. We authors love our characters. Only a few authors don’t do this, and even fewer don’t do and the story is still pretty good. So, I’m here to tell you that if a character that is really cool and strong, that dies too quickly and it just doesn’t seem right, then it probably isn’t. Okay. That character just might show up again. Especially if this is in a supernatural world and the character that died is supernatural.

This is also relevant to villains. Because they come back sometimes too.

 Thirdly the Spark…

Killing off a character is hard, especially when we have put so much effort into shaping and developing the character, giving them some of our own traits. It hurts authors a lot more than it may hurt you. Trust. But sometimes, we can’t do anything about it. Why? because of the spark! The spark is the original idea. It’s the thing that makes you write the story. If this means that a character has to die, or the ship doesn’t work. Then that means it’s gonna be a sad story. Changing the spark is like changing the constitution. You need to really think hard about it.

Now here is a warning, playlists are useful as well as dangerous. I am the kind of person who likes to make a playlist for every story (and sometimes every chapter) I write and listen to it while writing. Playlists have gotten through many a writing block, and they are great for inspiration. However, if you add the wrong song, all hell can break loose. Let me give you an example where I almost killed a character. We all have a sad Viking funeral song, right? Well, I was listening to mine, (The Sun in the Stream, Enya) and, well, the ship almost hit an iceberg. Luckily, I was saved by a happy love song, (Dreams, The Cranberries).

You could kill or save characters, going completely against the spark. You could add fluff where there is supposed to be a fight scene. You could add angst in a perfectly good and healthy relationship. Music is a powerful influence, so I beg all of you, be wise with your Spotify playlists. And consult a friend before changing a spark.

 Moving on, I bring you the Hogwarts Guide to Relationships…

Each relationship can be categorized into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. And please don’t be offended by this. If you are a Gryffindor in a Slytherin relationship than good on you. I’m not the sorting hat.

Let’s start off with a good ol’ Gryffindor relationship. This is usually canon. It is the main character and the main character. They’re high-school enemies. They hate each other because they are rivals, they are both exceedingly attractive. Then they are put in a difficult situation and they have to work their way out… together. And they fall in love and yeah. It's cliché. They are the super-heroes. They both are really nice bubbly people. They cannot be bad guys, they just can’t. Okay, it’s not in the job description. They will go through at least one difficult situation, but they will come out on top.

Moving on, Ravenclaw relationship. It’s simple, it can be canon or not. They like each other. They are the main character’s older sibling and their partner. Either that or they are the bad guy. They are kinda great because they are genuine with each other. They are also goals. They may break up once, but they got back together so it’s fine. Not many people ship them, but that’s only because they want to be in the place of one of them. They have a strong trust and are very close. They have some kind of telepathy, and it’s not even creepy. You’re not sure if you can trust them, but you know they would die for each other. They are oddly wise and are constantly giving good advice. They can get you out of any situation, cos they know people. If they are good, then they kind of live in the grey area. They play cards and both have a good polka face. They could be evil, but they are evil together. I ship this, this is my OTP, leave me alone, pls.

Hufflepuff relationships: cute, fluffy, friendly, cute. They are happy, they love each other. These are two content individuals who are on their first and only relationship because they are hardcore canon and they will be married. One bought the other a dog for their birthday. Either a dog a cat or a turtle. Everyone ships them, even though they can be kind of annoying because they are so cute. You want the best for them. One does medieval sword fighting and the other does every martial-arts and you are impressed…. and very surprised. They are all the love languages, and teasing isn’t a love language, so it’s forbidden in their cute Christmas log cabin. This should not be taken as an offence to any Hufflepuffs, I am a Hufflepuff, and TBH I would never be able to sustain a relationship like this without losing my mind.

I’m sorry I lied, there are two more. Endo-Slytherin and Exo-Slytherin.

Endo-Slytherin is basically where they are only together because it benefits them. And both know it. That’s it, they are just there for the ship name, and the milkshake they get from winning the dare. They may learn to love each other, it is possible. But for that to happen they have to develop something called feelings and love and they don’t know what that is yet.

Exo-Slytherin, the world is thrown at them and they are trying to stay strong. This is more the crap Slytherins first years throw at Gryffindor first years. Their parents hate each other, their friends hate each other. One of them is forced to leave but they hold it up long distance. Then one of them is drugged and the other one sees a picture of them cheating, but they actually aren’t, and their strong trust is tested, but they get through. This ship could sail or hit an iceberg its really up to the writer. But I feel sorry for them, they just wanna be a Hufflepuff relationship, it is really not their fault.

 That’s it.

Please note, most of these points are completely original. Some of them I have discussed with my friends, @just-me764​, @nana-akishima, @strawbeari2​, and @dest-ai-ni. And some are just known to all. But otherwise, I put an amount of effort into writing this and I would appreciate if you used any of the terms to credit me. 

Thank you for reading this!

[promptosbouncybuns]

Can we please not tear ships down or character bash because of our agendas?

This somehow became super long...sorry.

Wanna know what Mai and Aang have in common?

They are normally the two biggest recipients of, honestly, really stupid accusations.

Aang is apparently abusive in that he kissed Katara once while she wasn't very consenting to it at the time.

He's 12 and does stupid things but please hold him accountable for all time despite how disappointed in himself he looked right after. He didn't even pursue her after she stepped back. He saw his error and pulled away.

He apparently doesn't care about Katara? Despite literally giving up his chance to take full control of his avatar state just to go save her from a vision that may or may not have been real. I mean he could have just been like...ok...meh...Idc. Avatar state yip yip!

Then in LOK he just used her as a baby maker...never mind that apparently Katara had enough power or sway to outlaw bloodbending. Plus...guys...she's old when we see her in that series and has always been more family centered.

Not saying she became just a regular housewife after she married Aang but as stated before, she old! She's been through enough and if she wants some peace and solitude after dealing with the loss of her Friends, her Brother, and her Husband than...let the woman be pls. Even Toph didn't really want to fight anymore since old age had finally cought up with her and she's younger than Katara! If she doesn't want to fight but instead heal, let her do as she pleases. Plus you all sound like being a housewife and taking care of your children is a death sentance. Not all fighters are in the battle all the time.

Somehow Aang is also depicted as only seeing Katara as a trophy...Honestly I don't see how this got so convoluted but anyone who saw the series can say he doesn't think or her that way. He loves her, sees her as his best friend, and as probably one of the best masters to ever teach him. He's shown her tremendous respect as a friend, pupil, and love interest. He's listened to her and has grown from her wisdom.

Its also just crapping all over Katara as a character when people have this line of thinking. She's stronger than that, and would never be a prize to anyone, not even the avatar. If she wants to be with him she will. Kinda like how in the last episode when Aang walks out, she follows and is the one to kiss him.

I've always seen them as opposites, not in elements but in personalities. Also their similarites tend to correlate too!

Katara is at times a stick in the mud and Aang helps her have a childhood with the fun he brings her. She's had to grow up fast and undertake a lot of chores around her village. She's strong and outspoken, at times very loudly. She's passionate, even in the face of supposed peril, where there is no way she can prevail. She's strong and cares for others, almost to a fault since she took up precious days till the eclipse to help firenation people she didnt know.

Aang is a playful soul that hates being tied down. He'd rather have fun, and has been raised to seek leisure instead of responsibility. Its because of this that makes him so childish, until he meets her and is shown that his destiny is to bring balance to the world. He may not be physically strong but like Katara he isn't weak willed. He's passionate about protecting people and bringing harmony back to the four nations. While his passion isn't quite so loud, he can inspire people.

She's helped curb his childishness, and has helped instill in him responsibility. She won't let him shirk things off or procrastinate. She even was willing to let Aang learn waterbending without her because it was for the greater good.

Through these actions she's helped Aang embrace his old soul vibe and have it feel justified. He sees through her that what he does now will have an impact on the world and he best be getting to it.

I've always seen them as a couple that is silly, cute, and can get things done. I can see them being older and being more familiar with each other and it can lead to them having very intense intimate energy. I mean in the series, they're kids so...not really into thinking about them that way at that age. They can communate well so, there will be less fights and a lot of understanding. Definitely not boring.

As for Mai well...apparently people just don't understand her sense of humor and personality. She's got dry humor and is very direct in a lot of things. She doesn't sugar coat things and shys away from expression a lot of times.It somehow comes off as abusive?

Her telling Zuko to never break up with her again is supposed to be a joke, seeing as the last time he did, she literally had to save his bum from being boiled alive...

Then you have the infamous scene where they were together again after season 2 and while Zuko angsts, Mai tries to redirect his thoughts from such dark depths. Honestly, what do you say to that? Should you say its going to be ok? Because that just seems empty amd shallow.

Plus Mai, being emotionally stunted, doesn't really know how to navigate emotional waters. You also have to keep in mind that they finally get to have a conversation after all these years so obviously they aren't going to really know one another and how to communicate well.

So her not coddling and not letting him angst over things neither of them can know or deal with till it actually happens is dismissive of his abuse? I don't thinks so. Its honestly saying we will have to wait and see how things have changed once you are actually back home, so lets not dwell on them so much.

Of course, then you have her bringing up what happened last time Zuko was in a war meeting which is somehow abusive too. You know, its the same thing Iroh brought up in season 1 Ep. 3. So Iroh is abusive too now. It feels like people are saying don't bring up someone's abuse, ever, even if its to help them from potentially repeating the same pain.

She's trying to stop him caring and in her very direct way says that its not worth the pain of what could happen again if he attends. She's genuinely worried about him and doesn't want him hurt more physically or emotionally.

Then they like to say Mai doesn't care about Zuko really and that she just likes his status. They also say she's abusive with how she doesn't like anything he does for her. The biggest scene used is from the Beach showing Mai non-plussed by him giving her a shell and ice cream.

For one, Zuko wasn't acting like Zuko at all that first bit of the episode. He didn't take into account what Mai liked as apposed to what other girls liked. I mean while Ty Lee may like the shell, does that mean every girl has to like it otherwise they're a complete bish? Also...who here likes having ice cream fall on them? Honestly Mai could have made a huge deal about getting it on her but chose to crack a wry, but as always, dry joke about it.

Also please note that in this same episode Mai deals with an abusive S/O very correctly. Zuko's been acting off and it culminates with him pushing a guy back who happened to be talking to her. He makes a scene and insults her in front of everyone once she calls him out on his actions. Does she get even and call him worse? Nope. She simply says that their relationship is over and thats it. Though she looks conflicted by this, she stands firm despite Zuko trying to get handsy with her twice later in the episode. She holds him accountable but says she still loves him. I'd have an issue with this if they didnt have Zuko tell her and everyone whats been eating at him so long.

If she didnt know whats been making him act so hostile and crazy then how can she know that Zuko's not just an abusive jerk showing his true colors after all this time. Not saying that it made his actions right, but I feel her knowing the why instead of leaving it a mystery helped Mai reason through forgiving him.

As for her just wanting the power of his position, thats just really, really, really, lazy. She's from a noble family and is friends with the firenation princess...or as I like to say, unfortunately trapped in Azula's orbit. She'd be well off as it is if she kept her connection to Azula, but she didn't. She chose to go against a firebending prodigy, essentially turning her back on the firenation and her family to save the jerk who dumped her by letter.

Nope! Mai doesn't give a Flamio about Zuko himself. She just wants his title.

Opposites seem to attract and in this case its definitely with personalities since...ya know...Mai can't bend elements.

Zuko is passionately driven to a scary degree. He's hyper focused on finding the avatar despite the 100 years no one's seen them. He can be hot tempered and easily set off. He cares for people even to the point he'd rather starve than rob pregnant couple for food. He's brash, and doesn't think things through.

Mai is quietly, but strongly passionate for Zuko, even if its detrimental to her as with challenging Azula. She has learned to keep her temper and other emotions under lock and key, and is not easily set off. She cares about those she's put time and energy into. She's fairly classy, choosing her words wisely and she's definitely done a lot of thinking about what she wants or needs to do as far as her actions.

Zuko's shown that its ok to be expressive, and that its ok for her to do so. He wants to see her free of her parents emotional abuse so that she won't be so guarded.

Through Mai's personality, she's helped temper....Zuko's temper. He won't be so quick to flip his lid and do things without thinking them through. Like fire to a knife Zuko's helped make Mai burn bright and she's given him a sheith for his wild emotions.

I've always seen them as the quiet but intense love kinda couple. They may not have the best communication skills and this could lead to a lot of arguments but their love for one another is stronger. Eventually the sands of time will smooth them, break down walls and allow them to understand one another better.

I'm all for pretty much any ship in atla, and I love how fanfiction can actually help strengthen my love for it more than the actual show. The creativity and OOC that some writers pull off can be amazing and help you really like a character in a certain way or open your eyes to a new pairing.

However, if you wanna like ships, like them because you can, but don't go and take obviously innocent things and blow them out of proportion.

Here is convoluted, misconstrued, out of context information to say person X is evil and shouldnt be with person Y. W shouldn't be with person Z....therefore, Person Z and Person Y should be together because their partners are obviously abusive.

The...What? Three to maybe five episodes of screentime together as begrudgingly budding friends is enough to show exactly how they will be if they got together. Which these episodes can bring about interestingly creative ideas, however people act like that this is the definitive reason Z/Y should be together and any other pairing with the other two is completely abusive.

Just to be clear...if you like Zutara, thats great, I do too. I can imagine them in any number of ways. Them being enemies to lovers, or knowing each other before becoming star crossed lovers, or everythings all good in the univers and they love each other so so much!

However, in none of these headcannons do I see the need to bash Aang or Mai. I don't need to come up with stupid reasonings for Zuko and Katara to be together. If I want them to be together in a story or piece of art, I'll do it and be classy about it. I won't have Katara say Aang assaulted her and fly into Zuko's arms, pushing Mai down saying she's a manipulative bish. Because...she and Aang aren't.

At all.

Im just tired of the mental gymnastics shippers go through to spread hate for one ship so they can have another. Half the time its not even true facts but just people seeing it from an angle that aligns with their agenda.

If you like something, you like it, but don't crap on other ships or characters wrongly to justify it.

Sorry if this is a mess but god, seeing most of these accusations against Aang had me honestly cringing. I thought it was mainly against Mai because...she got Zuko and isn't bubbly, motherly, and...well Katara. So when Anti-Kataang reasons somehow showed up on the old dash, I felt my faith in humanity plummet.

Like...I hope you guys can sleep well at night knowing you've literally slandered a cinnamon roll who's in touch with his feelings, something most of you would protect if it where for any other ship. Like people just starting the series potentially arent going to be too keen on Aang himself at all simply because of this misinformation. But no...just to have one ship you equated this kid to a sexually abusive monster. Good job. 10/10. Slow 👏 for you guys. Be proud.

[redrobin-detective]

Not trying to get into the shipping war but I didn't get into Avatar TLA fandom until post S2 and it had never occured to me to ship Katara/Zuko. They were enemies who fought over Aang. They had the worst relationship w/each other until post TSR ep (which for a number of reasons I thought was the most anti romantic Zuko/Katara ep that also pushed why Aang was more compatible). I personally find their platonic dynamic, be it as enemies or friends, much more fascinating/better for each other.

(Just want to take a moment to say thank you anon, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to rant about Zutara when I see this in my ask. Thank you for giving me the chance to rant about something that’s bothered me for 10 years)

People are allowed to ship what they want, I can’t stop them and I generally don’t care but Zutara has bugged me since I decided to watch ATLA (the Day of Black Sun was the first live episode I watched). If you like Zutara, go ahead and please enjoy it. I strongly dislike it and I’m going to explain why. If you don’t want to see it, don’t read under the cut. I will be discussing why I dislike Zutara and why I support Maiko and Kataang (with caveats).

I think Zutara was the first, really big ship I encountered in fandom. I was blown away by how mean and intense some people were into shipping fictional characters (still am tbh). This is also probably the first real time I was exposed to the ‘Opposites Attract’ trope of shipping which. I. Utterly. Despise. Everyone was all 'oh fire and water, opposites coming together in love uwu’ and I’m like ??? Even 13 year old me who’s terrible with people and was still icked out by the idea of guys knew that opposites attract is a complete fallacy in a relationship.

People don’t fall in love with their opposite! Or maybe they feel strong attraction but to have a stable, respectful relationship you simply can’t work with someone who you can’t find common ground with. Now I know this isn’t completely true even as I type this, there are exceptions to everything but in most cases, opposites don’t work for romance. Let’s also kill the 'Oh these people hate each other, it must be sexual tension’ trope while we’re at it. Sometimes you just gotta let people hate each other.

You may argue that Katara and Zuko aren’t complete opposites and I would agree, they actually have a decent amount in common. The main problem I see with them is their complimentary traits don’t suit each other and as a couple they wouldn’t achieve a healthy, happy relationship.

- Both Katara and Zuko have unresolved anger relating to their childhoods and respective traumas. We see in TSR that Zuko is trying to reach out to her by feeding her anger and Katara very nearly does something she would have regretted later, something opposed to her basic traits while Zuko is having his father’s teaching on hatred and revenge justified to an extent. This is not a healthy thing.

- Both Katara and Zuko are compassionate and protective almost to the point of jealousy and rage. Again, that sort of personality wouldn’t promote respect but become confining. Zuko has shown that he struggles with romantic jealousy (though most of that incident was born out self-hatred, it’s still there just better controlled) and Katara has a desire to mother and protect. Those two instinct would war with each and make the relationship troubled from the start.

- Both Katara and Zuko are fiercely loyal to their people. I have never been more confused than I was by a text post saying Zutara should have been endgame because Katara “wouldn’t have had her cultural identity erased to become Aang’s baby momma” like??? Aang, for all his faults, loved Katara as she was and she maintained her Water Tribe roots even as his wife. If Katara married Zuko, she’d have been Fire Lady, loyal to the Fire Nation first and forced to live in a Palace. Katara would HATE that level of confinement and while she mightbe better with the Fire Nation now, I doubt she’d be totally cool spending the restof her life amongst the people who murdered her Mother.

Not tomention the whole animosity they had literally throughout the entire series. Ofcourse, Zuko proved himself in TSR but I don’t think Katara really accepted himuntil Sozin’s Comet. And before you cry your tears about how Zuko saved Katarafrom Azula’s lightening, I’m 100% certain given Zuko’s character that he wouldhave done that for anyone. Azula knows her brother is softhearted and we’veseen Zuko protect literal strangers when he didn’t need to. That could havebeen Old Man Li and Azula would have shot that lightening and Zuko would havethrown his stupid ass in the way.

I can see Katara and Zuko growing to begood, close friends. Because we all have those friends that we care and rely onbecause they’re different from us,think differently and bring something unique. Zuko probably relied on Katarafor counsel, advice on how to be a kind but strong ruler while Katara wouldseek him out on political manners and how best to handle Aang. Zuko is a partof the Gaang, now and forever more, he and Katara are the mature ones of thegroup, there to bring order and peace and pave the way for the new world. Butas a romantic couple, they’re simply not complementary in personality andlifestyle to have a truly happy relationship.

Whichbrings me, briefly I promise, to the relationships the two characters are in:Maiko and Kataang. I love Maiko, it’s my favorite of the ATLA ships (aside fromSokki) because I feel they do work and complement each other. I’ll start by gettingthis right out of the way; yes it’s kind of ridiculous that Mai and Zuko hadthat cute lil kiddie crush and then, 5 minutes after Zuko’s back in the FireLord’s favor, Mai makes a move. I’d have preferred if they showed more build-upto the relationship but I guess there wasn’t enough time. But I don’t get allthese accusations of Maiko being abusive. Becauselet me tell you, just because someone messes up in a relationship, makes amistake for the right reasons, that does not mean they’re abusive.

To me, Maiand Zuko are products of the same environment: emotionally stunting/abusive,rigid, accepting nothing less than perfection but they handled it differently.Zuko chose to become angry and emotional over his circumstances (I thinkbecause it’s the only way he could fuel his bending) and Mai chose to bury herfeelings. Healthy? No, Realistic? Yes. Mai liked Zuko because he was genuinelynice guy, he was expressive and open when no one else around her was andencouraged her to be more open. Zuko liked Mai because she was cool and calmbut also a bit nurturing when he needed someone to soothe his flames.

Twodamaged kids helping to repair each other’s faults, what’s better than that?Mai makes mistakes with Zuko, she doesn’t know how to handle his troubles in the Fire Nation and, frankly, she couldn’t. Zuko needed that time to self-reflect and understand that what was happening was wrong. Zuko likewise behaved badly in a few episodes when his anger and self-hatred were making him explode. They both worked through this to improve like, gee, a normal healthy relationship.

Plus Mai would make a good Fire Lady. The Fire Nation needed stability afterthe war and Mai was nothing if not stable. She comes from a good, noble family(to soothe traditionalists) and she’s experienced in keeping firebenderscontrolled (for those worried about Zuko’s youth) and experienced in the waysof the world like Zuko so he can bounce ideas off of her and have her give backa more well-rounded perspective. It’s not perfect but when the series endedthey were 16/15, they have time to learn and grow together. (also I’m ignoringthe comics after The Promise because everything after has sucked)

Kataang I’ma lot less invested in but I can still understand it. Like Zuko and Mai, Aangand Katara have a lot in common and provide a good balance for one another.They really bring out the best in each other, Aang’s encouragements and naturalcheer brighten Katara’s inner sadness/anger and Katara gives Aang a sense oflove and purpose while also gently nudging him the way he needs to go. Peoplecomplain that Kataang was pushed from the start and it was, but man if Aangdoesn’t love the hell out of Katara. He respects her and relies on her andadores her but is still able to push back when she’s out of line. My main thingwith Kataang, which will eventually resolve itself, is the ages. Aang is 12when he’s freed from the iceberg, Katara 14. Aang’s love was a kiddie puppycrush on a calming maternal figure which made me feel a bit icky during the finalepisode.

Because earlyAang did love Katara but he also needed her as a guide and a mother figurewhile Katara was nurturing Aang and making sure he’s safe and happy when hereally needed to be facing the consequences of some of his actions. I see whythe characters did what they did but it makes a romance then kind of ug. I’dhave preferred if the series ended with hints and then skipped to LOK where wesee they married and junk. Because given a few years, I can see Aang and Katarabeing a good healthy couple (with no *shudders* sweeties to be seen).

Aang has just changed the world, he needstime to settle himself as the Avatar and to help Zuko and other leaders repairthe damage done by the 100 year war. Katara needs to figure out what she’sgoing to do, go home? Travel? A romance isn’t advised, especially since they’reso young. But when they’re a few years older, Aang is more mature and iswilling to see Katara as a partner and not someone to mother him and Kataragrows into her potential and decides what she wants, yeah then they’d be happy.

TL;DR: Istrongly dislike Zutara (along with the ‘opposites attract’ and ‘animosity =sexual tension’ tropes it embodies) because it’s not a healthy, compatible shipwhile the canon ships: Maiko and Kataang are much more in line with thecharacters and their goals and have the chance to be long-lasting and happy.

[begrudgingly-i-care]

Chapter Four: Hesitate

     Zuko is a lot of things: a failure, vicious, practically-a-parent. Zuko is a lot of things, but he is not a child killer. Unfortunately. 

It’s Kryo who comes bounding up to him first, as the ship takes off from the desolation that is the Southern Water Tribe (“—and we vanquished those savages! Tore them limb from limb for what they did to us! They dared threaten us, dared to refute our glory! THIS is the pride of the Fire Nation! THIS is the glorious purpose which we were made for!” And Zuko wondered, blasphemously, treasonously, if the blood on their hands was the only thing that gave them worth.).

“Who’s that?” the boy’s long black hair flounced freely around him as he bounded up and leaned into the Avatar’s space. “Why’s he bald? Why’re you bald?”

“The Avatar,” Zuko answered shortly, and then, “And don’t ask questions like that, it’s rude.” because manners are important, Zuko, how are you ever going to win over diplomats and the stuffy old crones in the court if you cannot even be polite, my precious sun?

The Avatar’s eyebrows briefly shot up, but then his face contorted into a large grin as he looked at the boy— they were almost eye level and Kryo wasn’t that tall and was the Avatar malnourished? And he only needed an airbender to complete the set — “Hiya! I’m Aang! And I’m your… errrr…. Brother’s? Prisoner! It’s nice to meet you!” In a completely ridiculous maneuver, the Avatar— Aang— the Avatar shot up with a small burst of air and bent his back to thrust his bound hands out to Kryo. 

Kairos yanked Kryo back before he could touch the Avatar. “He’s Kryo. I’m Kairos. This,” her hand clasped firmly over the four year old’s shoulder, “is Cyrtanthus. Her friends call her Lily.”

“Oh, cool! Heya, Lily—”

“I said her friends. ” Kairos looked like ice, like something so cold it burns. She turned to look at Zuko, something uncertain lingering in her eyes. Zuko knew immediately why she was being so cautious: “I’ll take down the Fire Nation!” she yelled, and who but the Avatar was supposed to assist in that endeavor? He was crushing her hopes, but she didn’t understand that it was to save her. To put Zuko on the throne so he could undo tragedy, to allow Zuko to bargain with his father for the lives of the children he watched over. 

(“Is it worth it?” asked a general outside of the war room. “Is this war worth the cost? Are the few elite really so much more important than the many?” and he had burned, and Zuko remembered the smell of a person turned to ash to this day. He puked every time someone burned pork.)

His little Lily spoke up, using one of her precious words with an odd determination. “Dad.” She pointed right at Zuko.

Zuko and the Avatar choked in sync. 

“Isn’t he a little young to be having kids?” The Avatar got up in Zuko’s face— well, as up as he could get. He was so short. Zuko pushed aside his concern. “You don’t look much older than me! You can’t have had kids that old already!”

“You are right, young Avatar.” spoke Uncle Iroh. Thank Agni for his uncle because Zuko still couldn’t form words. “However,” Zuko retracted his precious thought. His uncle was the blight upon this world and Zuko would take pleasure in snuffing him out. “Adoption negates that issue. These children are all under Prince Zuko’s care.” Uncle Iroh gives Zuko a warm, proud smile, and Zuko graciously decides that his uncle may plague him as long as he continues to smile at him like that.

The Avatar’s mouth briefly twitches up, then down, then widens into a grin. 

There’s a craftiness to him, Zuko realizes. It’s in the way his shoulders loosen and roll back, in the way he plays up his childishness. Zuko is suddenly hit with the thought of a young Azula. Of his baby sister before their father started to train her until she collapsed. Azula was cunning in a way few people realized. 

Zuko grit his teeth. Azula would have never given herself up for others. For him. His hand grips the Avatar’s shoulder hard enough that it’ll probably bruise as he yanks the boy after him. He immediately softens, because this is a prisoner and a child and Zuko is many things but not cruel. Never as sharp as Azula. Never as bright. “This way.”

“So, you protect kids, huh?” Aang— the Avatar smiles, and his eyes squint, and it’s soft and odd considering the situation. “That’s pretty cool of you. Guess you’re not, like, completely bad.” Zuko thinks Azula again before he realizes that the boy is completely genuine. 

Zuko thinks of the Agni Kai. He’d been given a chance— a slim one, but a chance nonetheless. A chance. Give the boy a chance.

(There is a young prince in a war room filled with old generals. They are planning to use soldiers as cannon fodder, citing that they can be easily replaced. “No!” shouts the boy. “It isn’t right!” The Fire Lord grins a grim grin and says, “Prove yourself in an Agni Kai.” The father does not hesitate to burn to scar to hurt his son for his insolence, but at least he gave the boy a chance. Zuko could have proven himself. There was a chance. Right?)

“Guards!” Two soldiers march in front of him, stiff postures and the blank skulls of the helmets giving the illusion of staunch obedience. Azula would definitely redesign these. She hates when things are easy. 

Zuko recognizes Athame from the bracelet on his wrist. Zuko recognizes Blaze because she seems to sway slightly on her feet, much like a candle flame. Blaze is such a sickeningly common name. What has the crew taken to calling her? Glim? Not much better, but an improvement on Blaze.

“You are to take the Avatar to his cell. Do not. Under any circumstances. Let him escape. Do you hear me?”

“Yessir!” They salute, grab the boy gently but firmly, and march down a corridor.

             ㊋

  Kairos looks betrayed, resigned, and curious. She’ll be asking questions soon. 

  ㊋

  A fucking SKY BISON. He regrets giving the Avatar a chance to escape because the boy was apparently incapable of doing so with anything resembling stealth. What happened to airbenders being sneakier than a breeze in a hurricane? The boy was a tornado. A walking disaster.

“Prince Zuko!” He heard his uncle shout. But he was already scaling the mast and jumping into the crows nest. He screamed and fire erupted from his mouth and fists and evaporated the block of ice before it could capsize the ship.

“Where are the kids?” Blaze yelled.

“Lily is accounted for!”

“I’ve got Kairos!”

Silence.

Zuko spun around and searched the water’s from his vantage point. The bison was still nearby, he could still capture the Avatar. But not at the cost of the children. He swore to them. 

There.

He leaped from the nest and angled his body down, fire bursting from his hands and propelling him towards the dark, humanoid shape he had seen.

Cold. His fire was extinguished by the water and it felt like his very life force was being snuffed out. He dived deeper. There was ice in his veins. Young firebenders were susceptible to the cold. The cold was invasive and would kill them it would kill Kryo and Zuko would not stand for that.

Deeper.

A few fleeting bubbles go past Zuko. Kryo. His hand snatches scraps of fabric and he pulls the boy close. He swims up with one hand and his legs are lead but they kick furiously. 

The bubbles have stopped.

Up and up and up and they breach the water.

“Prince Zuko!” It’s his uncle’s frantic voice. The ship. Zuko’s hand reaches out and blindly grasps at a rope ladder as he sputters out water. He climbs up. ( Up and up and up Zuko never manages to bend to light the room it is dark and he ascends the stairs but the darkness chokes him).

Zuko lays the boy out on the deck. He breathes in. Out. In. Out. Gathering his inner flame. He pulls the boy’s shirt off and puts his hands on the boy’s chest and pushes with his bending. In. Out. All the heat his body he’s managing to gather is being pushed into Kryo. Into his friend son charge responsibility honor. 

Kryo gasps. Breathing. Finally.

Zuko is shivering and there are black spots on his vision. “Hold on, Prince Zuko. The healer will help.” Zuko is rapidly giving in to rest, but before he is lost, he is almost positive he hears, “I cannot lose another son.”