#there was one where zuko smiles at mai because ozai invited him to the meeting

[homuraakemis]

Zuko + smiling at Mai/smiling because of Mai

Comics bonus:

[sporksaber]

Ok, I love the role swap concept with zuko and azula, but I feel like they switch their abilities and personalities a bit too and I think itd be more fun without that. Where Azula is an antisocial and unstable genius who wants to gain power and zuko still struggles with being the less powerful and extremely empathetic sibling. So here's how I'd do it.

(Note, this is just for fun. I'm not saying anyone else's version is bad. But I've though about this so much and need it out of my head before I go off cuz make a whole comic and I do not have the time, i need to work.)

First off, Azula wouldn't call out in concern for the men like how zuko did. In my version she's allowed into the meeting because of the aptitude for strategy shes shown. She speaks up because it's an inefficient plan that uses up too many resources when there are other options. This enrages her father and leads to the agni kai. Azula is terrified and feels betrayed but has no idea how to handle any of it. She fights back during the agni kai, but in her panic she sets off a bolt of lightning. Ozai finishes the match and severely burns on her lower back. Azula is banished for her use of lightning on the fire lord (bc ozai fears she will no longer be easy to manipulate and might plot his death) and is forced to leave the next morning.

Some things to note: azula is eleven at this point. I changed the placement of the scar bc I think zuko's is very symbolic in a way that doesnt suit azula. Zuko's scar being over his eye and close to the light chakra shows the way his view of the fire nation and honour obscures his vision and how he is unaware of the truth of the world under fire nation rule. I set azula's over her spine because that chakra is based on survival and blocked by fear. It also represents trust which will fit into her arc with the gaang. Finally, she doesnt have Iroh to guide her. One of the things that bothered me was Iroh writing her off as evil despite her being a mentally unstable child. She did have to be defeated, but the way he talked about it was too dismissive. (Personally I think he was projecting his views of his brother and his perceived failures with him onto her.) Azula isnt sent to capture the avatar so she isnt given soldiers. She's completely alone without an advisor to look to or keep her calm.

Azula is given a manned ship with a disgraced soldier and an attendant when she leaves. The way I see it the soldiers zuko had were probably more irohs than his. The soldier is relieved to not be executed but hates being demoted to playing babysitter to a child at sea. The attendant views it as a punishment and hates Azula for it. Eventually the attendant will betray her and be killed for it. Azula never trusted the soldier and he eventually leaves to start a family in an earth kingdom colony. Azula doesnt miss him, he was no longer useful. The loneliness does get to her though.

Azula is obsessed with getting the underhand, so she had been successfully building connections and planting spies where needed.

(Zuko has been acting as a respectable crowned prince. He holds a zealous loyalty to his nation and father. He still faulters as Iroh tries to steer him from tyranny, but his sights are set on his father's approval and that alone. Afterall, if his prodigy could be discarded who's to say what would happen to him if he failed?)

This brings us to the start of the series. Like Zuko Azula witnesses the trap on the old fire nation battle ship go off. She investigates and finds that an air bending avatar is living at the south pole village. She decides she wants to speak with him.

Azula didn't believe the avatar existed before this point. Hiding didnt add up to her knowledge of the morality of airbenders, so she assumed the air nation avatar from the start of the war would be dead. She would know if one had appeared in the water tribe, as the south had all its benders killed and the north was compacted so close together it would be impossible to hide. Earth would be harder, but they were most likely to fight back and out act. And if in ba sing se they'd be used as a weapon or gotten rid of to preserve the peace of the city. Once the culcle progressed to the fire nation it would either be used to take over the other nations or enf the cycle for good. After all, there hasn't been an air bender for a hundred years even if the rumors of some acolytes surviving were truthful.

Azula kidnaps aang with far more ease than she should of been able to. Once he stops struggling she calmly offers him tea and promises to release him once their discussion is finished. He takes the tea and drinks it without question and besides a wary glare shows no more hostility. She thought him a fool, the tea could have easily been poisoned and promised are nothing but words. His naivete makes her job easier though.

She finds out that he was suspended frozen in the avatar state the last 100 years. And so, Azula informs him of the war and the fire nations crimes, advising him to master the elements if he wants to prevent all his new friends and the avatar cycle from certain destruction. Aang is conflicted, he never asked for any of this. Azula just gives a bitter smile. "The hands of fate were never designed to take requests, they move without regard to any life dependent on it. Dont waste your breath when there is nothing you can do."

Azula wants to see Ozai fail. If helping the avatar is what it takes then so be it. When his friends appear to save him she let's them leave without a fight. Theyll be useful in the future.

As the gaang's travels kick off she sets out to find out if the rumours about the acolytes are true. In this she finds a traveling circus. The youngest daughter and an old friend of hers was eager to escape and found Azula's life exciting. She didn't hesitate after being invited along, insisting that traveling would be easy for her and that she'd pull her own weight.

She encounters the gaang a few times as time goes by. The relationship is reluctant on the water tribe siblings part, they dont trust her and hold a decent amount of fear towards her. Her cold and calculating demeanor was unsettling, but the unhinged way she fought was terrifying. Her form was perfect and her attacks were precise, but the bigger the fight the more lost she became as she laughed and shrieked and occasionally snapped at someone who didnt seem to be there. The only worse reaction was when she zeroed in on one opponent, picking them apart both mentally and physically as she drove them to the ground. )

Things that'll happen as I move through an episode list:

Azula doesn't have her ship attacked do she diesnt run into zhao while doing repairs, instead going straight to ty lee.

Azula learns that the gaang is on kyoshi island and heads ther after them. She has been keeping track of the avatar as they move. Ty lee gets along well with the kyoshi warriors while azula buts heads with them. They dont want her there and azula hates it when people get in the way. Zhao appears to try to capture aang and Azula dips at the same time as the gaang. She tells ty lee she can stay but she insists on sticking with azula. This puts her on edge.

Ty lee gets captured by earth benders, when she escapes on her own she cements her usefulness to Azula.

They run into zhao trying to capture the avatar and azula tells him she'll capture him first. They both attack aang during the solstice, though azula's attacks are all purposefully set to miss and trip up zhao as much as possible. Aang is the best way to prove her father wrong and she's not going to lose that.

They rob the pirates that try to capture the avatar. Azula needs the resources and it gives her leverage over the gaang.

After almost killing ty lee for scaring her by popping up behind her Azula tells her why she was banished. (In more of a "my own mother thought I was a monster" way than an opening up about trauma way.)

Azula learns that zhao has captured aang and frees him. She then sets to reworking her information network as not all of them are scared enough of her to not fail her. She remedies it quickly.

Azula learns that zhao is plotting her assassination and decides it's the perfect moment to fake her death.

Azula enters the north pole to defeat zhao and gain any information she can. Ty lee rades a library during the confrontation. Zhao is surprised and infuriated to see her alive, Azula smiles as she sends him to his death knowing that she is not only helping the avatar but also that he gave her a perfect way to hide from the fire nation. (When news of his sisters death reaches hum, Zuko doesnt know what to think. She was always cruel to him, but she was still his little sister.)

The crown prince of the fire nation is sent to capture the avatar. Azula follows him as he begins his search. (Zuko begins to think he's going insane as he keeps catching glimpses of his recently deceased sister out of the corner of his eye.)

Ty lee keeps running into a girl she slowly befriends. She's gloomy and sarcastic and ty lee thinks Azula would like her. (Zuko's fiance Mai tells him that she thinks his sister is still alive.)

As Azula notices ty lee become more and more distracted as she absorbed herself into the cultures that surround them she decides it's best for them to split up. Ty lee diesnt agree, but Azula leaves anyway. She has work to do.

While traveling alone Azula cant escape the thoughts of her mother. Of her fathers betrayal. Of the life she lost because the idiot elders had no grip on proper strategy that even a child could create. She meets a boy that reminds her far too much of zuko with a mother far to similar to theirs. When she sends the bandits controlling the town running she knows it's more than just controlling a territory that compelled her. But at the same time she doubts not following through on the whim would have bothered her.

Ty lee meets toph and chat for a bit. Ty lee tells her about azula and how she left. When toph tells her she should forget her she insists that azula didnt really ditch her and that they're still friends. They talk about their friends and childhood.

Ty lee finds Azula and immidiently jumps at her, which she does not enjoy. Ty lee insists that she still wants to travel with her and Axula sighs as she let's her tag along to the next location, ba sing se.

Azula slips through guards and protocols as she tries to gain any information she can to help her once they reach the city. Ty lee befriends a guy named jet and his group, the freedom fighters. When he tries to get more than friendship she turns him down and it becomes much more awkward.

Ty lee becomes a street performer and chames everyone she meets as Azula researches the dai lee and how they keep control. After lashing out in frustration ty lee drags her out to enjoy the city's night life.

Azula learns of the presence of the avatar and location of appa. She frees him and sets to work taking control of the dai lee. She let's herself be briefly captured but her plan shifts when katara is thrown in with her. Katara is pissed just being around her and azula plays up a cool kind of annoyance. Katara briefly catches sight of the burns on Azula's back and offers to heal her, only for Azula to freak out and yell at her to stay away, backing against a far wall in a fighting stance. They are saved by the rest if the gaang and ty lee shortly after.

Azula goes back to try and salvage her plan only to be caught off guard by the appearance of her brother and his offer to return to the fire nation. Not willing to lose all possible advantages, she agrees. They battle the gaang, and when they are almost captured azula sends a bolt of lightning at aang, causing them to retreat. Katara can heal him more easily than she can maneuver them out of an execution.

Azula returns to the fire nation with her brother, mai and ty lee, starting the beginning of a large power play between her and her father. They are sent to lo and li beach house. The relationship between the siblings is tense, zuko has always been the child born with nothing who gained everything when his blessed at birth sister lost it all. Azula has always been cruel, but he cant help but let his heart catch on the moments when she's not. ("My own mother thought I was a monster, My father thought i was too difficult to keep around" "Don't let their words blind you, you need to be more careful, zuzu." "I learned the hard way to never turn your back to anyone, and the scars will always be there as a reminder if I need it." )

Azula runs into iroh, who is very disapproving of her presence. He warns her to stay away from zuko and to watch herself while at the palace. Later, zuko comes to her asking about their great grandfather. Upon being pressed he admits that he was sent a mysterious letter. He thought she was going to burn it when he handed it to her but instead the heat from the fire revealed a hidden ink. "Honestly brother, did you ever pay attention at all during lessons?" They find a autobiographical scroll of their great grandfathers life and the secret that their other great grandfather was roku. Azula scoffed at the idea of bloodlines deciding fate and quickly left. But Zuko remained conflicted.

During the day of the black sun Azula confronts Ozai. As iroh and Zuko fight the avatar. She learns that her mother left for zuko's sake and that she was never going to be fire lord. Azula tells him she'll be somthing even better and leaves the palace.

Azula and ty lee follow the gaang to the western air temple. Katara immidprntly attacks but is quickly rendered unable to bend by ty lee. Azula tells them that the only way for them to of gotten out was for Aang to be incapacitated, and she knew katara could heal him. Aang decides they can stay but have to stay distanced from everyone else.

Azula tries to teach aang fire bending but is slowly growing sick while aang is barely able to produce a puff of smoke. Unable to sleep and constantly on edge, it soon affects her bending, sending her spiraling as she loses control on the only consistent power she's ever had. Her and aang journey to find the true source of fire bending to try to help their conditions.

Still sick, Azula is itching to do anything away from the temple. Finding sokka trying to reach the boiling rock to find his father, she decides to go with him as she knows the prison well. Sokka declines but she goes anyway. They dont find his father, but they do find suki. Azula formulates a plan but they postpone when sokka's father arrives.

Azula comes up with a new plan, now reluctant to include sokka. He tells her to trust him but she insists she has no reason to. Her sickness has been getting worse and he tells her she needs to trust him, making her angry. Only when he catches her while they're escaping dies she finally begin to accept trusting him, if only slightly.

(While they're away ty lee tries to convince

Azula goes with Katara to find the man who killed her mother. Azula has no concept of why katara is so upset, which causes her to get angry. But azula tracks the man anyway.

Ember island players- azulas character has the scar across her chest. She's absolutely insane and "not entirely inaccurate, but I'd never come up with such a dumb plan." Shes also heavily implied to be more than close to ty lee, which azula has no reaction to even as the others freak out.

I havent decided the ending, zuko will probably turn to the gaang's side. I'll add more later and maybe write or illustrate a bit.

[flameo-firelord-hotman]

Part 4

Pairing: Zuko x Fem!Reader

Genre: angst

Warnings: depression

Words: 2.2k

Summary: to everyone she knew, [y/n] was a peasant, destined to be a servant just like her parents. To Zuko, however, she was his best friend. After losing his agni kai and being exiled, [y/n] was devastated. She thought she would never see him again. Three years later, she almost wished he never came back.

A/N: here it is! I finally got it out after a busy few weeks :)

Part 3 <- Part 4 -> Part 5

Series | Masterlist

[Y/n] clutched at her chest. Her breathing suddenly became short and shallow. Her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest.

“W-what?” [Y/n] croaked. Her face contorted in confusion and shock.

“I know. It’s just horrible, isn’t it?” Azula lamented.

[Y/n] was speechless, but her mind rambled rampantly. What happened to him? How did he go missing? Was he taken? By who? Where would he be? She had so many questions, but it wasn’t her place ask any of them.

“But it’s strange,” Azula continued, putting a long, sharp fingernail to her chin, “the day Zuko disappeared, he wrote Mai a break up letter. It’s almost like he left on his own accord, like it was planned...”

But...why would he leave? [Y/n] was puzzled, and Azula, as perceptive as she always was, knew exactly what she was thinking.

“We called you here because we hoped you knew something that we didn’t. You are his best friend, of course. But, according to what you said, he didn’t give you any notice that he was leaving. What a pathetic way to treat his best friend,” she remarked.

“I’m so sorry, Princess Azula and Firelord Ozai. I really wish I could help.”

Azula turned her back to [y/n]. “Father, is there anything you’d like to say?”

Firelord Ozai silently shook his head. He never spoke a word, yet [y/n] felt terrified by the man, and the silent gesture sent shivers down her spine. Azula turned back around to face [y/n]. “You’re dismissed.”

On her way home, [y/n] did her best to hold herself together and remain calm. Some tears managed to escape. But once she got home, she collapsed. Streams of tears coated her face and neck. She choked on her sobs. She felt so many emotions, but, most of all, she was in utter disbelief.

Zuko was gone. Again.

This time he left on his own. But why? Was he really that unhappy? He had so many wonderful things: royalty, honor, prestige, riches and wealth, his lavish home--a royal palace--and a beautiful girlfriend among so many other things. Was it not enough?

Regardless of the reason, [y/n] felt just as devastated as she did three years ago. Only this time she blamed herself for being so upset. Not only did she push him away over something completely stupid, she also took their friendship for granted.

Zuko was [y/n]'s only real friend, and, despite being royalty, he was always so kind to her. She wanted to kick herself for not spending time with him that one day. She should've accepted the offer. She should've gotten over her dumb feelings.

Now, once again, [y/n] didn't know if she would ever see him again.

Days passed. Then, days turned to weeks. And weeks to months.

Like three years ago, it was hard to get out of bed, it was hard to eat anything, it was hard to focus on simple tasks. Some days, she felt sadness. Other days, it was anger. On rare occasions, she felt content, until grief would knock her down like a tidal wave.

[Y/n] kept the letter Zuko wrote to her under her pillow. It was the only thing she had left of him...a relic of a recent past, a brief reunion, that felt so long ago. At night, she would gingerly trace the paint brushed characters with her finger. And when she cried, she made sure her tears never touched the ink so that she could trace them again the next day.

Like three years ago, [y/n] faced reality and came to terms with what happened. Maybe her and Zuko were never meant to be. Or maybe the universe gave her what she wanted all those months ago: distance from the prince to kill her love for him.

Another evacuation of the city was ordered. This time, [y/n] had no idea why. She didn’t speak to her parents as often as she used too, and, with what happened recently, her mother was extra cautious about gossiping around her. [Y/n] didn’t expect anything crazy to happen anyway. They would leave, they would come back, and that would be it.

But when [y/n] and her parents marched through the streets back to their apartment, they saw something incredibly unusual. Messenger hawks were cawing and soaring all across the skies, and people in different colored clothing were bustling about all over the city. It was like they stumbled into a whole different world.

Groups of people wearing shades of green were earthbending to repair burned buildings. A few people in shades of blue were gently waterbending on people who appeared to be injured.

[Y/n] was amazed. She had only heard about other forms of bending; this was her first time seeing them with her own eyes. She had also never seen such beautiful garbs either. All of her life had been spent living in the Fire Nation, which was like living in a bubble. She genuinely had no idea what the rest of the world was like aside from what her parents had told her, which was not a lot.

[Y/n] was also confused. What’s going on? Why are they here? What happened? She wasn’t the only one who was puzzled. Her parents and all the other Fire Nation citizens looked just as confused as her. Particularly, the nobles seemed frustrated. Perhaps it was best not to question it.

As [y/n] and her parents quietly made their way to the apartment, they overheard lots of chatter...

“...Ozai imprisoned...” “...Sozin’s comet...” “...burn down Ba Sing Se...” “...Avatar Aang...” “...Azula should be next...” “...the last airbender...” “...just a group of kids...” “...this is treachery...”

And when they reached their home, they were met with a messenger hawk perched on their window. Her father removed the letter from the hawk’s leg. After a quick glance, he smiled widely and handed the letter to [y/n].

“It’s for you,” he told her cheerfully. [Y/n] raised an eyebrow and took it. She unrolled the parchment and, immediately, her eyes widened. She recognized the handwriting.

Dear [y/n], I hope you’re well. I’m so sorry for disappearing without saying anything. I can explain, in fact, I have so much I want to tell you! Before I do, I want to invite you to my coronation ceremony. Yes, you read that right! I’m going to be the next Firelord! If anyone should be at the ceremony, it should be you. I hope to see you there! Your friend, Zuko

[Y/n] stared at the letter, jaw slacked.

“[Y/n], sweetie, are you okay?” [Y/n]’s mother delicately placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I can’t believe it...” she shook her head at the letter. “Zuko is back, and he’s going to be Firelord!”

A long, scarlet red tunic draped over [y/n]’s body. The ends of the fabric trailed behind her through the air. Her shoes clacked on the marble flooring, sending echoes down the hallways of the palace. Her [h/c] hair was coiled into a bun and held together with a single, long, gold colored pin.

For the first time in a long time, [y/n] held her head high and stood straight when she walked. She did a complete 180. Her best friend had returned and she was more than excited to see him again. Today was Zuko's coronation ceremony, as well as a second chance to tell him how she really felt.

Sure, Mai and Zuko had a brief relationship when he first returned, and maybe that break up letter was just a way out. But what if it wasn't? And besides, [y/n] was tired of being sad and pathetic. She wanted to tell him. No, she needed to tell him, she had to get it off her chest, and she was not going to waste this opportunity.

The reception was held in the palace ballroom. It was a grand room, perfect for the size of the large crowd that appeared at the ceremony. Paper lanterns and drapes of all colors hung from the walls and ceiling, giving it a festive atmosphere. A small band played soft, up-beat music in the background. Some people danced, some mingled and others ate food that [y/n] could smell from the moment she walked in.

[Y/n] searched the sea of green and blue for red. It wouldn't be hard considering how few of her own people attended the coronation (so few, they stuck out like sore thumbs). Then, she spotted him, the new, young Firelord, speaking to a group of people that appeared to close in their age.

“[Y/n]!" Zuko called, waving his hand. "I’m so glad you could make it!”

“Of course, I made it. I would never miss your coronation,” [y/n] said, hugging Zuko before continuing more quietly, “especially after you disappeared again.”

“I know. I’m sorry, [y/n], I had to do it. But I should’ve told you. You of all people deserved to know,” he quietly responded in her ear.

Zuko tightened his embrace before pulling away and looking at [y/n] apologetically. She gave him a nod and small smile. [Y/n] didn't have the full context of what happened, but she knew her friend was sincere in his apology (though, that didn't diminish the pain she had felt).

“There are some people I want you to meet. These are my friends.”

Zuko gestured to the group of teens and kids he was just talking to. A Water Tribe boy and girl who were siblings, two Earth Kingdom girls—one with lots of makeup on and one who was blind—and, of course, the Avatar himself.

“It’s so nice to meet you all, especially you, Avatar Aang. It’s an absolute honor,” [y/n] said, bowing respectfully. Aang beamed and bowed in return.

“Soooo, Zuko, is this the girl you were talking about?” The Water Tribe boy, Sokka barely whispered, nudging Zuko with his elbow.

Zuko chuckled, “yeah, this is [y/n]. We've known each other for years. Now, if you'll excuse us,” Zuko spoke to his friends before turning to [y/n], “I believe we have some catching up to do.”

“Oh, yes we do!” [Y/n] said with glee.

Together they departed the group and walked out onto the balcony.

Outside, the sun was setting, radiating gold and orange hues, which merged into the deep blue sky up above. Only a few of the brightest stars in the sky sparkled. Down below, Caldera City glittered with lanterns, outlining the streets and houses of their people.

[Y/n] admired the view. It certainly wasn't often that she got to see the city like this. Then, Zuko began talking.

Three years was a long time, and this conversation proved it. It was long overdue. Neither of them realized how much time had passed, but, to them, it felt like they talked for hours outside.

Zuko explained everything as promised: the hundred year war, what banishment was like, what the outside world was like, how he really felt when he came home, when he realized that his father was an abusive, cruel leader and that his destiny was to help the Avatar, how he escaped, and all of the incredible adventures he had with his new friends, including the historic defeat of Azula and Ozai during Sozin’s comet.

[Y/n] was flabbergasted. “Wow...that’s...just...I-I don’t know what to say.”

“I know. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” Zuko asked, leaning his forearms on the balcony railing.

“Yeah. I had no idea we were such a horrible country. We've been lied to and sheltered this whole time. It all makes sense now.” Zuko hummed in agreement.

“You’re so brave for leaving and going against your family. It must’ve been hard and really dangerous.”

“You have no idea.” Zuko looked into the distance and slowly shook his head. “But it all worked out, and I’m back—for good this time!”

"Well, you have no idea how glad I am about that!"

Zuko smiled and placed his hand on [y/n]'s shoulder, giving it a gentle rub.

"So, there's something I want to talk to you about," Zuko continued in a more serious tone. [Y/n]'s head perked up.

"Okay. I actually have something I want to tell you too, but you go first," [y/n] said. Her heart already began to race in anticipation.

"Well, I was thinking. You've been my best friend for a really long time…"

Suddenly, [y/n]'s palms sweated and her heart picked up the pace. She gulped.

"So, I was wondering if you'd like to—"

“Zuko! There you are.”

[Y/n] turned toward the doorway. She felt Zuko immediately retract his hand from her shoulder at the sight of a woman. A tall woman wearing a beautiful, wine colored, silk robe, whose dark hair was bunched up into two buns.

Mai.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Mai walked up to Zuko’s side and wrapped her arms around his bicep.

“Sorry, Mai. I was just catching up with [y/n],” Zuko replied.

“I see.” Mai turned to [y/n]. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Yeah, um, it’s good to see you too.” [Y/n] couldn’t tell if Mai was being genuine or not. Likely, she wasn’t.

“Well, I hope you don’t mine me stealing Zuko from you. He promised to dance with me tonight,” Mai said, cupping his cheek. The two smiled at each other.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten," Zuko said. "[Y/n], we’ll talk later, okay?”

“Yeah...”

And she watched the two walk away, arms linked.

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Zuko x female reader series: Part Three

Now aware of your feelings for Zuko the tension between you grows until Zuko is whisked away from you following a trick of Azula’s. However your time in the fire nation without Zuko is made eventful by a command from Ozai concerning you and Zuko. The tension peaks when Zuko returns to you and changes your friendship permanently.

Part One here

Part Two here

Part Four here

Part Five here

Part Six here

Tagged: @creation-magician​ @kaylove12​ @taeeemin​ 

Your POV

"Well what about the war general’s son?" You mother asked holding up a photo of a boy barely a man. You made a face and she sighed "y/n you can’t dismiss every suitor without even giving them a try” and you sighed. "I can try". "What was that?" your mother asked raising an eyebrow. "Nothing" you called back but she'd heard. When your father died you’d become the head of the family, the future hope for your fathers legacy. With no male heirs or uncles the burden had fallen to you to lead your mother and little sister. You’d have been more than happy to pick up your father duties in the royal navy, or even just working for the royal fleet but you were high born and a girl, that was not your place according to the fire nation. The best way to serve your family was for you to marry as soon as possible. When you married your husband would get your father’s titles and could pick up responsabilities at the navy again. The thought made you furious, you’d be undoubtedly more experienced than your husband for the role but your place would be in the home. There was nothing you could do to change the laws but that didn’t mean you had to abide by them. Your plan was to delay marriage indefinitely and so had rejected every single suitor suggested. Your mother was getting angry at you but you didn’t care. Ozai had offered you many things to pay for the loss of your father, the great General Zhao, but you only asked for one thing. The option to choose when and who you’d marry. Ozai begrudgingly complied and his word was law, your mother couldn’t force anything on you. You smirked as she packed her photos of potential suitors away, her weekly visit a failure like always, when she paused "what about Zuko?". You froze "what about him?". "Well would you accept him as a suitor?". 

So many things made you uncomfortable about what your mom had said. For one thing you still hadn’t sorted out your feeling about Zuko. You knew things had changed after that night in your room and could tell Zuko felt it too but didn’t know how to proceed with the situation. You’d always just seen him as a friend and prided yourself on being able to be close with Zuko and not feel any romantic feelings but now it was all different and that made you angry at yourself. How many times had you boasted about your relationship to everyone? Sworn you were just friends and took pride in yourself for being an example of strong male/female friendship. And now you were a cliche who liked her best friend. What bothered you even more than your confused feelings though was your mother’s attitude towards Zuko. All through Zuko’ s banishment your mom hadn’t said Zuko’s name once. As soon as he was banished everyone had turned against him. Even Mai and Ty lee didn’t dare say his name, everyone acted as if he had just never existed, everyone expect you. You’d mentioned him whenever you felt the need, a past memory, a reminder Azula wasn’t the only heir, a comment about this beings Zuko’s favourite food, anything and everyone ignored you for it. Your mom would always go quiet ignoring you if it was in public but in private she’d scold you and send you away to the navy where you were less watched, where you were less of a problem. She’d turned against him and written him off and now he’d returned she was acknowledging him again. Even suggesting him as a fit for you. The audacity made you feel sick, Zuko was not a possession they could use. "No" you said firmly and your mother paused "you wouldn’t accept Zuko? Y/n he’s the prince! and you have to admit you two have always gotten along". "Ow now you remember who he is?" you asked sarcastically "weird, you didn’t recall who he was for years and now...poof, you remember" you smiled sweetly "strange how that works huh?". "Y/n..." your mom rolled her eyes but you headed for the door. "Great session mom same time next week?" and pushed the door open making it hit the wall. "You’ll have to pick someone eventually" she yelled after you and you rolled your eyes.

You went to the training rooms to try and get some of your anger at your mother out and after firebending for an hour felt better. You wiped your face with a towel before realising you’d missed a single target. You kicked your foot out and a jet of fire flew from your foot and destroyed the target. You felt better and were getting ready to go back to the world when you heard clapping. You turned to see it was Zuko and smiled instinctively. You always smiled when you saw Zuko but now, now you also got this excited feeling in your stomach, almost a nervous feeling to be around him. "I don’t know what that target did to you but you sure showed it who’s boss" Zuko smirked coming to stand behind you. "I did didn’t I?' you smiled turning around to examine your shot and Zuko nodded placing his hands on your shoulders. You pretended not to notice and realised this was happening a lot lately. To be fair the physical contact had always happened, it was normal for friends to rest against one another or link arms, but now you noticed it more and it definitely felt more deliberate. So the pattern went Zuko would initiate contact with you in some way and you’d both pretend not to notice, apart from the light blushes or lingering looks. “You okay?” Zuko asked “i heard your mom’s weekly visit was today”. You groaned and Zuko laughed “forget i asked”. You sighed “can we do something, anything apart from talk about her please?” you begged turning to face Zuko and he smiled. "fancy some food? My treat?". “Can we order in to your room?” you asked “I don’t want a run in with my mom”. Your mom had left straight after her meeting, there was no way you’d run into her, the truth was you liked being alone with Zuko. He was always less guarded in private, less aware of prying eyes but now...he wasn’t just happier in private he was...different. The only way you could think to phrase it was he was bolder now, he’d flirt with you openly in the privacy of your shared presence and you knew it was wrong considering he was taken but you enjoyed it and thought he did too. Zuko’s eyes flashed and you knew he knew your mom had left too, he knew this was an excuse to be alone but like you’d been doing he pretended not to notice. “Of course” Zuko smirked and you both managed not to blush.

Your meal devoured you flopped onto Zuko’s bed full and unable to move. “Why does it always taste better then you have someone bring it to you?” you asked and Zuko smirked looking down at you “I have no idea”. You relaxed next to one another in content silence before Zuko sighed “y/n we need to talk”. You frowned hearing the seriousness in his voice and panicked. Did he know you liked him? Did he think what you’d been doing was wrong too? Was he going to stop seeing you? He stood up pacing and you looked up at him. “What is it?” you asked and Zuko looked at you nervously. "I might be gone for a few days". "Gone?" You asked "where?". "Ember islands". "The one we went to as kids?" you asked smiling slightly at the memory "why are you going there?". "That same one” Zuko nodded smiling too before looking away “well father wants me and Azula out of the way so he can talk to his councilmen but y/n it’s not just us, Mai and Ty lee are going too". You tried not to react to the fact he was almost warning you he’d be spending time with Mai. She was his girlfriend so this didn’t bother you, you knew you had no right to feel angry, and so you smiled. "and you’re worried i’ll feel left out because your sister didn’t invite me?". Zuko frowned and you laughed coming to stand infront of him "Zuko i don’t care! If Azula wants to leave me out that is fine by me". "Are you sure you’re not upset?” Zuko asked “because if you are I can refuse to go" and you laughed. "If Azula’s way of getting back at me is not inviting me to a party i am cool with that" you smirked “I’ll be fine without you I promise”. Zuko nodded but sighed "damn i was hoping you’d forbid me from going". You chuckled "i mean everyone would believe that, i have you whipped". Zuko raised an eyebrow but didn’t deny it "yeah I suppose you do" he agreed and the tone of his voice made you blush. "Don’t you forget it" you smirked patting his chest and you saw him glance from your eyes to your lips, his eyes darker suddenly and his pupils bigger. He was so close to you he could easily lean frowards and kiss you. You didn’t think you’d pull away if he did, you knew you wouldn’t. “Y/n, I...” he trailed off as wanting to tell you something but he didn’t carry on. Tension was thick in the room and the silence didn’t help. Zuko?" You asked as he blinked shaking himself out of his daze “what were you going to say?”. Zuko looked at you before looking away rapidly “nothing, it doesn’t matter, I should probably start packing”. You nodded and turned in the direction of the door recognising that as a dismissal, but looked over your shoulder as you went to see Zuko was frowning to himself, almost as if he was having an internal struggle with something. You reached the door and Zuko paused "I don’t know how long we’ll be there but I’ll be going first thing in the morning". You nodded "well safe travels and have fun, you will be missed ow fire prince" and bowed mockingly. Zuko smirked but you also saw a blush on his cheeks "good to know" he nodded "i’ll miss you too". You couldn’t help smile as Zuko said that and saw the blush on his cheeks grow. “I’ll see you when you return” you smiled and walked out of the room, feeling his eyes burning into your back as you walked away.

Four days later

Zuko had been gone for four days now and you were embarassed at how much you missed him. You forgot how boring the palace was without him and blamed your loneliness on your new crush on the prince. If only you’d not fallen for him you’d be fine without him, enjoying some alone time but no...you were wondering when he was coming back, what he was doing, if he was doing it with Mai... You wondered about him and Mai a lot and it made you angry. You’d known the flirting with Zuko was wrong but you’d argued you’d always had a flirty relationship so that was nothing new but the being jealous of Mai was new, the protectiveness of Zuko was new, the resentment at them spending time together was new and you hated it but couldn’t seem to make it stop. You knew Azula had purposefully invited Mai and not you to get you out of the way, to give Mai and Zuko alone time. But you had no right to be angry over that!  Zuko and Mai had more romantic history than you, a point you’d always made very clear, so you had no right to be jealous. They were dating for christ sake! You had absolutely no right to be territorial over Zuko. But that didn’t stop you from being.

You groaned driving the thoughts from your head when there was a knock on your door "lady y/n Firelord Ozai wishes to speak with you". "Firelord Ozai?" You asked shocked and the maid nodded "yes". "Now?" She nodded and you rushed to get ready. In all your life, even during the talks after your father’s death you’d barely been in the man’s presence let alone spoken with him privately and with no obvious reason. Confused, nervous and a little scared you followed the servant to Ozai’s council room and were let inside. "Firelord Ozai, lady y/n" a footman announced and Ozai nodded "good leave us". The man bowed and left the room. "Y/n take a seat" Ozai said gesturing to a long empty table and you took one near him but not too near, you’d never liked the Firelord. Ozai carried on writing and you frowned confused, why would Ozai send Azula and Zuko away to be left alone but request to speak to you. Finally he set his brush down and fixed his cold eyes on you. "I have summoned you here to tell you about a development concerning my son". Your heart skipped, had something happened to Zuko? Was he okay?. “Zuko...is he alright?” you asked worried and Ozai glanced at you a small smirk appearing at your tone “he is fine”. You let out a large breath of relief and noticed Ozai watching you. "y/n do you remember when your father died i promised you would be compensated for his sacrafice?". You nodded "yes Firleord Ozai". "Well today is that day" he told you "i plan on making the announcment when Zuko returns but thought I would tell you while he’s away". "Announcement?" You asked. "Yes of the engagament of you and my son" Ozai told you proudly and you gaped. "Your family has been an ally to the crown for decades, your father sacraficed himself for it and you yourself commited many years to our naval reserves. You’re a talented fire bender and i owe your father this, it is something we discussed when you were children but i will see it happen now i finally can". You were still silent staring and Ozai finally looked at you "need i even ask the insignificant formality of your acceptance?". You frowned "pardon?". "You and my son are close i assume this will be good news for you both, well especially any girl in your position but considering circumstances I trust Zuko will not object ". You blushed, Ozai was more perceptive than any of you thought "but your son is involved with another girl instead...Mai". "Ah yes Ukano’s daughter, well she is high ranking but not enough plus she’s not even a bender, that is not good enough for the throne so Zuko and her would never work, my son knows that and you need not worry the girl can be sent away as soon as the announcement is made". "No i don’t want Mai banished just...this will be hard to explain to her and Zuko, they may not be happy. Plus you promised me I would have a say in who I married when my father died". Ozai narrowed his eyes "i do not care for the girls happiness and as for Zuko’s..I think I have been very kind in choosing you for him. As for our agreement” he spat “even dead your father’s wishes outrank yours and I know he would want this” Ozai glared leaning forwards towards you. “The point remains though that marriages are alliances y/n and i expect you and Zuko to act the part of loyal firenation nobels and accept this with no resistance, refusal is not an option you will do this, do you understand?". Ozai’s word sent your blood boiling. Of course your dead father’s wishes were respected more than your own, did you really expect the Firelord, the man who burnt his son and used his daughter as a weapon, to keep his promise to you. You’d been naive but you wouldn’t be again, first things first you had to get out of this room. You swallowed and stared at him "you will make the announcement soon?". Ozai nodded "when my son returns from the Ember Islands, i will give you time to tell him first". That calmed you somewhat, you could tell Zuko and work out a plan before it went public. It would he okay. "Thank you Firelord" you said bowing and Ozai nodded dismissing you. You rushed from the room and paused thinking over everything, the intensity of what you’d just been commanded to do. The anger you felt was still raw and you cursed the Firelord. Ozai seriously wanted you and Zuko to marry? That was insane! True you liked Zuko and honestly thought he liked you but marriage...letting the scenario play out in your head you realised it’d be a good way to get what you want. The only person you could stomach having control of your navy would be Zuko, plus there was no suitor you wanted, Zuko was the only person you’d ever felt strongly about, marriage to him wouldn’t be awful, much worse matches had been made than this...but you quickly scolded yourself out of these thoughts. It would be insane for you and Zuko to agree to this, to be forced into this willingly or not. No, you’d have to work fast and tell Zuko as soon as he got back, you’d find a way to defy the Firelord over this, alone that would be difficult but with Zuko’s help...anything was possible.

1 day later

You got word Zuko and Azula were on their way back to the capital and would arrive late, likely the middle of the night. It was annoying you couldn’t see Zuko until the morning but part of you was also relieved, you still didn’t know how to tell him what Ozai had planned for you both. You’d gone over ways to tell him but the thought terrified you. There was nothing you could do about it now so prepared to go to sleep when there was a knock at your door. Annoyed you grabbed a robe incase it was someone too important to see you so under dressed and opened the door. Zuko stood there in his travelling clothes, clothes and hair disheveled but he smiled brightly at you. "Zuko" you said suprised "i didn’t expect to see you tonight i heard you'd be back late and figured you’d want to rest after the journey". Zuko shrugged "we did but i don’t want to sleep, i’m not tired so figured i’d come and find you. But if this is a bad time I can come back in the morning...". "No it’s okay" you smiled letting him into the room. Zuko hadn’t even gone back to his room to change, he'd come straight here. Something must be bothering him. "How was it?" You asked trying to subtly dig for what was worrying him. Zuko shrugged "boring, how was it here? Anything interesting happen?". Ow your father announced our engagement and i have no idea how to get out of it you wanted to say but instead you asked "have you seen your father yet?".  Zuko shook his head "no why?" and you went quiet. How did you tell him? How did you make it not awkward when it was such an odd topic? When you didn’t reply Zuko frowned "y/n?". "Nothing" you said faking a smile "now i’m not letting you off that easy tell me all the details, how many boys did Ty lee ensare, how many children did Azula make cry? Every detail". Zuko seemed to know you were putting something off but smirked and complied. His story wasn’t a happy one, the holiday sounded awful, when Zuko talked about his mother and the memories there you rested a hand on his arm, wishing you could hug him but knowing he wouldn’t want to feel pitied. Zuko ended his story and sighed "so i wish i’d have stayed here with you" he concluded and you smiled. Zuko rested his hand on your leg as he said it and you paused confused but Zuko didn’t even seem to notice. You shrugged figuring it was my accident but as time passed still his hand didn’t move away. "What’s wrong?" you asked aware Zuko was still tense, he hadn’t told you everything. "Nothing" he sighed and you raised an eyebrow "i’m not dumb Zuko tell me what’s wrong". Zuko sighed deeply and you paused taking a guess, there was only one topic Zuko wouldn’t want to discuss with you.  "Mai?" you asked and he nodded meeting your eye. "All we did the whole trip was argue! I got her a shell...she didn’t like it! I got her ice cream and she got annoyed i dropped it on her, i told her to open up more and she told me to leave her alone and dumped me...". You frowned managing not to feel excited as he said that "so are you two...". "No we made up i guess" Zuko sighed "but it didn’t solve anything between us! We just did it to sort it out, i didn't do it because i wanted to! I did it because everyone expects me to be all loved up with Mai but i’m not". You frowned unsure what to say, if to comfort Zuko or encourage him to give it another chance with Mai, but Zuko carried on. "Is it supposed to be so difficult?" Zuko asked you "i try and try with Mai but i don’t know what to do...what she wants me to do or even what she likes apart from me, do you think that’s right?" Zuko asked you before frowning "wait is it weird for me to ask you this?". "Why would it be weird?" you asked pretending you didn’t know and Zuko blushed "well because were close and i know you and Mai haven’t always gotten along". You rolled your eyes "i like Mai Zuko, it’s you who needs work out how you feel about her". "So you don’t think it should be difficult?" Zuko asked picking up on your tone. "I knew it!" he cried "it shouldn’t be so damn hard, it not like that with you, you’re easy". "Excuse me?" you asked and Zuko smirked "i just mean, i know you" he smiled at you "i know everything you like, love and hate, i know a thousand things we can talk about and i feel so comfortable with you" he smiled at you lazily his hand still on your leg "with you it’s just...effortless" Zuko told you and you swore internally. He was making it very hard for you not to notice how you felt when he said things like that, to remain impartial in this conversation. You couldn’t even disagree which made it worse, everything Zuko said you felt too. Every single boy you’d met in the fire nation was never like Zuko, you never had this chemistry or ease with them like you had with Zuko, none of them compared to him. None of them could make you laugh like he could, smile like he could, as comfortable as he could and it really was effortless. You knew now that wasn’t just a friendship, you wanted Zuko and it just seemed right, you just fit.  As if reading your mind Zuko looked at you "if only you liked me then we'd both be sorted" with a signature royal smirk that made your heart skip. Fuck it you said in your mind and kissed him, leaning across the sofa and crashing into him in the blink of an eye. Zuko kissed you back before realising what he was doing and he pulled away "y/n what...i didn’t say that to make you kiss me". "I know but i do like you Zuko, i think I have for a while I just didn’t realise it, but when you say stupid shit like that i can’t" you sighed "i can’t hide it from myself anymore Zuko" and he nodded "then don’t" and kissed you again. You felt like you were exploding but in a good way. You’d worried kissing Zuko would feel weird considering how well you knew him but it was amazing. In fact it seemed to make it better, even more personal and meaningful and it felt so right. You could sense Zuko felt that too by how passionate the kiss was becoming. You didn’t want to break away for water, for air, for anything. Zuko drew you closer onto his lap and you complied anything to get more contact. Anything to not have to stop this. Your brain was a mess, there was a small part of you brain trying to not get so carried away with this but it lost power as Zuko’s hands started traveling up your torso. You knew you should stop this but when Zuko whispered your name while kissing your neck you felt your stomach tense and didn’t care what you should or shouldn’t do anymore. You pushed Zuko back hard making him fall onto his back on the sofa. He looked up at you confused before you leant over him and resumed kissing him just laterally now. Zuko seemed even more eager than you and as soon as you gave up some dominance Zuko grinned and flipped you suddenly so you were below him. "Y/n..." he murmered hovering above you “do you want this...I do but are you sure you want me like this?”. You leant upwards to kiss him slowly in reply, lingering and savouring every bit of it and Zuko blinked in a daze as you pulled away. “What do you think?” you asked gazing up at him. Zuko’s face grew into a smirk and he leant back into you...

----

So that’s as close to smut as i’ll get but yeah you can imagine what happened next..... 😉

Where I live 16 is the age of consent so no shady deals here. Thanks again!!

[book-of-charlie]

Zukka Goes to a Ball

Hi, this was supposed to be a fluffy oneshot, but then i wrote out the bullet points, and if I write it later I will add a link to it here but for now it’s gonna be a bullet point fic lads, enjoy

(also I wrote this at like 2 am so I’m sorry for the inevitable spelling mistakes and slight rambling)

~~

AU where Iroh took the throne after Lu Ten died, Ozai was cast out for disrespecting Azulon, Zuko and Azula and Ursa had the option to stay and so they did and Zuko and Azula (especially) are better for it, and so Iroh did all the good shit, opening up trade routes and rebuilding the nations and removing the laws that outlawed homosexuality

Aang is still found when Katara and Sokka are out fishing, but the village is being rebuilt, the men are home, and with the Northern Water Tribe’s help, the two tribes have pooled their resources and customs together to preserve the customs they have/had, but also listened to people like Yue, Sokka, and Katara to see what should be done/changed to help make the future better

The customs mean that Sokka and Katara now have the labels of Prince and Princess of the Southern Water Tribe, just like Yue 

But the customs of arranged marriage and waterbending teachings are looser, so Katara is taught by Pakku, who marries their grandmother and they grow up with him as a grandfather

Kya is still dead, the last raid happened right before Iroh took the throne

Aang and Katara spent some time together, fell in love, have been together ever since

Yue and Sokka were engaged (and in love), until the moon thing happened; it happened bc Zhao was a follower of Ozai, and Ozai has gained a group of supporters who prefer Sozin’s, Azulon’s, and Ozai’s ways to that of Iroh’s - and Zhao snuck into the Northern Water Tribe and killed the fish, and Yue gave her life to save it

Sokka is devastated, and the Water Tribes are ready for war, but still hope for peace after so much devastation

Iroh, Hakoda, and Arnook meet to try and solve these things without war, and Iroh explains what happened in the past with Azulon and Ozai, and why the Northern Water Tribe was attacked

The three leaders decide that an all nations ball should be held, and that a union between the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes would be the best way to smooth things over, and to show solidarity

So its decided that either Katara or Sokka must marry Zuko or Azula

Katara is in love with Aang, and so Sokka knows he must be the one to marry into the Fire Nation Royal Family

He talks about this to katara, who thanks him like hell for not separating her and Aang (not that she expected him to, but it’s a relief)

Aang finds out and thanks him too, and tells him that as the Avatar and as the only representative for the Air Nation, hes been invited and that bc sokka is his family too he will smite Azula or Zuko if they hurt him

He knows Aang wouldn't hurt a fly (seriously, how is he a vegetarian in the freaking South Pole), but he appreciates that Aang and Katara will be there to watch his back

he’s not too upset about being the one to marry bc he knows his sister will be happy, but honestly hates that this is happening at all bc Yue is dead

katara and aang distract him from these thoughts by asking him wether he think’s he’ll be drawn to the prince or the princess (bc sokka is bi and both have known that for ages)

he’s not sure, say’s he’ll see

In the fire nation, Iroh talks to Ursa, and they both talk to Zuko and Azula

They dont know about Aang and Katara, so Zuko and Azula talk about both Katara and Sokka

Azula is still a bit manipulative, but is working on it, and Zuko trusts her enough to tell her that he hopes that he doesn’t have to marry the Southern Princess

Azula asks why, and Zuko admits he likes boys

Azula is silent for a bit, and then says that she hopes she wont have to marry either one of them because she, Ty Lee, and Mai are dating

Zuko swears that she won’t have to stop dating them, that he will be the one to marry

azula and ty lee and mai are v grateful and vow to back him up and kick water tribe ass if whichever one he marries hurts him

in other news, Suki is at the ball as Earth King Kuei’s plus one/bodyguard, and she and azula hit it off so Suki ends up eventually dating Mai and ty Lee and azula as well

back to our regularly scheduled program

Before the ball, Sokka is getting ready with Chief Arnook (Hakoda is getting ready with Bato bc they dating bc I said so)

Sokka says “i loved her, you know. And I will do this for our tribes, and even if I do learn to love whichever of them I’m to marry, I’m not sure I can ever stop loving her, and I want you to know that I did.”

And hes awkward about it, but Arnook hugs him, and says “She loved you so much, Sokka. And she would want you to be happy, as I’m sure you know.” Then he pulls back.

“I know we are technically two separate tribes, but I want you to know, I still consider you a son.” Sokka cries a little, and nods, happy that he has the blessing of the man who was supposed to be his father in law. Sokkas just happy that he can still have that, and smiles at Yue as she rises to look over the ball

Shes smiling cause she knows whats about to happen, and does indeed wish sokka to be happy as he can and will be

Hakoda and Bato come to wish Sokka good luck, bc Sokka and Katara and Aang already talked to them about how Katara and Aang intend to stay together, 

Hakoda mentions how proud he is and sokka has to wipe a few tears from his eyes

Iroh and Ursa know the same thing about Zuko and Azula and Mai and Ty Lee, and both wish Zuko luck as well

Iroh makes sure to say how proud he is, and that Zuko is an honorable man

zuko def isnt crying, nope, but he wipes his tears away and carries on 

So Azula and Katara are both planning on pushing Zuko and Sokka towards each other, but honestly there doesnt need to be any pushing

The ball attendees, excluding the royals of each Nation (and the Avatar), get to the ballroom, and the doors open for the royals (who are all announced by name), and of course everyone knows what the ball is for (security is quadrupled, from all the nations)

First comes Fire Lord Iroh, followed by Lady Ursa

Next comes in King Kuei

Next is Chief Arnook

Then Hakoda and Bato

Then Zuko and Azula

Then Aang

And lastly, Sokka and Katara

Zuko and Azula are standing by Iroh’s throne, and as the water tribe royals walk in, Sokka and Zuko make eye contact

And both are so smitten with each other

And at some point, it is asked that at least one of the young fire nation and water tribe royals dance together

And Zuko and Sokka look at each other and grasp each others hands and dance

its a slow waltz

And they just look so right together, the two princes

And they go out on the balcony and talk

Zuko says he wants to get to know sokka better, and sokka agrees

But is hesitant still, and asks zuko if he knows why the ball was happening

Zuko kinda shrugs, and says “there was an attack on the NWT, by firebenders loyal to my father, whos a huge asshole and im glad hes not on the throne. Uncle wanted to prove that hes not his brother, which leads to me having to marry, well, you.” 

Sokka nods. “So they didn't tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Zuko asked, confused

“The attack on the NWT. The mission was to kill the moon spirit.” Zuko gasped, quickly checking that the full moon was in the sky, which it was. He knew what it meant, what would have happened to the waterbenders.

“They didn’t succeed, though, clearly.” He says, trying for comforting. Sokka laughed, harshly, without humor.

“They did, actually. Zhao - former Commander, now Admiral of Ozai’s followers - he killed it. My fiance, Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe, had a little bit of life from the moon spirit in her. To save us all, she decided to, according to her father, give it back.”

Sokka looks over to Zuko, who’s horrified

“So they’re expecting you to marry me? That’s kinda fucked up, especially if you loved her as much as it sounds like you do.”

Sokka nods. “Look, Zuko, I like you. I can tell already, I do. But,” and here he looks up at the moon, at Yue, “I will never stop loving her.” Looks back to Zuko “She will always have a part of me, and I need you to understand that if we’re supposed to marry each other.”

Zuko nods, understanding entirely. “It wasnt fair, and I would never ask you to stop loving her. I also can tell that I like you too, Sokka, and I’m willing to follow your lead on this. You clearly did love her, and I completely understand that you will continue to. I’m not…” Zuko takes a deep breath.

“I’m not going to ask you to betray your customs, your family, or any past love. I don’t want you to stop loving her, especially not when you clearly love her so much. And I’m willing to wait as long as you need and/or want to.”

Zuko’s nearly out of breath and hes being so honest it hurts, and Sokka’s crying a little so Zuko freaks out and thinks he said the wrong thing but Sokka is quick to reassure him that he said and did everything right

And they go back inside, together, and everyone looks at them, clearly expecting some kind of announcement here

And Sokka steps up, no longer teary eyed (mostly) and says: “I, Prince Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, with blessings from both Water Tribes, ask for permission from the Fire Lord to court Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.”

Hakoda, Bato, Arnook, Ursa, and Iroh are all by Iroh’s throne, and all of them step up. The guests had already parted the way. Katara and Azula are standing slightly to the side, but still nearby.  

“I, Fire Lord Iroh, give permission to Prince Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe to court Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, but only if Prince Zuko agrees to it.”

Both sokka and Zuko sigh in relief, smile, and nod at each other in agreement. Its Zuko’s turn to step up.

“I, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, agree to be courted by Prince Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, with blessings from Fire Lord Iroh. I ask for permission from the Chiefs of both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes to court Prince Sokka.”

Hakoda and Arnook step up. Arnook speaks first. “I give my permission for Prince Sokka to be courted by Prince Zuko.” Hakoda is next. “I also give my permission for Prince Sokka to be courted by Prince Zuko, as long as Prince Sokka agrees to it.” 

Sokka smiles at Zuko, and they hold hands to show solidarity between nations. And maybe bc they wanted to

Their sisters and (partners of said sisters) come up to them, smiling

Katara and Aang hug sokka, saying theyre proud of him, but also still thanking him

Azula punches sokka and says to be good to her big brother or else

Sokka says yes ma’am

Katara threatens Zuko, who also responds with a yes ma’am

Azula and Katara shake hands, which scares the ever living fuck out of everyone except Toph who laughs

Shes here bc shes a fuckin beifong 

Aang trained with Pakku already (and katara of course) but has been looking for an earthbending teacher, and so convinces Toph to teach him bc bumi gave him the same advice here as in the show

Her parents aren’t entirely convinced, but Iroh offers to have the Beifongs stay (for business reasons, of course, winking at Aang and Toph), and that Toph will be safe here and can make new friends and future alliances between nations, which convinces them enough to agree to stay for a while

Sokka and Katara had to stay anyway of course, and Aang stays with Katara (and hey, wouldnt it be good if he could learn earth and firebending while at the palace), but everyone else went home

Shenanigans ensue

Zuko and sokka get closer as friends

And still really, really, really like each other

And of course theyre courting each other but soon they start like, dating dating

And fall in love

And live happily

Maybe Ozai tries to ruin their happiness but Toph punches him in his stupid face so its all good

[watchathon]

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Series Finale: Sozin’s Comet

In case you’re finding this post just by browsing the tags I’ve used for this post, this is the Watchathon, a blog where I’m hoping to watch an episode of a TV show every weekday, with a short blog post where I write down my thoughts as I watch. Each new thought starts with a hyphen and a bolded first word.

- Like so. Now that the introductions are over with, it’s time to break that one-episode-a-day rule and finish off Avatar: The Last Airbender with the climactic grand finale, Sozin’s Comet:

PART 1: THE PHOENIX KING

- Okay, so, Katara in the intro is still saying “He has a lot to learn before he’s ready to save anyone.” I could’ve sworn they removed that part by this point... Maybe that was just something for the DVD?

- I like that the “Previously on” segment is so long. It really emphasizes how much buildup there was to this. How much the Gaang has been through to get here.

- I gotta say, I was not expecting a beach party in this episode.

- Somehow, for reasons I can’t explain because I don’t understand them myself, this ambush from Zuko made the audio of Nicolas Cage saying “Surprise attack!” in Into the Spider-Verse play in my head.

- Zuko’s really lucky that he earned Katara’s forgiveness before this violent pop quiz, seeing as just a half season ago... “You take one step backwards... one slip up... give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang - and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends right then and there. Permanently.”

- It never occurred to me that we didn’t get details on the war meeting before now.

- I’d bet hearing about this plan is the thing that tipped the scales and fully convinced Zuko to join the Gaang, and prevent the genocide of the Earth Kingdom.

- It’s so nice to see Zuko being welcomed into the group hugs. Especially when it’s Katara who invites him.

- I like that Zuko is teaching Aang to redirect lightning, the same way Iroh taught him.

- Even before it’s made explicit, you can tell that Aang’s uneasy about the idea of killing.

- Toph is just delighting in her role as Melon Lord, isn’t she?

- Someone out there has definitely written an AU fanfic where someone gets killed during this training and it’s Toph’s origin story as the malicious Melon Lord. If not, then I will write it myself, and it shall be the crackiest crack fic that ever cracked.

- Y’know what, I wish Toph could’ve actually gone on a life-changing field trip with Zuko too! Everyone else got one...

- This scene of Sokka climbing into Appa’s mouth is even more uncomfortable once you’ve... well, once you’ve grown up and... Okay, I tried to put it subtly, but I just can’t: Once you’ve been cursed with the knowledge of what vore is.

- Well, there’s a bait-and-switch if I’ve ever seen one: “Azula, you’re the new Fire Lord!” “=)” “But I am now the Phoenix King and still your superior who you will answer to.” “=O”

- Nice to see June and her Shirshu make a comeback.

- Does this mean Aang wasn’t running away on purpose? I honestly thought he was just going to that island to get some alone time, maybe meditate or contact the previous Avatars’ spirits.

PART 2: THE OLD MASTERS

- I’m not sure if this is something I forgot from June’s first appearance, or if it’s actually just never been brought up before, but I didn’t know her Shirshu had a name.

- It’s sweet that Zuko is seeking out Iroh’s help. Even if the method of finding him is, ah, well... unorthodox.

- Even Avatar Roku doesn’t know where Aang is. And here I thought it was some Avatar thing that had never been brought up before.

- It’s nice to see these people make a comeback. Bumi, Piandao, even Jeong Jeong and Master Pakku are here for the finale.

- I am surprised that we didn’t get an interaction between Toph and Bumi, though. The man Aang wanted to teach him Earthbending, the girl who ended up doing it... But I guess there’s only so much time, and I don’t think there’s any scenes that could be deleted to make room for it.

- It seems like Aang is just searching for confirmation of his beliefs, rather than actually seeking wisdom.

- I like that we get to see Bumi taking full advantage of the eclipse to take back Omashu from the Fire Nation, instead of just being told about it.

- It’s nice to see so many past Avatars beyond just Roku and Kyoshi, Avatars that we never heard of before, but now we hear their stories. But all of these past Avatars echo the same sentiment that Aang should kill Ozai, even an Air Nomad Avatar.

- What can I say about this scene of Zuko and Iroh reuniting? Forgive me for echoing a post I made on my main blog, but this is a scene that’s both sweet and sad.

Sad, because Zuko’s abuse at the hands of Fire Lord Ozai left him anxiously expecting furious punishment for crimes much less than what he did to Iroh. He can’t even comprehend the idea that Iroh would forgive him. His expression while apologizing to Iroh clearly shows he’s expecting the worst.

Sweet, because Iroh still loves Zuko like his own son, and doesn’t even need to forgive him because he never felt anger at Zuko’s betrayal: Only sadness and a worry that Zuko had lost his way, truly lost his honor. And Iroh is so clearly happy to see that Zuko has found his destiny, and joined the fight against the Fire Nation.

I could go on and on about this scene... It’s my absolute favorite scene in the whole series and it brings me to tears every single time I see it.

Gosh... it’s gonna be so awkward going back to the jokes and little mundane thoughts after this, isn’t it?

- Okay, I have officially given up on the idea of finding out what the heck this island is.

- I like the smile on Katara’s face, when she’s asked to team up with Zuko and fight Azula.

- It’s nice to know that Iroh will get the opportunity to run that tea shop, even if Zuko won’t be there to work with him.

- Okay, okay, so the island was actually a lion turtle. Frankly, I’ve still got a lot of questions. Even some new ones.

- It’s nice to see that the Netlix subtitles aren’t ALLCAPS anymore.

PART 3: INTO THE INFERNO

- Gotta hand it to the music, it can make even a scene of Azula making a fuss over a non-pitted cherry rather unnerving.

- Azula’s... Azula-ness has gone straight up to eleven with her newfound role. Hasn’t it? What with all the banishments, even banishing the entire Dai Li.

- Sokka, Suki and Toph are the real dream team. 

- And we get a great final blind joke!

- I like that we get to see everyone doing their part in this final battle. All the members of the Gaang, even the White Lotus, get their moments to shine.

- The hallucination of Ursa shows that Azula, on some level, has an idea of what’s wrong with her. You can tell that they were thinking of a redemption arc for Azula come Book 4, though I am glad that didn’t happen.

- It’s chilling to see Ozai razing the forests of the Earth Kingdom like it’s nothing. And then to realize that this is what Aang will have to face.

- At first I wasn’t sure what Sokka’s plan was, but now that I see it in action, it’s really creative.

- I like the idea of a final one-on-one Zuko vs Azula duel(...a). It’s been a rivalry since Book 2, and it’s nice to finally see it get settled, even if I can’t imagine it’ll end up that easy: Otherwise, what would Katara do?

- It’s so cool to see Aang showing his prowess in all bending techniques, using them all in this final showdown.

- The background music during Zuko and Azula’s Agni Kai really sells it. It makes it sound almost tragic, and it is: two siblings pitted against each other, no choice but to fight to determine the future of the world.

- Azula might be slipping, but she’s still Azula, all too willing to cheat in what’s supposed to be a one-on-one duel.

PART 4: AVATAR AANG

- Netflix isn’t showing the intro for the individual parts, but I’ve gotta say... There’s no way that Katara’s still saying Aang’s “got a lot to learn before he’s ready to save anyone.” Right?

- I like that we get to see one last use of Metalbending from Toph in the finale.

- Dang, I hope this isn’t really the end for Sokka’s sword, or his boomerang. Especially when the sword was so cool, and one could say meaningful.

- I honestly wasn’t sure the Avatar State would ever be a factor again. But if there was ever a time, this is it. (ADDENDUM: This is probably the best time to clarify that I find and add the images at the start after writing the rest of the post.)

- And it’s so epic to see Aang bending all four elements at once.

- I like that Iroh got to burn down the Fire Nation flag.

- Since Zuko’s down for the count, I guess this means a battle between Katara and Azula, the latter powered up by Sozin’s Comet.

- To be honest, I could barely make out what Azula just said. “kjsdbksrbfkjvf family position to look after, kdcbkfh”?

- Katara may not be stronger than Sozin’s Comet-powered Azula, but she’s much more clever than Azula is right now as she loses her marbles.

- This is just the perfect kind of defeat for Azula. There’s no grace to it, no dignity, just writhing around, screaming and spewing fire as Zuko and Katara look on with pity.

- There’s probably a great practical reason someone could find for Spiritbending being a thing, but here’s why I’m glad it exists: Aang gets a happy ending. He gets to take down the Fire Lord, and hold true to his beliefs. If it weren’t for Spiritbending, if Aang killed Ozai, then he would be conflicted to the end.

And I don’t want that. I want Aang to get an unambiguously, undoubtedly happy ending, where the world is saved and that’s all there is to it.

Plus, Spiritbending is quite the spectacle.

- I’m guessing Sokka’s space sword and boomerang really are done for. But hey, there’s always headcanon. Maybe Sokka searched the forest and eventually found them.

- Weird to think that Ty Lee’s gonna be a Kyoshi Warrior.

- Again, I can’t believe Zukaang’s not the most popular Zuko ship in the fandom. Not a ship I’ll go to bat for, but it’s got all the hallmarks of a fan-preferred couple.

- It’s so nice to see Zuko’s coronation, and the official end to the war. It’s a happy ending for the whole world, the start of an era of peace.

- “Love and peace,” huh...? Now that’s funny to hear in the finale to this show, considering the next show I’m covering, come 2021...

- I like that we get to see one last confrontation between Zuko and Ozai. Even if Zuko’s question of where Ursa is doesn’t go anywhere (in the show, I know they touch on that in the comics), it’s nice to see the newly-crowned Fire Lord Zuko having evolved past a need for Ozai’s attention, or a fear of Ozai’s wrath.

- It’s nice to see the whole Gaang having fun at Iroh’s tea shop, in the end. And I stand corrected, this is where we get the final blind joke.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m lucky in that most of my childhood cartoons hold up as an adult. I watched Kim Possible, Phineas and Ferb, Code Lyoko, Courage the Cowardly Dog...

Still, there’s something special about Avatar: The Last Airbender. It had a unique aesthetic and world that no other show was quite like. It had a story that was like nothing I’d ever seen as a kid.

And it doesn’t just hold up, it’s even better.

When I was a kid, it was as simple as rooting for the good guys to win, and for the Firebenders to lose, except for Zuko once he turned good.

Now, as an adult (but mostly as someone with a DVD player/Netflix account so I’m not just watching whatever reruns I can catch) I can appreciate the character development, the arcs, the entire story.

I can appreciate how Aang grew from a little boy who does indeed have a lot to learn before he’s ready to save anyone, into a hero who could save the world.

I can appreciate how Zuko was an abuse victim who did what all abused children wish they could do and left his abuser.

I can appreciate... Gosh, Iroh’s entire character and dynamic with Zuko.

Some people say that Avatar “starts off as a kids show, then turns serious”, but I’d disagree. Avatar is a show where our heroes change, where they learn lessons, where they come of age and become the kind of heroes who can end a war that’s been going on for over a century.

As relieved as I am to be (mostly) done with these posts for the rest of the year, I am still oh-so-glad that I’ve rewatched Avatar yet again, and I know that I will be whenever I rewatch it in the future.

Now, with all that said... Farewell! Until the Christmas special, at least...

[enchantedisabella]

headcanons about atla that should’ve been canon

azula is not straight

like if you tell me she is straight i will proceed to laugh in your face for ten minutes straight

and never take you seriously again

like, ever

okay moving on

ty lee is bisexual

tyzula was a thing

zuko has major daddy issues but azula has both mommy and daddy issues and she is by far one of the most fucked up characters in the series, and did not deserve her fate, and the series instead showed her ‘getting what she deserved’ when in reality she was a teenager following orders from her father who was supposed to guide, protect and love her

but instead of doing any of those things he manipulated her and twisted her into becoming his lackey and his killing machine and that was wrong and she deserved so much more than being thrown in a mental institution and being forgotten about

actually a lot of these are about azula idk why

wait no ik why it’s because i love her with all my heart but anyway

toph and sokka had the strongest bromance to ever exist in the whole avatar universe and for the directors to portray bamf toph as having a crush on sokka was such a cold take and so,,, not it

like isn’t there like a six year age difference for them? or maybe four? but I’m pretty sure it’s six because toph is ten but sokka is sixteen but correct me if I’m wrong whatever

like,,, just let them live you know??? toph and sokka are the two sassiest most sarcastic characters in the entire series and you cannot tell me that their bromance would not rival,,, literally everyone else’s

katara once put makeup on toph. needless to say she absolutely hated it but katara was in a sucky mood so toph wanted to cheer her up. she stepped out for one (1) second, intending to watch her face, and sokka wouldn’t stop laughing for twenty (20) minutes. he still brings it up at campfires now

zuko sometimes tries to incorporate katara’s waterbending moves into his firebending after uncle iroh showed him the lightningbending move. he tried to teach azula how to do it once too but it took three days before she would deign to try and learn a ‘filthy water peasant move’

azula secretly loves how she can exercise her power in completely different moves though and she works in secret on new bending moves, taking inspiration from the other cultures, but she’d rather die than admit zuko helped her

azula, mai and ty lee absolutely called themselves the terrible trio. it started after mai coined it sarcastically after they suffered a bitter defeat at some battle and after that it just stuck. azula hates it, ty lee loves it

ty lee calls mai and azula ‘her girls’. they hated it at first and azula stuck her chin up saying she was not anyone’s girl, but ty lee was unshakeable about the matter. mai almost threw up after azula responded immediately to it after a few weeks despite her protests. then mai responded to it accidentally and spent the rest of the week contemplating suicide attempts

tyzula shared their first kiss after azula brought down ba sing se’s walls. ‘i’m so happy i could kiss you’ were the exact words azula said, and ty lee responded ‘then do it.’ it was the first time azula had ever admitted she was happy. ty lee smiles every time she remembers it

suki doesn’t like azula, but after the war she has a kind of grudging respect for her. i mean this girl conquered a city at fourteen??? and became fire lord, if only briefly??? like??? what a badass bitch? warrior to warrior, suki respects azula. person to person though is a different story.

after people fall in love, their auras have a little of the colour of their s/os. that was how ty lee could tell zuko and mai were really in love, after zuko’s scarlet red developed kind of a grey tinge and mai’s sludge grey had a kind of reddish air to it. she couldn’t believe it at first when azula’s electric blue had a steady pink hue around the borders. she jumped into azula’s arms and kissed her the moment she saw. it was the most emotional azula had gotten after ty lee explained why, with one (1) tear rolling out of her eyes. she evaporated it on her skin but ty lee still remembers

katara and aang are that kind of couple who are close in a way that people always assume they’re best friends instead of, you know, dating. but katara doesn’t care because she’s never given much thought to everyone else’s opinions and she’s more in love with aang every passing day, so. aang takes it as a compliment that people assume they know each other inside out.

sokka and suki, however, are That Couple. kissing everywhere and anywhere. and surprisingly so are zuko and mai. when katara compared them, mai reached for the nearest bucket and wouldn’t let it go for three hours.

ty lee and mai trained alongside azula just so they could hang out with her after ozai announced he thought azula was too old for playdates. they all got special treatment at the fire nation royal academy for girls and that was where ty lee learnt to do acrobatics and chi block, and where mai learnt to throw her knives. it’s also why they work so well as a team together

katara found a way to use her bloodbending to heal people- to clot blood as it’s bleeding out or to stop internal bleeding, for example. it’s lifted a lot of the guilt of bloodbending off of her shoulders, knowing that she’s helping people while she’s doing it. a form of it was even incorporated into the northern water tribe’s healing lessons. katara tries, everyday, to come up with more ways to use her water to heal and help people. she still prefers fighting over healing, but after the war, she knows the power of healing can work wonders now.

azula only underwent a year in the mental institution before being released. it was the one thing she couldn’t handle- not being able to use her bending in such a controlled, sterile environment. zuko quickly realised that the only thing keeping her sane was her bending, and immediately made arrangements for her to go back to the palace. she wouldn’t talk to him for weeks, so he invited ty lee back from the kyoshi warriors to try and get her to open up.

azula had planned to ignore ty lee too, but ty lee straight-up slapped the princess the moment she saw her (‘that was for putting me in prison!’) and then collapsed, sobbing, in azula’s arms, and wouldn’t let go of her for ten whole minutes (‘and this is because I miss you so much, azula!’) and after that things kind of got better, but slowly.

zuko hates sitting in the fire lord’s throne. like, he hates it. it reminds him too much of his father, and so he tries to be out of the throne room as much as possible. this works in his favour- there are always councils and meetings that he needs to oversee.

zuko is so bad at politics. like, he’s so bad that it’s not even funny. it kind of was in the beginning, but then he made a spectacular mess of things and aang was zero help. in fact, despite being the avatar, zuko thinks he might have actually made it worse. and then aang got caught up in the mess too, thanks to his disastrous involvement, and azula and mai wouldn’t stop laughing at their predicament for a week before they deigned to help them.

so now despite zuko being the actual fire lord, azula and mai, being trained for politics their entire lives, are usually the ones to step in when things get a little too much for him to handle. azula is still not satisfied with her role, of course. but then, azula’s never satisfied.

azula and ty lee are the epitome of disaster gays. one time ty lee tried to hold azula’s hand, and azula shook it. ty lee wouldn’t stop laughing, but azula was so embarrassed she accidentally set her clothes on fire. that just made ty lee laugh even more, but azula’s pride was mortally wounded. the first time ty lee told azula she loved her, azula formally thanked her. as if they were at a business meeting. and then asked ty lee what positive assets or advantages their new relationship would bring azula. it’s rumoured that to this day ty lee is still very confused about what went down.

with the intention of teaching azula a humbling lesson and to find ‘peace within herself’, zuko sent her to work at uncle iroh’s tea shop in ba sing se for a month shortly after she came back to the palace. after azula nearly setting fire to the shop, throwing a teapot of scalding hot tea into a customer’s face after they demanded to ‘speak to the manager’, destroying general property and terrifying the other employees to the point where one regularly wet himself every time she walked in, iroh was begging zuko to take azula back before the end of the first week. when she came back, the only thing azula said she’d found was solid proof of why ozai had good reason to burn down the earth kingdom while he was at it. and a new idea of how short her patience was.

you guys are welcome to add more if you think of them

[merakiaes]

Welcome To The Family - Sokka

Pairing: Sokka x reader

Requested: Yes. 

Prompts: #62 from the fluff-list. 

Warnings/notes: A bit rushed and not read through, and I mixed up the prompt a bit, but I hope you like it!

Wordcount: 1645

Summary: Sokka meets your father for the first time. 

“Don’t you think I should be wearing something more… fitting?” Sokka asked doubtfully as he inspected himself in the mirror, pulling at his blue clothes.

Katara frowned behind him. “What’s wrong with your clothes?”

Sokka turned to look at her, throwing his arms out and yelling out like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “They’re water nation clothes!”

His little sister remained confused, eyebrows furrowing together and shoulders shrugging. “So?”

“So?!” He exclaimed. “(Y/N)’s dad is one of the best and most respected firebenders alive.”

“So what?” Zuko’s voice joined in on the conversation from where he stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe and having been quiet up until now. “Were you going to hide the fact that you’re not fire nation for the rest of your life?”

“Yes!” Sokka exclaimed, again as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Zuko rolled his eyes at his attitude and pushed himself off the doorway, walking towards the two siblings. “Her family already knows you’re from the water tribe, and yet, they’ve personally invited you to dinner. Just relax.”

Sokka still wasn’t convinced, despite the fact that Zuko had met your father at least a hundred times before, practically being a part of the family. “I can’t relax! I’m terrified he’s going to torch me!”

“I’m a little offended about your judgement toward firebenders, but I’m going to let it slide this one time because I pity you.” Zuko glared briefly, before softening his face again with a shrug. “You have nothing to worry about. He loves (Y/N) more than anything. Anyone she cares about, is family in his eyes. That makes you family, alright? And he takes family very seriously. Now, if you don’t get going, you’re going to be late.“

Sokka’s heart beat violently in his chest at the thought of being late and making a bad first impression on your father and hurried down form the small step he was standing on. He pointed a finger at Zuko, eyes narrowing into thin slits. ”If you’re wrong and I get burned alive, I’m gonna come back and haunt you.”

“If you actually manage to get on his bad side, then I won’t even try to stop you.” Zuko took Sokka under his arm, starting to steer him towards the doorway. Once they had passed the doorframe, he pushed him toward the exit of the house.

“Just take it easy and you’ll do fine.” Zuko smacked him on the shoulder in a brotherly way, and then turned and walked in the other direction, Katara coming out of the room and following him after offering her brother a smile and a good luck of her own.

Sokka took a deep breath and walked towards the exit. However, before he had reached the door, Zuko called after him. “Oh, by the way! I don’t know if she’s told you, but she has five older brothers, too!”

Sokka froze, every possible bad scenario running through his mind then and there. But nonetheless, he swallowed his fear and forced his legs to keep walking, knowing you would never forgive him for bailing on a promise. And making you upset? That would definitely get him on your family’s bad side.

                                  _______________________________

Your house wasn’t far from the house he usually stayed in when visiting the Fire Nation. He had only left for a short time after the war had been won to see the people in his village, coming back the day before.

The first thing he had done was to meet up with you. You spent most of your days in the palace with Mai and Zuko, so he knew exactly where to find you. You had been at the pond with Zuko, throwing bread to the turtleducks, when he had arrived.

Zuko had left the two of you alone to talk, and that’s when you had told him that your father had personally suggested to have him over for dinner.

Sokka’s blood had ran cold in his veins, terrified to his core. But no matter how much the fear in his body screamed at him to say no, he had accepted with a very forced smile. Everything to make you happy.

You had already met his father during the first attempt to take over the Fire Nation, the Day of Black Sun, and unsurprisingly, you got on perfectly. But he hadn’t gotten a chance to meet your father, as  he had been imprisoned at the time for conspiring against the former Firelord Ozai.

That’s how you had met the Gaang in the first place; you had escaped when your parents and brothers had been arrested, along with the other men from the Fire Nation that had been plotting with them, and brought to the Boiling Rock for the severity of their crimes.

Your father, brothers and their companions had escaped together just in time to be able to partake in the final battle on the day of the comet. Your mother hadn’t made it.

Her death hit you hard, but she had been sick even before the arrest, and so a part of you had kind of always known she wouldn’t make it. It didn’t make you any less sad, but it made it easier for you to accept.

Your father, however, was talked about in the entire world. He was said to be just as powerful as Ozai had been before he got his powers taken away, if not even more. Terrible stories were told about him, despite the fact that he had shown to the world that he had never been on Ozai’s side. And of course, even though you told him several times that your father wasn’t at all what people said, Sokka’s fear drove him to think the worst.

And now there he was, standing on your doorstep with a bouquet of bright red Fire lilies in his hand, mumbling reassuring words of encouragement to himself while he dragged a hand over his hair to make sure his wolf tail was intact.

He swallowed hard one last time, took a shaky breath and nodded to himself, before reaching out and knocking on the big door.

The sound of running could be heard almost instantly through the thick wood, and Sokka smiled softly as he recognized your footsteps. Just a second later, the door had been ripped open and he was face to face with you.

“Just in time!” You smiled brightly at him, pulling him in by his arms and letting the door fall shut behind him.

Sokka smiled at your joyous face and held the flowers out with a sheepish smile. “I got these for you.”

Your eyes widened as they fell on the beautiful and vibrant flowers, your hand reaching out to take them from his grasp and raising them to your nose to smell. You closed your eyes and smiled softly. “I love them, thank you.”

You wasted no time in embracing your boyfriend tightly, taking in the familiar smell of his soap and the feeling of his arms wrapped around your body in a safe and secure embrace. Just then, another set of footsteps approached you from behind, but this time they were heavy and determined, as opposed to your happy and light ones.

Sokka’s eyes instantly shot open, catching sight of your father coming in your direction behind you. You let go of Sokka when you heard your father coming, instead going to stand on his side as he stopped.

You put on a bright smile as you put a loving hand on your father’s arm. “This is my father. Father, this is-“

”You must be Sokka.” Your father interrupted with a small smile, bowing down slowly in greeting.

Sokka gulped nervously, wide eyes staring up at the hulk of a man standing only a few inches away from him. His mouth was dry, making him struggle to find the right words. “I’m Sokka.” He spoke, and instantly cringed. “I mean, uh yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

He clumsily bowed down just like your father had done only moments before, causing the older man to chuckle fondly. “No need for formalities. I can sense you’re nervous and I’m sure you’ve heard a great deal about me and the powers I possess, but I assure you, Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, that you have nothing to be worried about.”

You smiled at your father’s words, watching Sokka slowly relax his body where he stood as your father continued. “You’re a part of the family now. And in the (Y/L/N) family, we take care of our family.” He reached a hand out, motioning to the flowers in your hand. “And I must say, you’ve made quite a good impression, bringing my daughter such fine flowers.”

Sokka chuckled nervously, rubbing his neck. “Well, I mean, only the best of flowers for the best girl. Right?”

Your father’s eyes twinkled with amusement at Sokka’s nervous antics, but you could see he truly appreciated his words.

He took a step back and motioned into the house. “Now, let’s go introduce you to the rest of the family, shall we?”

He started walking off without waiting for a response, leaving you and Sokka behind. He looked significantly more relaxed now, but you could see by the way his cheeks were tinted pink that he was far from comfortable.

But you knew he would be when the night was over. You knew your brothers were going to love him just like you did. How could they not? They were exactly like him in every way there was, and Sokka was soon going to see that for himself.

You offered him a comforting smile, taking his hand with the one you weren’t holding the flowers in and leaned in to peck his cheek gently. “Welcome to the family, Sokka.”

Tagged: @edarene @nekodemon73

(If you want to be tagged, send me a message with the character and/or fandom you want to be tagged for)

[zi-i-think]

4 | Mother of Faces

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (OC)

Word Count: 13100+

.☽☼☾.

          Since the incident at Yu Dao, Earth King Kuei suggested that some of the citizens of Yu Dao and the gang sit in for a lecture on Ancient Earth Kingdom Theories of Government. So there everyone was, either paying attention or trying to stay awake.

        During the professor's lecture, Sokka whispered over to Aang about how absolutely bored he was. Aang, of course, whispered back. They got a scolding from Katara, who was actually trying to listen.

        Ama was never great at history. Things usually went in one ear and out the other, but she tried. Not like anyone could tell that she was only getting bits and pieces of the lecture since she sat up straight and kept an eye on the professor.

        Zuko paid attention because he had to. Being Fire Lord meant having to make the right decisions for everyone, and history was a helpful thing. Something must have grabbed his attention, because Zuko raised his hand and spoke up. "Professor, can you repeat that last part?"

        The professor mumbled something to himself before responding. "I was explaining, Fire Lord Zuko, an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: family is in essence a small nation, and the nation a large family. Do you understand?" A gloomy look appeared on Zuko's face. "In treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity."

        Ama noticed Zuko's expression, prompting her to reach over and grab his hand. "Are you alright, dragonfly?"

        "Have you been listening?" He asked her.

        "Kind... of..." She answered with a regrettable side smile.

        "I put my father in a prison and my sister in an institution. My mother has been banished for years." He told her. "What does that mean for my nation?"

        "Zuko, that's not what-" Aang butt in. He didn't want Zuko to looked down on himself for something like condemning his family for their wrong doings.

        "The guy's a blowhard! Only people like Katara are taking him seriously." Sokka whispered over. His younger sister shot the second snowball of the day in his face.

.☽☼☾.

        After the lecture and other Earth Kingdom things, Zuko and Ama returned to the Fire Nation. And the first thing he requested was to speak with his sister and father.

        "Are you sure you want to do this?" Ama asked him for the hundredth time.

        "She's my best chance at finding my mom." Zuko told her, turning to look at her before actually going out the front door. "I know you're worried, but I have to do this."

        "I can go with, you know." Ama told him and got into a fighting stance playfully. "Any funny business and I knock some sense in her." She punched the empty air, poorly, of course. After all, Ama's a water bender, hand-to-hand combat isn't exactly her forte.

        Zuko smiled as he stepped forward to her, grabbing her wrist and holding them close to his chest to look into her eyes. "I promise you, I'll be fine. I have Suki and Ty Lee, who's actual jobs are to protect me."

        "I can do that just fine." Ama mumbled with a pout, knowing that he could still hear her.

        Zuko chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. "I know you can." Ama leaned up to press a short and sweet kiss on his lips.

        Once he pulled away, Zuko gave her an assuring smile and turned away to get back on his mission to get answers. The water bender sighed and went on her own mission. To bake herself some banana bread.

        After 2 hours, Ama had finished her banana bread. She stood in the empty kitchen, leaning against the counter and enjoying a slice when Zuko walked in. His expression was off. Like he was walking on pins and needles.

        "What happened?" Ama asked. Already knowing something was wrong, just didn't know what.

        "Promise not to get mad?" He asked her. The girl scoffed and set down her plate.

        "I think you're forgetting who has the anger issues in this relationship." She chuckled and walked over to him. "You know I'll always be here for you." Zuko sighed and stepped aside and Azula stepped into the kitchen. Ama immediately went into action, pushing Zuko behind her and holding up her arms to be ready to waterbend. "What the hell is Azula doing here?!" She growled.

        "Oh calm down, water baby." Azula smirked. "Zuko invited me here."

        Ama glared at Zuko. He looked down with both shame and doubt. But also like he had no other option. "Oh boy." Ama sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

.☽☼☾.

        Just a few days later, the rest of Team Avatar was invited for Zuko's mission. Ama walked to the meeting room, fiddling with her nails. Moving aside the curtain, the water bender saw Zuko and his uncle Iroh already waiting.

        "Iroh!" The girl grinned, always happy to see him.

        "Ama!" The old man also greeted her happily. His arms open wide for a hug, which she gladly accepted. "You look more beautiful each day I see you."

        "Aw, you're too kind." Ama told him as she pulled away from the hug. "How's the tea shop?"

        "Business is booming. Couldn't be better." He said proudly, his arms stretched out to emphasize it. "I'll go outside to await your friends." And with that, the old man stepped out of the room.

        Zuko's face fell the moment Iroh stepped out. Ama stepped in front of him, cupping his cheek so he would look at her. A soft smile on her lips as she leaned up to kiss him, but the boy moved his head away to avoid it. The girl sighed. While Zuko did get better with his temper and tried to contain it, he still had his moments. "You're worrying again." She muttered.

        "Obviously." Zuko grumbled. "It's been years since I've seen my mother. And now Azula is my only way to find her."

        "Okay so the circumstances are pretty bad, but." She moved his head again to look at her. "This is about your mother, Zuko. If this is the way to do it, then so be it." Zuko took in a deep breath, held it and let it out.

        "Zuko, Ama. Your friends have arrived." Iroh announced and in came Aang, Katara and Sokka.

        "Thank you for inviting us to your home, your fieriness!" Aang bowed in front of Zuko. "We've been out of touch for much too long."

        Ama snickered as Zuko had an unamused look on his face. "It's only been a week." The Fire Lord pointed out.

        "Where's Toph?" Ama noticed their group was down one.

        "She had to stay at the academy." Sokka told them. "Now that folks have seen the lily livers - I mean, her students in action, everyone and their mother wants to be a metal bender, even the Yu Dao Police Chief went to visit her."

        "We came as soon as we heard the message. What's this about?" Katara got right down to business.

        "I recently obtained some new information about Ursa, my mother. It turns out she's from a small town called Hira'a on the outskirts of the Fire Nation." Zuko informed them. "I'm going there to look for her. Uncle Iroh agreed to watch over things here while I'm gone."

        "May you find who - and what - you are searching for, my nephew." Iroh spoke. His readiness to be at his nephew's aid was admirable.

        "That's great Zuko! But it sounds like you've got everything covered..." Aang was excited, but confused.

        "...so, why do you need us." Katara finished Aang's sentence.

        "The information about my mother came at a cost." Zuko tried to hide his expression of regret. "You see-" The Fire Lord didn't get to finish as Azula moves aside the yellow and red curtain, stepping into the room.

        "Zuko, behind you!" Aang pointed at the sister while Katara had already bent water to attack.

        "How did you escape, Azula." Katara flung the water, turning it into sharp icicles midair.

        "Katara, wait!" Zuko shouted. Ama acted quickly, bending the icicles back into water and maneuvering it towards herself in a graceful manner. The water circling her hands.

        "Stay back! We don't want to hurt you!" Aang warned.

        "Speak for yourself, Aang." Sokka held his boomerang over his head, ready to throw.

        "Ha ha!" Azula laughed, making Ama cringe. "Ignorant peasant! You really think you can take me on with a boomerang?"

        "Let's find out." Sokka challenged. He was fuming with rage.

        "Sokka, stop! Let Zuko explain!" Suki jumped in the room in her Kyoshi uniform just before the water tribe boy threw his boomerang. Ty Lee came in after her.

        "Suki." Sokka's arms went above his head in excitement.

        "Azula was the one who got the information from Ozai." Zuko explained. "Because she helped me out, we made a deal. She's going to come with me to look for our mother. And she's going to travel unbound with dignity." Ama remembered the long conversation she had with Zuko before they allowed for Azula to have her demands. "I want you all to come with us."

        "No offense, but that sounds like the worst plan ever." Aang exclaimed.

        "Oh! Oh!" Sokka called out in the middle of his hug with Suki. "New nickname for Zuko! How about bad decision Lord?"

        "Ever since my nephew ascended to the throne, he has yearned for peace, finding Ursa may bring that peace." Iroh spoke then gestured to Azula. "And not just for himself."

        "What, my sister wasn't enough to 'bring you peace.'" Sokka wondered with an investigative tone, leaning on Zuko.

        "Sokka, leave him alone." Ama grabbed her brother's ear, pulling him away while he cried out in pain.

        Aang stepped in front of Zuko with a decision, speaking for everyone. "We're your friends, Zuko. If you need us, we'll go." Zuko had an appreciative look. He was one step closer to finding his mom.

.☽☼☾.

        The group was set to travel the next morning. Ama headed to the courtyard with Katara. It wasn't like they didn't see each other often, but things do change a lot, so they try to make the most of their time when they're together.

        "The iguana bird must have been chasing Sokka for a good ten minutes." Katara told her sister, the two laughing till their stomachs hurt.

        "Hey!" Sokka called, walking towards them from the next hallway with Zuko by his side. "Katara, are you really telling her that story!?"

        "Why not? It's hilarious." Katara teased, only making Sokka more mad.

        As they stepped out into the courtyard, they remembered that they were there for Zuko to find his mom. And to make sure Azula stays in line. Aang air bent Azula's bag onto Appa as the girl stood by with a scowl.

        "I still don't like it, Zuko." Katara said to him, putting her hands on her waist.

        "We'll need to take turns keeping an eye on her, every moment of every day." Zuko informed them. "At least one of us has to be totally focused on Azula."

        "And if worst comes to worst, there are five of us against one of her." Ama added, keeping an eye on Azula. Knowing that this 'worst comes to worst' situation was very likely.

        "I'll take first watch!" Sokka said excitedly.

        "I appreciate the offer, Sokka, but maybe you should leave this to the benders." Zuko kindly told Sokka that he was in no way able to fight Azula.

        "No, I got it covered." Sokka claimed, pulling out his boomerang. "Mr. Boomerang and I didn't appreciate her 'ignorant peasant' comment yesterday. We're gonna show her what we're made of." The water tribe boy then turned to Azula. "Time to go, Azula! And no funny business or else," He dramatically held out his boomerang. "Wack-a-pow!"

        Azula glared at Sokka and sent a small bolt of lightning at his hand, making him drop his boomerang. The boy yelped and fell to the ground in pain. The others sprung into action. Ama water bent an ice block on her hand, Aang earth bent the rock under her so she wouldn't move. And Zuko had already created fire in his fist to fight.

        "Sokka!" Katara called to make sure he was fine.

        "I'm okay!" The brother assured her.

        Katara went over to Azula, bending the ice off of her. "Don't you ever touch him!" She threatened, speaking for herself and Ama.

        "Tell your brother not to wave his toy in my face!" Azula barked back.

        "We made a deal, Azula." Zuko reminded her. "If we're going to do this together, you have to stay calm."

        "Keep your merry band of misfits in check, and we'll all get along fine." Azula claimed.

        "I changed my mind. One of you take first watch." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that he overestimated himself.

.☽☼☾.

        While they were up in the sky, everyone enjoyed the peaceful ride. Well, except for the part where they need to keep an eye on Azula. Aang and Katara sat on Appa's head and everyone else was on the saddle. Ama had her legs crossed as she spend her time carving some sort of animal into a piece of wood. Still too early to understand what she was carving. Zuko beside her, his arm around Ama's shoulders, occasionally glancing at his girlfriend's artwork.

        "Ahhh! The open sky above us, a daring mission before us, and friends all around!" Sokka leaned up front with his arms outstretched to his side. "Just like old times isn't it?"

        "Even better than old times!" Aang responded. "Before I always wanted to kiss Katara and now I actually get to do it."

        "Aw, sweetie." Katara gushed and leaned in for a short kiss.

        "I, for one, could do without that." Sokka muttered and gave an irritated look.

        "Too bad Toph couldn't be here." Katara looked over at the group.

        "Well, instead we have..." Aang trailed off, everyone knowing he meant Azula.

        "So tell me, kids. I've been dying to know. Which one of you miscreants did she approach first." Azula asked in a threatening tone.

        "Uh... What are you talking about?" Ama asked, very much confused. She paused from carving to look around to find if anyone else knew what she was talking about.

        "None of you had even met me yet! How did she convince you to help her ruin my life?!" Azula shouted, leaning forward on her knees.

        "That's enough, Azula!" Zuko moved and put his arm in front of Azula, keeping her back with a heating fist.

        "Put that away, Zuzu. It's just small talk." Azula lied. Hesitantly, Zuko moved back to his original spot. "If there's anything that's enough, it's the excessive PDA."

        Ama and Zuko both glared at her and Zuko just pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "You wouldn't understand, Azula." Zuko grumbled at his sister.

        The female firebender smirked, like she had just found something to pick at. "Interesting choice of words, Zuzu. I seem to remember you saying something very similar about Mai." The couple froze and avoided looking at the 'prisoner'.

        Ama would be lying if she said she weren't a little jealous of Mai. The Fire Nation girl was absolutely gorgeous. Maybe her personality was a little bland, but that didn't mean she was a bad person. She and Zuko had history, plus it was because of her that they were even able to escape Boiling Rock during the war.

        "I miss Toph." Sokka sighed in the tense atmosphere.

        "You said it." Aang agreed.

.☽☼☾.

        The crammy ride continued through the day. Ama went ahead and took Appa's reins so that Katara and Aang could sit in the saddle. She enjoyed the quiet up front. Appa's soft fur and sun hanging low in the sky made her feel at peace.

         "I think that's Hira'a up ahead." Zuko looked ahead at an island in the distance. "If we can't get there before sunset, though, we should set up camp. I don't want to enter town in the middle of the night like a gang of bandits."

         "Good point. Hey Aang-" Sokka turned to the air bender, but the boy had the ugliest face of disgust. His eyebrows furrowing together and teeth baring. "Ah!" Sokka yelled and everyone gasped at the expression. "What, it's not enough that we have one passenger who stares at us with crazy eyes?!"

         "What's wrong with your face?" Katara asked.

         "What? What's wrong with Aang's face?" Ama glanced back, curious to see what they were talking about.

         "I don't know." Aang replied. "But I can't help it! There's something out there. Some kind of spirit. I can feel it's presence, especially in my face."

         "Now that you mention it, I feel it too." Sokka mimicked Aang's face. "That's why I'm doing this."

         "Sokka, this is serious." Katara scolded.

         "As serious as this?" Sokka pointed at his face, still imitating Aang.

         "Knock it off." Katara ordered.

         "Whoa! Did you guys see that giant wolf spirit?!" Aang pointed to the side of the flying bison. "I think that's the presence I'm feeling."

         Everyone looked to the right side of Appa, not seeing any wolf spirit.

         "Did the world spirit look like this?" Sokka bared his teeth.

         "There's nothing down there." Zuko said.

         Katara threw a snowball at Sokka. "What was that for?!" The boy complained.

         "I told you to knock it off!" Katara shouted.

         But while everyone was distracted, Azula took her chance. She stood on the edge of the saddle like she was about to dive down. "Azula, get down from there!" Zuko ordered.

         "I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been riding with you all, listening to you bicker. Instilling some doubt. Too bad not all siblings get along as well as Zuzu and me! Now that Hira'a is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, it's time to bid farewell. I'll be sure to give her your regards!" And with that, Azula dove into the sky.

         "No, Azula! We're too high up!" Zuko shouted, reaching over the edge. But it was took late. The girl was plummeting to the ground.

         Aang dove after her with his air-staff. "I got her!" He called.

         "Nice glider, Avatar. Is it fireproof?" Azula shot a spark of lightning at the glider, lighting the blue flap on fire.

         "What are you doing?! This was a gift!" Aang shouted, dropping Azula to try and blow out the fire. They were already a few feet from teh ground, so Azula could land on the ground gracefully and run off.

         The moment Aang dropped to get Azula, Ama led Appa down after them. As soon as they landed, they all jumped out. "You guys go make sure Aang's okay! We'll go after Azula!" Zuko shouted. He and Ama ran after the female fire bender while the other two water tribe siblings ran to Aang.

         As Zuko and Ama got to Azula, they heard her talking to herself on the other side of the stream. She was hunched over and looked to be hiding something behind her back.

         "Who are you talking to?" Zuko asked her.

         "Why do you care." Azula snapped at him.

         "Keep to our deal, Azula, and we'll find her together." Zuko had an ordering tone, but everyone knew that Azula was the last person who would actually obey him.

         "You need me, Zuzu. I have information you don't. But now that we're so close to Hira'a, I don't really need you anymore." Azula held out her arm, preparing to strike the two with lightning.

         "Please," Zuko begged. He and Ama bending their elements in case there was a fight. "I don't want to do this."

         Azula moved to direct her lightning, but Ama shot water from the river at the lightning bender and freezing it around her body. The rest of the gang appeared beside them.

         "You alright, Aang?" Zuko asked.

         "My glider's a little singed, but I'm okay." The air bender responded.

         "Azula, I've had just about enough of you." Ama grumbled, walking across the stream.

         "Of all the co conspirators she could've chosen, why an uncultured-" Azula started to insult, but stopped, her eyes focused on something behind her in fear. Ama looked over to see what scared Azula. And there was the spirit wolf that Aang was talking about before.

         The wolf was huge, maybe 20 feet tall. It had blue fur on its back and legs, it's underside a snowy white. On it's chest it looked like there were glaring eyes in the blue fur. And it had blood red eyes staring right at them. Snarling at them.

         "Hey. That fear in your eyes?" Sokka called excitedly holding his boomerang above his head. He hadn't seen the wolf yet, but it was standing right behind him. "So you've finally learned to respect the power of Mr. Boomerang!" The wolf snapped at Sokka, but he luckily noticed the large animal in time dodged it narrowly.

         "The wolf spirit must've left the spirit world for a good reason! So please everyone be respectful!" Aang advised them all.

         "Respectful?!" Sokka shouted, running to his friends. "Your spirit just tried to eat my head!"

         "Those markings on it's belly, they sort of look like a face." Zuko noted.

         "Aang, look! That's the face you've been making!" Katara added.

         "You're right. I think I get it now!" Aang said and flew up by the wolf's head in order to speak with it. "Stop, big giant wolf spirit! Listen to me! I felt your presence earlier, see? Just like the design on your fur! I knew you were near because I'm the avatar, the great bridge between the spirits and the humans!"

         "My friends and I were traveling to the town Hira'a when one of us decided to go her own way. If we've disturbed you, please accept our apologies." The blue and white wolf gave Aang a neutral look, before it lunged at him, he jumped back in time. "Yikes!"

         "Aang!" Katara shouted with worry.

         "Your 'respectful' tactic doesn't seem to be working!" Zuko added.

         The group sprung into action with their bending, well, in Sokka's case it was Mr. boomerang. The water icicles and the boomerang deflected off the wolf, and it ate the fire. Then burped smoke.

         "Did that wolf spirit just eat my fire?!" Zuko exclaimed, asking to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

         "And burped!" Sokka added. "It ate your fire and burped at you!"

         "I guess you could say it has a fire-ocious (ferocious) appetite." Ama quipped, earning glares from her sister and boyfriend. "What? It was a good joke."

         "I found it hilari-" Sokka started with a chuckle before Katara interrupted.

         "This is not the time." The girl shouted.

         The wolf spirit lunged at then, Aang in the way. "Come on, wolf spirit! I'm great bridge guy! Don't you wanna-" Appa stepped forward, roaring at the wolf.

         "All right! Giant spirit animal mega brawl!" Sokka cheered.

         "Go easy on him, buddy! We just want peaceful passage to Hira'a!" Aang shouted to Appa. The giant animals growled at each other. The wolf lunged, missing Appa who turned around to wack his tail, the gust of air throwing the wolf back.

         "Woo-hoo! Sky bison: one, fire-eating wolf; zero!" Sokka cheered with his arms up.

         The wolf got up, shaking it's head. "Appa, I asked you to go easy on him!" Aang scolded. "Are you okay, big giant wolf spirit?!" The wolf threw up a cloud of moth-wasps in response. "It just threw up a cloud of moth-wasps at us!"

         "You are the grossest spirit ever!" Sokka shouted.

         "Free me, Zuzu, I'll take care of those spirits for you." Azula claimed. But he rightfully had his doubts. She could just be saying that for another chance to run.

         "We don't need your help, Azula." Zuko claimed. They were all struggling, swatting the insects away.

         "Oh, right. Because you and your friends have everything under control." Azula grumbled.

         "Ow ow ow! Did they eat my whole arm?! I can't see my arm!" Sokka shouted.

         "Try not to hurt them! They're spirit creatures!" Aang begged.

         "Aang, it's getting hard to breathe!" Katara struggled out.

         "I know! But if you hurt them, things might get worse!" Aang said. Of course he feared what the spirits might do if they were disrespected. Aang himself wasn't an expert.

         "I'll admit it, all right? I shouldn't have run off on my own like that. After all we made a deal." Azula spoke in a manipulative tone. "And if you can't trust your family, who can you trust?"

         Zuko looked at his sister, actually considering setting her free. And he did. Using his firebending, Zuko melted the ice off of his sister. Azula generated lightning into a ball of light, drawing the moths in and then threw it into the distance. The moths and the wolf followed it.

         Turning around to see the shocked group of friends, Azula gave a snarky smirk. "You're welcome."

         Once that was over with, the group set up camp. Zuko took first shift to watch over Azula.

         "You sure you don't want some company?" Ama asked her boyfriend once the bundle of sticks was placed for the fire.

         "You need some rest." He told her, setting the twigs ablaze. "I can handle Azula."

         "Okay then. Good night." She said, bending down to place a quick kiss on his cheek and started to walk away.

         "Don't forget your blanket." Sokka reminded her, sitting on the log across Zuko and holding out a wrapped up blanket.

         "Shouldn't you be heading to sleep?" She asked her brother.

         "I drank a lot of water." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. Ama opened her mouth to ask, but then stopped once knowing what he meant. Without another word, she went to the stop where she was going to sleep.

.☽☼☾.

         The next morning, Ama woke up just before the sunrise and immediately started to pack up camp with her siblings. Zuko and Aang went off for some sort of talk.

         "I should go wake up Azula." Katara said, looking at the lightning bender who was still sleeping. Katara knew that it may be dangerous to disturb her, but things needed to be done and they needed to be ready to leave soon.

         "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sokka reasonably asked.

         "Well, we're be on our way to Mira'a as soon as Zuko and Aang get back so I don't see many options." Katara shrugged and walked over to Azula. Ama and Sokka both shared a concerned look, but didn't stop their sister.

         Right before Katara could place her hands on Azula to wake her up, Azula jolted awake, grabbing Katara's arm and shouting "I have proof!"

         "Whoa!" Katara tried to twist the hand off.

         "Get you hand off her, Azula!" Ama shouted, shooting water at the lightning bender and freezing it to hit her hand back.

         "Katara..." Sokka went over to her, questioning if she were okay.

         "I'm okay." The water bender assured. "She woke up all of a sudden and caught me by surprise."

         "Mother... where...?" Azula muttered to herself, reaching for her boot. "The letter! It's gone!" She turned around in the blink of an eye with blue fire in both hands. "Where is Zuko?!"

         "Azula, calm down." Ama told her, bending water to her sides. The girl gave the water tribe siblings a snarl and then threw the fire at a couple of trees. Then she ran off.

         "Do we follow her?!" Sokka panicked, looking between the running girl and the fire that was quickly spreading through the forest. But the girls were already using their water bending to stop the fire from spreading.

         "The fire is spreading too fast!" Ama shouted at him. "We need to trust that Zuko and Azula figure their shit out." A few minutes later Aang showed up, jumping right into helping the others put out the fire. "Is Zuko okay? Does he need my help?"

         "Zuko will be fine, Ama." Aang told her. But the slight panic in his voice from trying to put out the fire worried Ama.

         "I'm going to help him." The water bender dropped her water and was about to sprint to the direction Aang came from. But before she could actually leave, Zuko and Azula walked into the clearing. Which just so happened to be when Katara extinguished the last fire.

         "Aang! Are we ready to leave?" Zuko wondered, not even acknowledging what just happened.

         "You're sister just set fire to half the land-scape!" Aang angrily told him.

         "Even with Aang's help, it took us until now to put everything out!" Katara added.

         "Nature hates you!" Sokka shouted at Azula.

         "So, uh. You guys aren't fighting anymore?" Ama was careful when she asked it.

         "We've arrived at an understanding." Zuko told them. By the annoyed look on Azula's face, he must have been semi-right.

         "That's what you said when this whole thing started?" Sokka complained while Zuko and Azula were climbing up Appa and into the saddle. "Since then she's tried to kill us, like, twelve times!"

         "Come on. Time to go to Hira'a." Zuko called to them.

         "Are you louts coming or not?" Azula glared at them. The rest of the group glanced at each other unsurely, but there wasn't much to do. So, they climbed Appa and resumed their journey.

.☽☼☾.

         When they arrived at Mira'a, the group changed into their Fire Nation outfits to better fit in.

         "We need to hide our identities. We'll get mobbed if people figure out we're the Avatar and Fire Lord." Zuko spoke to Aang more than the others, putting his hood over his hair.

         "Don't worry. After hiding from you for all those months, we're masters of disguise." Aang responded, finishing up tying his head scarf over his arrow.

         "Aang, that headband of yours is cute, but as a disguise it worked a lot better when you had hair." Katara said in a sweet tone.

         "See! A fake beard made of sky bison fur! A classic!" Sokka pointed out the beard and mustache he had made and put on his face.

         "Get away from me! You smell like a wet possum-pigeon!" Azula insulted and took a step away from the Water Tribe boy.

         When they got into town, the first thing they noticed was a huge crowd around a stage.

         "I thought Hira'a was supposed to be a small town. Why is it so crowded?" Aang wondered.

         At the same time, Sokka sneezed, most of his fake beard flying off. "Aww, Sokka, your poor beard." Ama laughed, swiping the remainder of the fur off of him.

         "Ama." The boy whined with a pout.

         The group moved closer to the stage to see. "Looks like they're performing some kind of play." Aang noted.

         "I recognize that scene!" Zuko said with some excitement in his voice. "It's the final battle in Love Amongst Dragons." The group turned to the play to watch the scene.

         "Wretched water spirit! Not that I've escaped your curse and regained my true nature, you shall pay for your trickery!" The actor in the red dragon costume dramatically pointed at the other actor on the stage

         "Have you learned nothing from your time amongst the mortals." The actor in the blue water spirit costume responded. "By threatening me, you invite your own doom." The actors flung ribbons at each other that correspond with their element. The red dragon jumped over the blue actor, the ribbons hitting them. "No! Curse you, foul dragon!"

         "The young man playing the emperor this year was extraordinary don't you think?" An old man in front of them spoke to the old woman next to him.

         "Oh yes!" The old woman agreed. "Much better than last year's fellow!"

         "Remember when mother used to take us to watch the Ember Island players perform this play?" Zuko asked his sister. "Afterwards on the beach, you and I would reenact this very scene. I don't get why I always had to be the dark water spirit."

         "Clearly, I made a better dragon emperor." Azula snarked.

         "Shh, the best part is coming up!" The old man from before shushed the two.

         "How dare you shush me! Do you know who I-!" Azula snapped and was ready for fight.

         "Azula! Please!" Zuko held her back and bought her arm.

         "Though I was trapped in the body of a mortal, you willingly gave me your heart! I cannot help but give you mine in return." The red dragon held the water spirit actress in his arms.

         "Only with your glory hidden in false form could you finally recognize my devotion." The water spirit said back and they kissed through the masks.

         The crowd cheered and clapped at the ending. Katara and Aang kissed at the same time. Once it died down, the crowd began to disperse.

         "Everybody's leaving! What do we do now?" Aang wondered.

         "Let me ask around." Zuko said, turning to the old couple from earlier. "Excuse me. We're looking for information on a woman named Ursa. I believe she lived here many years ago."

         "Ursa... Ursa..." The old man thought, stroking his beard. "Wasn't she the magistrate's daughter?"

         "Oh yes!" The old woman nodded. "Rumor has it she-"

         "Excuse me." Another voice interrupted in between Katara and Sokka, scaring them. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." The man said, taking off the blue mask from the play. "My name is Noren. I'm the director of the Hira'a acting troupe. Ursa was once a member."

         "Really?" Zuko asked with excitement.

         "That's right!" The old woman's memory jolted. "She always wanted to play the dragon empress, but never got the chance! Didn't she-"

         "We should find a quiet place to talk. Away from the crowds." Noren suggested to keep away from the gossiping town. "You're all welcome to my home. We'll share some tea and I'll tell you everything I know."

         "It would be an honor. Thank you." Zuko bowed his head and they followed the man to his house.

.☽☼☾.

        The house was small and simple. Aang and Katara sat at the dinner table and spoke with Noren's wife, Noriko. Zuko, Ama and Azula sat by the door. They were waiting for Noren and Sokka to return with the tea.

        A little girl that they met when they arrived poked her head inside, nervous to approach the strangers in her home. Ama waved softly at her with a kind smile, making the little girl giggle. Finally stepping inside with her hands behind her back, she approached Zuko since he was closer to the door.

        "Wanna meet my doll?" She timidly asked. She couldn't have been older than six or seven years old. She wore pink, with was more common for young Fire Nation girls, and had short brown hair.

        "No." Azula said dryly.

        "Of course." Zuko said at the same time with a cheerful tone.

        "This is Kiyi!" She pulled out her doll from behind her back. It was a small stuffed doll with a pick dress and very short hair.

        "I thought your name was Kiyi." Zuko chuckled lightly.

        "It's such a good name, I used it twice!" She happily smiled.

        "Well, little Kiyi has a very interesting haircut." Ama pointed out the incredibly short cut hair.

        "I wanted to make her prettier, but it didn't turn out very good." The little girl said a bit sadly.

        "My sister did stuff like that when she was a kid." Zuko glanced at Azula. Her arms where crossed while she scoffed.

        "That's right. Only I didn't give my dolls haircuts, I gave them headcuts! Would you like me to show you?" Azula threatened with a proud smile.

        "No!" Kiyi held her doll closs and faced away from Azula.

        "Azula! Stop it!" Zuko warned.

        Noren and Sokka walked into the house with the tea and some snacks. "Kiyi, are you being hospitable to our guests?" Noren asked his daughter.

        "I'm trying." She innocently said.

        "Mind if I join the conversation, dear?" He asked, kissing his wife's cheek.

        "Just sharing some advice about life and love." Noriko replies, blushing lightly at the kiss.

        "Ah! Well, you are Hira'a's foremost expert on those subjects." He praised his wife.

        "According to you." She said bashfully.

        "I must admit, I was a little suspicious when you all started asking about Ursa." Noren offered them all tea. "But Sokka tells me you're drama historians!"

        "How wonderful!" Norika grinned. "It's about time the Hira'a acting troupe got a little recognition!"

        "Drama historians? Really?" Katara whisper-scolded her brother.

        "Great cover story, right?" Sokka whispered back. "I just opened my mouth and there it was!"

        "Ursa, the woman you asked about was probably the troupe's most famous member- but not for her acting." Noren explained. "Years ago, she was, well, taken to the capital city on some sort of official business. We're not supposed to talk about her anymore, but people can't help speculating."

        "Supposedly she married into the royal family." Norika added. "This all happened before I came to town, but even I've heard the rumors."

        "What about Ikem?" Zuko asked. The name was unrecognizable by Ama, but she didn't want to question it.

        "Ikem?" Noren was surprised at the name. "My, you've done your research! Ikem was an actor, too. Ursa's boyfriend, I believe. He disappeared shortly after Ursa left."

        "Folks say he ran off to Forgetful Valley." Norika said.

        "Forgetful Valley?" Aang pondered.

        "A forest at the bottom of a canyon, just outside of town." Norika clarified. "The heartbroken go there to forget their lives. You know, I vaguely remember hearing that Ursa came back to town years later, looking for Ikem. They say she went after him to Forgetful Valley."

        "That can't be true!" Noken disagreed. "No one's seen or heard from Ursa since she was taken to the Capital City."

        Norika sighed. "Well, if it is true, it's awfully romantic!"

        "Romantic or tragic? Forgotten valley is a dark, dangerous place, no one who enters ever returns." Noren's face twisted at his wife's idea of 'romantic'.

.☽☼☾.

        "Noren and Noriko, you've been more than generous. Thank you for the information." Zuko thanked the family as they all bowed at the door. It was already dark out and most of the town had gone to bed.

        "And for sharing your home with us." Ama added.

        "You'll come again?" Kiyi asked, tugging at Zuko's sleeve. "Please please please?"

        "I really hope so, Kiyi." Zuko smiled at the little girl.

        "You're good with kids." Ama told her boyfriend, intertwining their hands as they walked away. Zuko chuckled like he didn't really agree with her. The waterbender hummed and shook her head. "You don't give yourself enough credit, dragonfly."

        Zuko looked down at his girlfriend, her eyes looking up at him and a bright smile. No matter how many times she used that nickname or how often she smiled, Zuko always felt loved by her. He sometimes did feel shame and unloved, which prompted for him to ask her if she still loved him.

        It wasn't like Ama didn't feel the same sometimes. After all, she was just a girl from the Water Tribe. And her boyfriend was, well, the Fire Lord. And sometimes she got the feeling that he didn't trust her and kept things to himself. Just like now. Ama understood that Zuko had his own personal journey, but being kept in the dark when all she wanted to do was help hurt her.

        "Ugh. More than once tonight I was tempted to burn that whole place down! But I resisted for you, Zuzu. I hope you appreciate it." Azula grumbled as they arrived at their campsite.

        "How could you even think that about such a lovely family?!" Katara asked Azula with anger and disgust.

        "Oh please. Their charade disgusted me." Azula grumbled. "Nobody's that happy!"

        "Aang and I are that happy!" Katara claimed.

        "Because you two are idiots." The lightning bender claimed.

        "Hey, Zuko?" Aang started to speak from behind Zuko and Ama. "I'm sorry I blew up at you this morning. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all this. I can't imagine what it's like for you. Even so, I don't think we should try to find Ikem. This is gonna sound harsh, but it's best if it stays lost in history. We'll burn the letter when we have the chance and-"

        "I don't have the letter anymore. Azula took it back." Zuko said. Ama took between the two with confusion. She had no idea what either of the two were talking about. What was in the letter? Why can't they even mention it? As much as she wanted to ask, she kept quiet.

        "And you let her?!" Aang said in a mad tone.

        "We need to focus on the task at hand, and that's looking for my mother." Zuko had a firm tone. "We'll figure everything else out later, including where – and who – I'm supposed to be."

        "Zuko, listen to me! When people come to your throne room and bow, they're not bowing to you." Aang argued. "They're bowing to what you represent: a new era of love and peace! So it doesn't matter who your real dad is, you have to stay Fire Lord!" Ama's eyes widened in surprise and she looked over at Zuko, deep in thought. "You're not Fire Lord for you. You're Fire Lord for all of us!"

        "Zuko, is there something you're not telling me?" Ama's tone was investigative and agitated when she asked him. Zuko's eyes widened, like he completely forgot that she was there.

        "You didn't tell her?" Aang asked him with wide eyes.

        "I-" Zuko started, but was interrupted by Sokka.

        "How much longer do you expect to keep this crew together, Zuko?" The Water Tribe boy was frantic about how escalated Katara and Azula's fight was getting. "I give it another two minutes tops before something's either on fire or encased in ice."

        Zuko sighed and looked over at Sokka and Aang. "One more place to visit and then we're done." He said. "We're going to Forgetful Valley."

        "Great." Ama grumbled, crossing her arms. Azula and Katara's shouting getting louder by the minute. "Just more time for lies and the urge to punch Azula." Then she walked off to get her sleeping bag.

        "What did you do to my sister?" Ama heard Sokka's brotherly tone ask Zuko.

        The Fire Lord looked dumbfounded as he watched Ama stomp off. It took him a moment before running after her. "Waterlily, wait." He called out to her. The girl unraveled her sleeping bag and placed it on the ground. "Can we talk?"

        "I don't know, Zuko. Do you actually want to talk about it or do you just feel like you need to?" Her voice sounded defeated and betrayed, but also angry.

        "I- I actually want to talk." He said softly while the waterbender smoothened out the sleeping bag. Ama wasn't a stubborn person, at least not as stubborn as Katara.

        A large part of her wanted to stay bitter. If he didn't want her opinion on matters, she didn't want to give it. But she still loved Zuko. And the more empathetic side of her told her to hear him out. The brunette sighed as she stood up. Her arms were crossed when she shrugged, signaling that she'll talk.

        The two left the camp and found a tree to sit under. The moon lit the sky enough that they could see each other fine. Ama sat crisscrossed and kept her head facing the ground, picking at the grass beside her. Zuko found it hard to pin down what she was feeling, but the most he understood was that she felt hurt.

        "I didn't lie to you." Was the first thing he said, but Ama's scoff kept him from saying must else.

        "No but you kept something from me." She grumbled. "Look, I'm not mad, I'm just... I don't know. All I know is that you talked to Aang instead of me. Which is all fine. I have nothing against you asking for his advice. Not only is he the Avatar but your best friend. But, am... am I not enough?"

        Zuko was taken aback. His eyebrows pinched together as he looked at her. "Where did you get that idea from?"

        "Zuko, you don't talk to me about anything." Ama ran her hands through her hair, taking her top-knot off and letting her brown hair cascade down her shoulders and chest. "You don't ask for advice when it comes to Fire Lord duties no matter how stressed you get, you don't talk to me about what's on your mind. Yu Dao is the perfect example. And just now, you didn't talk to me about, what exactly, your real dad? What's that about? It's like you don't even want my advice."

        "Okay, so." Zuko was still processing what she had said. "There's a lot to unpack here. I can understand why you feel that way, I guess. I don't talk to you about somethings, cause, Ama, I have so much on my shoulders as Fire Lord, I don't want you to have to worry about my struggles."

        "Zuko, I can handle stress." Ama interrupted. "I'm not only great on the battlefield, but I'm also great at solving problems. I hate seeing you so on edge and then not let me help you."

        "I'm sure you are." He smiled lightly as he looked at her. "I suppose I can start asking for your advice more frequently."

        "And about your dad, or not dad, or whatever?" She wasn't quite sure got to word that question.

        "In the letter that Azula had," He started, leaning back into the tree and looking up at the sky. "It was from my mom to a man named Ikem."

        "Wasn't he the man that Horen said was her boyfriend when she lived here?" Ama recalled.

        "Yeah." Zuko said. "In the letter, it said that I was their son."

        "Wow." Ama took it in. "How do you feel about it?"

        "It would explain a lot about how Ozai treated me, and it makes me hopeful, in a sense." He responded, thinking to himself. "But what Aang was talking about was my legitimacy on the throne."

        "It makes sense." Ama shrugged, leaning into his side. "What are you going to do if it's true?"

        "I don't know yet." He muttered, like he was thinking about it. "There's more to take into account than just myself."

        "Do I have permission to give advice?" Ama teased. Zuko chuckled and then nodded. "I agree with Aang. On keeping it a secret. Cause if you're not Fire Lord, I guess that would mean Azula would be. And that would be a disaster."

        "Yeah, I'd just prefer to cross that bridge when we get there."

        "I can understand that. But you will need to be prepared to make a rational decision."

        "I know." He moved his body sit more across from her. "We make a good team."

        "We've been a good team, I think you just failed to notice it until now." The water bender sent her boyfriend a knowing smirk.

        A deep hum of agreement came from Zuko's throat as he leaned in closer to her. "I promise you, I will never keep you out again."

        "Good." Ama smiled, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek. "And I promise you, I will always be here for you."

        "Can we make out now?" He asked. Ama laughed, her hand finding its way behind his head, pulling his face close to hers.

        "Yeah." She grinned, meeting his lips in the middle.

.☽☼☾.

        The next morning, the team headed to the dark and murky forest known as the Forgetful Valley. The trees looked to be never ending and moss grew on the sides.

        "So this must be the Forgetful Valley!" Aang looked at the forest with awe.

        "How do you know? Are you detecting something with your special Avatar powers?" Sokka wondered.

        "No. It says so on the sign." Aang pointed out the very obvious sign to their left.

        "Oh." Sokka looked over at it and frowned one hearing his older sister laugh at him.

        "So, where do we go from here?" Katara gave a look around the forest.

        "I'm not sure. There's not even a path." Zuko replied.

        "Come on, Zuzu!" Azula called, stepping ahead of the group. "For a true firebender there's alway a path!" She shot large flames of blue into the thicket, burning away the grass and leaves.

        "What are you doing!" Ama shouted, stepping back to avoid the heat.

        "I suppose one of you imbeciles has a better idea on how to proceed?" Azula complained, crossing her arms. Zuko, Aang and Katara were both putting out the fire.

        "Any idea is better than burning down the whole forest!" Ama shouted at her.

        "What'd I tell you last time you did something like this?" Sokka joined in. "Oh, yeah. Nature hates you."

        "Quiet, guys! I'm detecting something with my special Avatar powers! It's kinda making me wanna go..." Aang told them to stop and turned around to face them. His face was twisted up. One eyebrow was arched up, the other arched down and a frown. "Like this."

        "Sweetie, not with the faces again!" Katara worried.

        "No, no. I think Aang is onto something!" Sokka spoke." If you look carefully, there are actually faces all over the place!" and then he stood by a leaf two times the side of his head. "Check out this leaf!" He pointed.

        "Sokka, stop! Aang can't help it, but you're just being a jerk!" Katara said.

        But her brother just ignored her then moved to a squirrel-toad. "And that squirrel-toad!" Then by a tree. "And the bark of this tree!" Then he pointed up. "And that giant flutter-bat over there! Aang, the patterns on its wings sort of look like the face you're making!"

        "Hey, you're right!" Aang realized that Sokka wasn't spewing nonsense like usual. The airbender then ran after the bat. "Don't fly away, Mr. Flutter-bat! I think we're meant to be friends!"

        "Aang, don't run off by yourself! You don't know what's out there!" Katara shouted to him, trying to follow him even though the boy was jumping from tree to tree. "Aang?!" They lost sight of him after a while, but kept running in the direction they saw him go.

        "I'm over here!" Aang called. The group finally found him standing by a still, circular pool of water. "Check this out!"

        "I've never seen water so clear and so still." Katara noted in awe.

        "Like a perfect pane of glass." Zuko added.

        "This feels so familiar... so tranquil." Aang bowed his head like he was feeling the energies around him. "It reminds me of Tui and La's pool in the Northern Water Tribe. Be respectful, everybody. This is a very spiritual place."

        Azula stared into the water and narrowed her eyes. "You again!" She shouted out of nowhere. "Don't you ever shut up?!" She pointed her fingers, generating lightning and shooting it at the pond.

        "Azula, no!" Zuko shouted, despite her not listening.

        "What'd I just say about being respectful?!" Aang shouted in anger.

        "She told you to lead me here, didn't she?!" Azula shot a flame of fire at Aang, who luckily moved to the side. "So she could keep tormenting me with her lies!"

        "That's enough!" Zuko shot fire back.

        "You're right, Zuko, it is enough!" Katara bent the pond water up. "We've tried to put up with her but she's too dangerous!" But before she could actually use the water, throwing stars made of flowers were flung at them from across the pond.

        "These are the prettiest throwing stars I've ever seen!" Aang observed on stuck in a tree.

        "It's like the forest itself is attacking us." Katara said.

        "Because nature hates her!" Sokka pointed his thumb at Azula.

        "Head's up! More are coming!" Warned Zuko.

        Aang bent a pillar from the earth, shielding him and Sokka while Zuko flung his arms to the sides, creating a flame that shielded himself, Ama and Katara. Some throwing stars did slip past the barriers but no one has gotten hurt.

        "I think I understand what's happening!" Ama realized as she stood next to her brother. "Sokka, did you see how that flower shattered against your clubs?"

        "Yeah?" Sokka wasn't catching on.

         Ama bent down, picking up the broken flower and breaking a piece off. Tiny pieces of ice shattering with it. "It shattered like ice. Somebody's bending the water in these flowers!"

        "They're not just bending the flowers, they're bending the vines too!" Sokka warned. The vines twisted and bent at the group. Sokka threw his boomerang to cut the vines attacking Aang. Azula surprised everyone when she burned off the vines attacking Sokka. "Uh... Thanks?"

        "The more peasants I have fighting for me, the better chance I have of surviving the nightmare forest!" Azula justified her one act of 'kindness.' Her fist was still smoking.

        "A little help here?!" Zuko called. The vines pinned his clothing to a tree.

        "Hold still!" Aang told him, using his airbending to slice the vines. But then the vines pinned him onto the ground. Aang worked fast to get the vines off. "Hang on, guys! If we can keep calm, we'll figure something out!"

        "How do you keep calm when nature's about to skewer you?!" Sokka shouted. The vines pointing ends flying at them.

        Katara and Ama shared a glance that only two waterbending sisters could share. They took their beginning bending stance, back-to-back and moved in sync, the two bent the water in the vines and leaves. Circling it around them to keep it from getting to their friends. They both glared into the distance, ready for whoever was there. "Whoever you are, you're not the only one who can waterbend! Show yourself!" Katara's commanding tone came out.

        Two people stepped out of the shadows. They were both dressed in water tribe clothing. The woman had two braids on each side of her head and was leading the taller man by holding his hand. The man was slightly hunched over and had a wooden mast over his face with two holes for eyes. They both looked incredibly saddened and exhausted, but not dangerous.

.☽☼☾.

         The two older people invited the group of teens to a clearing where they had made camp. Just a small clearing by the pond. There was a pot of stew prepared for themselves, but they were able to split enough of it for everyone. They learned that the woman's name was Misu and her brother was Rafa from the Northern Water Tribe.

         "I apologize for attacking you earlier." The woman started to explain herself. "My brother and I just aren't used to seeing other humans around here. When we heard the commotion we thought a forest animal was disturbing the pool. It must remain undisturbed."

         "That's what I told them!" Aang exclaimed, his tone in a very 'I told you so' way. "This is a very spiritual place."

         "That's right, Avatar. There are actually three other pools just like this in Forgetful Valley. They all must remain undisturbed." The woman nodded. She seemed very knowledgeable of the forest, and by the looks of it, they survived there for a very long time.

         "Misu, this stew is delicious!" Sokka complimented, licking his lips. "It reminds me of-"

         "-The seaweed stew of the Northern Water Tribe?" Misu finished with a questioning tone.

         "That's it!" Sokka exclaimed.

         The woman laughed at his excitement. "Rafa and I made do with what we can find here."

         "So how did two people from the Northern Water Tribe end up in a Fire Nation forest?" Katara wondered, speaking on what most of the group were thinking.

          Misu's eyes saddened as she recalled her past. "Growing up, my brother and I were complete opposites. I was quiet and studious. He was loud and brash. I followed the rules. He lived to break them." As she spoke, it sort of sounded like she was describing Sokka and Katara. They were both different in the same way. While Ama was somewhere in between.

         "He'd often bring home things he'd stolen from our tribe's most powerful people: a waterbender's pouch, a warrior's club, the chief's battle helmet." Misu continued. "Each time, I yelled at him to return the items, and he always did. He just wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it. The people he stole from were always so embarrassed that he never got into real trouble.

         "Well, one day his luck ran out. I found him alone on the ice, his face horribly disfigured. It changed his life - our lives - forever. I took him to our people's most experienced healers, but none of them could do a thing for him."

         "So I helped him the best way I knew how. I went to the library and began to study." Misu said. "In an ancient Fire Nation scroll, I learned about a powerful spirit who would visit a certain fire nation forest from time to time. This spirit had the power to give people to heal Rafa."

         "I made it my life's mission to bring my brother here. I knew it would be dangerous for two Water Tribe folk to sneak into the Fire Nation. So I spent years figuring out how to water bend to fight. I had to learn secretly. On my own since-"

         "-In the Northern Water Tribe, women water benders were only allowed to heal." Ama finished the sentence. Cringing at the thought of how sexist the Northern Water Tribe has been and still is in one way or another. "Things are different now."

         "After many failed attempts, we finally made it to Forgetful Valley. We've lived here ever since, hoping to encounter the spirit." Misu finished her life story.

         "How come Rafa hasn't eaten anything?" Sokka asked, noticing that the brother was just sitting there silently.

         "Ever since his injury, Rafa's been caught between life and death, he doesn't eat anymore. He doesn't do much of anything." Misu sulked.

         "So, you've spent almost your whole life trying to heal your brother." Aang seemed interested.

         "Of course, I'm his sister." Misu said, like it was common knowledge.

         "Of course." Katara agreed, looking over at Sokka.

         "No matter how much of a pain they are." Ama added, nudging Sokka, unlike the kind words from Katara.

         Zuko and Azula shifted uncomfortably, looking in opposite directions to avoid each other. "Sorry to interrupt your sob story-" Azula grumbled.

         "Azula! Don't be rude!" Zuko whispered to her.

         "-But we're here on a mission of our own. We're looking for a woman named Ursa." Azula ignored her brother.

         "I'm sorry, but we haven't seen her." Miss regretted saying. "The forest was pretty quiet until you all arrived."

         "So this spirit you're looking for," Aang started to question. "What's it supposed to look like?"

         "It is a she." Misu corrected him. "I don't know what she looks like, but when she approaches, the forest tells us. Face-like patterns begin to manifest on the leaves of the trees, the wings of the insects, and the backs of animals."

         "Hey, we saw that! So the spirit must be near!" Sokka pointed out.

         "Then on a night like tonight, a giant wolf bearing the markings of a face travels from far away to drink from one of the forest's four pools." Misu explained.

         "That's the wolf spirit who puked moth-wasps at us!" Aang exclaimed.

         "Whichever pool he drinks from, there the spirit appears." Misu told them. "The spirit has passed through Forgetful Valley many times since we arrived, but we always seem to be at the wrong pool." Misu sighed in disappointment. "And I believe we missed her again. If this were the right pool, the wolf would have been here by now." She turned to her brother and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, brother. We'll keep trying."

         Aang furrowed his eyebrows and looked over at the pool before standing up and walking to the pool. "No! There's gotta be something I can do! After all, I'm the Avatar, the great-"

         "-The great bridge between the spirits and the humans, we know, we know!" Sokka finished sarcastically.

         "I'm gonna cross over to the spirit world and try to get that giant wolf spirit to come here." Aang cross his legs when he sat down and began to meditate to get into the spirit world.

         "Beh! This is a waste of time." Azula grumbled and stood up.

         "Where are you going?" Zuko asked. But his sister just ignored him and started to walk into the thicket. Making Zuko follow her. "Azula!" He called. Ama watched him follow her, lucky they didn't get far so no one would have to worry about making sure Azula didn't run off.

         The two fire siblings spoke a bit until Azula shouted something about her mother and slowing her down and then ran back towards the camps and jumped by the lake.

         "It's not going to work!" She shouted, generated lighting into her two fingers and pointed at the group. "You hear me, mother?! It's not going to work!"

         "I said stop!" Zuko jumped between Azula and the group. Azula shot the lighting at her brother. Zuko took the lightning through his left arm, directing it though his body, and then shooting it into the sky. The lightning made smoke come from his arms and his hair spike up. "Did you forget, Azula? I know how to deal with your lightning."

         "Whoa. I think I might be scared of you again." Sokka cowered back a bit.

         "Misu and Rafa have nothing to do with our mother!" Zuko told his sister. "How could you even think-"

         "But that's exactly what she wants you to believe!" Azula spoke like a crazy person, confusing everyone. "Zuzu, how could you be so naive."

         "You're right. I have been naive." Zuko agreed. But not in the way that Azula meant. He had been naive to think that Azula could be trusted. He turned back at the Water Tribe siblings, already standing in a fighting position. "Take her down."

         "Finally." Ama smirked, bending some water around her.

         "Gladly!" Katara bent her own water to fling at the fire bender.

         "It's about time!" Sokka also commented, and flung his boomerang. Azula shot fire back, but the others dodged them and focused their attack on her.

         "No, don't do this." Misu pleaded. "The Avatar is trying to bring the spirit here! You mustn't cause such a disturbance!"

         Ama shot water at Azula's feet, freezing it to keep her stuck. Their fight was interrupted by Aang's voice. "She's right, stop!" Everyone was a bit surprised but listened to him none-the-less.

         "Aang, you're back!" Katara excitedly said.

         "Whew! It's just you, Aang! This forest is creepy, I half expected another creepy-face!" Sokka sighed in relief.

         "You mean like those?" Aang pointed at the faces, or masks, floating at the top of the pond and more kept coming one by one. Sokka jumped back with a scream at the sight. "Listen to Misu, everybody! No more fighting! We're about to have a visitor."

         Everyone stared at the water as more and more faces plopped out of the water. Suddenly, the water at the center shot up as a large woman came out. She was made of vines, or wood, either way her body was made of nature. Her head had faces all around, but no eyes and multiple horns on top of her head.

         "I am the Mother of Faces." She introduced herself. Her voice was angelic and soft, but also commanding of respect. "Through me, separateness came into the world. Through me, came identity. The one became many. I am a generous spirit, softhearted and kind."

         "Maybe she knows where my mother is." Zuko whispered to Aang and Ama.

         "Spirits know a lot of things, you should definitely ask." Aang whispered back.

         "Each season, I grant one favor to one human. You may make your request now." The Mother of Faces told them.

         "Wait. Just one?" Aang asked, looking back at Misu and Zuko. He was conflicted.

         "Humans like you often chase after me, begging for new identities. Have you come to do the same?" The Mother of Faces said.

         "See, here's the thing," Aang had a cheerful and hopeful smile while holding up two fingers. "We actually need two favors. I'm sure a big and gigantic yet beautiful and loving spirit like you can handle two favors, right? Your, uh. Face-iness."

         "Do not test my generosity, young Avatar." The Mother of Faces said clearly. "One."

         "They've waited for so long. If there's only one, it should be theirs." Zuko said, looking at the Northern Water tribe siblings.

         "I'm sorry, Zuko. We'll keep looking for Ursa on our own after this." Aang gave his friend a reassuring pat on the back.

         "Go ahead, Misu." Zuko motioned for the woman to talk the favor.

         "Thank you, thank you!" The woman repeated happily.

         "Ridiculous!" Azula shouted, breaking the ice on her foot and storming over to the water.

         "M-mother of Faces, on behalf of my b-brother, I ask..." Misu began to make her request.

         "You're such a constant disappointment, Zuzu!" Azula shoved past her brother. "Even when you're strong, you're weak!"

         "Azula!" Zuko shouted at his ignorant sister.

         "We seek a princess of the Fire Nation named Ursa!" Azula stepped in front of the unfortunate woman. "Tell me where to find her!"

         "No!" Misu called. But it was pointless. The favor was already asked.

         "Ursa." The Mother of Faces showed a holographic picture of Zuko and Azula's mother. "I remember her. I could not understand why a human of such beauty would ask for a new face. To test her sincerity, I offered her one as plain as can be." The spirit energy that created the picture of Ursa turned into a different person, the same woman that allowed the group into her home. Noriko. "She accepted."

         "That's Noriko!" Zuko's eyes widened in surprise. "Azula, our mother is-" He stopped speaking when he looked back and didn't see his sister.

         "She's gone!" Sokka noted, looking around for the girl.

         "I know exactly where she's going." Zuko started to run in the direction of the town. "Back to Hira'a, back to Noren's house!"

         "Wait!" Misu shouted and pointed Zuko into a different direction. "You're trying to get back to the Fire Nation town just outside the forest? There's a shortcut this way."

         "Thank you." Zuko spoke to Misu.

         "You were so kind to us." Misu had a thankful, yet disappointed, tone when she spoke.

         "I'm sorry-" Zuko started to apologize for his sister.

         "Go." Misu urged.

         Zuko didn't think twice before running through the forest. But he wasn't going alone. Sokka and Ama followed him.

         "Hold on, Zuko!" Sokka called and caught up to the Fire Lord. "I know sisters can be a pain to deal with, and mine aren't even crazy. You're gonna need backup."

         "And emotional support!" Ama added.

         "Thanks." Zuko smiled at the two, knowing they would always have his back.

         As they arrived at the house, it was dark out so the lights from inside were on and shining through the window.

         "It's so quiet." Sokka whispered.

         "Too quiet." Zuko responded. He didn't like it. Because quiet could mean they were too late. Zuko leaned on the wall, trying to get a glimpse inside.

         "Zuko what's going on in there?" Ama asked. "Noren's family... Don't tell me Azula..."

         "No. They're fine." Zuko muttered, looking in through the window and seeing the family of three at the table. Noriko, or Ursa, was wiping her daughter's mouth. "They're eating dinner."

         "Whew." Sokka breathed out in relief. "Thought maybe your sister had done something awful."

         "Good thing Misu's shortcut worked." Zuko clenched his fist, knowing that meant Azula was on her way.

         "So," Ama stepped by her boyfriend, looking through the window for a glimpse of the family. "That's really your mom?"

          "That's her." Zuko sighed. And then started to walk to the front of the house. "Listen. I'm going inside. Can you guys stay here and keep an eye out for Azula?"

         "Sure. Anything you need, Zuko." Sokka said confidently, putting his hand on his hips.

         "Zuko." Ama sofly grabbed his hand, spinning him into her. "You sure you don't want me in there with you?" She asked softly.

         "I think this is something I have to do alone. But I'll tell you everything later." He smiled and bent down to her lever, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Leaving the blushing girl, Zuko knocked on the door, ready to talk with his family.

         "You know, it's bad enough that I have to deal with one mushy, affectionate couple." Sokka grumbled as Ama leaned on the wall next to him.

          "Oh, shush. If Suki were here, you'd be the same." Ama teased, raising her eyebrows as she noticed the heart eyes and the gushy expression on Sokka's face. "Okay, buddy. Keep your heart eyes peeled for Azula."

         The next few minutes were quiet. Ama and Sokka kept their focus on finding Azula. And that wasn't much of a problem. The lightning bender didn't exactly try to sneak past them. She charged at them right on.

         Seeing the insane girl speed towards them, Ama bent some water, sending icicles in her direction. Azula responded by generating lightning and shooting it at her. Unlike last time, Ama saw it coming and was prepared. She bent the water underneath her and shot herself onto the roof of the house.

         Azula grumbled something and shot herself up on the roof as well. Backing up slightly, Ama prepared for another attack. "You know, Ama. You really aren't the kind of girl I thought Zuzu would end up with." Azula pulled her strings.

         "I know what you're doing, Azula." Ama grumbled. Azula liked to pick at insecurities and put wedges between people. It was how her opponents were left off balance and opened themselves up to defeat.

         "Oh, what's that?" Azula smirked. "I'm just trying to help. Zuko likes his space, which you obviously don't respect. That's why Mai was so perfect for him."

         Ama narrowed her eyes, throwing a water whip at her to get Azula off the roof. But Azula swung under it and created a blue flame in her hand. Sokka had just climbed onto the roof and threw his boomerang, hitting Azula in the back of her head, which prevented her from throwing the fireball.

         The water bender tried the water whip again. Azula jumped above it this time. While midair, she generated lighting so while falling back down, the lightning hit the roof, creating a hole underneath the three and falling through.

         Ama fell on her back, knocking the wind out of her and she struggled to catch her breath. But not only that, the back of her head hit something hard, immediately giving her the worst headache and distorting her vision.

         "I said get out of my way!" Azula shouted at Zuko while falling and threw a fireball at his chest. Throwing him on the ground. She then turned to look at her mother, who was very confused about what was happening. Like she didn't even recognize Azula. "You finally! I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of this moment!"

         "Mommy!" Kiyi yelled for her mother, but her dad kept her on his lap.

         "Tell me mother, did you have to have a new daughter because your last one turned out to be such a monster?" Azula shouted the question. Both her pointed fingers generated lightning.

         "Stay back, Azula!" Sokka warned while Zuko was still getting their strength back and Ama held her head in pain.

         "Ha ha!" Azula tauntingly laughed. "Back for more, snow peasant?! Where's your little toy?"

         "Right there." Sokka pointed just as his boomerang came back around and hit Azula on the backside of her head, again. "Everybody scatter!"

         Sokka headed to Noren, or Ikem, and Kiyi to get them out. "I need to help my wife!" Noren reached for his wife.

         "Let's make sure your daughter's safe first! Move!" Sokka prioritized, leading them out the door, then looked over at his sister. "Ama, let's go!" But he saw his sister on her side, holding the back of her head and her eyes shut tight. "Damn it. Do I have to do everything?" Running over to his sister and picking up, Sokka got her out of the house just then Azula started getting up.

         "Sokka, is Zuko..." The waterbender started to ask through her splintering headache.

         "Ama, can't you just worry about yourself for once." He sighed, setting her on the ground against a log.

         Then Azula ran out, past the people outside and towards the Forgetful Valley. "Azula!" Zuko chased after her. "Come back!" And soon Noriko was running after the two as well.

         "Ama stay here." Sokka ordered her.

         "Oh please, I'm fine." Ama mumbled leaning on the log to get up. "I can't get knocked down that easy. Ahhh." The throbbing in her head wasn't going away and the sudden movements only made it worse. "Actually, I think I'll just stay here and heal myself." Sokka nodded and ran after the others.

         "Are you okay?" Kiyi asked, taking a seat next to the waterbender. Her brown eyes looked at Ama with innocence.

         "I will be." Ama smiled at her while she created a water glove and placed it on the back of her head. "Are you okay?" She asked in return, her headache already starting to fade. After all, the little girl just had her house broken into and her mother almost killed.

         "Yeah. I just hope that mommy's okay." The little girl looked down.

         "She will be." Ama told her with certainty in her voice. "She has Zuko and my brother with her."

         "What are you doing with the water?" Kiyi moved behind the waterbender and observed the glowing blue light curiously.

         "I'm healing myself." Ama told her just as she finished up.

         "Cool." Kiyi said in awe. She put her arm in front of Ama where there was a cut, probably from when Azula fell through the roof. "Can you do my arm."

         "Of course." Ama grinned, placing her gloved hand on Kiyi's arm. The cut healed almost immediately.

         "Wow." Kiyi grinned and giggled. "You're really cool."

         "Thanks. I think you're really cool." Ama poked the girls stomach making her giggle some more.

         "Can I tell you a secret." The little girl said in a whisper and scoot closer to the water bender.

         "Yeah." Ama whispered back, sinking further into the ground to be more at Kiyi's level. "What's your secret."

         "I'm scared." She whispered, her small arms hugging her legs. "That mean lady looked like she was going to hurt mommy."

         "You're mommy is going to be okay." Ama told her softly. "She just needs you to be brave. When she comes back, she's going to want a huge hug from you."

         Kiyi kept a frown on her face and shrugged. "I don't know if I can be brave."

         Ama had some experience with kids from when she was in the Water Tribe. None of them had their dad's with them, all of them were scared. Either because they thought the Maah, a spirit believed to drown misbehaving children, would come or because they feared their fathers wouldn't come back.

         The waterbender sometimes took it upon herself to speak to them. She'd tell them other stories about the helpful spirits and the animals that were there to protect them. A thought popped into Ama's head and her hand dug into her pant pocket.

         "Here." Ama said, pulling out her carving of a polar bear dog. Kiyi took it timidly and inspected it. "Where I grew up, we had polar bear dogs. They symbolize loyalty, strength and courage."

         "It's pretty." Kiyi fiddled with the little trinket.

         "It's yours." Ama told her. "Promise me that you'll be brave. Always."

         Kiyi looked up at the Water Tribe girl with the biggest grin. "Wow, thanks."

          Just then, the group came back as the sun was rising. Without Azula. But Zuko's mom looked different. At least, she didn't look like Noriko, she looked like Ursa. "What happened?" Ama asked Katara. Kiyi's dad called her over, so it was just Ama and Katara.

         "The Mother of Faces gave Zuko's mom her face and memories back." Katara answered. "But Azula got away."

         Ama groaned and ran her hand through her hair. "Damn it." Then she looked over to Zuko, who was talking to his mom. There was no anger or any hard feelings. But the conversation seemed understanding and happy. "At least we got what we came for." She smiled.

.☽☼☾.

         It must have been one or two hours till Zuko and Ursa walked back to the house. Everyone was inside, except for Ama and Sokka who wanted to be outside. Suddenly, a hand slid onto Ama's shoulder. Turning to her right, the water bender saw Zuko and his mom. Ama immediately stood up from the long.

         What do I say? Hi, I'm Ama. I'm also dating your son. Oh, and I'm also one of the people that got your previous husband in jail. Fun fact. Zuko and I tried to kill each other for the first months we knew each other.

         "Mom, this is Ama." Zuko introduced her, moving to his girlfriend's side and slipping his hand in her's.

         Or your boyfriend can just introduce you. That works better.

         "It's nice to meet you, Ama." Ursa smiled at her sweetly. "Zuko has already told me so much about you."

         "Hehe, I don't know if that should worry me or not." Ama smiled nervously. Zuko and Ursa both chuckled at her words.

         "All good, I promise." Ursa assured her. "I'm just glad my little Zuko found someone that makes him happy." Zuko blushed. But it wasn't like Ama didn't already know he loved her.

         "Shall we go inside?" The Fire Lord motioned towards the house.

         "We shall." Ama responded and they headed into the house.

         All while Sokka sat on the log outside with a frown. "Everyone forgets about Sokka." He grumbled to himself and started to stomp inside. "Honestly. No one around here respects me. It's all 'Sokka, do this. Sokka, do that.' But no 'Hey, Sokka. How ya doing?'"

.☽☼☾.

I would love feedback or if you have any questions, I'd be happy to respond!

Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼

[pink-bird-30]

Zutara Week 2020 Day 1-Reunion (When Fire and Water meet, again.)

Hi, I’m fairly new to the Zutara fandom, but also to Avatar: The last Airbender fandom as well.

I also know I’m 3 days late on this because I had no idea when Zutara week was, so I’m going to post at my own pace!

If You'd like to read my stories all together once the week is over, here is a link to my FF.Net:

(https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13657644/1/Zutara-Week-2020-All-Works)

Now, lets get to the good stuff!

“My Lord, there is someone here to see you.”  The Fire Nation guard said to the new Fire Lord.  Zuko looks up from his scrolls to scowl at the man bothering him at this hour.  It is late enough that the Fire Lord knows the moon was high in the sky, feeling the remanence of the day having long gone.

Zuko quickly finishes his thoughts and rolls the scroll up before handing it to the guard, “Have a carrier hawk deliver this to Ba Sing Se, it’s for my uncle.”

“As you wish, My lord.”  The guard bows before leaving Zuko’s study.  Zuko straightens his armor before stepping away from his pile of scrolls and leaves his study.  Zuko is aware the guard did not say where this guest was, but it didn’t take long for the Fire Lord to figure out their whereabouts.

Making his way down the fire lit halls, he tried his best to be as casual as possible.  But the newly crowned Fire Lord was excited to see a familiar face in these empty halls.

It’d been six months since Zuko took the thrown as the Fire Nation’s new Fire Lord.  With it came responsibilities he knew would be tough to deal with, especially with the new alliances with the four nations.  It took some time, but together with his friends, they were able to form a group of representatives from each nation.  Each one was responsible to keep peace with the other nations and report if there are any uprising from any Phoenix King fanatics.

In the beginning of his reign, Zuko was at a loss for how to move forward after they ended the 100 year war.  All they ever knew was war.  But with his friends help, he was able to turn their world around and create a world for all of them to coexist peacefully.  As of their last peace summit, everything was progressing smoothly for the four nations.  They were all content sitting in the council room discussing how things were changing in each nation.

But at every meeting during that week, Zuko always found his eyes wandering to the empty each next to Hadoka.  Zuko knew Katara left after his coronation to help bring peace across their world, but he had hoped she would have come back when her father came to represent her nation at the peace summit.

But instead he got stuck with Sokka and Suki.

Don’t get him wrong, he loves his friends.  But there’s only so much Zuko can take when the perfect couple constantly throws their perfect relationship in his face.  At the time, he and Mai had ended thing amicably, realizing they were not the same people they once were before Zuko joined Aang and his friends.

Sighing, the prince steps out into garden, using the full moon as his guide to the person sitting on the bench by the turtle duck pond.  Zuko found himself stopping a few feet from where the waterbender sat feeding bread to the few turtle ducks that were basking in the moonlight.  Zuko never felt such a peace encapsulate him while being in the presence of another.  

Slowly, Zuko starts to walk towards Katara, taking his time to think of what to say.  Give the amount of time apart from his friend, he’s unsure what to say.  It’s been so long since they’ve last spoken and seen one another. He can already see the changes in her appearance from being away the past few months.  Her hair is long and wild.  No longer confined to her loopsies and braid.  Her clothes were also different from the Water Tribe attire she worn religiously, but now she’s wearing traditional Fire Nation clothes of a maroon tube top and long flowy skirt.

Her soft giggles brough him from his trance long enough to see her eyes wander from the turtle ducks to him.  

“For a Fire Lord, you sorta suck at keeping quiet.” A smirk crossing her face.

Zuko is at a loss for words before continuing to approach her, “I don’t believe stealth is one of my best qualities if you recall.”

Katara laughs before tossing the rest of the bread to the turtle ducks and standing up to face Zuko.

“Well, you did have an entire fleet of men searching for us.  Wasn’t exactly subtle.”  She teases as she takes a cautious step closer to him, noticing how much he’s changed in the last few months.  His hair was longer, pushed back away from his face in a top knot.  He wore traditional Fire Lord armor, but Katara notices the small details that were different from his father’s.  Where Fire Lord Ozai’s attire had sharp edges and angles, Zuko has softness and elegance to his armor.  It’s more inviting than threatening.

Zuko finds himself stepping closer to the young waterbender, “Can I be honest?”

Katara’s eyes sparkle with curiosity before nodding.

“At first it was about finding Aang and restoring my honor.  But along the way, something else caught my eye.  Something far more precious than returning here.”

Katara raises a brow before crossing her arms, “Really?  There was something more important than your honor? Ha!  Do you not remember the crystal catacombs Mr. ‘I must restore my-‘“

Katara’s words were cut off by Zuko’s lips crashing into her’s.  

Katara’s eye widen in confusion before becoming consumed by the boy standing before her.  As their lips move in a heated match, Katara finds herself wanting to be closer to Zuko.  She reaches out, slowly moving her hands over his chest to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to her.  The sensation eliciting a soft moan to vibrate from Zuko’s throat.

Blindly, he places his hands on her bare waist, feeling the soft skin of her sides and pulling her closer to him.  He trails his hand slowly up her side, grazing the side of her chest and tilts her head slightly.  Zuko pulls back to catch his breath, resting his forehead against Katara’s.  She smiles softly as she grazes the side of Zuko’s face, the same side she touched a year ago in the crystal catacombs.

Before Katara could ask him what he was going to say, she felt his lips meet the soft skin of her neck, leaving the unsaid words to die on her lips.  She slides her finger through the lose hairs of his top knot, pulling his face closer to her body.  

Katara wishes she had words for what she was feeling, but all her thoughts were gone. Especially when he finds the spot between her ear and jaw, she swore the stars start to swim in the dark sky.

The feeling of contentment radiates through Zuko finally being able to have her all to himself.  He never realized how much Katara meant to him until she was gone, but having her here again, forever how long she is, he will not waste a minute without her.

After a few more heated kisses are exchanged, Zuko pulls back enough to keep his arms loosely around her waist, and to see her bright blue eyes.

“I was going to say,”  He tucked a stray curl behind her ear.  Her eyes radiating the same emotion Zuko felt in his entire being.  “I was following my heart.”

[mai-elements]

Location: Mai’s Family Home Mentions: Zuko

Whenever Mai did something worthy of her father’s attention, he would invite her to take tea in his room.

The day before her first day at the Royal Fire Academy, he had sat her down in front of a cup of oolong tea to lecture her on the importance of befriending her future classmates, all proper Fire Nation girls from respected families. The first time Azula invited her to visit her at the royal palace, her father had poured her a cup of black tea with a warm smile, congratulating her. 

And now, the night before his meeting with the new Fire Lord and the Fire Nation Council, here they were again, sitting face-to-face with two cups of white peony tea placed between them. 

She waited for him to speak. She was used to waiting patiently until she was spoken to.

“You were close with Princess Azula,” he said, finally. 

“Yes, father.” 

“But you were even closer to the new Fire Lord. You bravely put your own life on the line to save him from his sister.”

Those were not the words he had used in his furious letter to Mai when he had first found out what she had done at the Boiling Rock. He had called her a foolish, idiotic little girl and used the words traitor scum to describe the new Fire Lord. And what he now referred to as her act of bravery had been described as stupidity beyond the bounds of stupidity I ever imagined to be possible. 

“Something like that,” she said sarcastically, unable to help herself. Her father’s eyes narrowed and she immediately bowed her head in a silent apology.

“So you were crucial in his mission to aid the Avatar,” he went on, as if her small display of disrespect hadn’t happened. “Without you, the Avatar would not have had a firebending teacher.” 

She remained silent again, waiting for him to get to the point.

“Perhaps you could speak with Fire Lord Zuko about our family.” And there it was.

“Father, you were Fire Lord Ozai’s right hand man,” she said flatly. He had a house right across from the royal palace to prove it, as well as a past governorship position at New Ozai. “Surely you don’t expect to simply move forward, to remain unpunished for your crimes.” She felt like a hypocrite even as she said those words. Because what of her own crimes? She had spent months serving under Azula, infiltrating cities and attacking innocent people, including the Avatar and his friends. She had been telling herself that she had been punished enough, during her time in prison under Azula’s orders. But did her one act of good really make up for all the bad? And did her imprisonment even count, if she had been serving time for betraying her friend, rather than for helping her friend destroy lives?

Her father slammed a fist down onto the tea table. Mai’s head dropped lower and she fixed her glare down at the drops of liquid that sloshed from the tea cup in front of her.

“I did what I had to do for our family,” he said in a low voice. She didn’t have to look at him to know that his thin eyes would be narrowed on her, his sharp chin held up defiantly. She wore the same face whenever she was angry--just not when she was angry at her father. “And now it is time for you to do the same.” He takes a deep breath before continuing, “What do you think will happen to us if the Fire Lord decides to punish us for our wrongdoings under Fire Lord Ozai’s rule? He would make an example of us. He would strip our family name of all its glory, and he would leave us penniless.”

“You,” she corrected him. “You mean he would make an example of you. He would punish you.” 

“You foolish girl. I am this family. Where would you be without me? Where would your mother and Tom-Tom go if I’m rotting in a prison cell? And it doesn’t matter. Even if I am the only one who is punished, it would tarnish our family reputation beyond repair. You and Tom would be damned for the rest of your lives. No decent Fire Nation man would want you as their wife. Tom-Tom won’t ever have anything close to a self-respecting job. Is that what you want? For our family to be stripped of all respect and power that our ancestors across generations worked so hard for us to inherit? You would throw that all away, for what? Your morals? Your conscience?” 

Finally, Mai raised her gaze to meet her father’s eyes. And instead of the fiery anger that she had been expecting, she saw something else entirely: fear.

She thought about her days in a dark and cold prison cell. The faceless prison guards in identical masks that dropped off bland, tasteless meals two times a day, just enough to keep her from starving. And then she thought about her father, who had been born into wealth, opulence, and a family name that demanded respect. Could he even last a night without his silk bed sheets and servants obeying his every whim? At least she had had Ty Lee to share her suffering. He would have no one and nothing to live for.

And she thought of her mother and Tom-Tom. What would happen to the rest of them if Mai’s father was punished accordingly? Zuko was fair. He was the same man who had spoken of love, peace, and harmony at his coronation. Fear was driving her father to hysteric dramatics; Zuko wouldn’t go that far.

But wouldn’t he? She thought about the determination in his eyes when they had been talking by the turtle duck pond earlier that day. The way he promised he’d do what was necessary. And in all honesty, wouldn’t it be fair? For her father to be thrown in prison, locked away never to see daylight again, and the rest of his war-criminal family thrown to the streets? Especially when the daughter was a war criminal herself, friend to the Fire Lord or not?

She bowed her head again, finding the fear in her father’s eyes just as difficult to look at as the anger and disappointment she had been expecting. “I will talk to him tomorrow.”

***

When Mai first heard the commotion from the streets the next morning, she assumed that there were unfinished celebrations from the coronation the day before. But the noise quickly rose, and the angry shouts could no longer be confused for cheers.

Mai pushed her way past some protesting servants to step out into the balcony. When she saw the large crowd spilling onto the streets, her eyes grew wide.

And when she heard the words like “representation,” “corruption,” and “power” she felt her heart sink. This could not be good.

[disneygirl2202]

I Hate You (Zuko x Reader)

Requested?: No 

Tags: @mylovelessnightmareffxvblog 

Zuko’s P.O.V. 

“Welcome home Prince Zuko.” My father says as I kneel down 

“Father.” I start 

“Same to you Commander Y/N.” I say, looking back at her

“It’s good to be home Fire Lord Ozai.” She says, kneeling down next to me

“Y/N, wait!” I yell, chasing after her

“I have a meeting to get to Prince Zuko.” She says

“Y/N...” I say, grabbing her arm, making her look at me “You never call me by my official title.” 

She bites her lip, looking at the ground. She tries to pull away from me, not wanting to make eye contact with me.

“I know.” She starts 

“Why didn’t you go with Katara?” I ask 

“Because you killed Aang!” She yells, tears in her eyes as she shoves me off of her “I hate you Zuko!” 

She runs off, not even looking back once as she disappears from my view. 

“Hurts doesn’t it brother?” Azula asks 

“What happened to her before today?” I whisper

Your P.O.V. 

You walk into your house, looking through the scrolls on your desk. 

A few days at Ember Island -Azula 

You inwardly sigh as you start to head towards your room going to get a to go bag ready. 

-~- 

You walk towards the dock where you can see the others waiting. 

“Finally you decide to show up.” Ty Lee says as you meet them at the front of the deck, running your hands through your hair 

“Well, it isn’t really my fault that I didn’t get much of a notice.” You say, looking towards Azula “I probably shouldn’t even be going on this trip, I have a lot of training to do.” 

“Y/N, don’t worry. I’ve already talked to my father. he cleared you to go. He made sure that the armies are getting their training in.” Azula says “Besides, father knows we know how to fight, but it’s nice to have extra protection, especially with someone who trained with the avatar herself.” 

You purse your lips and nod, taking a seat looking out towards the sea. 

You listen to the others until you hear them start to gape about Mai and Zuko. 

“I’m going to go get a drink. Anybody else want one?” You ask, standing up while straightening out your coverup 

“I could use for a drink. Do you mind bringing us all one?” Azula asks 

“Not at all.” You say with a smile

“Here Y/N, let me help you.” Zuko says 

“It’s fine Zuko. I got it.” You say “Enjoy the breeze out here.” 

He gives you a sad look as you walk to where you’re inside. 

-~- 

You walk into Lo and Li’s house with the other’s. 

“Do you guys mind if I stay at my family’s beach house?” You ask 

“What? You don’t want to stay in the same room as ZuZu?” Azula taunts

“No, I don’t really. Not with our history.” You start “I also want to see if I can find anything that can help me find my father.” 

They all look at you then Azula shrugs. 

“It’s pretty close to us anyway. I don’t see any harm in that.” She says “We also have our messenger hawks.” 

“Thanks, Azula.” You say, turning around leaving them to get settled in

-~-

You look around the beach and see a lot of people as you shake your head. 

“What exactly are we supposed to do here?” You ask 

“Y/N, you should know how to relax better than any of us.” Azula says “Cause I’ve heard that the airbenders were quite relaxed. Especially when they were young.”

“You could say that.” You mumble out “Only when we weren’t trying to fight for our lives.” 

You walk a few feet away from where they are setting up and decide to set up right there, looking out towards the sea. 

“What’s a beautiful girl like you doing out here all by yourself?” A guy asks 

“First off, I’m actually not here by myself. I’m with that group.” You say, nodding towards the others as they are studying the other people “Even if I was here by myself, I wouldn’t have anything to worry about. I know how to protect myself and fight for my life if needed.” 

“That is what might make you even hotter than you were before.” The guy says

“Name’s Y/N, by the way. What about you?” You ask 

“Chan.” He says with a smirk

“Y/N, I think it’s time we play some kuai ball for old time’s sake.” Azula yells over at you 

Zuko’s P.O.V. 

I watch as Y/N agrees and stands up, taking her coverup off, revealing a couple scars and burns on her rib cage. She tells the boy something and he nods as she walks over to us. 

“Alright, let's get this done. I was actually somewhat enjoying my conversation.” She says as she pulls her hair out of her face

“Who was that anyway?” I ask 

“His name is Chan. I think I remember him from when my father worked closely with his father.” She says 

“Let’s get this game started.” Mai says 

Azula tells us the plan and Y/N goes to the middle as she gets ready 

“Zuko, you know how I used to play, don’t forget it now.” She hisses back to me

“Yes, Commander.” I say

-~-

I watch as the other team just looks at us in shock as we all walk away. 

“I’m going to go back to my spot, let me know when we are leaving.” Y/N says

I watch as she goes back and the guy says something to her and she just shrugs and nods then he walks away over to Ty Lee. 

-~-

“What did that guy want with you two?” Azula asks 

“Just wanted to invite us to a party.” Y/N says, shrugging her shoulders

“Do we plan on going?” I ask 

“I was going to go. Get to know some of the guys here.” Y/N says 

“You do seem like you need some time to socialize with the guys here.” Mai says “When you could be making sure that the prince and princess are safe.” 

“I know for a fact that Zuko can fight for himself so I don’t see a need to make sure he’s safe. Azula is another one that I know can fend for herself. They only brought along myself for if there is a fight that they might need my help with.” She starts 

I watch as she starts to walk away towards her old family home. 

“Zuzu, did you do something to piss her off more than she already is?” Azula asks

“You know exactly why she hates me now.” I growl 

“Right, you killed her only hope.” Azula chuckles 

Your P.O.V. 

You pull your hair into a quick updo as you get ready for the party when your hand grazes the burn that Zuko gave you back in Ba Sing Se.

How do I not hate you? After all the pain you’ve put me through?

You look at the family photo you have before you hear the knock on the door. 

You walk over to the door and open it to see the others waiting for you. 

“Let’s get to this party.” Azula says

-~-

You are leaning against the wall as you are looking over the people at the party. You watch as Chan decides to walk over to you to start a conversation. 

“What’s up with you and that Zuko kid anyway?” He asks 

“It’s a long complicated story.” You say “So, basically don’t get my started.” 

You guys coninue your conversation until you hear yelling and Zuko’s voice. 

You push yourself off of the wall and watch as Zuko goes storming out fo the house. You go to walk after him before looking at Mai as she just shakes her head and continues talking to the guy she was talking to. 

“I guess I got Zuko...” You grumble as you walk out after him

Zuko’s P.O.V

“Zuko!” I hear Y/N’s voice yell 

“I thought you hated me for killing Aang.” I start “Because fun fact, I hate you too for always picking them.” 

“Zuko...” She starts

“Don’t Y/N.” I say

I continue to walk towards my old beach house, leaving her behind in the dust. 

-~- 

I’m sitting on the stairs of my porch when I see Y/N sit on teh other side.

“What do you want?” I ask 

“The truth.” She says, looking out towards the beach

“Didn’t you get enough of it earlier?” I ask 

“Zuko, I’m not stupid. I know when you are lying.” She says 

I look at the ground as she just sighs. 

“You know I would never hate you.” She says 

“Then why did you tell me that?” I ask 

“Because I knew I wasn’t going to be staying very long.” She starts “I need to get to Katara and Sokka. I know they don’t have a fighting chance especially after you sent that assassin after them.” 

“Wait you know about that?” I ask 

“Zuko, I was with you because you are an idiot and don’t know how to cover your tracks.” She says

“Of course you were. You tend to follow me, even when you claim to hate me.” I say with a chuckle 

“I owned up to that. I could never hate you. With our history, it would be difficult to ever hate you.” She says 

“We should get back, I don’t need Mai thinking I’m trying to steal her man.” She says 

“We broke up during the party.” I explain 

“Oh really now?” She asks 

“Yeah, it wasn’t working out I guess.” I say 

“Oh.” She says 

I watch her as she gets up and brushes her clothes off as she goes to start walk back towards the other house. 

“Y/N, wait.” I say, standing up 

“What do you need?” She asks 

“This..” I start 

I grab her hand and pull her into a kiss. 

“To show you that I don’t hate you.” I explain

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Of Farms Fairs And Fame (Part 11)

He was disappointed. She knew that he would be. She held Spade close to her chest. Azula speculated that her father was going to bar her from seeing Sokka until she wrote a song and performed it. He hadn’t said anything yet, but then, she’d been avoiding him altogether. A part of her hoped that he would tell her that she couldn’t see Sokka anymore, it would save her the confusion. It would save her from having to talk to the boy about why she went and kissed him. She laid back onto the mattress and let Spade wander off. Evidently the piglet decided not to wander very far and instead made himself comfy just below Azula’s chest.

Why’d Sokka have to go and by her the piglet?

Why’d he have to go and comfort her?

It would have been so much easier to push feelings to the side if he were a mean and cold sort. If he were walled off and hard to read. If he was like her.

But he wasn’t. The fact of the matter was that he had always been very good to her. Good to the point things...where feelings had such a large chance to grown and manifest whether she wanted them to or not. Azula slung an arm over her eyes as if that would keep her from seeing her own truths.

She didn’t like thinking about them.

So she wouldn’t.

She made her way, as quietly as possible, down the stairs. But she wasn’t going to get by easily, her father was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee a cigar, and a newspaper that he was only half paying attention to. “I hear that yer friend’s family won this year.”

“He did.” Azula confirmed.

“I do hope he gave you some credit fer that.” Ozai muttered. “I think you put more effort into helpin’ him win than into helpin’ yerself.”

Azula swallowed. Perhaps she had, but it certainly didn’t help that TyLee had, had another accident. One that was, once again, entirely her fault for encouraging the girl to push herself. Just like their mom was dead because of her.

“You will have a song, eventually?”

“Yeah, I’ll have a song…”

“I expect one in three days.” He slid the newspaper over to her. “I were listein’ to the radio ‘n found out that they’re holdin’ a competition.” He paused. “A whole day of lettin’ aspirin’ artists have a chance to show off.”

“I’ll have a song.” She replied. She couldn’t disappoint him a second time. Losing her composure once was pushing it. He had high expectations for her and she wasn’t meeting them. She wasn’t even meeting her own.

She had a hand on the doorknob when her father looked up again. “Where are you goin’ to?”

“I wanted to check on TyLee.”

“You have an hour. Then you git on home and git to writin’.”

Azula nodded. She didn’t want to find herself on the receiving end of his belt. Granted he’d only used it once. Once when Ursa died and something in him broke. Once when he howled and raved about how the both of them, she and Zuko, and driven the woman to her death. Only once, but it was still a fear that lingered in the back of her mind.

A memory that refused to leave, of a time when the two of them had been sent to live with their uncle while their father was institutionalized. He wasn’t the same after that. He didn’t talk to them as much, perhaps he was ashamed.

Perhaps he knew that neither of them had forgotten. Heaven knew that he had trouble looking at Zuko, at the scar slashed by his eye.

Azula so terribly missed the man who would join them for cookouts, the man who would host them. “I’ll be home.” She muttered.

He gave a firm nod.

.oOo.

Her eyes were puffy and red and it made Azula somewhat queasy. Her hospital stay hadn’t been long, but, according to TyLee, they had made it mighty clear that she had done a fool’s thing. That she had made a small break into something that would take much longer to recover from.

“But look! Your uncle went ‘n set me some flowers!” She motioned to a bouquet.

Uncle Iroh was a vet by trade and tended to one of the county’s largest gardens. So Azula wasn’t surprised to hear it. The vet’s clinic was situated in the same parking lot as the local doctor’s office and a small hospital. The man made a habit of bringing his homegrown flowers to patients.

“He even got me daffodils ‘n daisies, them are my favorites.”

“You mighta mentioned that every other day when we was kids, Ty.” Azula replied.

“I’m so glad you came to visit me!” She smiled brightly. “You ‘n Mai both.”

“Even though it’s our fault this happened?”

“I wouldn’t a done it if I didn’t want to.” TyLee replied.

Even still, peer pressure from the two of them didn’t do any favors.

“Well, I have a surprise fer you.” Azula made her way to where she had set her bag, not that it remained there. Rolling her eyes at Spade’s futile escape attempt, she plucked him into her arms and carried him to TyLee’s bedside. “Sokka bought ‘im for me.”

TyLee squealed in delight. “It’s a lil piggy!” She exclaimed. “A cute teeny lil’ piggy.” She paused. “Now why’d Sokka go ‘n buy you that?”

“‘Cause I didn’t win the singin’ competition.”

“But you have the best voice in…”

“I didn’t even use it.” Azula cut her off.

TyLee blinked. “Oh, Azula, it ain’t my fault is it? It ain’t because you thought it would be unfair to win when I couldn’t, is it?”

“Not entirely…” Azula trailed off. “Anyway...point is, Sokka got me a piglet.”

TyLee took the hint. “Oh he’s a charmer!” She exclaimed. “No wonder you like ‘im so much.” But that subject wasn’t much better.

“There ain’t nothin’ ‘tween me ‘n Sokka.” Azula insisted.

“Yeah-huh, there is.” TyLee argued. “Just cause you ain’t see it…”

Azula sighed.

“Y’all are gonna invite me to yer wedding right. ‘N yer gonna let me be a Godmother.”

“Ty! I ain’t gonna be no mom.” Azula folded her arms.

“Yer gonna be a mama, ‘n yer gonna sing the best lullabies. ‘N it ain’t just gonna be one baby. Yer gonna have three of ‘em. ‘N Sokka’s gonna have to deal with you when yer pregnant.”

Azula groaned. She knew that this had to be a special brand of TyLee vengeance. “I ain’t doin’ none a that sappy stuff.”

“Yer right, that’s Sokka’s job.” TyLee agreed as she rocked Spade in her arms. “I love ‘im so much.”

“You wanna spend the night with ‘im? I’ll come back for ‘im in the mornin’.”

TyLee’s eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously, “thanks a bunch Azula. I don’ know what I’d do without you ‘n Mai.”

.oOo.

Azula sat at her writing desk, trying not to let her mess of emotions overtake her completely. Between her mother, having failed to sing at all--much less, win, and Sokka making her feel all jittery and out of sorts, she didn’t know how she was going to write anything.

She supposed that she would write about Sokka. About the confliction.

Lyrics helped her organize her thoughts, helped her sort them out.

It would be a good warm up, a good way to get her creative flow going...

Her stomach knotted, remembering how her last ‘warm up’ song had gone.

[themomentofdavyprentiss]

Not Your Average Zutara Fic Rec

So I’ve gone through a LOT of Zutara fanfiction, probably too much if I’m being honest, and finding good fics can be really hard. When looking up fic rec lists I’ve noticed that a lot of the lists are just the same select fanfictions recommended over and over (We get it, everyone and their mother loves ‘His Majesty Prefers Blue’ and ‘Stormbenders’ [I never finished HMPB, sue me]). 

So this list is for all of you who are in my shoes and can’t seem to find anything besides the same ten or fifteen stories recommended and are desperate for something new. Everything listed is complete! (If I listed the incompletes/abandoned stories I’d have a lot more chaptered stories listed… RIP ‘The Confrontational Approach’…) 

I have a lot of bookmarked stories that I have yet to read and am in the middle of (Almost caught up on @firelordandlady ‘s ‘Say Anything’!), so I’ll try to update this when I finish something I think deserves a recommendation. 

Chaptered

In the Same Candlelight by Like a Dove

In a world where there is no war, Zuko and Katara spend their summers together. Growing up is messy, embarrassing, and at times sad, but they think it might be okay because they have each other. Edited summary.

I know. I KNOW. I LITERALLY JUST SAID I WASN’T GOING TO RECOMMEND FANFICS THAT ARE ON EVERYONE’S LIST. But I NEED to mention this one. I spent so long not interested in this fic. I don’t like drastic AU’s, or modern AU’s. My taste is strictly canon divergence, so I didn’t think I would like this. I WAS SO WRONG. Trust me, if you are like me and don’t like big AU’s, read this anyway. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Characterization is still so spot on, even with such a different take. Aang is precious. There is nothing but fluff, fluff, and fluff. It will melt you. You will probably die and your spirit will rise up smiling and beaming out rainbows and sunshine. That’s what happened to me. 

Lilacs and Lily Pads by sadladybug

A tale of clumsy courtship and calamitous court weddings, featuring awkward family encounters, floral mishaps, cultural complications, and good old fashioned fluff and conflict. Takes place in the five years following war’s end. For Zutara Week 2016. A prequel to Bones.

Clothe Me in Seasons, Dress Me in Snow is a very commonly recommended Zutara fic (And for good reason, I shed many tears reading it). But this two-shot (A companion to Bones, a smut one shot) by the same author is really underrated and beautifully written. It follows Zuko and Katara as they try to plan their wedding, as well as shows two scenes from before they got engaged that solidified the relationship to be one they knew would last. Just really well done overall and very very sweet. 

EDIT: I talked with the author and apparently it isn’t finished?? But they are apparently working on the next chapters so yay!! And each chapter is independent so it doesn’t feel unfinished.  

The Slow Path by Tazainian Devil

Eight years after the fall of Ozai, Aang returns to the friends he left behind - Taang, Zutara, Sukka

This is technically a Taang fic, and if I’m being honest I kind of just skimmed through the non-zutara chapters, but the Zutara storyline was good enough that I think it’s definitely worth the read. And the overall plot has a great premise. Be warned, it has a sequel that was never finished. 

Another Word For Alchemy by FanPanda13

Five years have passed since the Avatar defeated Fire Lord Ozai, and the members of the Gaang have all gone in their own direction. But when Aang invites them all to a Peace Summit at the North Pole and tells them of his new project, for which he will need their support, the group comes together again for adventure, fun and romance. AU. Zutara. COMPLETE.

So this fic is crazy for me. At first, it started as just really good natured fluff. The writing wasn’t anything fantastic (Although I loved how it broke the 4th wall and didn’t take itself seriously), and there were some definite OOC moments. But I had so much FUN with it. The plot (while definitely not the focus as everyone is more concerned about when Zuko and Katara will get together) was interesting, and there were some really sweet moments. It was also HILARIOUS and I had multiple moments where I genuinely laughed out loud. But then about five chapters before the end, the quality SKY ROCKETED. As the plot and mystery come together, the characters all come together in a moment that truly feels like it came from the show. Even the writing quality increases by a lot and I was genuinely shocked and impressed. Definitely recommend. 

Kyoshi Hold ‘Em by cupid-painted-blind

When a blizzard shuts down the fourth annual Peace Summit, the group has to find some way to pass the time. /Zutara, Taang, Jet/Mai, Jet/Everyone, Sukka

If you’re looking for a good crack fic, look no further. It’s post war and utter nonsense. Jet is alive for some reason??? No one questions it and he’s shipped with pretty much everyone. It’s funny, it’s decently written, there are drinking and sexy time shenanigans, and overall just lighthearted. Also, it does a great job of being a crack fic without crossing the line and becoming unfunny and just a trash fic. A lot struggle to find the balance and resort to going over the top and ridiculous, but this one does a really good job. 

Come With Me by Steamboat Ghost

Coauthored by fuzzytomato. Troubled over his newly restored honor, Zuko finds solace in the familiar guise of the Blue Spirit. In a chance meeting with the Painted Lady, a friendship is forged as the two heroes seek to help the Fire Nation’s neglected.

I’ll admit it: I’ve never gotten into Blutara fanfictions. I only read the first couple chapters of HMPB and dropped it after the tree scene. I don’t know, it felt really OOC for me and I may go back and read it again just because EVERYONE raves about it, but IDK. I’ve never been a huge Blutara fan because while I love the concept, I’d much rather see the Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit come together as equals. Most fics present Zuko behind his mask to Katara, and it feels imbalanced. There aren’t a lot of stories where we see their alter persona’s come together even though that’s the entire point of the parallel between the two. Insert this fic. I only wish there was a sequel dealing with Zuko in the Gaang after these events. Hey, a girl can dream. 

A Zutara Story Anastasia by LastSunset

Katara, the only suviving waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe, joins two con men, Zuko and Iroh, while a fearful admiral chases for her death. A Zutara Story. Based on the movie Anastasia.

So this isn’t so much a retelling of Anastasia but with Katara and Zuko as it is a fanfic version of the movie but with the characters names and world changed. It takes a lot of lines from the movie. But WHO CARES? It’s Anastasia and Zutara!!! What more do you need??? 

Oneshot

this burden you bear by cowlicklesschick

Word travels, and war stories will be told round campfires and on freighter ships until every person in the world knows what Master Katara did for the new Fire Lord. She fights the burning in her throat at the thought of people knowing why she had to heal him in the first place. Post-war Zutara.

This is an angst-with-a-happy-ending, which I say is the absolute BEST type of angst. Katara deals with the guilt of what Zuko did for her as the Fire Nation celebrates what she did to save his life during the Agni Kai. The two come together beautifully while struggling to see the feelings they both share. Really well written and like I said, it has a happy ending, which we all need. 

The Best of Me by Laririn-Shadow

The night before his eighteenth birthday Zuko wraps a bandage around his left wrist. He has a country to run and no time for frivolous things. It will make everything easier if he waits. Zutara Soulmates AU

Soulmate AU’s usually aren’t my thing (With the glaring exception of one Until Dawn Soulmate AU, but that’s besides the point), but I really enjoyed this oneshot. It isn’t sweeping or insanely romantic and the reveal isn’t “OMG I’VE LOVED YOU THIS WHOLE TIME” But it’s a subtle love that grows, which I really like.  

my salvation, he’s not anything by sarsaparillia

Let’s run away and start another war. — Zuko/Katara.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ What can I say? I love the ‘Let’s run away together, consequences be damned’ trope. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Time is Ripe by Casa Circe

ZUTARA WEEK 2012 Day Seven: Seasons. There are many stages that a heart goes through before it can finally be ready for the love it was meant to have. The road is often a rocky one but eventually, it leads you home.

A oneshot for the Zutara Week 2012 prompt ‘Seasons’. Not too much to say about it. Short, sweet, and well written. What more do you need? 

Serendipity by Boriqua-chan

Iroh goes hunting for tea leaves and finds something…interesting. /Zutara week, day 1/

Secret relationships! Fluff! Happiness! And all from Uncle Iroh’s perspective!! Everything I love in one great oneshot! 

Too Close for Comfort also by Casa Circe

ZUTARA WEEK 2010 Day Three: Pain. After watching “The Ember Island Players”, no one is in the mood for teasing. But a little slip of the tongue leads to the painful realization that the play was more accurate than they were willing to admit.

There are two Zutara plots/tropes that I am a complete and utter SLUT for. The first is the ‘Let’s talk about that EIP show’ trope. This is one of my favorites. 

The Color of Truth is Red by Mrs. Pettyfer

Written for Zutara Week prompt “awkward.” Zuko and Katara discuss the Ember Island Players.

Another post EIP oneshot

Enlightenment by Blade Quill

Choices are made on the day of Zuko’s coronation, and sometimes, enlightenment is just the simple truth at hand. Zutara. AU of the final moments of the Book 3 Finale

The OTHER plot/trope I’m a slut for is finale rewrites. LET ME SEE THEM COME TOGETHER AFTER HE TAKES LIGHTNING FOR HER. Ugh, I love it. 

Framework by profoundlycan

What if in “Sozin’s Comet” Katara had come into the room instead of Mai? Zuko/Katara. Prequel to Schema.

 Another finale rewrite! Let’s just get Mai out of the picture here… 

Lightning Shocks the Heart by drunkzutarafeels

Why do our hearts remain dormant until a climactic moment makes time stand still?

And here’s yet another finale rewrite. There is a really popular Zutara gifset that someone animated of the Agni Kai ‘Thank you’ scene, but Katara kisses Zuko after she hugs him. This is the fanfiction equivalent of that gif set. 

Sunrise by lewilder

The days go on and on, and even if she feels more comfort from the moon, Katara learns to cherish the promise of each new sunrise. Zutara AU, largely finale-centric. Oneshot.

LAST FINALE AU I PROMISE. Really sweet, starts right after The Southern Raiders and goes past canon. 

all the ghosts we cannot kill (we learn to love) by raisindeatre

Zuko and Katara; the moments we didn’t see. Or: Maybe we are all somebody’s ghost. And maybe sometimes we can be more than that.

“…My quarrel has only ever been with you, Zuko,” she says, his name sharp on her tongue. “This has only ever been about me and you.”

“You’re wrong,” he rasps, his voice rough in the late afternoon sunlight that falls around them, tangles them in golden nets. “This has only ever been about me and the Avatar. Not you and me. What we hold between us has nothing to do with it.”

This is a really beautiful one-shot that follows a battered, war torn and hardened Zuko and Katara through the scenes we DIDN’T see throughout the entire show. A Zutara must-read.

Drabble Collection/Series

And Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Advocaat

A collection of humorous and crack-tastic oneshots corresponding to the days of Zutara Month

Really great Zutara Month themed drabbles, and it contains the only body swapping plot that I’ve read and really enjoyed. Also the chapters ‘Potential’ and ‘Festival’ are some of my all time favorites. 

Zuko Was No Coward by hootowl

Zuko was many things, but a coward he was not. A collection of Zutara100 prompts. Title may change.

Definitely some heartbreakers and angsty drabbles in here, but all well written and thoroughly enjoyable. If you read ANYTHING from this list, read chapter two of this drabble collection. I MELTED when I read it. It’s perfection. Aunt Wu’s prediction has always been a plotline I’ve loved in Zutara fanfiction, and this one just does it PERFECTLY. 

Zutara Week 2012 by ichilover3

A collection of oneshots inspired by the prompts for Zutara Week

Not much more to say. The first, third, and fourth prompts are my favorite from this series. 

Zutara Week 2015 by bianca_anna

It started at a tea shop and ended with forever. My entries for Zutara Week 2015. I hope you enjoy them.

Oh my GOODNESS. So they’re Zutara Week prompts, but all set in the same universe. The Zutara!Family depicted in these drabbles has become my headcanon. I’ve seen many a Zutara family, but this one is by far my FAVORITE. This is now my official family for them. I want the very last chapter fully animated because it’s so good and epic and I want more of this families adventures. 

[bellatrixobsessed1]

I’ll Meet You At The Bottom (Part 53)

Sorry if this chapter is kind of lacking. I ended up having to multitask when typing the last part and as you all might have noticed I was in a bad mood, so I wasn’t entirely focused on it. But I typed it anyways because typing fics makes situations that much more bearable.  

Sokka had felt the air warm some and he had dreaded the thawing of the snow. He had known that as soon as they could set foot into the outside world, that the princess would have him where he stood presently. He watched the waves fold and dip under the boat. He had waved a goodbye to Gran, Pakku, and Bato. And to Hakoda he departed with a promise to give Katara his regards and the stuffed seal-lion she had left behind the last time. Azula was eager to give her a hard time over still sleeping with a plush at all. Though Sokka was faintly certain that she still had one of her own somewhere. The woman in question strolled leisurely from one end of the deck to the next. Fully recovered from her brush with a frigid death, she was put together extra well. Not a hair out of place, not a kink in her clothing.  Where he was queasy with anxiousness, her spirits seemed very high. No doubt, she was elated to be on her way home. He was hoping to get a word with her, to seek comfort and advice, but Iroh got to her first. Sokka wasn’t surprised in the slightest—Iroh had a much better chance to make headway with her when she was in a brighter mood to begin with. He didn’t have the heart to ruin that chance so he let Iroh confront Azula and wallowed alone in his nervous anticipation. Would they be mad at him? Or were they just worried. Would they be mad at him because they were worried. Sokka tapped his fingers nervously upon the railing as he glared at the ocean. He took a deep breath and tried to let his hatred of it go. For as much as it stole from him it had taken him to his father, to the place where he was able to get his peace of mind. The distance it put between he and Azula was closed. But he supposed it was better to hate the ocean than himself. He wished that he could detest neither.

 .oOo.

 “I’m not him.” It was firm and left no room for argument.

 “No, but you almost became him.” Iroh tried anyhow. “You were so close to becoming your father that it was hard to tell the difference.”

 “You never tried.” Azula countered.

 Iroh rubbed his beard. “You are right, I should have. But you have to understand just how hard it was to do that when your father made it difficult to reach you. I am his brother, I have heard his manner of speech. His dark inclinations. His mannerisms, his tone, his demeanor, you reflected them all almost exactly. You tormented my nephew—your brother, just like Ozai. You spoke of war and conquer.”

 “I was raised to think of how to put my kingdom first.”

  “He may have put the words there, but they came from your lips. All of them.”

 “You could have influenced me just as easily if you chose the right words.” Azula muttered. “But you were too busy showing Zu-Zu the right way.”

 Iroh’s hard expression gave way. “The truth is, I didn’t know how to reach you. Zuko had a dream once, in which you were a blue dragon. Dragons are a force to reckon with, niece. It is wise to keep one’s distance. But a dragon befriended is a companion worth keeping; they are powerful and protective as they are frightening and dangerous. Most people are to wary to try to acquire such a companion. Sokka is braver than most people. He is braver than I was.”

 She still didn’t like his lengthy speeches and metaphors. Frankly she just wanted him to get to the point with her having to sort through the fluff. “Are you saying that you are a coward?”

 She had pinched a nerve for his face hardened again for a moment. “Concerning you, I might have been. To a point I believe that I had the right to be so.” She had to appreciate his honestly. “But after hearing Zuko’s recount of your Agni Kai I probably shouldn’t have feared you. I shouldn’t have pressed you to change without offering any help.”

 Azula bit her lip thinking it over. She wanted to stay mad, but that was what she wanted to hear, or at the very least it was the basic structure of what she wanted to hear. A small confirmation that she wasn’t completely at fault for slipping into her own destruction did her well. “Is that an apology?”

 “It will be an apology if I get one too.” He poured himself a cup of tea. He brought it near his lips before changing his mind and offering it to her.

 She stared at the teacup for a moment before accepting it.

 .oOo.

 Sokka fanned himself. He was already sweating with anxiety, the unapologetic Fire Nation heat did little to aid the situation. Azula told him that she would talk to the gang first which only settled his nerves to a minuscule degree. He constantly made the mistake of preparing no dialog for himself so this time he did. He was going to tell Katara that he ran away because he had hurt Azula and he was afraid of hurting someone else. He was going to tell her that he knew that running away had been selfish, but that it came from a selfless place. He was going to confess that to all of them. At worst, if they gave him a hard time, he had Azula for support and company until he could prove his case better.

 Zuko and Azula were the first to join him in the room. He caught the tail end of their conversation; something akin to, “I was stuck in a snow storm too, Aang had to save my sorry ass.” To which Azula replied, “I suppose almost dying in the Water Tribe is a family activity.” And from Zuko, “let’s try to find other ways to bond.”

 Katara, Aang, and Toph filled the rest of the seats at the table. “I was the one who found your name in the ship logs!” Toph declared.

 “Congrats, Toph, I appri—wait, no you didn’t!” Sokka grumbled.

 “I did so.” Toph replied, “ask Momo, he was there.”

 From what he gathered there were no hard feelings from her, though she would probably be making jokes about his disappearance for years to come, which was punishment enough.

 Sokka addressed Katara wearily, “dad says hi, and Gran misses you.”

 Katara fixed him with a hard stare. “He couldn’t have seen me if you would have, oh you know, invited me along. You couldn’t even say goodbye to me in person?”

 “I didn’t know how to say it.” He muttered “and even if I did I was afraid of hurting you. I thought that you would be afraid of me.”

 “I’m not afraid of you, I’m afraid of some of the things you do.” Katara replied. “I was more afraid that I was going to lose you…” She paused. “I just can’t believe you would run away like that.” He caught the slightest tremble in her voice.

 “It’s not all his fault, remember Katara. We were ignoring him? Would we have listened to him if he tried to tell us?” Aang asked.

 “Of course I would have!” Katara cried. She turned back to Sokka. “That was stupid and reckless and irresponsible! And Azula told me that she almost died?”

 “Twice.” Azula corrected.

 Sokka nudged her under the table and muttered, “you’re not helping me.”

 “Is this how you’re going to handle all of your problems? By running away?” Katara shot.

 He gripped Azula’s hand as the guilt welled up again. She didn’t squeeze back, but she didn’t tug out of his grasp. “I just didn’t want to make things worse.”

 “Well I’m glad that worked out for you.” Katara stood.

 “Don’t leave.” He frowned. “Katara. Come on, we’re trying to talk about this.”

 “All you’re doing is making excuses.” Katara shouted. “I didn’t come down here to hear excuses.”

 “No I’m not, it’s true I left because I was afraid of…”

 “You didn’t think about how any of us would feel at all.”

 “That’s all I thought about.” Sokka lowered his gaze. “I thought that I was doing what was best.”

 Aang smiled, “I know. I think Katara does too. It’s just easier for her to be frustrated than sad.”

 Katara knit her brows. He was right it was easier, so much easier. Which is why she replied, “maybe you did what was best for you.”

 “That’s what I thought too.” Azula put in. “He has bigger problems than you know.”

 “If he was having problems he should have told us.” Zuko grumbled.

 “Yes, because that’s what you always do.” Azula examined her nails. Based on her expression Sokka concluded that’s she’d be seeking out another trip to the royal spa shortly.

 “At least I don’t throw punches when I have pent up problems!”

 Azula quirked an eyebrow.

 “Whatever.” Zuko folded his arms over his chest.

 Katara bit the inside of her lip and Sokka hoped that it meant she was trying to see things his way.

 “I hate you, Sokka.” She snapped, “I hate you for leaving me here wondering if you were going to be okay.”

 “I’m sorry.” He replied softly. “I just needed a break.”

 “Next time you take a break, maybe leave a better note.” Toph suggested. “Sugar Queen likes her sappy notes.”

 He was a grown man, it was time to start acting like one. “I won’t need to write another, I don’t plan on leaving again.”