#zuko: ....i need an heir uncle

[evilkitten3]

azula and zuko came out to each other at the same time. when it came to telling their dad they were worried about what he would say bc being gay is still illegal but no one had ever made being trans illegal so they had no clue how he'd react

azula: ok. ok i know what to do

zuko: what

azula: we're going to have to gaslight him

zuko: ...what?

azula: look dad's very distracted if we can get everyone to act like i've always been a girl and you've always been a boy he'll probably fall for it

zuko: what about our names?

azula: we'll switch. i'll be azula and you can be zuko. if no one has to learn new names it'll be much easier.

zuko: ok let's do it

ozai: good morning zuko

zuko: good morning

ozai: ? i was talking to zuko

azula: what do you mean, father? that IS zuko. are you feeling alright?

ozai: ...something's not right.

azula & zuko: *nervous sweating*

ozai: ...azula didn't you used to be taller?

azula: zuko hit a growth spurt last night. and trapped me in the washing machine

zuko: wait what was that last part-

ozai: zuko how dare you do such a thing to your sister! you're grounded!

zuko: but-

azula: it must be difficult having such a problematic son

ozai: it really is. fortunately i have a wonderful daughter *wanders off*

azula: see? told you

zuko: did you have to get me grounded tho?

azula: ...yes

Trans Zuko is so funny to me. I’m not saying this to try and make fun of people who headcanon him as trans - trans headcanons are great and I support them. It’s just wild because it implies Ozai was out here like:

[Image description: a white woman with blonde hair is saying:

‘I can excuse burning a kid’s face, but I draw the line at misgendering’.

The words ‘burning a kid’s face’ and ‘misgendering’ have been edited in.

End description]

[umalvie]

it's really interesting to me how you can tell the level of respect azula has for mai, ty lee, and zuko through how she directs them within the confines of the fire nation's expectations of them all.

azula is someone who really values and upholds the fire nation's expectations of conformity, especially in regards to court. she herself plays her part as she's expected to. she plays by the rules her father sets for her, parrots his beliefs, renames omashu "new ozai" for her father, tasks herself with finding the avatar (zuko's fool's errand) and conquering ba sing se (iroh's greatest military failure), and is consequently ultimately hurt and betrayed when her father punishes her despite this by refusing to let her come with him during sozin's comet and giving her a meaningless title to mollify her. to her, playing by the rules that are set out for them within the fire nation, whether spoken or not, is essential, and to not play by them results in punishment. this mindset was already instilled in her before zuko's agni kai, but it was no doubt fully solidified by witnessing her brother pay for his inability to play the role he was assigned as a dutiful son and strong heir.

as a result of this, zuko is the most obvious liability of the fire nation kids in azula's eyes. he has already failed to abide by the rules once and is likely to do so again if she doesn't stop him from doing so. make no mistake, azula does not want zuko to stumble again. she manipulates him into coming home despite his wavering resolve by reminding him of what he could have and what he's always wanted (their father's respect, his honor and birthright restored, the return of a feeling of normalcy/familiarity) because she loves her brother and wants him to play the role he's supposed to successfully. if she didn't love him, she could easily have taken him home as a prisoner like her father wanted her to initially or killed him. i won't even entertain the notion that she brought him home specifically to take the heat if the avatar wasn't really dead; that is a deeply stupid thing for her to do which would result in her judgment and honor being called into serious question as she's the one who vouched that zuko killed the avatar which would be a failure in her role as the dutiful daughter and honorable princess.

so azula appeals to zuko's weaknesses to get him home because she loves him. but she still doesn't respect him because of his prior failings, so she tries to keep him on the straight and narrow within the confines of their roles in the fire nation. she confronts him about visiting their disgraced uncle in prison, tells him his actions could be misconstrued (although she knows exactly how zuko means them; she wants to remind him to play his part or suffer the consequences once more). she shuts him up in war council meetings by speaking over him so that he won't say something that would result in their father punishing him once more. she attempts to prompt him into letting her know if they should be worried about the avatar still, although he doesn't confide in her since he doesn't trust her and instead takes matters into his own hands by hiring combustion man. azula does not threaten to harm zuko herself if he fails in his role; she instead manipulates him with her knowledge of his personality and reminds him of the harm that their father will cause him if he fails.

ty lee is another problem azula thinks she needs to solve. once more, she loves ty lee, but ty lee has shown azula that she is not a reliable person to play her role as she's meant to. azula believes ty lee's failure to be even worse than zuko's, though. zuko said the wrong thing in a war council meeting because he didn't understand the rules; ty lee understood the rules, and she chose to run away anyway. this is not just ty lee being oblivious, but her choosing to intentionally disobey the rules.

so when azula comes to collect ty lee to resume playing her role, azula is initially friendly, perhaps giving ty lee the benefit of the doubt that she might have wised up, but the moment ty lee demonstrates that she is still refusing to play by the rules azula is convinced they all have to play by, azula turns to manipulations and threats of harm to pull ty lee back into line. like with zuko, azula loves ty lee but does not respect her. she knows that ty lee will not play the role society says she must unless azula coerces her into doing so. unlike with zuko, ty lee does not require multiple corrections from azula. the threat of harm once is enough for ty lee to return to her duties. noticeably, ty lee also manipulates azula a lot when she does so, showcasing her awareness of the roles they're all playing and her ability to play with the best of them.

but mai is different from zuko and ty lee. azula both loves and respects mai. yes, azula has to go out of her way to collect mai as well, but mai has moved to omashu with her parents. she never stopped playing her role. azula does not believe mai would ever stop. she respects mai's intelligence in a way she doesn't with zuko and ty lee because mai respects the rules of the game. so azula not only never utilizes threats or manipulation with mai, but she treats mai as almost an equal and allows mai to treat her as an equal. she asks mai to come along with her, and mai agrees. she promotes mai to a position of power above that of her parents, and mai obliges. she says that the trade of bumi for tom-tom is unfair, and mai calls it off. but it's not only when mai plays by the rules of the game that azula respects her and does not threaten or manipulate her to keep her in line. even when mai blatantly disobeys azula's orders, azula allows it. even when mai screams at her during the beach, azula allows it. mai knows that azula will allow it, too. she openly scoffs at the idea of azula lightningbending at her. why? because azula respects mai and her judgment. she sees mai as an equal because mai plays the game as well as azula does, including her moments of rebellion (this is undoubtedly what azula disobeying ozai by bringing zuko home under false pretenses and directly lying to him is, albeit a much higher stake rebellion than mai's refusal to search the sewers).

notably, while azula declares her intent to kill zuko after he commits treason and tells ozai that she lied to him, even when mai and ty lee take the ultimate step out of line with their roles, she doesn't allow them to be executed. i say "allow" here because she's not the fire lord, so it wouldn't be her personal decree to have them executed but rather her father's. they committed high treason. they not only aided and abetted in a prison break and the escape of some of the fire nation's most wanted but physically attacked a member of the royal family and the crown princess at that. this is a crime that's punishable by death, and yet mai and ty lee stay in their cells in boiling rock, seemingly unharmed given mai's unscathed appearance at the end of sozin's comet. ozai would have no reason to not simply execute them, but azula would since she loves them. it's entirely possible, she was on some level holding onto hope that she could coach them back into line again somehow.

but why does she hope to rehabilitate or at least preserve her friends while aiming to kill zuko? it's pretty simple: when zuko failed to play his part he did so in a way that meant azula was punished for having failed in her role as the dutiful daughter and honorable princess because she chose to play a different role that she gained nothing from playing: the role of zuko's sister. so in azula's eyes, zuko went out of his way to not only lapse in his role as the dutiful son and strong heir but to purposefully fail to play the role of her brother in a way he knew would cause her harm. do mai and ty lee also fail to play the roles of her friends while instead revealing their loyalty to someone else entirely when they betray her? yes, but them doing so does not result in ozai's wrath.

[lovely-p-issues]

I have this fanfiction idea for times when my English will become acceptable: (it was in my drafts for months and tbh if I didn't post it today like this, with mistakes and stupid parts, I wouldn't have posted it at all, so, sorry ig)

Book 1: The war

How it all started

Let's make Azulon not madly-evil, but just regular-size-evil: he didn't plan to kill Zuko, because it's a stupid idea to get rid of your possible heir, he just wanted to take a son from Ozai - so he decided to make Zuko Iroh's heir, de facto making him Iroh's son (let's not focus on formality, just assume that you can switch your fathers if you are highborn enough)

(Zuko's life isn't in danger, so Ursa doesn't kill Azulon and he'll be ruling at least to the end of that book)

It may seem a great idea (especially in comparison with killing Zuko) but we can't forget that Iroh just lost a son and is still in grief, absolutely not ready to take care of another kid. He still needs to learn how to find a new path and calm his spirit and now he needs to do it with Zuko around him.

Iroh decides to take Zuko with him for his journey - Azulon approves this, seeing his son (and heir) needs to learn how to live after losing Lu Ten and thinking that Iroh may finally teach Zuko some actual fire bending

"I do not want to want to leave, Azula. I'm sorry, little sister."

"Whatever, Zuzu. At least you won't be distracting me from my lessons. Finally, something good comes from this whole fuss around you."

(In fact, she's not happy. Not at all)

______

At this point, Iroh is not yet the nice old man you know from ATLA. He's a broken man, trying to find a purpose in his life, triggered by Zuko's alikeness to Lu Ten and tired of being imposed on things like taking care of a teenager.

He's not Ozai, he's not cruel or even just bad, he just can't force himself to care.

They don't really talk, only sometimes to establish a plan for their further journey. The worst moments are when Iroh calls Zuko Lu Ten's name and then suddenly stops, looking at him in shock. After that kind of incidents, they stay silent for days.

Zuko starts to blame himself for being, well, alive, when his much better cousin is dead. He convinces himself it would be better if he died and Lu Ten lived.

Zuko spends most of his time alone. He hates making Iroh sad and upset so he chooses to stay away. He doesn't know what this all thing with White Lotus, he just likes the idea of his uncle/formal-dad having friends.

Yet, they travel all around the world and for the first time in his life Zuko sees what sharing progress and civilization by Fire Nation looks like. And he doesn't like that.

He's still loyal to his family, so he doesn't believe that his grandfather knows what is happening.

He decides that he needs to make a proper report (soul of writer, ya know).

He makes notes and talks with people, even if he hates how awkward it is. He believes that it's necessary to help them.

I think it's a wonderful idea to see Zuko interviewing - I mean, investigating-

Zuko's raport list - random traders complaining about the difficulty of staying afloat, - migrants who are fleeing war or have lost their homes to fighting, prisoners of war (this doesn't go down too well, thank goodness Zuko is still a kid and his passion seems adorable so no one kills him), - strange ladies in nice outfits who are paid by horrible men for no one knows what, - malnourished scarred soldiers of the Fire Nation, - children of the Earth Kingdom who teach him their stupid game (once he understood the rules, it wasn't THAT stupid, but still), - crazy old ladies, who won't stop pinching his cheeks, - a young girl with a scar on her face who didn't want to tell him much, but Zuko knew what accidental burns looked like and this wasn't one of them, - a group of artists whose theatre burned down after they refused to perform plays approved by the Fire Nation authorities, - a mother who asks him if he knows what happened to her son who was an earth bender and one day. .. just didn't come home

But we all know that Zuko always prefered to act than think. Pretty often Sometimes he disappears for a night. With him disappears an old, theatre mask.

Son came home and left with his mom. Someone left some gold for the soldiers to buy food. Someone bought the most useless things from traders. Someone left burn ointment made by someone who must have grown up surrounded by fire, on the doorstep of the poor girl. And many other, strange things happened.

Of course no one suspects anything or anyone. Trust me. Not a single soul.

______

Zuko is still training but can't even be angry enough to make a big fire. He's just frustrated and that makes him choke with smoke more than anything.

But with every other day, he feels worse. He gets letters from Azula who started to receive more attention from their mother since Zuko was away. When Ozai's influence is limited, she becomes a little more normal. She's still sharp as a knife and dangerous, but feeling loved by both her parents (even if Oazi is more focused on trying to control her and transform her into a weapon) decreases her psychopathic behaviour.

"Mom asked me to take care of your stupid turtle ducks, dum dum"

She thinks he will be happy hearing that she spends time with their mom, and Zuko, honestly, is happy. It's just-

"Am I even still her son since I'm Uncle Iroh's heir?"

-where is his place now?

For the first time in days, he feels an actual rage. And just like this, his fire bending becomes hundreds of times better, even unhinged and dangerous.

Iroh sees this while coming back from meditation (or whatever) and in a second feels that something is wrong.

He reaches out to Zuko, offering him some advice and lessons, but Zuko, a 13-year-old, harmfully lonely and practically neglected at this point prince, can't hold back anymore:

"YOU WANT TO TEACH ME AFTER MONTHS OF IGNORING ME? YOU'RE JUST LIKE FATHER, HE LOOKS AT US ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE! WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP ME WHEN I COULD NOT HOLD A LITTLE FLAME IN MY HANDS? I DON'T NEED YOUR STUPID ADVICE NOW! YOU WEREN'T THAT WISE WHEN YOU LOST BA SING SE AND GOT LU TEN KILLED"

Iroh sters at him calmly for a few seconds.

"You are right. I wasn't. I'm trying to do better. If you change your mind about training, you know where to find me."

Zuko comes to his Uncle by night.

They don't really train. They drink tea instead.

And it becomes a habit.

After a few days, they start to actually train.

They need to breathe a lot. It's too much for Zuko, but Iroh is rather stubborn about this one.

After a few weeks, for the first time in his life, Zuko feels that fire bending is soothing and just pleasant. It feels like home.

It can't last forever. Of course.

______

They stayed for a long time in the Earth Kingdom. One day Zuko sees Ba Sing Se and vast fields of previous battles, trampled, dry land and piles of burnt bodies.

It's not the work of some mad general or bunch of scared soldiers fighting for their lives. It's his chubby nice tea-loving uncle's work. This is not an accident, an accidental casualty of war. They are the pride of the Fire Nation. This is their honour. This is their civilisation and progress.

That's what his family is doing to the world. Purposely.

Something is breaking inside him. Thoughts of mourning for Lu Ten. No one has ever mentioned all those bodies, the people who died here too. His uncle, his good uncle, his father, the pride of his Nation, only cried over his son. He never even hesitated to burn to a crisp anyone who defended his home. Against them.

Zuko isn't very smart, as we know. He screams a lot at Iroh. And then he leaves.

He thinks to himself, that Lu Ten, who actually fought in those battles would understand that it was wrong. But Lu Ten would also know what to do about it.

He wanders for days, trying to avoid people, untill

He crushes into something.

"Why are you running, flame-boy? Your pants are on fire?" *wild laugh*

And this is how Prince Zuko met Lady Toph Beifong.

[discordiansamba]

When he is eleven, Uncle tells Zuko the news he has been waiting to hear all this time.

Father will be visiting.

The rest of the morning is spent in a frenzy- father apparently sent the messenger hawk ahead of his departure, so they don't have much time. He has ordered Iroh to make him presentable, so the villa servants scrub every inch of him and forgo his usual braid for a proper topknot, combing his hair until not a single strand is out of place.

He doesn't realize what the bandages are for until they start binding his wings.

His uncle does not look at him, so he cannot see the anger in the old man's eyes. His father has requested this. Presentable means 'as normal as possible'. It means hiding his wings, binding them to his back and donning clothes that cramp them even further. Zuko can barely stand upright when they're done. Uncle has to help him walk, his balance entirely thrown off.

It's worth it, he tells himself. Father is coming. There can only be one reason for that- he's letting him come home.

(The dragon laughs at him. He grits his teeth and ignores it.)

His wings are aching by the time father arrives. He greets him properly- he is out of practice, but Uncle helped brush up on his lessons as they waited. His father hums in consideration, then turns to his uncle. He had received his letter, but it would seem the news of the prince's recovery was true after all.

His uncle bows, deep and respectful. He is not free of the spirit, but he has learned to live with it. He has shown exceptional progress.

His father looks at him- and he feels the dragon bristle underneath the man's gaze. Zuko keeps his head bowed, biting back the low, rumbling growl the dragon wants to produce. Father wants him to be normal. Zuko desperately wants that too. He can accept Azula being his father's heir instead of him, if he can just go home.

"And the... physical changes?"

"Irreversible, I am afraid," Iroh confesses, "-but unlikely to worsen further."

"Then perhaps," his father begins, "-we can cut the wings and horns off."

Zuko makes the mistake of looking up at his father. There is disgust in his eyes, as if he is looking at an insect he crushed underneath his shoe. His father looks at him, brushing a hand over the cluster of scales on the left half of his face.

His touch is not warm. It is not kind.

"Yes," his father says to himself, "-we could burn off the scales too."

Zuko looks up at his father, terrified.

Iroh intervenes. They cannot do that. These things are a part of Zuko now- removing them would be the same as crippling him for life. The dragon is a part of him- he must accept this, if he is ever to find peace within himself. His father frowns, stroking his beard in thought.

"Very well," Ozai said, "-then he is to remain here, on Ember Island."

What happens next is a blur. Zuko remembers begging. No, please- he'll do anything if it means coming home. You can cut off his wings and his horns. You can burn his face. You can even take his hands if you need to. Please, father. He wants to come home. He wants to see mother-

"Your mother?" Ozai sneers. "Your mother is gone. She left because of you."

He remembers slumping to the ground, defeated.

(It was only after his father left, that the anger came. He was never going home. He was going to be stuck here forever. His father didn't even look at him like he was a person.

He tears free of his own bindings and lets himself rage. He tears tapestries, smashes valuables and furniture alike, and spits fire at anyone who dares come close. When he is done, he curls up into a corner and sobs until his Uncle comes to find him. He holds him close and apologizes.

It will not be this way forever, my nephew, he says, I promise.)

[rifari2037]

12. What are your steambaby headcanons?

Fire Lord Zuko and First Lady Katara's steambabies :

Princess Kya (14), the leader - a fire bender, an heir of the Fire Nation. She has golden eyes and light brown skin. She is just, brave, determine, and sometimes mischievous.

Headcanons :

Zuko teaches Kya fire bending in every martial-style bending. She isn't surprised her father teaches her water-styles more than other styles.

Zuko teaches Kya how to redirect lightning in honour to her beloved grand-uncle Iroh.

Azula (after her redemption arc) is very close to Kya because her niece has talents and badass like her.

Azula teaches Kya how to direct lightning and she learns it quickly. 'I doubt you're your father's daughter, it took him years to do that," is Azula's way to compliment her.

Just like her father, Kya secretly learns fire bender from the source. One day, Zuko and Katara accidentally sees Kya doing the dragon dance with his dragon, Druk, and amazed by that.

Prince Kazan (12), the protector - a non-bender, the youngest master dual swords. He has golden eyes and light brown skin. He is strong, smart, tactical, and eager to learn any weapons. Kazan (火山) means volcano in Japanese.

Headcanons :

Kazan has very similar face and gesture to young Zuko, except his skin is darker.

Kazan feels insecure when found out that his two sisters are benders and he's not. Katara is the one who notices his anxiety first and asks Zuko to cheer him up.

Zuko encourage him that he doesn't need to be a fire or water bender to be a great leader. Zuko also shows Kazan his dual swords skill, tells him that weapon skills are very useful at any time.

Zuko himself who teaches Kazan dual swords techniques until he mastered it at young age. This is in my head how Zuko teaches Kazan :

After Kazan mastering dual swords, he start learns other weapons, especially water tribe weapons from Hakoda and Sokka. Dual swords still his main weapon and he still practising it.

Kazan often reminds Zuko of his childhood, sometimes it brings back to his past trauma. Zuko feels afraid that he will act like his father to his children, especially his non-bender son. Katara always reminds Zuko that he is not the same as his father at all. He is always a good father to them.

Princess Izumi (8), the healer - a water bender, a young peacemaker. She has ocean eyes and pale skin. She is calm and quiet, has a kind heart and motherly.

Headcanons :

Izumi is very close to her mother, Katara. She's almost always by her side.

Izumi has motherly nature combination of her two grandmothers, Ursa and Kya. She's quiet but wise and very intelligent.

Izumi often being a peacemaker when her sister and brother quarrel, most often because Kya playing prank on Kazan.

Katara teaches Izumi how to fight and heal, but Izumi is more interested in healing. She has excellent talents in healing.

Izumi not only a healer, she also has talent as a herbalist like Ursa. She learn herbalist almost herself. She can make poison, but prefers to use her abilities to make cure.

Years later when she turn 18, she become a good fighter and best at healing. She secretly learn blood-bending and use it to heal (only Kya and Kazan know about it).

Nb :

I thought about swapping Kya and Izumi just like in canon-TLOK, but I stick with my first HC in result, because I always imagined badass firebender Kya and calm intelligent water-bender Izumi.

I only wrote down good things about steambabies, I still haven't thought about their weaknesses.

These are my original headcanons. Every Zutara shipper allowed to use it into fanarts, fanfics, or add another headcanons, but please let me know and credit me ❤️💙

[hello-nichya-here]

Hello, whats your opinion on this as a mai fan

I think this person is either misremembering the show or deliberately mischaracterizing what Mai, because what they're claiming she revealed on The Beach is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of what she actually said.

She doesn't say "My parents used me as a pawn in their game to get close to royals" or "My parents never wanted me to learn anything about combat." She tells us that her parents will let her do whatever she likes - as long as she BEHAVES. As long as she's invisible. Out of sight, out of mind. They don't care what she does, as long as it doesn't affect them, as long as she's quiet. And that's what she says in an attempt to DOWNPLAY how bad her relationship with them actually is and how it affected her emotionally.

When Mai is complaining that she doesn't like Omashu because there's nothing for her to do, her mom doesn't try to talk to her about activities that could keep her busy/entertained, or show any concern about how she's adapting to moving to a whole new country, to a city where she doesn't know anyone. Instead, she ignores her daughter's attempts to talk about her feelings by reminding her that this is important for her father. There's no attempt to make this situation benefitial for her as well, it's all about how she needs to be grateful that someone else is happy about it.

Yes, when Tom-Tom is "kidnaped", they won't stop panicking, and are overjoyed when he's brought back safely. But there's not a word on them being concerned over Mai's well-being when she's leaving in a potentially dangerous mission. They don't show up to congratulate her at any point after she helps the Fire Nation conquer Ba Sing Se, even though that is a legendary feat. Favoritism much?

In book 3, literally the only adults we see in her home are servants, and considering one needs an airship to go to the island where the boiling rock is, it's pretty safe to say her uncle can't be dropping by too often. They let their 15-year-old daughter live in a different country, without any adult acting as her guardian - that's how much they don't care about her.

And speaking of her uncle, yes, he is doing a good job of being an attentive family member (is aware of her situation with Zuko, immediately lets her out of prison the second he knows he can get away with it) - but using that to claim "Thefore her family life is fine" is absurd because, again, that's her UNCLE, not her parents. By that logic, Zuko shouldn't be complaining about his family either, after all he has Iroh and somehow that is supposed to cancel out being raised by freaking Ozai, riiiiiiight?

And speaking of Zuko, there's a reason why, in a finale where everyone is being reunited with their family and friends, even when the travel time doesn't make any goddamn sense, Mai's happy ending involves a heartwarming reuining with him, and he's delighted to see her - but there's still nothing about her parents. Their daughter was sent to prison for life, then her boyfriend became Fire Lord giving them THE perfect chance to come rescue her, and they STILL are nowhere to be found.

For fuck's sake, AZULA showed more love for Mai than her parents did. Girl was clearly happy to see her again, and even gave her a "hug" that wasn't that touchy because Mai doesn't like it. In "The Lost Adventures" we find out that she was also the one who pushed for her and Zuko to get together (though that also ties into her knowing that was the only way to make Zuko come home despite his guilt over what he did to Iroh). Even on The Beach, she's the one who first connects the dots and realizes that Mai is always so aloof because she's used to being told to shut up when she says something inconvenient.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying her parents had no political ambitions (the Yang comics leaning into that was one of the few good things about his writting). Obviously they were happy that their daughter was best friends with the princess and dating the heir to the throne, and I'm sure Mai didn't appreciate being treated more as asset than as a daughter.

But her complaint was not about that. It was about how her parents are simply not part of her life at all. She's an outsider looking in. She can stand next to them and do as she's told, or she can leave. What she can't do is actually engage with them, mean anything to them, expect anything from them, rely on them at all.

Mai's parents are neglectful to a degree that, in the real world, could potentially have them lose custody of her because she consistently has to turn to literally anyone else instead of them whenever she needs anything.

Is it really any wonder she had a soft-spot for Zuko, aka the boy that is always disregarded by his father, to the point of literally being kicked out of his home, and is actually openly pissed off about it and will let everyone know it?

[zukosdualdao]

i talk a lot about cognitive dissonance with zuko but i think it’s also very apparent in the speech azula gives to long feng about how he’s had to claw and fight his way to the top, but she (and by extension ozai) is so sure of her place there because of a divine right to rule.

and she genuinely does not seem to see the irony of this, when the example she has learned from in her father is a man who was not originally set to be the firelord. ozai may have born in the royal line of succession, but he was not the heir, that was not “something [he was] born with”, and it was only through manufacturing the situation to his advantage (agreeing to ursa not to kill zuko and planning to kill azulon instead, banishing ursa to essentially take all the heat for it in case it ever came into question, taking advantage of iroh’s grief at a time he just… wasn’t going to fight back, even if he was around and wanted to) that that changed.

like. the kind of power azula is talking about isn’t just bestowed upon ozai at birth, as she suggests here. he took it by (underhanded) force, not that dissimilarly to long feng.

azula doesn’t know all the details of the night azulon died and ursa left. but she does absolutely know ozai was clawing to become heir, because in zuko alone, we see her parroting things he’s obviously telling her—about how he would be a much better firelord, and their uncle is kooky, and azulon is getting older and weaker and will need to replaced soon. and in telling her these things, acting like she was the one person in the world he could entrust them to, as well as actively telling azula she was superior, too—“he said [azula] was born lucky”—because he could use her skill and ego to his benefit, he taught her to think of herself as better than everyone else as well. (which is obviously not good for her development! but also informs most of her actions as a villain.)

we also see her smiling at ozai’s coronation, very obviously aware things have worked out just as he wanted and very obviously pleased, and this seems to confirm to her that he’s right, they are superior.

azula doesn’t see the irony here because to her, it’s not the same thing. to her, ozai took the crown by force because he was so much naturally stronger and superior and had a right to take it by force because he was better. after all, if he wasn’t, why did it work out exactly the way ozai said it should??? it must have been supposed to work out that way all along. (again: the cognitive dissonance is real!)

[waterfire1848]

Au where everything is mostly the same but Azula cares more for Zuko and has good relationship with him (not Zucest)

Hello, @t34calliope

When Azula and Zuko grow up, Ozai doesn't force them to compete with one another because he believes that they'll be far stronger as a duo. He believes that if he can show them why family loyalty is important then they'll never betray him and he gets two powerful weapons. (Two birds with one stone). So, Zuko and Azula grow up inseparable. Wherever one of them is, the other is not far behind. Ursa never had any objections to this, seeing her children playing tag in the garden or working together to steal pastries were some of the most adorable sights in the world to her. (Ursa: Azula? What are you doing, baby? Azula: Looking for Zuzu. Ursa: I think I saw him- Azula: NO! No, mom! You can't tell me! We're playing hide and seek. Ursa: Ohhh. I'm sorry. Well, I hope you find him soon. Azula: I will!). Zuko's firebending was still weak, mind you, but since he and Azula weren't competing, he got some help from his sister in terms of bending training. He's still not at her level but he's also far from terrible.

That being said, Azulon still isn't great. He still calls for Zuko's head but this time, since Azula doesn't want her brother dead, she goes running to their mother, begging her to help them because Ozai said yes. (Azula:😭Dad...dad always said family was important, but...but he's going to kill Zuko! Ursa: No, he's not. Everything will be okay. I just need you to stay hidden for the rest of the night, okay baby? Azula: Where are you going? Ursa: To talk to your father. I'll get everything sorted out. I promise. Azula: But- Ursa: Everything will be fine, sweetie.) Ursa is gone the next morning and Zuko has no idea why. Azula tells him the truth about what happened and while Zuko doesn't want to believe it, he certainly trusts his little sister more than Ozai. From that point on, Azula and Zuko both trust one another far more than they do Ozai (dun dun dun!). For the most part, this doesn't equate to much because they still remain in the palace, train and go to school except now they know their father would be willing to kill them for his own gain and it destroys their bond with him. When Ozai and Zuko duel (with Zuko still reluctant to fight), Azula jumps onto the stage with them and fights Ozai. The fight between the three ends with Azula and Zuko being both burned and banished. (Ozai apparently doesn't realize that he needs heirs).

Neither of the siblings really wants to return to the Fire Nation and they know enough to know that their father's order to find the Avatar was just a way to get rid of them. So, when they finally leave and lose their bandages (Zuko has his classic scar but Azula hand her arm burned because she attempted to lightning bend on the stage. Doing jumps and fighting moves with hand to hand combat is gonna be hard for her for a while) they don't even try to look for the Avatar. Instead, the siblings run away from Iroh, because they don't trust him one bit, and flee into the Earth Kingdom for safety. While in the countryside, they're found by Earth Kingdom soldiers who assume that the two are orphans and bring them to a nearby orphanage. (Azula: Why do we have to stay here? Zuko: We get food, a place to sleep- Azula: Have to share a room with six other people, are sick every other week because we're all cramped together. Zuko: I know. We'll leave soon, but for now we have to stay to plan our next move. Azula: What is our next move? Zuko: I think it should be Ba Sing Se. Azula: You want to go to the impenetrable city? Zuko: Yup. Great grandfather never broke through, grandfather never broke through and uncle never broke through. It's perfect! Azula: That's true, but we don't have the money to get there. Zuko, holding up a pouch of stolen coins: No one will miss these, right. Azula: I seriously underestimated you.)

Then, one day, a week before Zuko and Azula plan to escape a family comes in to adopt them. Normally, the siblings just act crazy or refuse to be separated and that's enough to get people to leave them alone but this family refuses to budge and the orphanage needs to clear space so....off they go! The little village that their new "family" (Ling and Bo) lives in is a farming village meaning that the siblings are expected to help out but their "parents" do agree to give them as much time as they need to settle in and relax. Zuko and Azula aren't fans of their new family but they do find some of the animals fun and their new "parents" aren't horrible people. Plus, the food---which they were raised to believe would be downright disgusting---is actually delicious. That being said, they still very much plan on escaping because they don't trust Ling and Bo. That starts to change when Bo finds Azula one morning struggling with her hair (both because she never bothered to keep up with haircare too closely in the orphanage and because one of her arms doesn't really bend that way anymore) and Bo offers to help. (Bo: That better? Azula: Y-Yes. Thank you. Could you show me how you did the topknot? Bo: Of course!). While that's going on, Ling brings Zuko out to the field and gives him jobs having to deal with animals because he can see that Zuko loves them so much. Bottom line, by the end of the month, the siblings have postponed their running away.

Years pass, Azula turns fourteen and Zuko turns sixteen, and the siblings are quite content with their new parents and small village. That is, until the Fire Nation attacks. Ling and Bo manage to get out and get the kids out but their house is burned down by the invaders. Thankfully, social media isn't a thing in ATLA so none of the soldiers recognize Zuko or Azula and think that the two are Earth Kingdom children. Feeling awful because their nation destroyed their home and the villagers town, Zuko and Azula decide to flee the area (telling their parents that they're going to Ba Sing Se) and start on their journey. They travel maybe two or three miles before coming in contact with Appa and the Gaang. Zuko firebends at them (because when a giant ten ton creature comes flying straight at you what are you supposed to do?) and the Gaang quickly realize that the two are firebenders. (Aang: Actually....we're in need on some firebenders. Zuko: You need firebenders? Aang: Yup! You see, I'm the Avatar. I need a firebending master soon and- Sokka: And all the firebenders we've met have tried to burn us alive. Azula: We're not masters. We can't help you. Aang: But you at least know some bending. Please. Azula: I'm sorry, kid, but we're heading to- Zuko: We'll help. Azula: Zuko! Zuko: If he's telling the truth then we have a chance to avenge mom and dad's home. We could help end the war and then go back to them. Azula:....But we're not masters. Zuko: You heard him. He's not looking for masters. Just benders. Azula: I...but... Zuko: Starting to realize I might have a point? Azula: Yes and I hate it. Zuko: We'll come with you.)

[bloodycyrano]

I feel like Zuko gets homesick after becoming firelord. Of course, he was always destined to be the heir to the throne. While in exile, he wanted nothing more than to go back home and regain his honor and his country.

But he never felt so loved there as he did when traveling with his Uncle, or the Gaang. For the first time in his life, he knew who he was and didn't feel guilty for just existing. In a way, the palace was never really a home to him. And even with a thousand servants, enough esteem and honor to fill him with pride, and work to fill him with purpose; there was nothing that could truly compare to setting camp with his friends and listening to the idle sounds of the fire burning to ashes while his friends slept safely in their tents.

It was annoying at first, hearing Sokka snore, or Tophs weird sleep talking, or even how Aang can't stay still in his sleep to save his life. But over time, it became a comfort, hearing them all while he fell asleep at night.

It's too quiet in the palace.. He doesn't see his uncle as much, and he misses the tea shop. He misses not being a 16 year old ruler who can barely manage his own trauma, let alone an entire nation. He has heart, and he pours the entirety of it into his country, and the Fire Nation prospers. There is peace for the first time in over 100 years. But how long until he learns to be truly happy? Will he ever?

And for the most part, he can ignore it. Because, of course he can. But sometimes, his friends need him. Sometimes, he can visit his uncle.. And see his best friend again. And what happens when he's back in that bedroll for the first time since becoming the esteemed Firelord Zuko, and it's the first time he's felt safe in only the spirits know how long?

[eponastory]

My Father's Words

There were days when Koda found himself thinking about his childhood. The memories of playing with his cousin, younger sisters, and his brother in the gardens while his mother sat watching them. His father would come in after meeting with his advisors and sit next to their mother with a smile on his face.

Those were happy times. It was just them. His parents and their love that created so many memories.

Of course, there were some not so good moments in time that brought panic and distress. There was one time where he remembered being on the run, but eventually they returned home to the Palace. It did not feel the same for a while after, but everything slowly went back to normal.

But it was the fear on his father's face and the way he seemed to age ten years in the matter of weeks. It scared Koda then, because that was when he understood that his father was not invincible or going to live forever. It had been a sickening moment for Koda, and that feeling stayed with him for months after that realization.

"Koda?" his father's voice pulled him out of the raw emotions he felt. "What is wrong?"

He tried hiding his tears away from his father before turning to face the man that had loved and raised him. Koda was only ten, but he felt so much younger when he cried, because boys should not cry. Especially in front of their fathers.

"It's nothing, Dad." he told his father, but the man was not having that excuse for an answer as he stood in the doorway.

Koda watched through blurry eyes as his father leaned back out of the doorway and looked around to see if there was anyone else. His father sighed, letting his shoulders drop when there was no one to be seen before moving to Koda's bed and sitting down next to him.

Despite being the 'Great' Fire Lord Zuko, Koda only saw his father as 'Dad' and that was a greater title than the one Zuko was born with. In Koda's eyes, Zuko was more than just his father... he was a hero, so Koda tried to rein in his emotions. After all, Koda was a Prince of the Fire Nation, but not the heir.

"It's not 'nothing' if you're crying." Zuko put an arm around Koda's shoulders and brought him in closer. Koda could smell the incense from the council chambers still on Zuko's informal regalia. "What's going on, Koda?"

To be honest, Koda did not want to talk about what he felt to his father. Instead, he just sat there silently in Zuko's presence. He knew that one day, Zuko was not going to be there to give him this comfort when he needed it. Which was something he was trying to understand now.

He loves his father. Deeply.

"I don't want you to die." Koda whispered out after several long minutes of sitting there. "When we came back to the palace, things were so different. You were different."

"How am I different?" Zuko's eyebrow raised in question as Koda looked up at him. "It's okay, you can tell me."

Koda had never feared his father. Zuko may have been stoic in the presence of other nobles and his subordinates, but he was a different person when he was around his family.

"Promise you won't tell Mom?" He gave his father a hesitant look.

"Why would I tell your mother?" Another confused look from Zuko made Koda want to shirk away, but he stayed motionless. "You know me better than this, Son. What you tell me stays between us."

"Well... I... I'm afraid that one day, I'll wake up and you won't be here." The soft tone of Koda's voice caused Zuko to get off the bed and kneel before him with pain in his eyes. It was a pain that Koda had only seen once.

When Uncle Iroh died.

Even with the scar on his father's face, there was no pain that could rival what Zuko must have been feeling then. Koda had seen it clear as day before his father had said something he would never forget.

"Koda..." the warmth of his father's palm on his face had brought fresh tears. "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that won't happen, but if you think for one second that I'm not going to prepare you for that moment... then I will have failed you as a father." He pulled Koda into an embrace. "I'm sorry that what happened scared you, and made you believe you were going to lose me." Zuko's voice wavered. "But I'm right here." Koda felt his father's hand on the back of his head. "I fear losing you more than I fear dying."

It was true, Koda could feel that in the inflections of his father's voice.

"I will do anything for you, your sisters, and your cousin." Zuko pulled away from him. "I will give my life and I want you to understand what that means." Koda nodded blinking through his tears. "I hope I live to see you understand that, but if not, then I'll be there with you in spirit." Zuko put his hand on top of Koda's hair before ruffling it. "Growing old is part of life."

"Does that explain the gray hairs?" Koda looked at the small bit of gray on Zuko's temples that had recently appeared.

"No, that would be your sisters." They both laughed.

Zuko had done all he could to prepare his children for his eventual death. Even going as far as planning his own funeral out of spite, because he was still alive and in perfect health well into his ninties now.

Koda had always kept Zuko's words tucked away in the back of his mind until he finally understood the meaning of them. That was when he met the love of his life and then again when she gave birth to their first child. He knew then what it meant to love someone so much that he would willingly give his life for them instead of losing them.

As he walked into the garden, he found his father sitting by the turtleduck pond with his youngest niece, who was barely out of her teens. They were talking about the upcoming festival when Koda noticed the weary look on his father's face.

There was going to be a point in time where Koda would wake up and the former Fire Lord would be just a shell and the entire world would mourn.

But today, was the day where he kept breathing out of spite because he loved his family too much to let them go.

Koda was like his father in that way.

Hey! Story here!

Yeah yeah, so I was working on chapter 8 of The Dragon's Eye and I kinda needed to write something different for a bit. This little one shot is not part of The Red Dragon Prophecy, it's actually part of After the Rain.

Koda is Zuko and Katara's oldest son. And the event that happens to the family is not yet written out (it's in the sequel to After the Rain) so, I'll be working on that story soon.

[zuko-always-lies]

What ties Azula to her canon path?

Dealing with certain fandumb discourse lately caused me to think about what would have needed to change for Azula's path to significantly change in canon. In order to think about that, you first need to think about what attached Azula to her actions and decisions in canon:

Her loyalty and duty to her nation and its imperialist ideology.

Her loyalty and duty to her Firelord.

Her love for her father and desire for his approval.

Her filial piety toward her parents.

Importantly, these are not Azula's only or even primary motivations. She also feels a strong sense of loyalty and love toward her brother, along with a certain disdain for him. She dislikes her uncle. She feels a certain love and affection for her best friends. She feels alienated from her long-gone mother. She possesses a certain kind of ambition, in the sense of a desire to do great things. She is fiercely dedicated to being the best bender she can be. But none of these factors closely tie her to her canon path, while the first four factors do. Any AU arc where Azula goes a different path must find a way to destroy or at least modify these four attachments.

For point of comparison, I would like to list the three factors which tied Zuko to his path for the first two and half seasons:

His desire for his father's love and approval.

His desire and lust for his old status as Prince and heir to the throne.

His imperialist and royalist sense of superiority over others.

For me, these attachments are weaker than the ones Azula had, so it was easier for Zuko to change course.

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 86

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When dawn came, Zuko was tired and not at all prepared for a full day of meetings. Still, he could never regret staying up late with Katara. If their relationship went as Zuko hoped, they would have less time to themselves when they reached the Fire Nation.

If Zuko were still just the Fire Prince, they would have time and freedom to be together without the presence of chaperones, advisors, and etiquette to follow. If he were still just a prince, they could take an afternoon to explore the city or sit and watch the sunset. But they can't take a trip to Ember Island, or just leave the Fire Palace to visit a festival, because Zuko isn't just a prince anymore.

As Fire Lord, any woman that Zuko were to date would be under intense scrutiny. His advisors would be more cautious of illegitimate heirs, and there was a potential they insist that Zuko and Katara have a chaperone whenever they met. Honestly, it would be easier to date if they got married first, but Zuko didn't want to push Katara. They were still young.

For now, however, Zuko sat at a large round table with the other leaders. He sat flanked by his advisors, then the Earth King and his advisors, then Katara and her family, and then finally Aang. The Northern Water Tribe still hadn't shown themselves.

The meetings started with announcing their nominations for ambassadors. The Earth King had two ministers that Zuko had never heard of. Zuko had no reason to decline, and nominated Uncle for his Earth Kingdom advisor and Captain Jee as the Southern Water Tribe ambassador. Hakoda didn't mind letting the unknown Earth Kingdom ambassador or Jee into the South, and while Kuei was hesitant, he did accept Uncle as the Fire Nation Ambassador. Hakoda ended the nominations with Katara for the Fire Nation and Tunlok for the Earth Kindgom. He vaguely remembered Tunlok as one of the boys that he had gone ice dodging with.

With their decided ambassadors approved, they got into the more difficult discussions. Like the colonies.

"We've already started returning Fire Nation troops to the islands," Zuko said, rubbing at his brow. "But we can't just move the colonies. Some of those cities have been there for generations. To even know what would need to be moved, I would need to visit the town."

"And how long will that take?" one of Kuei's advisors said, shaking his head. "Sire, we can't let this boy fool you into forfeiting land that has been wrongly taken."

"I'm not asking him to give me the land," Zuko grit out. "I'm asking for time. I need to figure out where to move each colony, and figure out what all needs to be taken back to the Fire Nation."

"'Taken back'?" a general asked, eyes narrowed. "What would you be taking back to Fire Nation?"

Zuko scowled, and one of his own advisors, the Minister of Education Su Lee, spoke up.

"General Wong," Su Lee said, adjusting her glasses. "Most of the earliest colonies were built using materials created in the Fire Nation. With our labor, our people, and our techniques. Not only that, but to move so many people, we need homes for them to go to, and what better way to provide that than moving the homes that they themselves have lived in for generations."

"Again," Zuko added. "I would need to see each town to know where they can be moved, and how long it will take. Linshao, Hu Xin, Ketu Harbor, and Yu Dao will take the longest, but deconstruction of solely military bases, such as Pouhai Stronghold are meant to begin at the end of the week."

"Deconstruct Pouhai?!" General Wong snapped. "Are you insane?!"

It was then that Aang spoke up. "I'm sorry, but isn't that what we wanted? For the Fire Nation to leave the Earth Kingdom?"

"What they wanted," Hakoda said, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, "was for them to leave all their fancy technology behind, so they don't have to pay to get access."

"You have no room to talk," the Earth advisor huffed. "I'm sure whatever bride price is given by Fire Lord Zuko will be well worth sacrificing your daughter, but we don't have the luxury of such tactics."

Hokada snarled, but is was Zuko who jumped to his feet.

"Apologize," Zuko snarled, smoke rising from his fisted hands on the table.

The advisor flinched, ducking his head. "Fire Lord Zuko, I-"

There was a distinct sizzling sound. "Not. To me." Lifting his hand, Zuko pointed to Hakoda, who was still sat in his chair. He was clearly displeased, but wasn't arguing in his own defense. "Chief Hakoda is a wise and respectable man. While his daughter and I may be involved, it has nothing to do with either of our nations. My soon to be three year alliance to the Southern Water Tribe is based on my respect and admiration for a man that has done everything he can to protect the freedoms of not just his own people, but yours as well!" Standing to his full height, Zuko loomed over the table. "So you will show him the respect he deserves."

The entire Earth Kingdom delegation was shaking, and the guards at the doors had moved into shakey bending stances. They all looked to King Kuei for guidance. The young and naive king was looking rather thoughtful.

"Fire Lord Zuko is right," Kuei said, though his voice wavered as if he wasn't entirely sure. "If we want peace to last between us, we must show everyone here the respect that they deserve." And then, Kuei bowed his head. "Please, Chief Hakoda, accept my apologies on behalf of all my people. We know you and your daughter and son were an essential part of the invasion that ended the war, and you don't deserve such foul implications upon your character. Especially since Basco seems to like you!"

It was true. The bear (just a bear) had been more than happy to sit at the feet of Hakoda during breakfast that morning. Zuko suspected it was because Hakoda gave Bosco his sausage, as it had been a 'Fire Nation' style breakfast, and the chief didn't care much for the heavy amount of spices the palace's kitchens had used.

"Thank you, King Kuei," Hakoda said, though he was eyeing Zuko. "Perhaps it's time for a short break, Avatar Aang?"

"Er, yes!" Aang shot up from his cross legged position, a puff of airbending propelling him up. "That sounds like a good idea!"

With a heavy sigh, Zuko turned away from the table. He needed a moment to speak with Su Lee. She had picked up on their wants with Pauhai before he had. Perhaps she had picked up on other things.

Before he could stop his Minister of Education, there was a heavy hand on his shoulder. He turned, blinking.

"Zuko," Hakoda said, voice serious. "A word?"

Feeling his shoulders slump, Zuko nodded. "Of course..."

Zuko wasn't sure what he expected when Hakoda pulled him aside. Maybe a lecture on not needing to defending. Or a scolding for loosing his temper. But it was neither. Instead, the heavy hands were on both shoulders, and Hakoda was studying him.

"Are you alright, son?"

Zuko nearly choked. "I..." Swallowing heavily, he gave a sort of shrug. "I think so. It's... It's been stressful, in the Fire Nation. And that advisor suggested that you were anything but honorable, and-"

The hands on his shoulder squeezed. "I know. It's been rough." There was a twitch of Hakoda's lips, and he was smirking. "I'm glad you think of me as a 'wise and respectable' man. I'm here if you need anything."

Zuko nodded, chewing on his lip. He thought back to what Piandao had said about finding a mentor, a leader to learn from. He knew he could trust Hakoda, no matter the topic.

"The colonies," Zuko said, frowning. "What would you do?"

Now it was Hakoda's turn to frown. "We don't really do colonies in the south," he pointed out. "So I'm not sure how much help I can be. Have you asked your uncle about this?"

"He said that he wasn't sure what to do either. Most of the colonies have been there since before he was born, and the ones that weren't are already on their way back to the Fire Nation. I think he doesn't like telling everyone that they have to leave behind their homes, like... Katara and I did."

"It was hard on you both, when you had to leave your homes." Hakoda sighed. Leaning his head back to think for a moment. When he looked at Zuko, he was frowning. "Could you... Buy the land? That the colonies are on?"

"It... was discussed," Zuko said, holding back a groan. He could still hear Minister of Finance Chang shrieking at how low their vaults already were, and how much ONE of those colonies would cost, much less all of them. "Apparently most of them are very large and wealthy cities now, rather than small towns and villages like the younger colonies. It would cost a fortune to 'purchase' towns like that."

"Then why not purchase just the land?" Hakoda suggested. "You said it yourself. Your people are the ones that actually built them into what they are. If you pay for ownership of the land, and add something else to sweeten the deal, then it should be fine, right? You wouldn't have to ask the people to leave."

Zuko thought it over for a minute. They would have to pay in instalments, but it could work. But what could he sweeten the deal with? The general had been interested in Pauhai Stronghold... Could he afford to relinquish it? Other solely military stations? Or could they try something else?

"Thank you, Hakoda," Zuko said. "You've been a great help."

He got a hearty slap on the back. "Of course! Anything you need, son. Please, just ask."

With a smile, Zuko nodded. He gave a polite bow, before hurrying off to find Su Lee. He had a few questions for her about her thoughts on Ba Sing Se University.

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[ghanjrho]

How A:tLA should have ended, Pt. 2

Part 1 is here

I promised you Fire Family and Steambabies, have your Fire Family and Steambabies. We'll start with oldest and move down in age, as of roughly AG 115. For timeline purposes, the royal wedding was in AG 105, when Zuko was 21 and Katara 19.

Uncle Iroh: Iroh retires from his role as Regent the day Zuko and Katara have their Fire Nation wedding. Now he moves back to Ba Sing Se and his tea shop, though he still makes it back to Caldera for a couple weeks a year. It's a good system, obviously removing the Dragon of the West from the levers of power, while also putting enough physical separation between him and Zuko that a coup is unlikely to target both at once. The Steambabies call him Grampa Iroh.

Ozai: Is dead. Handed over to the Earth Kingdom a year or so after the war ended, an international tribunal called for his execution. In desperation, he offered up all the information he had on Ursa. All it bought him was being executed like a member of the Fire Lord's family, as opposed to a peasant. Aang refuses to vote for death on principle, but has grown enough to understand that not everyone can live by his personal code of ethics.

Ursa: Was found. The basic arc of The Search is maintained, with the exception that Ursa didn't lose her memories. Why didn't she go back? She was going to. But Ursa was Noriko now, and Noriko was going to have to work hard to convince her son that she was his mother; at the time she didn't know that the Mother of Faces could undo a gift and make her Ursa again. Not to mention that at the time of The Search, the family simply didn't have the money to travel to the Capitol and stay there for the amount of time it would take for her to get access to Zuko without running afoul of her banishment.

Zuko: Is the Fire Lord, and a devoted father. He thinks the second is more important. Had some serious nerves about parenthood, but bowed to the reality of needing an heir and a spare. Winds up having more than that.

Katara: Is the Fire Lady, and a handful of other titles besides. Her travels through the Fire Nation hinterlands give her a surprising wealth of connections to the Fire Nation's peasantry, which she freely uses to keep abreast of what's going on in her adopted land. She and Zuko are that married couple that can't keep there hands off each other.

Azula: Instead of letting Azula be a crutch villain, Azula gets better. Ursa's return and Zuko's persistent attention helped her unwind a lot of the emotional abuse that Ozai inflicted on her. Not all the way better, she has a medicated tea that she takes daily, and her moral compass is still worryingly external. That said, Zuko is her frame of reference instead of Ozai, so everyone is willing to call it good enough. On her 18th birthday, Zuko (and Iroh) named her the Hand of Fire, making her the Fire Lord's go-to problem solver.

Kiyi: is adorable. Yes, Mommy looks different now, but Kiyi has cool older siblings now! Azula had very complicated feelings about "her replacement" for a while. A lot of talks with Ursa helped; finding out Zuzu would fold in the face of Kiyi's pout did too. Early morning Fire Sibling meditation is essential bonding time. For Kiyi's age, I'm putting her 10 years younger than Azula, or 12 years younger than Zuko; in AG 115 she's 19 and a skilled firebender.

Izumi: Steambaby the first. Izumi was born on her parents' first anniversary, almost to the hour. Like her aunt, she's an extremely talented firebender, using blue fire and learning lightning generation. Unlike her aunt, her mother isn't trying to protect a more vulnerable sibling, and her father isn't emotionally abusing her to turn her into a living weapon/vessel for his will.

Kya: Steambaby the second. Followed her older sister by a year and a half, being born in mid-winter. Like her mother, she's a waterbender with the healing gift.

Lu Ten/Noriko: Twins that followed Kya by 3 years and a bit; spring birth. Neither has shown signs of bending yet, but there's still time.

Rei/Kallik: Boys, newborn.

Bonus:

Sokka/Suki: The brother-in-law and co-sister-in-law of the Fire Lord. Have 3 of their own and are working on a fourth. Suki and Azula are in a low-key competition to be the favorite aunt. Their work mainly keeps them in the new United Republic's territory,

[goodbye432]

Zuko Is a Theatre Nerd

Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Fandom:

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Cartoon 2005)

Relationships:

The Gaang & Zuko (Avatar)

Toph Beifong & Zuko

Characters:

Zuko (Avatar)

The Gaang (Avatar)

Aang (Avatar)

Katara (Avatar)

Sokka (Avatar)

Suki (Avatar)

Toph Beifong

Ozai (mentioned)

Azula (mentioned)

Iroh (mentioned)

Additional Tags:

Toph Beifong and Zuko are Siblings

Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck

cactus juice

Suki is so done

Zuko is a theatre nerd

He is high on cactus juice

and trauma dumping like no tomorrow

Everyone else is just loading

Based on a Tumblr Post

Episode: s03e17 The Ember Island Players (Last Airbender)

Ember Island (Avatar)

Toph thrives on chaos

and we love her for that

Crack

Language:EnglishStats:Published:2024-05-31Words:741Chapters:1/1Comments:1Kudos:18Bookmarks:3Hits:116

Zuko is a Theatre Nerd

ZuriTurner999

Summary:

He turns to Suki who was already turning to leave for more firewood and shouts after her, “I take it you want to play my mother?” Or Zuko tries to cheer everyone up after the awful Ember Island play. What better way than to put on their own? Inspired by a tumblr post.

Everyone is silent after returning from the theatre. It’s frustrating, none of it was even close to accurate and the acting was frankly, atrocious. He’d have been more believable as a five year old; Pu-on Tim should be ashamed. He paused, this was an awful idea… they did look like they needed a distraction. 

“You know what? We can do better than that. Let’s make our own play. Sokka you can play my father” 

Sokka looked incredulous, “I don’t want to be your father” 

Zuko almost laughed but he forced his expression to remain flat, “Perfect, you already know your lines.” 

Now Sokka just looked confused. And concerned. He opened his mouth to ask something but Zuko had already moved on, turning to Katara, “You can be my sister” 

Katara was still looking over at Sokka, but her expression turned to disgust as she processed what he said, “That’s disgusting, the thought of that repulses me on a spiritual level. I would kill you.” 

Zuko nodded again, “Already getting into character, good work Azula” 

She kind of reminded him of Azula anyway. 

She went to object, but he was already turning to Toph, who was already grinning, “And you can be my grandfather” 

“I would rather die,” She contributed cheerfully. 

“Outstanding, a perfect impression. Could hardly tell the difference.” 

Toph’s smile got bigger. 

He turns to Suki who was already turning to leave for more firewood and shouts after her, “I take it you want to play my mother?” 

She shook her head and kept walking. Aang pipes up, “Don’t worry Zuko, I’ll help you with your play!” 

“Yep, you can play Uncle Iroh.” 

Toph cackled, “Wow Sparky really got some great family members there” 

“Family dinners are a riot” 

She cackles harder. He smiles a bit. 

“So are we just… not going to address that bundle of trauma?” Katara asked. 

Suki returned with the wood, ”No.” 

Zuko shrugged, Suki was already acting out of character by coming back. If they were doing this he may as well go all in. 

“Toph, you order Sokka to kill me,” he directed. Toph nodded imperiously and created a rock throne to glare down at him imperiously. Sokka managed to look even more concerned. 

“Why did your grandfather even want to kill you?” 

He shrugged, “My father wanted to be Firelord and he used the excuse that Iroh no longer had an heir. Grandfather liked Iroh best and said Father should also know the pain of losing a son. Now Katara?” 

She was gaping at him. 

“You eavesdrop then run to taunt me about getting killed by our father.” 

“What?” 

He ignored her, “Suki you get to beg Sokka for my life and kill Toph.” 

Toph obligingly fell off her boulder throne. Suki looked unimpressed, adding more wood to the fire. 

“Sokka, you’re the firelord and Suki is never seen again.” He went on, disregarding their growing horror completely. 

“Katara you act like you’re better than me, like usual, and Aang you can just start spouting old, vaguely helpful proverbs at me” 

Aang looked like he was about to start crying. 

“Sokka you light my face on fire” 

“Wait, wait, wait, I thought I was playing your father?” 

“Yes?”

Your father gave you that scar?” Sokka asked him, pointing to his own face. 

He arched a brow, “Yes, we’ve been over this. Now you banish me to find the Avatar.” 

“You were banished to find me?” Aang asked, “But your scar looked healed when I met you” 

“Of course it was healed, I’d been looking three years by the time you got out of that iceberg” 

“Obviously,” Toph intoned loftily. 

“I’m not dealing with this tonight.” Katara threw her hands up and left. 

Zuko stared after her, “Goodnight then.” 

Sokka gaped at him a bit longer before also heading over to his bedroll, “This is a conversation for future me.” 

“You’ve got so many issues, Sparky, it’s hilarious,” Toph giggled a bit more before throwing up a rock tent for sleep. 

Suki had already went to bed and had taken Aang with her before he tried to talk with Zuko. She was pretty sure he’d tried some of the cactus juice at the festival and was not looking forward to the emotional blowup that would happen when he remembered what he said. 

Zuko smiled. None of them were focused on that awful play anymore and he felt great, kind of floaty but he was sure he’d sleep it off. He wondered what was in that cup the lady had given him. 

He shrugged, going to his bedroll. That was a problem for tomorrow. 

[shrinkthisviolet]

How about director's commentary on 'we'll give the world to you (and you'll blow us all away?'

Ooh gladly! Below the cut for length:

So this fic was written as part of Maiko "Halloweek" (so called because it was the week leading up to Halloween), aka Fall Maiko Week, back in 2020. Maiko was, and still is, one of my favorite ATLA ships, and writing this prompt also endeared me to Izumi too—I don't believe I'd seen LOK yet, though she's barely in it anyway.

One of the important aspects to me while writing this was implementing one of my headcanons: they got married relatively early, but waited a while to have kids. And part of that means they dealt with pressure about having an heir as soon as possible...mostly from the Fire Sages, who are worried that Zuko might die before conceiving an heir. And it's not that the worry is unfounded, but it's the persistence.

It was a nice chance, also, to highlight the Gaang's closeness. This is one of my favorite snippets of that:

…Zuko had the full force of the chi-blocking Kyoshi Warriors, a master waterbender, the Avatar, a master swordsman, a master earth- and metalbender, and a master knife-thrower behind him. Anyone who dared oppose him would fail, of that the Gaang (Sokka’s name for them, expanded to include the Kyoshi Warriors) was certain.

And also this, showcasing a little Maitara friendship:

... Mai found out from a furious Katara that they’d been approaching members of Team Avatar in an attempt to circumvent the royals.

“What’d you do?”

“Threatened to freeze them if they tried it again. But I’d keep my eyes peeled, just in case they didn't get the memo.”

The worst part is that even when they finally get the hint and back off in the pestering...the rumors don't stop:

The Fire Sages no longer brought up the need to have an heir, but Zuko and Mai had endeared themselves to the palace staff enough to know about the whispers. The sneers that perhaps the marriage was not as happy as presumed, that perhaps the Fire Lady had already been pregnant when they wed (apparently, some in the Fire Nation were praying that this was true, and Zuko had never felt like committing murder more than in that moment).

Of course, as stated later, the Fire Sages are spreading the rumors. The palace staff are too endeared to Mai and Zuko by this point...and the Fire Sages intend to force their hand however possible.

Also, this adorable Maiko moment, with a little Maiaang friendship:

“Since when are you into proverbs?” Zuko teased.

“I’ve been befriended by a certain Air Nomad,” she replied with a smirk. “It turns out, he and your uncle speak the same language.”

“And you’ve picked it up?”

“Unfortunately.”

And this one:

...he focused his efforts on the creation of the United Republic of Nations and enlisted Toph and Mai’s help in replacing the gossiping Fire Sages. When the Fire Sages protested, he simply said, “If you wanted my ear, you shouldn’t have insulted my wife.”

I love them 🥰 I will go down with this ship fr (that last line in particular...one of my favorites I've ever written)

Also...Mai telling Zuko she's pregnant under Yue's light (right after Zuko tells her Yue's story) is intentional, given that Izumi is born at the moon's peak—which itself is also intentional!

But back to that in a bit. For now...Mai and Zuko's shared anxiety was important for me to convey:

He looked at Mai very seriously and said, “Do you want this? Really, and truly, do you want to have this child?”

She looked back at him, first startled, then serious like him, and nodded firmly. “I do. But I also want to do it right. I want our child to know they’re loved, always, and that they never have to earn it.”

They both want their child, they want to do right by them, but they're scared too. And of course they'll do their level best and even beyond that, but that anxiety can be hard to shake. It takes time!

But now, back to Izumi:

Princess Izumi was born in late spring, at the moon’s peak, with a quick but steady breath in her lungs. It had been a difficult birth for her mother, and a stressful event for her father, and the fact that she had even lived to breathe was a miracle in itself.

As mentioned prior, Izumi being born at the moon's peak would likely be unusual for a firebender. Late spring itself probably isn't too strange, even if summer would likely be more auspicious.

Izumi has a little asthma at birth too! Nothing too serious, but she is the first (and only) child. I've never liked the hc that Mai dies in childbirth, or that she and Zuko stop having kids because of pregnancy complications...but as someone who's the eldest child, yeah, we are usually pretty difficult births (one of my baby cousins was too).

And then, of course...it gets worse, because Izumi doesn't have the Spark.

So here's the thing about the Spark: I've admittedly never been totally sure what it is, I've always imagined it as the sun hitting a baby's eyes in a specific way...but I also think it's superstition more than it's legit. Zuko didn't have a Spark either, and he's a formidable bender. It's probably an old wive's tale, and it rightfully Zuko off:

“You cannot have a nonbender heir,” another Sage snapped. “It has never been done!”

“I was presumed to be a nonbender upon my birth,” Zuko retorted sharply, “and I ask you to mind your tone. I am your Fire Lord and this child’s father. If you’d like to try appealing to my wife, I assure you, my feelings toward this pale in comparison."

...

“Believe me, she means it,” Zuko said coldly from the door, startling the Sages. “And so do I. One more step towards my wife or daughter, and I will not hesitate to incinerate you.”

Another fun part was writing Mai getting pissed too:

Unbelievably, they tried just that, not even giving Mai the courtesy of sleep before approaching her. Mai, being both sleep-deprived and furious that they would propose infanticide, warned,

“Get away from my daughter or she won’t be the one disposed of today.”

Any time I get to write her emotions, it's really fun for me, because she's usually such a reserved character, while I am very much not 😅 she's so unlike me, so it's always fun to dig into why she's like that (which I've done in other fics), and show her being more emotional as she marries Zuko and grows older, to show how she's grown and changed 💞

Zuko being protective of Mai was fun to write too...and him being protective of Izumi!! He loves her so much already 🥰 and speaking of which...I loved writing this first moment of him holding her:

“Getting sappy on me? Save that for Izzy.”

Zuko smiled at his daughter. “Hello, my little turtleduck. Don’t mind your mother. She loves us, really.”

Loved it so much that it ended up as the preview in the summary 😂

Also ofc, this scene with him and Izumi later:

“And this is the turtleduck pond, where the turtleducks live! Except you, of course, little one.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re my little turtleduck, and you’re actually human, so you get to live in the palace with me and your mom!”

But Izumi caught sight of the turtleducks, who were squawking happily at her, and seemingly out of nowhere, she burst out crying.

“Oh! Oh, um..what’s wrong, Turtleduck?” The name only made Izumi cry harder, and Zuko winced. “Um...Izzy? Izumi? What’s wrong, sweetie?” Her crying didn’t abate, and Zuko flipped her on her stomach and over his shoulder, patting her back firmly in an attempt to burp her.

He gets so worried here, it's adorable 🥺 remember what I said earlier about how Maiko both want Izumi but they're scared/anxious, and both things coexist? This demonstrates that. Zuko's a little out of his depth, and it shows, and I loved writing this. No parents are perfect to start off, especially not parents like Mai and Zuko who are flying...mostly blind (with help ofc, but even so...they're the full-time parents). But they're determined to do right by Izumi no matter what.

Mai says something to that effect here:

“Look, Zuko. What you did, when she was crying? The way you panicked and tried to soothe her in any way you could? That’s the mark of a great father. That’s the mark of a father who cares, who might not have all the answers but still wants to try.” She smiled softly. “It’s leagues better than either of our fathers, I’ll tell you that.”

As Mai says, she's “full of good points”, and I’m quite inclined to agree 🥰

(Also, as a bonus, I got to throw a little shade at parts of the ATLA comics. Aang refuses to even consider killing Zuko, and Kei Lo is Mai’s ex, not her boyfriend. Ahh how I love throwing shade at the comics 💞)

director’s commentary ask game!

[ultfreakme]

You know, I feel so sorry for Toji Fushiguro, he's an unemployed deadbeat, he has no self-esteem, he's unlucky and he still has memory problems because of the trauma his clan caused him. He deserved it but I can't even hate him For me, he deserved another ending to the story. If I were gojo I would spare your life I would force him to enter the jujutsu school to teach and so he could start working and taking care of Megumi It would work on your emotions. Oh I would put a bracelet on him that would reduce his physical strength so that he wouldn't hurt anyone until he had his redemption.

Wait Toji has memory issues??? Afaik, I don't think he does. I don't think Gojo had any reason to spare Toji's life, or for Toji to accept that. Sorry anon but I think forcing him to teach would take away his individuality and would impose on him the very same principals that made him leave the Zen'in clan in the first place.

First, Gojo had no reason to forgive him, or give the man a chance at all. He's an assassin hired to kill the girl who Gojo treasured as a friend and wanted to protect. Toji premeditated and planned Gojo and Riko's murder, and is implied to have killed Kuroi, the only reason he didn't kill Geto was because he didn't know what would happen to the cursed spirits Geto held but he DID injure Geto terribly(if you wanna piss off Gojo, you hurt Geto- at least during Hidden Inventory days).

We as the audience can have sympathy for Toji because we know about his past but at the end of the day, in-story, Toji made his choices. He's an adult and it's not the responsibility of a (at the time) teenager to fix the man.

Toji might actually laugh in Gojo's face if he told Toji to stop, probably be more vicious in his plans to absolutely destroy Gojo. Because Toji's issue with Gojo is personal. Gojo stands for everything Toji detests about sorcerer society, so to have this treasured heir to the GOJO clan essentially looking down on him, it's like Gojo would be saying "you're not even worth fighting, how about you do what I say?". Gojo's not recovering from whatever Toji plans to do in killing him after THAT disrespect.

Also, Toji being forced to be a teacher with his powers suppressed???? First, he would find a way to escape. Second, he would absolutely not be doing it unless the Zen'ins or Gojo were using Megumi as a bargaining chip and not in a fun way(like a "I will literally kill your son, or brainwash your son to follow our ways if you don't comply") which won't make him a good dad, or a good teacher, like I seriously think he'd be plotting more ways to murder everyone and escape. Toji's smart, he'll find a way and whatever massacre he'd leave behind for being FORCED to work in the very societal structure that made him the way he is would be brutal.

Restricting Toji and forcing him to be a teacher would absolutely destroy Toji as a person. His strength is something he clearly enjoys. He likes the fact that a 'monkey' like him can topple the strongest sorcerers. His powers are him.

This is the thing about redemption arcs, you can't force it. The character needs to realize they're in the wrong. No amount of sticking them next to our heroes is going to work if the character isn't willing. I'm going to use Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender as an example since his redemption arc is one of the most famous. Zuko was a main antagonist who constantly interacted with the main cast and encountered many victims of his family's atrocities for the first two seasons, but none of this actually flipped him around. His uncle kind of essentially did what you're suggesting about Toji be done to him. Zuko just got resentful, he hated it no matter how much he tried, he actually got WORSE.

His redemption and realization of his wrongdoings happened when he was alone, left with the consequences. No one was forcing him to change, he came to that on his own.

If we do want a Toji redemption arc, I think a different route would have to be taken. I'm not sure what that would be or where it could start, but forcing him to suppress his powers and teach new sorcerers won't work imo.

Sorry if this comes off as harsh, I tried to be as unbiased as I could ;_;Toji's a cool character though, I like JJK because it's not easy to redeem or change these people's lives. I still can't figure out what would've been a good place for Geto to be redeemed, or Junpei to be saved, or anything. All that happens in JJK happens for a set of very interconnected reasons.