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melzula · 4 years

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The Beginning of the End

pairing: Zuko x Princess! reader

warnings: angst, mentions of death, fluff

summary: in which the Princess learns what became of her father and turns to Zuko for comfort (requested by anon)

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

“Y/n,” your mother calls gently from your doorway. “The ships are leaving, come say goodbye to your father.”

“No.”

“Princess, he’s your father,” she chides gently. “I know you have your differences-“

“Differences?! He forbid me from water bending and he forbid me from ever seeing Zuko again!”

“Little otter penguin, try to understand that your father only has your best interests at heart. He loves you, and if you don’t say goodbye you’re going to regret it.”

“I won’t regret anything,” you insist stubbornly. “Besides, there’s no point in saying goodbye when we both know he’s going to come back.”

The White Lotus campsite is relatively quiet despite the number of members it inhabits, most of them gifting you friendly smiles or passing glances of acknowledgement as you weave through the tents in search of any familiar faces. With Aang having disappeared, you’re only hope in defeating the Fire Lord now rests upon Iroh, hence your group’s presence on the campgrounds. Zuko has left in search of his Uncle, and though you wished to see the kind old man again after having been apart for so long you knew it was something the prince had to do on his own. Besides, you had your own questions that needed answering and didn’t have much time to waste as you sought after any water tribe member who might have information on the whereabouts of your father.

Your search efforts are halted by the hand that rests itself firmly upon your shoulders, and though your first instinct is to pull the water from the air around you in preparation for a fight you’re quick to relax as you see it’s none other than Pakku. An apologetic smile forms on your features as you grant the old man and longtime family friend a tight hug.

“The last time I saw you you were barely learning how to walk, and now here you are pulling water out of thin air like a true bending master,” he comments with a laugh. “It’s good to see you again, y/n.”

“It’s good to see you, too,” you reply with a watery smile before pulling out of the hug to look at the man before you. Your grandfather and Pakku had been good friends in their younger days, and before the war he had often visited to teach water bending to the boys in your tribe, but then your grandfather had died and Pakku stopped coming. It was comforting to see a familiar face, but you were starting to dread the truth that would come with your question. What if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear?

“You’re troubled,” he says carefully, “what can I do to help?”

“My father... Have you heard what’s become of him? Is he back home in the south?”

Pakku’s eyes soften then, sympathetic and remorseful, but he doesn’t answer your question, not right away. Instead he guides you towards your tent and takes you inside to discuss the matter privately. Once you’ve seated yourself on the ground Pakku reaches into his robe and pulls out a familiar item from his sleeve.

“Do you recognize this?”

“Father’s tiger shark tooth necklace,” you murmur quietly as Pakku places the piece of jewelry into your open palm. The tooth is jagged and sharp though worn around the edges from the many years it’s spent hanging from your father’s neck; it was a good luck charm given to him by your mother when they were younger, and he never went anywhere without it. “But I don’t understand...”

It’s the way in which Pakku refuses to meet your gaze that you finally understand, tears beginning to well in your eyes as you clutch the necklace tightly to your chest.

“No...”

“I’m so sorry you had to find out this way,” the man offers weekly before handing you a paper scroll. “Everything you need to know is in this letter. I’ll give you the privacy you need to read it for yourself.”

He leaves you alone to mourn in piece, and despite how desperate you are to know the last words of your father you can’t bring yourself to open the letter. Opening it makes it real, and you don’t think you can face his death. Not now, not when your friends are counting on you to be at your strongest for the arrival of the comet. Your heart is beating rapidly in your ribcage and your vision is blurry with your tears, and this time when a gentle hand rests itself upon your shoulder you collapse against the owner’s chest. Strong arms wrap around your trembling figure and encompass you in a comfortingly familiar warmth as you weep into their chest.

“Pakku sent me,” Zuko utters quietly into your hair. “What is it?”

“My father,” you whisper into the fabric of his robes, “he’s dead. He’s gone and I never even said goodbye.”

“I’m so sorry, Princess,” Zuko comforts gently. “I can’t even imagine what you must be going through right now. Is there any way I can help?”

“There’s a letter,” you sniffle as you pull away from Zuko to wipe away your freshly fallen tears. “I can’t bring myself to read it but I need to know what it says. Would you... would you read it to me?”

“O-Of course,” he replies quickly before scrambling to open the letter as you situate yourself to sit in between his legs with your back resting against his chest. With his arms around your waist and the letter held in front of the two of you, Zuko’s gentle voice slowly begins to morph into that of your father’s as you shut your eyes and listen.

“Princess,

I don’t have much time left on this earth, and I know the chances of seeing you again before my time is up are slim, so I’ve taken to writing this letter in hopes that all of your questions will be answered when I’m gone. I’ve been badly wounded in battle and with no healers available it will only be a matter of time before I pass on from this life to the next. But know that I am sorry. I’m sorry for making you become someone you weren’t, for forcing you to change when you didn’t want to, and for not being open enough to listen to your needs. I was blinded by my anger with the Fire Lord and I took it out on you and that poor boy. Love is a complicated thing, you cannot choose or help who you fall in love with, and perhaps if I had remember that then I wouldn’t have forced you to run away.

We all have a destiny in life and leaving was part of yours. There’s a greater world out there for you to explore; a good leader requires knowledge, and as future leader of the Southern Water Tribe it is your duty to obtain it. Learn to love, learn to be brave, learn to be kind, and learn to be forgiving. We didn’t get to say goodbye and that’s alright, we’ll have our time together again in the next life, so don’t let this slow you down. I know you’re going to do great things, my sweet daughter. I’ll always be with you in spirit, and you’ll always have my support. It is an honor to be your father, my brave little water bender.

It’s all up to you now. With love, your father Tukon.”

The air is silent as your father’s voice fades away and all that is left behind is the sound of your quiet sniffling and Zuko’s gentle breathing. You want to cry but for some reason the tears don’t come, and instead being filled with devastating loss and regret you are filled with a small warmth that fills your heart with love and appreciation. Your father is with you now, you can feel it, and in this moment that is enough.

“Thank you,” you murmur quietly, showing your gratitude to both your father and Zuko as he holds you close to his chest in the safety of your tent.

~~~

You wake to the smell of freshly cooked porridge, a smiling Zuko sitting beside your bed as he holds the bowl of breakfast in his hands to maintain its warmth while you rise.

“Good morning,” his raspy voice greets you. “How are you feeling?”

Memories from the previous night flood back to you all at once, and your boyfriend doesn’t miss the way in which you immediately reach up to clasp the tiger shark tooth hanging from your neck tightly in your hand. Tears begin to well in your eyes but you manage to keep them at bay, instead choosing to look upon Zuko with a fragile smile.

“I’ll be okay.”

“Did you sleep okay? I had Suki look after you while you slept so I could speak with my Uncle.”

“How is he?” You ask, features perking up with interest. A small smile forms on Zuko’s lips as he leans forward to press a kiss to your forehead.

“He’s fine, and we’re okay. He’s eager to see you again. But you need to eat first, we all have a big day ahead of us,” Zuko instructs before handing you your breakfast. “Uncle says I need to reclaim the throne, and to do that I have to face off against Azula. But I can’t do it alone, so I’d like you and Katara to join me.”

It’s silent for a moment as you digest both the yummy porridge and the information Zuko has bestowed upon you. You had a feeling this day would come, and despite the apprehension you hold when it comes to fighting his deranged sister you know there’s no other option.

Your father’s words echo in your head: “Learn to be brave.” A beat passes before you finally nod.

“I’ve been wanting to put her in her place ever since she beheaded my favorite doll,” you admit with a wry smile. “I’d be honored to help you.”

“Get dressed,” Zuko says then, rising from his place beside your bed to give you the space you need to prepare. We leave in ten minutes.”

And so begins the end of the war.

| tags: @rainteslerrrr @oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @coldlilheart @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @knaite-solo @zukh03s @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang @djskfkdkkf @xapham @yeetletzgetitjae @misnmatchedsox @chewymoustachio @that-bucket-hat-gal |

#zuko #zuko x reader #zuko imagine #prince zuko #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko imagine #zuko and the princess #fire lilies #avatar the last airbender #atla #atla x reader #forbidden lovers au #y’all already know what’s coming next

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eastofthemoon · 3 years

Text

A Paladin in the Fire Nation

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Rating: PG

Series: Voltron Legendary Defender/Avatar the Last Airbender

Summary: After the fight with Zarkon, Shiro accidentally gets tossed into another reality where humans have the ability to bend the elements. His best shot at returning home is with someone called the Avatar, while he waits he might as well take on the job of being the Firelord’s bodyguard.

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Zuko was silent as Shiro told them his story. He tried to keep an open mind these days and being close friends with the Avatar had caused Zuko to experience very strange things.

However, Zuko did have limits and Shiro’s tale was pushing them to the extreme.

“So you’re from another universe,” Sokka said slowly. “Where you go into space inside ships in the shape of lions, who are sentient and can become on a giant ship shaped like a person called Voltron, and fight an empire run by beings called Garlic.”

“Galra,” Shiro had corrected as Iroh poured himself another cup of tea, “but yes.”

“And you got here because your lion accidentally sent you here while you were fighting the emperor,” Toph added.

“Correct,” Shiro confirmed.

Toph and Sokka turned their faces to Zuko, likely waiting for his reaction. Zuko took a deep breath. “That is an..interesting tale.”

Shiro raised an eyebrow as Zuko stood and tucked his hands into his robes. “Toph, Sokka, may I speak with you in private for a moment?”

“You can use my bedroom and shut the door,” his uncle offered and by the sound of his tone had been expecting it.

“Thank you, Uncle, we’ll just be a moment,” Zuko said briskly.

Toph and Sokka followed close behind while Zuko was being very careful to not say a word until they were all inside and he shut the door.

“I’ll be the first to say it,” Zuko said as he turned to his friends, “he is insane, right?”

Much to his shock, neither of them instantly agreed. Instead, Toph was silent and Sokka waved a hand back and forth.

“Ehhhh, maybe but my gut is telling me no,” Sokka replied.

“You’re kidding,” Zuko said in disbelief. “Did you hear what he said? There’s no way for it to be true.”

“But that’s the thing,” Sokka said as he paced. “Look, a real criminal would probably try to come up with a reasonable explanation. Why would Shiro tell us that story unless it is the truth?”

“You’re saying it’s so crazy it has to be true?” Zuko asked.

“Exactly,” Sokka said with a nod. “Why even bother with telling us about giant lion ships if he assumed we wouldn’t believe it.”

“I’m with Sokka,” Toph said. “I monitored the guy’s heart during the whole time he talked, he’s not lying.”

“He could be good at lying,” Zuko argued. “You told me Azula is able to pass it.”

Sokka raised an eyebrow. “You honestly believe that Shiro guy is at Azula level of lying?”

Zuko opened and shut his mouth. He hadn’t even known Shiro for a day, but he had seemed confused by the interrogation earlier. It was possible the man was a very good actor, but still…

“It would also explain why his armor is so odd,” Sokka added, “and his arm too. Not even Teo and his dad have designs that advanced.”

“Plus, Iroh is taking him seriously,” Toph added. “That should say something too.”

Sokka touched Zuko’s shoulder. “Be honest, what do you feel in your gut about Shiro?”

Zuko shut his eyes. “My common sense is saying he’s delusional,” he sighed, “but my gut says he’s telling the truth.”

“So we are all in agreement then,” said Toph with a shrug. “Now what?”

“How about we start by telling Shiro we believe him?” Sokka offered.

Zuko nodded as he turned around and led them back. Iroh was pouring another cup of tea while Shiro watched them come back with concern in his eyes.

“We believe you,” Zuko stated and sighed. “Although a large part of me is calling me crazy for doing so.”

“I don’t blame you,” Shiro said with a nervous chuckle. “I would have a hard time in your position.”

“So then spaceman,” Toph said as she sat next to him, “how do you think you can get back home?”

“Yeah, if this Black Lion sent you here by accident can she just take care of it,” Sokka said as he and Zuko took their seats.

“I wish it were that easy,” Shiro said, “but I’m too far away for her to help even though I can still hear her.”

Zuko froze as he tilted his head. “You can..hear her?”

“In my head,” Shiro said as he tapped forehead. “We paladins form a connection with our lions and it allows us to communicate them with our minds.”

“I see,” Zuko said, trying to keep his voice calm while he felt his common sense glaring at him. What have I gotten myself into?

“Right, okay,” said Sokka who also sounded unsure as he crossed his arms. “Only person I can think of to help you is Aang.”

“That is what I was suggesting when you three entered,” Iroh said as he sipped his tea. “Since it sounds like at least some form of the Spirit World is parly how you came to be here.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call the Astral Plane a spirit world,” Shiro replied as he rubbed his neck, “but I can’t deny it isn’t that either.”

It certainly felt like a place where spirits could dwell.

Toph sucked the air between her teeth. “Yeah, well, you’re going to have to wait awhile since Aang is dealing with settling some disputes over in the Earth Kingdom.”

Zuko sighed but nodded. Some of the towns had been former Fire Nation colonies that had been given back, but the previous Lord it had belonged to had died and so his twin sons were currently arguing on who the towns now belonged to.

“He is supposed to come straight here when he’s finished,” Zuko replied firmly, “but it’s hard to tell how long as it takes.”

“I see,” Shiro said with a sigh. “If you can recommend where I can stay I would greatly appreciate it.” His frown tightened. “Also possibly where I can make some money since I have nothing to pay-”

“No need for either since you’ll stay here as our guest,” Iroh said.

Zuko choked slightly as he shot his uncle a look. We barely know him and you want him to stay in the palace?

Iroh slightly glanced at Zuko before sipping his tea. “Given your circumstance, I’m sure our GENEROUS Firelord would be more than happy to accommodate you until we can figure out how to get you home.”

Zuko twitched an eye and wanted to argue, but Sokka grabbed his shoulder and whispered into his ear.

“I get your concern, but it’s probably better if he stays here since I doubt we want a ton of people finding out we got a person from another world just dropped into our laps,” Sokka muttered.

Zuko frowned, but gave a slow nod. A lot of people would dismiss it, but there were a few that would probably try to use it to their advantage and there were a few former FIre Nation nobles he rather kept that information away from.

“Alright,” Zuko said as he tucked his hands into his sleeves, “although we’ll have to think of an explanation as to why I’m suddenly treating the intruder as a guest.”

“Just say it was a prank I pulled that went wrong,” Toph said with a shrug.

Shiro raised an eyebrow. “You expect the guards to believe that a mysterious intruder was all just a prank pulled by you?”

Zuko narrowed his eyes before sighing and massaging his forehead. “After the Badgermole and Groundpecker incident, they would.”

Shiro blinked. “The what?”

Sokka sighed. “Don’t ask, trust me.”

Zuko nodded in agreement.

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Once Zuko had announced Shiro was a guest, he and Sokka escorted Shiro to a guest chamber. It wasn’t nearly as big as Iroh’s room, but Shiro was just grateful to not have to return to his cell.

The rest of the day passed by rather quickly. Iroh told Shiro he would get him some more clothes in the meantime, and Zuko had his armour returned to Shiro. He assumed it was a lost cause, but Shiro attempted to see if he could contact the paladins through his helmet. Much to his chagrin, all he heard was static.

It was killing Shiro to not be there with his team. They were probably all worried if he was dead, Keith especially. Shiro hated that he was putting him through this again, but it wasn’t as if he had a choice.

He briefly wondered if the Black Lion could just send a message that he was still alive, but Keith’s connection with the Black Lion wasn’t deep enough for that yet. Which meant, all Shiro could do was wait and hope this Avatar would be able to get him home.

Shiro tried not to dwell on this as he ate dinner. Zuko and Iroh had other duties to attend to, but Sokka and Toph joined him. They were energetic, but they seemed to be good kids. Truth be told, Sokka reminded him a lot of Lance, and he wasn’t sure if the two met if they would get along or butt heads as a result.

Shiro didn’t stay with them long. He was exhausted both from the day, and it hadn’t even been a full 24 hours since his life or death battle with Zarkon. So, Shiro went to bed early.

It hadn’t taken long for him to sleep, and it would have been restful if not for the nightmare.

Shiro was back at the Castle of Lion. He wasn’t sure how, but it was wrong.

The lights were off and everywhere there was nothing except darkness.

And no sign of any of his friends.

Shiro ran through the halls. “KEITH! PIDGE! ALLURA!”

He called out but no one responded.

“HUNK! LANCE! CORAN!” Shiro ran through the endless hall. “ SOMEONE ANSWER ME!”

He reached the control room and barged inside.

Shiro froze.

Allura, Coran, and all of the paladins lay motionless on the ground.

The only one who was standing was Zarkon as he wiped the blood off his sword.

“You took too long to come home, Paladin,” Zarkon scoffed as he slowly approached.

Shiro told his feet to run, but they remained planted. His body wouldn’t move.

“Your friends are dead because of you,” Zarkon continued as he raised his sword. “Now you shall share their fate.”

The sword lowered for his head.

Shiro gasped for air as he sprang up in his bed. Sweat dripped off his forehead as Shiro felt his heart pounding in his chest.

“Just a dream,” he muttered to himself. “Just a dream. They’re alright.”

For now, he thought darkly. But they could get killed tomorrow while you're stuck here all nice and safe.

Shiro grip tight on his bed sheets. Once he felt his heart calm down, he scrubbed his hand over his face.

“No way I’m going back to sleep,” he muttered.

If he was back at the castle, he would do some reading or go to the training room for practice. Shiro sighed as he tossed off the sheets.

I’ll go for a walk, Shiro thought. Maybe I can find a quiet place to do some training exercises.

He threw on some clothes and went out into the hall. Shiro headed towards the gardens. Iroh had said he would be free to go there and it seemed the most likely place where Shiro could be alone. He couldn’t see anyone being there this early.

The sun was just starting to rise as Shiro ventured outside. He didn’t see anyone in the garden, except for the ducks in the pond.

At least Shiro thought they were ducks.

The creatures certainly had heads and bodies of ducks, but upon closer inspection they seemed to have turtle shells on their backs.

“Turtle ducks?” Shiro muttered as he kneeled.

A small turtle duck glanced up curiously at him and quacked.

“You are actually not the weirdest creature I’ve ever seen,” Shiro admitted.

The turtle duck tilted it’s head, and then quacked once more before swimming away.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Shiro said with a grin.

“What are you doing here?”

Shiro jumped slightly, and rose back up as he turned around to see Zuko.

He looked different. Zuko’s hair was loose and not as neatly tied up like earlier, and he seemed to be wearing more casual robes.

“Oh, uh, sorry,” Shiro said as he rubbed his neck. “I couldn’t get back to sleep and was looking for a place to train.” He then gave a frown. “Why are you up so early?”

Zuko’s eyes narrowed. “I am a firebender, and thus the optimal time to train is when the sun rises.”

“QUACK!”

Zuko froze.

Shiro glanced downward.

A small turtle duck quacked again before using its beak to tug on Zuko’s pant leg. It was only then Shiro noticed a small piece of bread in the Firelord’s hand.

Zuko sighed as he kneeled and tore off a piece of the bread.

“It..is also the best time to feed the turtle ducks,” Zuko muttered while blushing.

Another quack was heard when the turtle duck snatched the bread, gobbled it up and spirited towards the pond.

“I see,” Shiro said as he did his best to repress a smile, but couldn’t resist a small chuckle.

Zuko glared. “You find this funny do you?”

Shiro shook. “No, no, sorry,” he said quickly. “It’s just you look like my friend Keith when I caught him feeding some squirrels.”

He thought back to it. It had been Keith’s birthday, and Shiro had taken him into town to celebrate. They had ended up wandering into a park. Shiro had gone to get them some ice cream, only to discover Keith had been tossing some peanuts towards a squirrel.

Shiro may have quietly taken a photo on his phone before Keith realized he had been caught and blushed bright red.

Zuko frowned in response. “You mean rabbit squirrels?”

Shiro’s chuckles paused as he tilted his head. “Um..no squirrels.”

Zuko raised an eyebrow as the turtle duck finished the rest of the bread. “Your world must be very weird.”

Shiro held up his hands. “Look, I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I’ll just leave.”

Zuko tossed the rest of the bread to a nearby duck and dusted the crumbs off his hands.

“It’s fine,” Zuko said as he stood. “I was about to leave anyway. There’s paperwork I wanted to get taken care of. You can use the garden if you like.”

“Um, thank you,” Shiro said, “and not just for the garden, but for also letting me stay here.”

“I’m not the one you should be thanking,” Zuko said as he crossed his arms. “That should go towards Uncle, Sokka and Toph for convincing me.”

“But it was still your decision in the end,” Shiro replied. “I realize it can’t be easy letting a stranger into your home.”

“It’s not,” Zuko said as he crossed his arms. “Frankly, I’m still suspicious of you.”

Shiro suddenly thought of Keith, who he knew would have had the same response as Zuko.

“Why are you smiling?” Zuko asked.

“Sorry,” Shiro replied. “You just remind me a lot of my friend Keith. He would have agreed with you.”

He couldn’t resist wondering if the two would get along.

“Then your friend is smart,” Zuko said as he turned his back to Shiro. “I’ll send a servant to fetch you when it’s time for breakfast.”

“You don’t have to-” Shiro began, but paused.

There was a metallic glint shone in the bushes. Why would there be-

Adrenaline and panic struck as Shiro dashed forward. “GET DOWN!”

He shoved Zuko to the ground and remained on top of him as an arrow flew over their heads.

“You okay?” Shiro asked as he and Zuko scrambled back to their feet.

“Ask our attackers that,” Zuko snapped and launched a ball of flame at the bushes.

There was a yelp and two men with scorched clothing tumbled out, one of them holding a bow.

“I don’t know who you are,” Zuko declared, “but surrender now and I promise you’ll be treated fairly.”

The archer snarled and prepared to launch another arrow.

“Oh no you don’t,” Zuko said as he charged and with fire burning in both his fists. The archer dropped the bow and pulled out a sword.

Shiro could only assume Zuko could handle it as the other attacker decided to rush at Shiro with a dagger. He dodged, grabbed the dagger with his cybernetic arm and twisted it out of the man’s hand before kicking him away.

The man stumbled, but quickly regained his balance. He glared at Shiro, and then stomped his foot to the ground. Instantly, spikes popped from the ground and headed straight towards him.

Shiro jumped and rolled on the ground just barely avoiding the spikes. He panted as he leaned on his knees.

“Wild guess, but I take it you’re an earth bender?” he shouted.

“Oh gee, aren’t you smart,” the man sneered as he raised his arm.

A small spike rose out of the dirt, only for it to harden as the man reached for it and snapped it off the ground.

The earth bender charged again.

Shiro sprang to his feet in time to block and flip the man, but not before he felt the spike cut at his normal arm.

He hissed as blood dripped slightly.

Really wish I had my armor on right now, Shiro grumbled.

Flashes came from fighting hand to hand. Having to ignore every cut, every broken bone and keep fighting.

No, no, not now, Shiro thought as he shook his head at the memories. It wasn’t the time.

Shiro looked up. The man had crashed against a tree, but was already getting back up. A battle cry caused Shiro to look over to Zuko. The young Firelord was holding his own, but the archer wasn’t slowing down with each swipe of the sword.

“Do the world a favor and die with your father!” the archer snapped as he tried to slice at Zuko’s head, but missed as the boy ducked.

Shiro heard movement and managed to block the earth bender by gripping his wrists stopping the spike just inches away towards his face.

Shiro grunted and realized Zuko was closer to him now as an idea came.

“Zuko,” Shiro called out, “I think these two should face each other instead!”

Zuko abruptly turned, frowned and gave a nod signaling he got the meaning. Swiftly, Zuko yanked the archer’s arm, and tossed him over just as Shiro did the same with the earth bender.

It was satisfying watching the pair collide into each other and fall into the pond.

Shiro dashed to Zuko’s side. “You alright?”

Zuko brushed the hair from his eyes and gestured to Shiro’s arm. “I should be asking you that.”

Shiro glanced at his arm and gripped the wound. “I’ve had worse.”

Zuko looked ready to say something, until the attackers climbed out of the pond. Both of them were dripping wet and eyes full of fury.

Shiro and Zuko got into fighting position, but suddenly mounds of earth sprang up and trapped the attackers with only their heads poking out.

Shiro blinked, but saw Zuko glanced over and spotted Toph who was now retracting her hand.

“You guys got into a fight and didn’t invite me?” she shouted.

“It was hardly planned,” Zuko snapped.

“Whatever,” Toph muttered as she walked over to them. “Everyone okay?”

“Shiro’s injured,” Zuko replied and sighed, “and he also saved me from getting an arrow through my head.” He slowly looked up and rubbed his neck. “Thanks for that.”

“Welcome,” Shiro said as he gripped his arm, “and it’s not that bad.”

“I think a doctor will be a better judge of that,” Toph replied as she crossed her arms.

Shiro opened his mouth but was cut off by a yawn.

“Okay,” Sokka muttered as he stumbled out, “why was there such a ruckus-”

He spotted the trapped angry men, blinked and then looked to the group. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing good,” Zuko muttered grimly.

Shiro nodded. He might not be in a war, but he had landed right in the middle of a lot of trouble.

#vldgen #atla #a paladin in the fire nation #vld #takashi shirogane #my writing

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 5 years

Text

Of Farms Fairs And Fame (Part 14)

The sun beat down as hard as it could for late mid-November. It had taken a few hours for the news to relay footage the destruction and an hour more for anyone to arrive on the scene. Sokka, perhaps more for his own comfort, hugged Azula tightly to him. She didn’t protest nor push him away. He’d come to notice that there was a pretty good gash on her ribcage and a few smaller scratches on her cheeks. He listened to the sound of water spilling from a broken pipe and the turning of that battered bike’s wheel. “Ya saved us both.” He commented at last.

Azula nodded. “I ain’t wanna end up like cousin Lu-Ten.”

“Yer hurt.”

Azula brought her hands to the gash on her side and winced. “I’ll be fine.”

It was hard to tell how she was feeling. But he was glad that she was with him. God forbid he was alone when the storm struck. He had a good feeling that he wouldn’t be around, he didn’t deal well with storms like that.

“If only Kat were here, she’d know what ta do ‘bout that. She were always good at that kinda stuff.”

“I’ll be alright, Sokka.” Azula insisted again.

But he was still worried. He wasn’t even sure what had torn her leg like that. He held her hands and rubbed the back of them with his thumbs. His gaze never leaving hers even when they didn’t speak. She didn’t have to talk to him, it was enough that she was there.

He couldn’t exactly pinpoint when things had started to shift, but they had. He thought that maybe it was the night of the fair, when he came to comfort her. That was when things had changed for him. He had a feeling it had been some sooner for her, otherwise she wouldn’t have stopped by so often.

But Azula was a hard person to read.

No, he didn’t know when things had changed between them, but they had. He hated being stranded in the middle of nowhere, but at least he was stuck there with her. If she wasn’t bleeding so much he’d be grateful for alone time with someone he cherished so much…

Someone he loved.

“Are ya sure that yer doin’ okay?”

“Sokka, you ask that one more time, I swear…”

He laughs, the fight still in her was reassuring enough.

.oOo.

She picked the band-aids off of her face as soon as she got home. She hadn’t wanted them anyhow, no more than she wanted the seven stitches in her side. They handed her a bottle of painkillers that she had no interest in and told her to come back in a week for a check up. If she ended up lucky, they’d be able to remove the stitches then. Her ribcage throbbed, but it was something that she could ignore of she threw all of her energy into finishing the song she’d written while in the waiting room. She thought it was a better one than her old one anyhow; nice as the song she’d written with Sokka was, there was much more intensity to a song about a tornado. She figured that the switch wouldn’t offend Sokka being as he’d thrown a few lyrics at her in the waiting room as well.

It wouldn’t be too much of a task, she’d simply sing the same notes and melody she’d been practicing with the other one. The only thing that’d change would be the lyrics.

Worse comes to worst, she wasn’t bad with improv either.

No sooner had she pulled out her guitar did a knock sound at her door. She put the instrument down and opened it.

“Yer uncle wants to talk to you. You know how he feels about…”

Azula nodded.

“When yer done on the phone with him, come downstairs fer dinner.

Azula took the phone and nodded again, preparing herself for a good round of tears and having to comfort her uncle. Her close call had probably put the man back into a darker place. “I’m fine uncle, just needed a few stitches is all, I can handle myself…”

“Lu-Ten were an army boy.” Iroh replied. “Tough as they come. It don’t matter how tough you are, you ain’t tougher than nature, girl.” She should have seen the lecture coming. “I’ll tell you what I tol’ Lu-Ten ‘for I lost him. When nature throws ‘erself a fit, you don’t try to fight ‘er, you beg ‘er for mercy. She ain’t like a soldiers, she’s stronger than that…”

Azula listened to him go on and on about the fury of nature.

“She takes what she will. You tell yer brother that too.”

“I will.” Azula replied.

“I’m lucky, yer dad is lucky that he ain’t lose you. He’s lucky he ain’t know what it’s like to lose a chil’ so early.”

Azula swallowed, truth be told he was making her grow uncomfortable. Before then she had lived and that was all there was to it. But he set her thinking. Thinking about how she had been perhaps seconds away from death. About what would have happened if they hadn’t happened upon that house or if Sokka hadn’t been able to get it open.

Would her father have broken again?

Would Zuko have?

“I’ll be careful.” She mumbled to Iroh. Of course she would still go out in stormy weather, but she’d pay it more attention.

“You best keep that promise.” Iroh stated firmly. “This family lost yer ma ‘n Lu-Ten. We ain’t losin’ you too.”

With that on her mind she joined Zuko and Ozai at the dinner table. “You ridin’ to school with me on Monday or is Sokka drivin’ you?” Zuko asked.

“Haven’t decided.” Azula looked to her father.

“I’ll have you a new car once the insurance company gets back to me.”

Azula nodded and things grew quiet. A silence that was only broken when Ozai asked her how her song was coming along. She supposed that it was his way of dealing with or masking concern. “It’s ready fer tomorrow.”

“And yer ready to perform it?”

Azula nodded.

Ozai smiled. “That’s my girl.” He turned to Zuko. “Yer sister is resilient. Lives through a twister and she’s still ready to perform.”

It was just a radio show though, it wasn’t like she’d have to stand or exert herself in a physical way. Still it was reassuring that he wasn’t still going on about her first mishap. She felt an arm on her shoulder. “I don’t know what I woulda done…” Ozai trailed off. “I already lost yer mother.”

She couldn’t remember the last time he hugged her and the weight of the situation set in. Just as well as she couldn’t remember the last time her father hugged her, she couldn’t recall the last time she’d cried.

How close she had come.

What if she’d made it and Sokka didn’t.

She heard Zuko set his fork down and come to join them. Lord, was she glad that she was able to bring Sokka home to his mama.

#Avatar #Azula #Sokka #Sokkla #Zuko #Ozai #Fanfiction

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armageddon-generation · 5 years

Text

Fixing The Legend of Korra - Book 3

Book 1, Book 2, Book 4

THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVE BOOK, SO IMPROVEMENTS ARE RELATIVELY MINIMAL. AGAIN, IMAGINING A 28 EPISODE SEASON

REPUBLIC CITY

Further exploration of what opening the portals did to the world

Show what happened to the people forced out of their homes – forced into housing camps.

Bolin works with General Iroh trying to help these people, dressing up as Nuktuk to give the kids the same kind of comforting distraction he needed at that age on the streets – this lays the foundation for his joining Kuvira much later

Have the triads try to exploit the spirits – capturing them and attempting to sell them as exotic pets/batteries (a prelude to what Varrick does in Book 4 that goes horribly wrong). The Spirits go nuts and attack, and Korra has to act as peacekeeper (defending the triads is something she really hates)

During this conflict a triad member is briefly possessed by a spirit. Korra gets it out, but now he has to live deformed. I’m thinking Shady Shin, because he has a direct relationship with the bending brothers (them helping him shows character growth and is an interesting inversion of the dynamic established in flashbacks, where Shin mentored and corrupted them).

As a criminal, Shin also didn’t get his bending back. In this way – first losing his bending, then being possessed by a spirit – his character is a microcosm of everything that’s happened to the world so far, and it would be interesting to see Korra confront this

The new Air Nation takes him in and cares for/attempts to rehabilitate him

KORRASAMI

At this point Asami is aware she’s starting to feel attracted to Korra – she’s much more self-aware and has much more self-control. Korra isn’t yet aware she’s attracted to Asami – growing up in the South Pole with now LGBTQ role models (Kya’s dating life wasn’t very active) it’s not that she wasn’t aware of fluid sexuality, it’s just she never considered that it would apply to her.

They bond not only over Mako, but also their joint responsibilities (Asami is marshalling the democratic Equalists’ political campaign from Book 2)

By the end of the season Korra knows what they have is more than just friendship, but she isn’t emotionally ready to go there

Asami spends much of this Book running after Korra, and that’s important - she’s been swept up in this grand adventure. When Korra gets hurt and has to leave in the finale, Asami is brought down with a bump - in Book 4 they will have to confront that they can’t run away from responsibility or have a fairytale romance. They have to live in the real world

RED LOTUS

When Tonraq and Zuko meet with the twins to guard P’Li, establish they’re building a more positive (if slightly awkward) relationship with their uncle

Obvious thing, but let’s see an origin story for our group – Zaheer rescuing P’Li, Ming Hua losing her arms and learning to live without them (Korra learns about this and it hangs over her when she’s in the wheelchair) and Ghazan developing his lavabending

Firmly establish lavabending is the result of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom blood mixing, so Bolin’s powers don’t come out nowhere

Have the Red Lotus be the ones who killed Sokka. That raid when Korra was a kid was his last stand. This lends a lot more emotional weight to the characters coming in, and especially if we make them much more likeable with an origin story and greater emphasis on the group dynamic, creating greater emotional conflict within the audience. Plus, this way we actually get to see old Sokka in Korra

Create a genuine will-they-won’t-they between Ming Hua and Ghazan – their attempts at flirting would be Azula-level funny. They never act on their feelings because they’re both destructive and damaged from their long imprisonment (have the group comforting each other over nightmares about being back there). Then end the romance on a tragic note when they die together in the finale – the suicide is double-pronged, a metaphor for their destructive emotional states

I imagine Gazhan and P’Li having a sibling-esque rivalry over who can be the most destructive in battle

Contrast the Red Lotus with the old, out of touch members of the White Lotus trying to manage spiritual activity across the globe – have Jinora, Kai and the new airbenders express frustration towards them.

When Iroh shows up to talk to Korra in the Spirit World, have them discuss his relationship with the White Lotus and how it changed after his death – just as in ATLA, he disapproves of holding on to tradition, honour and the past at the cost of moving forward

Zaheer was an Air Acolyte in his youth; this is a more concrete explanation of how he is immediately such an expert airbender. It also sets up a more intimate and interesting relationship between Zaheer and the new Air Nation – he sees them almost as his children, potential followers

He begged Aang to give him bending, but Aang refused (for the sake of balance – it wouldn’t be natural). Zaheer’s anger, combined with the White Lotus’ stifling attempts at spiritual control (which Jinora can relate to even today) caused him to join the Red Lotus

Zaheer sees in Korra a kindred spirit – not only did she open the portals, but she returned people their bending after Amon took it away; she is willing to upend the ‘natural order’ Aang clung too, the same order Zaheer wants to upend

Korra protests giving people bending wasn’t the point – Zaheer being an airbender doesn’t make him more special than anyone else (the lesson she learnt in Book 1). She restored their bending because those people needed to be whole again

Zaheer’s attitude towards Airbenders like Kai, a former criminal with little respect for tradition, is a dark, exaggerated reflection of Tenzin’s initial reaction – violent disgust

The Red Lotus’ ultimate goal is to end the Avatar cycle, then extract Raava from Korra. The chaos they’re causing by destabilising the Earth Kingdom and removing Korra will cause Vaatu to grow much faster. Then the Red Lotus will combine the two spirits, producing Gaana, the spirit of Harmony from whence Light and Dark came, returning the world to primordial peace

Although they stop the Lotus, the formation of Gaana becomes a far-off dream for Korra, her endgame for when the world no longer needs the Avatar

(Also have Zuko meet with and talk to Iroh at the end of Book 3, now he can enter the Spirit World. Pretty please.)

ZAOFU AND THE BEIFONGS

Because the plot of Book 3 isn’t as dense, we have more time to stretch our legs with character stuff – the calm before the storm. Establish the Beifongs’ personalities in greater detail (because there are a lot of them) – have them argue and love each other the way families do

Asami ADORES the design & technology work in Zaofu and really bonds with Bataar Sr - he represents an ideal version her father she saw when she was a kid, what she wishes Hiroshi could’ve been

Also use this opportunity to establish Bataar Jr’s mounting resentment before Book 4 - especially if Asami is a better mechanic than him

Bataar Jr and Opal have a close bond when we meet them as the only non-bending kids (they and Kuvira are a tight-knit trio) but over our time in Zoafu we see them drift apart as Opal embraces her airbending identity. Bataar is left alone.

Involve Kuvira more directly – establish that she’s the emotional lynchpin of the family, the negotiator whom everyone relies on. At the same time, she’s an outsider, only allowed at mealtimes on special occasions etc, and she’s painfully aware of that

When Mako starts investigating the mole in Zaofu, have Kuvira team up with them – she takes the hardline bad cop role, but they work well together and get results (Korra jokes Mako certainly has a type because of how similar they are)

Kuvira joins Team Avatar in the finale, and also when they go after Iwae, helping Mako and Bolin fight Ming Hua and Gahzaan (much more viciously than the bending brothers), but gets knocked out.

In Book 4 when she argues with Su she pulls this specific example: Su is willing to act (or order Kuvira to act) when it serves her own self-interest (i.e. revenge on Iwae) but not when it means taking responsibility for others. Kuvira is tired of being Su’s powerless pawn (if Su had been there to fight, Kuvira wouldn’t have almost been killed by the Red Lotus)

Bopal – Opal is the first person Bolin lets himself be truly vulnerable with, letting down his walls – Mako is very supportive

Create more moral ambiguity around Su. There was a popular headcanon she was part of the Red Lotus/knew Zaheer in her youth, so I’m making this canon. Su brushed/briefly flirted with being part of the Lotus in her youth (she makes a cameo in the Red Lotus origin episodes). This creates a more legitimate conflict between her and Lin (and the future conflict with Kuvira for hypocrisy)

THE NEW AIRBENDERS

Again, this was really well done in the show, I just want more cute Kainora crushing moments tbh.

Have the new airbenders’ relationship with Shady Shin be a direct measurement of how they learn and live by the Air Nomad culture – moving from hostility, to frustration and wanting to give up, to empathy, sympathy, and finally acceptance. At first Shin is angry and violent towards them, but he soon breaks down – he thinks his life is over. Kai’s relationship with him is particularly important – Kai reminds Shin of a young Mako, and Shin is a reminder of what Kai would’ve been without airbending and Jinora.

By the end of the Book (a few months) Kai invites Shin to Jinora’s Master anointing ceremony, and he stands awkwardly in the background

Kya stays with the new airbenders, which has more weight seeing as she’s not ‘officially’ part of the family – she has been accepted/adopted

KORRA, SPIRITS AND RAAVA

To try and lessen the ridiculousness of the Deus Ex Machina in the Book 2 finale, the Avatar state is heavily neutered during Book 3. Now Korra has no past Avatars to channel, the State is much less powerful, and she must learn to operate without it (as compared to Book 2, where she spammed it with reckless abandon), forcing her to find more diplomatic solutions (setting a good example for the airbenders)

Raava’s light is still growing in Korra after being destroyed by Vaatu – their dynamic is now flipped, where Raava is counting on Korra to be a figure of hope and strength she can rely on. This puts more pressure on Korra, but she copes much better now she doesn’t have a thousand Avatars’ voices whispering in her ear – establish she’s actually finding this freedom from tradition beneficial to her job as the Avatar (change is good!)

Have the spirits act as markers for the emotional states of both characters and places – they infest Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se because they’re attracted to the high concentration of chi there. Their emotional state varies, but generally people are adapting well (they’re used to random shit in the slums by now). Mako and Bolin help their family with spirits (they also find Nuktuk hilarious)

By comparison, in the Upper Ring spirits are far fewer because the upper classes treat them like vermin and are trying to push them out. The few spirits that are there turn Dark easily (Korra has to intervene) showing how, despite its pretty surface, the political structure and people on top in Ba Sing Se are corrupt.

When fighting the Dai Li, have Korra directly confront the fact they were founded by a past Avatar (Kyoshi) – emphasising the pattern where she has to deal with a past Avatar’s mistakes. This season is all about Change, so by the end of it have Korra disband the Dai Li

When Korra goes into the Avatar State for the first time in the finale, this is just Raava desperately trying to defend her from Zaheer

I don't know when we'd fit it in (when Korra confronts Zaheer in the Spirit World? When she's hallucinating because of the poison during the finale?) but I NEED a nightmare sequence of what Red Lotus!Korra would've been like - there are so many cool headcanons and fanarts and fics about this. Show the Red Lotus as a true family unit with Korra as the daughter figure, show Korra letting herself loose with Combustion and Lava bending. Show her inner conflict (and dominance) with Raava, who disagrees with her actions

Also it would be awesome if we saw this Red Lotus Korra meet and team up with a dark Equalist! Asami (they both believe in extreme balance) - this sheds new light on their relationship for Korra, and is the catalyst for her realising her romantic interest in Asami - she's witnessing all this destruction and chaos she caused, but she's still happy because she's with Asami

Emphasise how much Korra has become the centrepiece of Team Avatar – she is everyone’s best friend. To Asami in particular she’s become the catalyst and manifestation of everything she likes about herself – her courage, her enthusiasm about helping people, her friends, her own empowerment – the exact opposite of her father

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