#au where iroh overthrows ozai after the agni kai and ends the war | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

redrobin-detective · 4 years

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Okay so there I was barbecue sauce on my titties half asleep when I violently flashbacked to baby’s first ATLA fic attempt circa 2008* (as in the bare bones of the story are the same but I’ve fleshed it out further)

It was an AU where Azula and Zuko were really close siblings and she learned a lot from him about humanity and care while he developed a bit of a backbone and a pinch of self respect. When the Agni Kai comes, when Ozai goes for the strike, Azula jumps onto the platform and tries to redirect the flames but they’re too powerful. Her hands get pretty badly burned and Zuko is still scarred but not as bad. Ozai, furious with both of his children banishes them together to hunt for the Avatar.

Flash forward 3 years later, Zuko and Azula (no Iroh, I can’t remember my explanation why) are still at see. Zuko is very similar to his S1 self: bitter, angry, a huge blindspot about his father/country. Azula is also angry but harnesses it by trying to fire bend again which is hard with burned hands. Instead she learns and develops lightning bending so she just constantly uses lightning/electricity. Her goal is to convince Zuko to forget the Avatar and amass an army to overthrow Ozai, Zuko is still loyal and refuses.

It is they who find the boy in the iceberg. Aang’s a little confused why royal firebenders are all the way in the South Pole but new friends! Zuko sees this as a chance to redeem him and his sister. Azula sees the power the Avatar offers. Aang wants to penguin sled. But! Two water tribe siblings notice the fire nation taking an airbender onto their ship. “It’s the Avatar” Katara cries, “we have to save him!” So they begin chasing the fire siblings.

The main points would be:

- Aang knows about the war but Zuko works so so hard to justify it to Aang but as time passes, the more he realizes how fake and flimsy his arguments are. He starts to properly think about who and what he fights for. Its slightly hilarious the crew trying to keep the full extent of the war away from the ‘prisoner’

- Also Wani crew members and Aang = great combo. They don’t know if they shoulder treat him like the prisoner he technically is or their little brother. Appa chills on the deck sunning unless the kids need him for special adventuring.

- Aang helps Azula process her anger into something more beneficial. He gives her something worth fighting for and makes her want to defend the goodness in her that caused her to save her brother. Azulaang was endgame mostly bc I remember wanting to play with the idea of two characters who are so opposed in canon becoming a couple. Always scheming even as a child.

- Sokka/Katara take S1 Zuko’s place chasing after them only they don’t have Appa OR a ship so they’re........ super far behind. The Fire/Air gaang either leaves before Sokka/Katara arrive or they show up......... way late. They have no absolutely idea why these random water tribe kids keep chasing them. Aang wants to ask but Zuko has “better things to do” than listen to peasants. Katara learns waterbending through sheer will to force their small boat across the water to catch the damn firebenders. Her bending is raw and entirely unique.

- Zuko/Azula/Wani crew end up saving the day time after time and they’re like “is this allowed??? can we do this??” Villages praise the “good firebenders” and they just kinda shrug.

- Aang still goes to the North Pole for water bending, Zuko and Azula keep their heads waaaaaay down and pretend to be normal folks. Really is a reality check not to be treated like royalty. Idk, maybe this is when Sokka and Katara show up and join? (Sokka, panting as he staggers through the door: we *phew* we finally caught you fire scum. Zuko, screaming: who ARE you people? Aang: I’ve been wanting to ask that all season but thats none of my business)

- Toph and Azula get on like a stone house on fire. Literally. Everyone is afraid.

- Finale would end with Day of Black Sun where Zuko and Azula defeat their father with Aang as support. Its them reclaiming their destiny from their abuser. Aang is there to promote peace and finally declare the end of the war.

#atla #avatar the last airbender #why did this suddenly pop in my brain 12 years later??#hello??#anyway its part role reversal fic part Cheating at Pai sho I guess #clearly this is very roughly plotted #mostly from my sketchy memories and spur of the moment 'okay what if'

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