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avatar-state-kate · 4 years

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Okay so I know the standard take is that Mako is Zuko 2.0, and I guess this is a thought that you might have watching the second episode (angsty firebender I get it) that just gets stuck even when it stops making sense.

Now I don’t think LOK set out to have direct one to one replacements of the original Gaang and this is the wrong way to watch the show (and why some people hate it and Korra so much; she’s not Aang 2), but if we’re playing the comparison game Mako is most similar to Katara in the original Gaang, not Zuko.

Mako’s similarities with Zuko include

Firebenders

Angsty/ can be hot headed

That’s really it- Zuko’s arc, his motivations, has nothing to do with Mako’s own arc and motivation.

Mako’s similarities with Katara

Lost a parent(s) at the age of 8, and witnessed the death/saw the body

Keeps a memento of said parent(s) with them at all times. It is their signature, a prominent element of their character design and how we are meant to define the character

Both Katara and Mako use this trauma as their means of relating to others- we know the Katara bringing up her mother joke but this is how she relates to others losses in the show; it’s her saying she understands/can relate. In season 1 Mako telling Asami and Korra about his scarf is similarly used as a means for Mako to connect emotionally (in contrast Zuko tells no one about his scar, Iroh tells us)

As a result of the loss of a parent(s) had to step up and take on a caregiver role; Katara in Sokka’s own words stepped up and became somewhat of a mother figure. For Mako this is a much more dramatic shift as there was no Hakoda or Gran Gran, he is Bolins sole provider and care giver. This imo is the source of most of Katara and Mako’s differences, with Katara being much more emotionally open and trusting of others where Mako is closed off and distrustful of people he doesn’t know.

Even though they take the caregiver role seriously, and naturally fall in to it when in a group, they both also somewhat resent having to fill it at all. For Katara this is the plot of “The Runaway”, as she decides to let go and pull off a heist with Toph (unfortunately their arrest proves she needs to be the responsible one or else). For Mako this plays out in season one as he assures Bolin he’ll find a way to get the money for the probending pot “I always do”. Mako’s tone is resentful, he doesn’t like that he always has to be the one to take care of everything, but like with Katara in “the runaway” when Bolin try’s to help he is kidnapped by equalist and would have lost his bending if Mako and Korra didn’t go to save him. Mako’s shirking of responsibility mostly comes from his dating (which makes me look at the love triangle a little kinder, it’s the only time he ever did anything for fun/for him). If I find the meta I will link it here, but essentially it looked at how Mako’s preference for Korra was related to control and how she took it away- losing control/being out of control sounds negative but it is an escape from being a caregiver. Mako (and Katara) always had to have/be in control, and as a result he doesn’t know how to give it up, initially both his relationships with Korra and Asami start with them in control; Asami hits mako with her bike and talks him into a date where she has taken care of everything, and Korra kisses him first, in both scenarios he doesn’t have to be in charge for once

both have a bit of a temper- but unlike Zuko neither is ruled by their anger. Yes Mako gets angry in tense situations (Korra and Wu going missing), but unlike Zuko this isn’t the source of his bending/his drive. Katara is also known for having a temper (I’m completely calm!) but again she is not ruled by it.

Katara and Mako are driven by their desire to help others. With Katara this is very obvious (“I will never turn my back on people who need me”) but for Mako, as he enters the series with a very small circle of people he cares for (I.e. Bolin) this is not as readily apparent. However starting in season 1 Mako’s motivations for everything is connected to his desire to care for Bolin. While it is not a trope that has aged well, making Mako a cop is a cliche to show that he cares for others and is willing to sacrifice himself to that end (again, not that it is true to life, but in 2012 that’s the message Mako and Lin being cops would send according to tv language). Mako proves this to be true in the shows final when he risks his life to takeout the mecha/spirit vine core

They have similar arcs; both have a personal journey of learning to care for themselves, and that learning to care for yourself makes you better able to care for others. With Katara we see this through the development of her water bending, a skill that is ultimately for her but allows her to protect her friends and literally save Aang and Zukos lives through healing. For Mako it’s a subtler arc of learning to tend to his own emotions, and by doing that he can better meet the emotional needs of others (his inability to do so is the main culprit on his end for the love triangle- but all parties played a role). We can see this in comparing any of the fights Mako had with Korra in season 2 with Mako’s outburst at Wu after his failed coronation in season 4, where Mako is able to recognize he went to far and immediately apologize/de-escalate with Wu, with Korra every fight escalated because he didn’t understand what answer she wanted (he answered what she was saying verbally and not reading her emotional needs/cues). Mako having taken time for himself between the love triangle and season 4 is actually able to be their for Wu in a way he didn’t know how to for Korra back in season 2 (his speech to her in the final is him achieving this with Korra too)

There are plenty of additional little tid bits they have in common, like both dating the avatar, being noted for having a somewhat dry/lame sense of humour, both being very particular (Katara with how tha camp is run and Mako with his log book), but all suffice to say that no, Mako is not the new Zuko.

#this post really got away from me #but the more you think about it the more connections there are #mako #katara #lok meta #lok analysis #avatar last airbender #avatar #atla #lok #legend of korra meta #legend of korra #meta #analysis #not kate

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justteamavatar · 4 years

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Overall, ATLA is better than Korra, but I'd take Books 3 and 4 of Korra over ATLA any day.

Yeah, I have a pretty similar opinion to yours. I think objectively, ATLA is the better quality series but subjectively, I prefer TLOK and feel more connected to it. People are allowed to voice their opinions and critics on both shows, but I wish they would be more civil about it. I can absolutely admit that TLOK isn’t perfect (in fact, I don’t think either of the shows are flawless), but it is upsetting to see such a divide in the community.

I guess this all ruffles my feathers a bit because 1) there seems to be a lot of unfair/blind criticism and hatred about Korra, and I can’t help but wonder if its routed in nostalgia, and 2) I guess I can’t help but feel irritated and somewhat hurt when people needlessly dog pile since Korra, both the show and the character, has influenced my life in so many positive ways.

I think your points about taking Books 2 and 4 over ATLA hit some interesting notes regarding the overall planning and production process of TLOK. It’s no secret that there were many hiccups along the way, and it seems like Nick made some things quite difficult - like with their initial dislike of Korra being a female protagonist, budget cuts with Book 4, limitations with showcasing Korrasami.

There were also more issues brought in with season renewals and animation studios. As I recall, TLOK was originally intended to be a mini-series ending at Book 1. I think the messier plot(s) of Book 2 somewhat showcase how the team struggled to get a proper hold on the direction they wanted to take with TLOK. Book 1 and Book 2 feel a bit choppy/disjointed at times, and it does seem as though the series could have ended at either of those Books. However, I feel like there is a clear difference with Book 3 and 4 as they seem to have much more solid foundations, and are a lot more direct in terms of where the story goes. I personally find Book 3 of Korra to be the most enjoyable, while Book 4 is integral to Korra’s character arc and development.

It seems like a lot of criticism placed on TLOK has to do with it not being like ATLA. However, TLOK was never really supposed to be like its predecessor. We have a new Avatar growing up in a more industrialized world with developing technology, and a world that thinks it no longer needs the Avatar. As such, TLOK and Korra, as a character, were intentionally meant to differ from ATLA in many ways - some quick examples being:

~ Aang being very spiritually connected from the get-go, while Korra initially struggled to connect with her spiritual side

~ Korra excelling at the physical side of bending with earth, fire and water, but struggling with airbending, while Aang mastered airbending and had to travel around the world to learn the other elements

~ TLOK having unique villains that are arguably morally grey in some areas, while ATLA had a more familiar cast of villains (like Zuko, Azula and Ozai - though the former two are fleshed out quite a bit)

~ Aang being somewhat reluctant with his Avatar duties despite knowing his responsibilities, while Korra wanted nothing more than to be the Avatar her whole life and trained since a very young age

Among other differences, both of these shows have unique identities in terms of their themes, characters, atmosphere, and conflicts. While they both take place in the same universe, it’s important to note how dynamic that universe is (and thus, how dynamic the Avatar can be when it comes to fulfilling their duties). I totally understand if people don’t like Korra because of these changes/differences, but I think it’s important to watch the show with an open mind and to not expect “more of the same”.

Hopefully I won’t fall too far down the rabbit hole with this one since this post is already long, but the constant bashing of Korra’s character - such as her being “useless”, “weak”, “the worst Avatar”, or a “mary sue” - is tiring and grates on my nerves. A large part of it is likely due to how she is in the first couple of books - being brash, impulsive, headstrong, and passionate. I can understand it to an extent, but looking at her arc as a whole and who she was in Book 1 compared with who grew to be in Book 4, makes me appreciate that she had these flaws and wasn’t the most polished character from the start. Sure, the whole character arc of becoming more mature isn’t original, but it’s the journey that makes it special.

A big part of Korra’s arc is understanding herself, her role as the Avatar, and the changing world she lives in. I think there was a clear disconnect between what her idea of being the Avatar was versus what it actually ended up being throughout the show. Solving situations wasn’t as easy as punching first and thinking later and being the Avatar didn’t mean you were unstoppable. Throughout the series, Korra learns more and more that there are consequences to her actions, that the world will continue to change with or without the Avatar, that it’s okay to be vulnerable and get support/aid from others. She learns of her role as bringing balance to the world, and through her enemies she sees what can happen when people are thrown out of balance - and she even uses this knowledge when speaking with Kuvira at the end.

Korra comes such a long way from Book 1 to Book 4 where she is far more mature, begins to believe in herself once again, and is more open to thinking first before acting. And despite all the trauma she goes through, she continues to fight with an incredible amount of perseverance and determination. To me, she has one of the greatest character arcs in either show. And the fact that she represents women of colour like myself and so many others makes those characteristics and victories that much more sweet.

Anyway, I think I’ll stop my weird rant there. I’m sorry I made this way longer than it needed to be. The whole twitter debate thing had me feeling agitated, and it’s sometimes it’s nice to just get these thoughts off of my chest. I think some people have some valid criticism about the show, but there seems to be others that get a bit too aggressive with their opinions. It makes me wonder if the creators with tweak some of these things if Korra ever gets a live-action adaptation on Netflix, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

#long post #ask #korra #avatar korra #tlok #lok #the legend of korra #musings

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powerfulharmony · 3 years

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Powerful Harmony-Part 39

Soon enough, they arrived back at the Jedi Temple. There, they walked along the halls of the Temple. Anakin: “There are many things you need to know about the Jedi Order. We already told you that it’s our job to maintain in order in our world, much like the Avatar in your world.” Aang: “Yes, we remember you specifically telling us that.” Anakin: “Well, there’s more than just that. You see, there are also the different positions in the Jedi Order. There’s the Jedi Initiate, or the Younglings as we call them, they are Force sensitive children who are chosen when they are very young, they are taken from their families and homes, as we mentioned yesterday and brought here for training.” Aang: “The Avatar is never chosen at a young age, when the Avatar’s identity is revealed during come they’re 16th birthday, they are then sent away for 12 years to the other 3 nations. They are to spend 4 years in each nation to train in and learn the other styles of bending.” Anakin: “OK, sounds interesting enough. Anyway, after the younglings complete their training as an Initiate, they are then selected to move up to the position of a Padawan.” Sokka: “What’s a Padawan?” Ahsoka: “A Padawan is a Jedi apprentice, they are assigned to a higher ranking Jedi to learn on the field.” Sokka: “So, the higher ranked Jedi act as babysitters to these Padawan?” Ahsoka: “Yep…sort of.” Katara: “You’re a Padawan to Master Skywalker, right, Ahsoka?”

Sokka chuckled a little. Sokka: “That’s makes you a babysitter to Ahsoka!” Anakin: “Hey, shut up!”

Obi-wan chuckled a little under his breath, Anakin noticed. Anakin: “Hey, don’t forget that you went through the same process with me, my former master.” Obi-wan: “Anakin!” Suki: “You were a Padawan once?” Obi-wan: “All Jedi Masters were once Padawans, Suki, including me.” Toph: “You were a Padawan? I find that hard to believe.” Obi-wan: “Well, let’s see it this way, I’m sure each of you weren’t Master Benders throughout your entire lives and each of you never got to where you are overnight; you kids probably perfected your bending arts under a Master Bender.” Katara: “Hey, yeah, he’s right. We did learn everything we know from different masters. I guess that would kind of make each of us their Padawan.” Obi-wan: “Absolutely; that’s how it is with all Jedi.” Ahsoka: “During their training, a Padawan is required to wear a small braid to indicate that they have not moved up, yet; all species that grow hair is required to have their hair grow a little longer for the braid, all non-hair growing species, like myself, have to wear a piece of jewelry or tattoo for the braid.” Katara: “Say, where is your braid, Ahsoka?”

Ahsoka took off her Padawan braid and showed it to everyone. Ahsoka: “Right here.”

Everyone looked at it. Katara: “It’s beautiful.”

She put it back on. Ahsoka: “After a Padawan’s training is complete, their braid is then severed.” Anakin: “That is after a Padawan has proven themselves over a rigorous 10 year course, they are then bumped up to Jedi Knight.” Sokka: “Wait, it would take a Padawan 10 years to move up to Jedi Knight? That’s a long time!” Anakin: “Tell me about it. Being a Padawan to Master Obi-wan isn’t exactly a day on the beach.” Obi-wan: “Hey, it wasn’t that bad.” Anakin: “Maybe not to you, but to me, it was a trial all on it’s own, forget the rigorous training, living under your shadow was the real challenge.” Obi-wan: “Well, I moved up to Jedi Master and you’re still a Jedi Knight.” Anakin: “Yeah, but you never would have gotten to where you are now without my help.” Zuko: “What did he mean by all of that, Obi-wan?”

Obi-wan let out a slight worn out sigh. Obi-wan: “When a Jedi Knight has proven their full understanding of the Force and has succeeded in moving their Padawan up to Jedi Knight, they, in time, move up to the rank of Jedi Master.” Toph: “Isn’t that where you are now, Master Kenobi?” Obi-wan: “Yes, that is correct.” Sokka: “So, it takes just as long for a Jedi Knight to become a Jedi Master as it takes for a Padawan to become a Jedi Knight? No way! NO WAY will I believe it taking that long!” Ahsoka: “Well, it is less than the amount of time for the Avatar to learn other forms of bending under the masters of the other elements.” Aang: “That’s right, all Avatars went through that process, everyone but me.” Ahsoka: “What do you mean?” Aang: “Well, you see, a while after Katara broke me out of the iceberg, the Avatar that came before me, Avatar Roku, told me about a comet that passes by our world every one hundred years.” Anakin: “A comet?” Aang: “Yes, Sozin’s Comet, actually.” Ahsoka: “Sozin’s Comet, you mean as in Firelord Sozin?” Zuko: “Yes, the comet is said to grant Firebenders an enormous amount of energy for Firebending. Sozin used it to wipe out the Air Nomads.” Obi-wan: “I am terribly sorry to hear that.” Ahsoka: “So, what about Sozin’s Comet? Why was it so important for you to know about it?” Aang: “It’s because the comet was returning and Firelord Ozai was planning on using it to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground and claim the world in the name of the Fire Nation.”

Ahsoka and Padme gasped. Anakin: “No…! He couldn’t!” Obi-wan: “That monster!” Padme: “So Firelord Ozai was willing to destroy your world just to rule over it?” Zuko: “Yes.” Anakin: “And just when I thought that man couldn’t be anymore ruthless! How could you think you would ever be loved by someone like him, Zuko!?!” Zuko: “He was my father, what more could I say?” Padme: “All that is true, Zuko, but you had to have known where to draw the line.” Zuko: “I did, during that war meeting, when my father was telling everyone about that plan, I wanted so much to speak out against it, but I’m ashamed to say I didn’t. My whole life all I wanted was my father’s love, I thought all I wanted was my honor, but then I realized that I lost my honor and worst of all, I lost myself.” Anakin: “Clearly, there was a major difference between claiming your honor and gaining your father’s love; from what I can tell, they’re both complete opposites.” Zuko: “I know that now and I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” Obi-wan: “It’s alright, Zuko; better late than never.” Anakin: “Not to mention before your father used that comet to burn the entire world down! Scorching the Earth Kingdom? The Fire Nation is way passed sharing its greatness with the world! That’s just wrong!” Zuko: “I know.” Katara: “We all know that.” Obi-wan: “OK, then, so, shall we have a look around the temple?” Aang: “Sure, I’m up for it.” Katara: “Me, too.” Toph: “Same here.” Zuko: “I’m in.” Sokka: “Let’s go, then.” Suki: “Yes, let’s.” Anakin: “OK, then.” Obi-wan: “Follow me, everyone.”

#Ultimate Story 4 #Ultimate Story spin-off #Star Wars the Clone Wars #Avatar the Last Airbender #Aang #Zuko #Obi-Wan Kenobi #Toph #Katara #Anakin Skywalker #Ahsoka Tano #Padme Amidala #Coruscant #Jedi Temple

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kalico-to-the-letter · 5 years

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REVIEW // RWBY | 6.2 | “UNCOVERED”

AKA the moment when all the slashfic writers remember that these girls are still only in their mid-to-late teens. Awkward.

Welcome in to my review of Volume 6, Chapter 2, entitled “Uncovered”.

In this episode: Confirmation for the great sages of the fandom who’ve seen promotional material, Why the magic lamp is a magic lamp, and A stupid new character.

Ah, this was fun. See, if this were my show, I would be digging deep into the “female who is mostly attracted to women” bag to write a scene like this. But it holds up on its own, I think.

SOME BIG THINGS BEING UNCOVERED, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN … SORRY

When was the last time any singular episode of RWBY posed so many questions of its primary narrative without a whole lot happening? Maybe at some point in Volume 4, but the show now is in a very different place compared to those days.

I would have to estimate that about eighty percent of this episode is spent on providing exposition for the heroes’ story, whether it be on what our crew of protagonists are attempting to do by taking the Relic (of Knowledge) to Atlas, what the Relic (of Knowledge) even does, or why everyone agrees this is a good idea. My initial thought is: “Gee, it would have been nice to have had this information earlier, and delivered in a smoother way than just heaping it on my plate”.

It’s not a negative though, not entirely. Yes, the delivery of information in this episode could have been better, but everything makes sense, for the most part. And even though, as always, it hinges on “let’s do this because Oz says we should”, this episode progresses in a way which cements Oz as the self-righteous, holier-than-thou dick I personally have come to see him as, ever since he inhabited the body of Oscar.

Not even a year ago, this show was constantly excusing Oz’s mystery and complete lack of transparency as just being a necessary thing – part of the deal. That way when he did engage and share with us, it made him seem like he wasn’t just navel-gazing, but actually digging deep. So it makes me satisfied to see that the show – and Team RWBY – are finally having enough of his bullshit. Bonus points to Ruby, for planting her flag and being decisive in this situation as well.

It is through this continued attachment and dedication to character that RWBY gets away with quite a lot, in fact. Exposition is far more interesting when it is tied to potentially conflicting character dynamics, and setting Team RWBY against bullshitting allies like Oz, who claim that they know what is best without actually contributing the depth of that knowledge, is an underrated way to define the collective personality and identity of the newly-reunited team.

The other twenty percent of this episode is spent on Cinder.

Yes, I know we saw her silhouette in the season poster, and we’ve seen her traipsing around streets as a mysterious, unidentified figure in the opening, but understand that there are so many ways to handle the non-death and return of a fairly major character. And the fact of the matter is that while yes, it was fairly obvious to everyone that has seen the promotional material, this is – for the most part – one of the better ways to bring her back into the fold.

What would you rather have? Her showing up as a complete anticlimax twist near the endgame of the season all of a sudden? Or would you rather have an actual story?

If your answer is a story, then this is one way you do it: bring her back early.

And consider this: Rooster Teeth know that we would have seen through the silhouettes and the hooded cloaks – it is the easiest thing to connect that mystery to Cinder, and it’s one they would have thought about. Otherwise, why even put the silhouette in the poster, or the mystery figure in the opening? They didn’t have to do any of that, and who knows? We might have asked the question if Cinder could come back, but none of us “figured it out” until we saw these promo materials, and then people started acting like they knew for certain, all along. But Rooster Teeth did make those choices, and it’s worth thinking about what that could mean. Why put her in shadow? Why have her walking around in a cloak?

Easy answer: Because (hopefully) it’s not the same old Cinder.

If you’re a long-time reader of these reviews (and bless you if you are), then you know that for the longest time, I was on Cinder Will Turn Good Island. I finally set sail from that island toward the end of last season, when she revealed her lovely Grimm-infused arm. I figured that was it for my idea, and I didn’t really consider it again until this episode.

And I’m not going back to that idea of a Zuko-esque hero turn, necessarily. At the core of their respective characters, the parallel doesn’t fit. But I am considering going back to the crux of that idea, which was of Cinder’s potential as a general wildcard. What if she split from Salem, and not to join the heroes, but to walk a new road as an anomalous, morally grey character?

That idea on its own is kind of what I had hoped for Raven last season, until she turned out to be the most blah and boring “important” character in the show’s history.

But with Cinder, someone who we’ve seen since Day One, I still think it has legs. During that time, she has become more and more of an antagonist, more crazed and sinking – until she literally was sunk. And this episode doesn’t cast her off the bat as anyone different than what we remember. She still (presumably) kills an innocent woman for her clothes, and still seems to be on the hunt for Starship Hero.

But like I said. You bring her back early, and you get the chance to see her story in full. I have great interest in how they handle this.

OBSERVATIONS:

I’ve seen her referred to as Steampunk Granny, but she now has a name: Maria. Let’s see if this character is any good or not.

Hey, remember that blonde lady from the new opening? Yep, hello, Salem. Just from how this ending came together, you know that Oz is going to get it in very short order. And hopefully that drives him to be better, because he is still important to the cause.

A mystical entity springing from a Magical Lamp has the name of “Jinn”? This show is the opposite of slick with some of these names.

I cannot be the only one who thinks “Lil’ Miss Malachite” is already a terrible character. For one thing, she already comes off as such a blatant rip-off of Game of Thrones’s Varys that it’s laughable. Spiders, really?

Beyond the mismanagement of Cinder herself, this element could threaten all the good stuff I wrote about above. When you put a character like Cinder in this position, separating her from her past tethers, you don’t need to introduce artificial stakes to make her story interesting – it becomes interesting on its own. It’s what’s called a “burgeoning subjectivity”, and it’s essentially when the focal character puts herself in positions to reflect and grow as a result of how she interacts with others and the world around her. Organic, reflexive development. But this Malachite woman already has all the red flags of being a hammy, cartoonish chess master with hammy, cartoonish goons, brought in just so that Cinder has some kind of foil to go up against. I know that a writer thought this direction would be a good idea, but that’s just what this character comes off as: a writer’s C-grade, clumsily-written pawn, here to threaten something that could be really good for Cinder’s development. If it ends up that I’m jumping out the window on this, then I’ll hold my hands up. But I’ve seen (and done) enough bad, bald-faced writing to know when it’s rearing its head. Consider yourself warned.

It’s weird, isn’t it, to actually see the Team RWBY girls confronted with such a … figure … as Jinn. And I know, part of their shock comes from seeing such a magic entity appear before them … but these girls in the show are old enough to understand what Jinn, just visually, represents. And if you don’t believe me, then just look at how that scene is cut together – close-ups of big-blue body parts cut against their reaction faces … mm-hm. You don’t have to be a film student to see the connotations in practice.

GRADE: C+

“Uncovered” is the heaviest episode of RWBY – in terms of delivering exposition and driving the overarching plot – in quite some time. But if last week’s premiere was “all-killer, no-filler”, this is very much the other side of the spectrum, as we learned a fair amount, but didn’t really go anywhere. Still, there are a number of bright spots, such as Oz being exposed in the eyes of Team RWBY, and the return and potential solo storyline of Cinder. All in all, there are enough character hooks to stay intrigued, but right now the bones and mechanics of the writing are too visible to be entirely comfortable. – KALLIE

#rwby spoilers #rwby reviews #rwby6 #rwby volume 6 #rwby

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kristallioness · 6 years

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21 Questions about ATLA

I was tagged by @atypicalkataangist. Wow, thanks for including me in this quiz! I've seen others reblog a list of numbered questions similar to these, expecting to receive some asks that they could answer in return. But now I get to do them in one go.

1) Who's your favourite male character?

I'm unoriginal and gonna say it's Aang. Not only because of him being the main character, but also because he was the first boy in the show who I immediately started to like (Sokka was second, Zuko was third in the beginning since he was a villain and I grew to love him more and more along with his character development), the way he balances his carefree, childish personality with his more mature, responsible side, his back story and peaceful culture.. Most importantly, without him, there wouldn't be the second half of such a lovely couple like he and Katara are.

2) Who's your favourite female character?

Katara. She's not only my favourite female character, but favourite character of them all, right from the start and until the end. The moment I saw her I fell in love since she looked really pretty and she wore a braid, just like me. Seeing what a caring, motherly, fierce personality she had (like mine) only fuelled my love for her.

3) What's your favourite quote?

Since Katara's my favourite character, then my first choice would be: "I will never, ever turn my back on people who need me!" Because that's sort of who I am and what I'm like, too. It's almost like a motto that I live by without thinking about it twice. I'm self-sacrificing and try to help my friends whenever they need it and as much as I can. I just remembered another good one, a quote that affected me on a more personal level. I'm pretty sure that only 0.0000000001% of the fandom would choose this one: "I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am." The best part is, this is something that Toph says to Katara after she's been made fun of for her appearance by a bunch of prissy Upper Ring Earth Kingdom girls. How did this affect me? I started crying when I first saw this scene. Why? Because this was something that I'd been struggling with for years. I'd been bullied for my appearance at school. It used to make me feel worthless, unlovable, alone, probably also the reason why I turned into such a quiet person who doesn't know how to be around real friends. Hearing a blind, tomboyish, badass earthbender say what I needed to hear all along made me understand that it's not true - my appearance does not define my worth or who I am inside.

4) What's your favourite fight?

I knew you answered Katara and Pakku's duel @atypicalkataangist (and that one came to my mind, too, since it is one of my favourites because of reasons), but since I recently rewatched "The Serpent's Pass", I'm gonna pick Aang and Katara beating up that huge serpent. That was some awesome bending teamwork there! I went through all of the episodes in my head, and I gotta say that I also really like the duel between Aang and Zuko in "Bato of the Water Tribe". And one of the first ones where Haru and his father Tyro, along with the rest of the earthbenders, fight their way to freedom in the prison. The ending of that episode always leaves me with such a powerful feeling.

5) What's your favourite episode?

The big finale, "Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang". I sobbed practically throughout the entire episode when I first saw it. The soundtrack playing in the end is so beautiful to listen to and it still brings tears to my eyes. This episode concludes everything the show set up in the most unexpected ways possible. I mean, did any of us foresee Zuko being crowned the new Fire Lord (after you watched the first episode)? Did our hearts break into a million pieces when Katara and Aang kissed and became a couple in the end? Enough said.

6) From which nation would you like to be?

I'm not sure whether this is cheating or not, but since the story of ATLA continues in the comics and during Korra's time, I'd really love to be from the United Republic of Nations. I just love how it's a nation of mixed cultures, I am in LOVE with Republic City (as well as its 1920's aesthetic) and the capital reminds me of my own (Tallinn is also near the sea, has a marvellous silhouette, 4 seasons). Or if not, then my choice would definitely be the Water Tribes. I've explained it pretty well under the description of this drawing of mine.

7) Which element would you like to be able to bend and why?

Easy, I'd pick water since my 2nd choice when applying for university 5 years ago was to become a doctor. I'd like to use my healing abilities to cure people and my graceful waterbending to battle bad guys like Katara!

8) Favourite animal in the Avatar Universe?

I'm probably unoriginal, but I'm torn between the sky bison or the dragons. Oh, and the ostrich horses!

9) Who would you like to be your teacher and why?

I'm thinking it could be either Katara, Aang or Zuko, in this exact order. Katara and Aang would both be really supportive and I consider Zuko to be really wise (remember what he said to Korra before departing? he learned so much throughout the years).

10) What was the saddest moment in the show?

I have an entire list of the scenes/moments that made me cry, let me check.. *reads* Which sad moment made me cry the most, I'mma pick that one.. Okay, I can't decide because there are a few, let me name them: * the ones that stand out the most are all 3 finales * when Katara thought that her mother was alive in the swamp * when Aang enters the Avatar State and wants to kill the sandbenders, but Katara doesn't run away and instead grabs his hand and pulls him back down into her embrace and they cry together * Iroh singing the lullaby to his deceased son on his birthday (my parents have always said that one of the worst things a parent can live through is the death of their own child, so when I saw this scene, I understood what they meant and started crying) * Jet's death * Aang unlocking his heart chakra * almost the entirety of "The Awakening" (because everything seemed so hopeless and going the wrong way, when Katara and Hakoda talked), seriously, this is the most depressing episode in my book and that's why I love it so much * Sokka talking to Toph about how he's forgotten what his mother looks like and Katara is the one who's taken her place * when the invasion fleet was defeated on the Day of Black Sun and Katara knelt down beside Aang to comfort him * Zuko and his uncle Iroh's reconciliation and his speech to Team Avatar before they departed

11) What was the most shocking moment in the show?

You answered the same way: Aang getting shot with lightning. It came out of nowhere. When I saw Katara's face full of hope I thought that now they were going to make it since Aang had the power to face the Dai Li as well as Zuko and Azula. In a split second, everything changed and took a turn for the worst.

12) What was the funniest moment in the show?

There are so many good jokes, how do you expect me to pick just one??? Okay, umm.. when Sokka tried to fight against the villagers who believed too much of Aunt Wu's fortunes with logic and rational thinking (I can relate to him, poor Sokka).. How Aang messed up and unintentionally made Katara upset by insulting her instead of giving her a compliment when they were lost in the caves. Or the time Sokka and Katara had to pose as Aang's parents to go to the principal's office after school.

13) What was the most unforgettable moment in the show?

Maybe the whole scene before Zuko's coronation starts, "Peace" playing in the background, we see friends and family reunited, happy, alive. We witness something few of us could've predicted: the last person we ever thought, who went through and learned so much, is crowned the new Fire Lord. It's such a victorious moment and never leaves me without emotion.

14) Which one is your favourite book?

I have a weird system concerning this. Book 1 was sort of like the start of their journey, the world was slowly being built and introduced to us. Book 2 became much more serious, the characters gained more depth and the stakes began to rise. When I thought it couldn't get any better, I was proven horribly wrong. Book 3 became far more emotional than I ever could've imagined. So it's like my love grew with each book, and I kind of love the last one the most for this reason.

15) Who had the greatest character development in the show?

Everybody developed so much, but I'd definitely say it was Zuko. At first, I didn't really care much about him. Just another villain trying to capture someone for his own personal gain, I figured. But that all changed when I saw his back story in "The Storm". I started to look at him from a completely different angle. I began to understand where he came from, why he was doing this. I saw how much he struggled, how many wrongs he committed. The climax was when he faced his own father and told him: "No! I've learned everything! And I've had to learn it on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history and somehow, the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was! The people of the world are terrified by the Fire Nation! They don't see our greatness, they hate us! And we deserve it." This is what he learned by spending time as a refugee in the Earth Kingdom, by witnessing firsthand what his nation, what this war was doing to others. And he was determined to set things right by joining Aang and his friends, teaching him firebending and stopping his own homeland from going down this path.

16) What do you love most about Avatar: The Last Airbender?

The story that Bryan and Michael came up with. I have NEVER cried so much, laughed at so many original jokes, heard such gorgeous instrumental music made by Jeremy Zuckerman, the raw emotion behind the voice actors.. every little bit is what makes this story and this series so amazing, fulfilling and perfect.

17) What do you hate most about Avatar: The Last Airbender?

I don't hate anything about the show per se, perhaps more about the way the fandom can act sometimes.

18) With which character do you identify most?

Like I answered in question 2, Katara. Her personality reflects mine the most, we share similar values in life, I love her family (Hakoda and Sokka) because they have such loving relationships with each other (Katara and Hakoda made me emotional several times, and they only had a few scenes together!).

19) Is Avatar: The Last Airbender your favourite cartoon/anime?

Ever since I discovered it, and I think it'll remain as my favourite cartoon for the rest of my life. Nothing can ever impact me as much as Avatar has.

20) Would you want to be the Avatar?

Thinking just how messed up our own world is right now, how my aggressive eastern neighbour has occupied parts of 2 independent countries, how helpless and angry I feel that I can't do anything about it - Y E S. I want to bring peace and balance back to our world, too. And if I had my own loving, supportive partner (like Aang) by my side, I'd do it again in a thousand lifetimes.

21) What's your favourite ship?

I personally ship everything that has been or is currently canon. My OTP is obviously Kataang, though I'm also one of the few friendly multishippers out here. Which means that I don't mind seeing beautiful stuff about Zutara either, for instance. (Seriously, you should check out my tag, there are so many lovely gifsets there, be it romantic or platonic.)

To sum up, thank you once more for tagging me! I'm not gonna tag anyone specific, but if any of you would like to do this, too, then go ahead! It was really fun to reflect back on why I love this show so much.

#personal #shards of Kristal #ATLA

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hachibe · 4 years

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Thoughts on The Legend of Korra season 2:

- I forgot to say in s1: i appreciate how they used the past avatars bending their elements in the opening. We get to see Kyoshi-earth, Roku-fire, Aang-air and Korra-water. In atla it was so random, we got Pakku-water, some dude for earth (I think it was Roku’s earthbending master, i don’t remember his name), Azula-fire, Aang for air and Roku in the end when Katara starts talking about the Avatar.

- srly! episode one didn’t even started yet and i’m nervous laughing because i remember Mako started dating Korra without ever breaking up with Asami. Maybe he thought that by saying to Asami that he did care for her it would be clear that they were breaking up.

- i need to confess, I LOVE BUMI, i really do. you are not gonna see me say a bad word about him ever.

- i don’t like Korra’s dad. i don’t know/remember why yet. but i’ll elaborate later.

- ok, i think now i know why i don’t like him. everyone in tlok is a remarkable bender. that’s why. Mako and Bolin? they are so good they are fighting in pro-bending matches at the age of 16 (or whatever it was their ages in s1, i think Mako was 18 or something). Korra is a prodigy, bending 3 elements at the age of 3. Tenzin? Masterbender. Lin? Perfect, never done anything wrong in her life. Tenzin’s kids? all good benders. Korra’s dad? Not only he is a great bender (we see him doing more cool stuff as the seasons progresses) he is also the leader of all of the Southern Water Tribe (and he is an immigrant, he isn’t even southern tribe). With the major characters we have here, only Asami and Bumi are non benders and even that don’t last long. While in atla every other character was a non bender (Sokka, Suki, all of the Kyoshi warriors, Jet and all of the freedom fighters, Ty Lee, Mai, the Mechanist and all of the people who where living there with them, Hakoda and Bantou, basically every single character the Gaang met in their travels) and not just that, but we see all of the major characters start small and grow with time. Zuko, even being amazing the way he is, is constantly called a failure and is highly poor skilled in comparison to his sister. He is constantly training to be better. Katara we see struggle through all of season 1. Aang has to learn every single one of the elements , and he is a genius, but we see him train and try to improve himself. Sokka sucks at first but he learns from all types of sources and improves himself with time. The only ones that can never fail are Toph and Azula. What’s my point? Well, idk, my point is, why did Korra’s dad had to be this flawless powerful guy?

- and hey, this whole rant is not me saying that Korra ruined the avatar legacy or that Korra is a Mary Sue (if anyone is a Mary Sue is Suyin), like a lot of people do. I really don’t believe that. Korra may not struggle with her bending like Aang did but she struggles in every other aspect of being an avatar. And i find it fascinating to see that. I think it was a really clever choice to make her so different of Aang. However, i don’t see how every other character has to be a powerful bender as well. (me at some point in the end of the season: maybe this is the consequece of the end of the 100 years war. after the fire nation stopped targeting and killing every bender, there was finally room and appropriate enviroment for benders to prosper)

- oh look at me, comparing atla and tlok again

- i had written a whole thing about the cloudbabies and Aang being a shit parent but then i had to reassess my thoughts on it. the way the accusations flow from Kya’s and Bumi’s mouth make it seems like Aang didn’t even look at his older kids. and i can be kind and say that is only because Kya and Bumi are hurt and resentful, they paint the situation a little worst than it actually was. in my mind Aang didn’t straight up neglect his kids, he loved them all, he just made mistakes along his life, bad parenting choices in his eager pursuit of populating the world with airbenders. and i can go on with that, mostly because i really like this story line of Bumi never thinking he was good enough. but i can also admit that this whole story goes well in line with all the other disregards to atla that tlok does, like forgetting about Suki, don’t caring about Katara, making Toph a cop, etc. so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- LMAO Mako telling Bolin “just break up with her” WTF!

- I'm only on episode 4 and this season biggest flaw is clearly the lack of Lin Beifong. (me at the end of the season: too little Lin, and the little we saw of her was her being a shit cop)

- ok, so Varrick is the plan guy (coming back here a couple of episodes later: totally forgot Varrick was a villian)

- tears in my eyes with this photo. look at them!!!

- first words out of Lin's mouth this season are "Welcome home Avatar, thanks for starting a war" whsjwjsjsjsjsjsnanshahajahajajajajajsjsjshshs how you do not love this woman?

- was this thing with Bolin and women supposed to be funny? Because, it wasn't funny when I first watched and still isn't funny.

- one thing s2 has for itself is the Wann's episodes ❤️

- interesting to notice that Wann's firebending is very firebending-y. And I mean is clearly Shaolin kung fu style. Zuko and Azula’s style, not Mako’s style.

- thinking again and like, before i thought that one of the biggest flaw of tlok was that Korra never learn, that we never see Korra grow and change and improve herself. She keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. but now idk, i’m starting to think that the narrative just has no mercy for her. it just drops shit after shit over her for the sake of idk grim dark plotlines because that’s all that people know how to write these days. like srly, the girl already has problem learning shit, because she can never listen, so instead of writing a story where she learns and grow from this we cut her connection to her past lives, whom before always were there for their reincarnations and thaught them things. let’s just eliminate that since she hardly ever talks to them anyways!

- i don’t mean that like “oh look at Korra, the worst avatar ever! she destroyed the avatar legacy blablabla”. But i mean, was it really necessary? did we really need this plotline (matter of fact, this whole season)? what’s the whole message here? that you are not your past lives? that you’re your own person and you can fight on your own? idk maybe. (me after the end of the season: is exactly that) because if the answer is just to pave way for s3 and whatever happens with airbenders i’m gonna call bullshit because that story line is even worst.

- i don’t care for Bolin being turned into a dumbhead but i do love this brotherly friendship he has with Asami, i’m all here for this.

- Asami, still a saint

- I FACKING LOVE Bumi charming the shit out of the spirits by playing music to them. And then destroying the whole camp kind of by accident. This is the Aangiest thing ever. Bumi, in the end, is the most like his father from all of his siblings.

- the music is beautiful tho. and i mean, the soundtrack, not specifically the one Bumi plays to the spirits.

- i don’t understand exactly what happened with Jinora there but i think i’m gonna let this past because is too much to unpack.

- and i don’t know what to think about leaving the portals to the spirit world opened. like, WHY? it feels a little like, once again, Korra not thinking things through

#tlok #pris rewatches tlok

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cody-hammond · 4 years

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My rewrite of LoK: Book 1(Episodes 1 & 2)

@awesomechocolatesauce

So, I’m just gonna say, I like Legend of Korra. It wasn’t as grand as Last Airbender, and that’s fine! They’re two different ways to go about the universe, and that’s okay. The being said, there are a lot of things in LoK that don’t quite hit the mark as TLA did. So, for that, I’m going to go through what I would do differently for the series, Book by Book.Let’s start with Book 1!

Now, there’s actually not a whole lot I’d change about Book 1, as it’s actually my favorite of the series. I liked Republic City, I liked the story, and thought it was a good intro for “Korra.” However, there are some things I would change.

Episode 1: First, I would keep everything relatively the same in the beginning. We meet Korra, she knows 3/4 of the elements, we meet Tenzin, he tries to guide her towards spiritual enlightenment to help her master Air, she wants to go to Republic City but can’t, sneaks on board a ship, arrives, fights some thugs, meets Lin Bei-Fong, Korra’s able to stay in RC, has the press conference, and we meet Amon, finishing the episode.

However, there is one underlying story for Korra, and that’s how she can hope to be as great, if not better, than Aang. After all, this 112 year-old boy did end a war that lasted 100 years, brought the 4 Nations together, and led everyone to a brighter future. Korra’s a capable fighter, sure, but her inability to master Air, or the spiritual side of Bending, greatly hinders her.

Episode 2: Korra reads about the Pro-Bending matches in the paper, and desires to go and see one herself. Tenzin, of course, disagrees, telling her it’s a mockery of Bending, all flash no substance. Later, Korra fails at both meditation and the spinning fan training, argues with Tenzin once again about wanting to see a Pro-Bending match, sneaks into the Pro-Bending arena, and then meets Bolin! Now, here’s where we start to change a few things.

1. Bolin: Oh Bolin, poor, poor Bolin. I feel for him, I really do. He’s a character that just SCREAMS comic-relief. Which isn’t bad, mind you, but... I felt like he could’ve been more. The great thing about Sokka was that, even though he was comic-relief, he wasn’t the relief 100% of the time. He was smart, he was obnoxious, he was a brilliant strategist, he was a capable fighter without any bending powers, he was so many things! Bolin... I can’t think of anything about him other than he’s funny, and Mako’s brother. Which is why I would change his arc. He can still be comic-relief, sure, but make him have a purpose other than that. That’s why, in this version, Pro-Bending isn’t 3-on-3. Instead, it’s a classic 1-on-1, similar to boxing or MMA, or even the wrestling-style fight they had in “The Blind Bandit” in A:TLA. Bolin is a young up-and-comer, an underdog. He has his fans, but nowhere near enough to become a household name.

After witnessing her first live Pro-Bending match, and Bolin’s scraped-by victory, Korra offers to train Bolin in exchange for learning a few tricks of her own, and shows him some Fire-Bending moves he could probably use to better fit the agile side of Pro-Bending, sort of like how Iroh taught Zuko lightning.

The next day, after failing to pass through the spinning fan training Tenzin gives her a second time, and burning it down, Korra and he argue. Tenzin angrily asks what’s wrong with her, and Korra responds by saying there’s nothing wrong with her. She tries and tries to understand Air-Bending, but it doesn’t sink in, and maybe the reason is because he’s a terrible teacher.

Tenzin gets furious and says no matter how many times he tries to be patient, it’s clear the only thing she responds to is force, so he forces her to stay on Air Temple Island until her training is complete. Korra vehemently refuses, and says maybe she doesn’t need Air-Bending! Tenzin says, “That’s ludicrous, if all you care about is fighting, than you’re nothing more than a child throwing a temper-tantrum. Actually, wait, Aang was a child, but even he was doing better than you!” This causes Korra to leave, ignoring Tenzin’s call back.

At the Pro-Bending arena, she meets up with Bolin, preparing for a match. They do a little training to get ready, and we even get a little character development on Bolin wanting to be equal to his brother. “When people talk about me, it’s mostly as “Mako’s brother,” which honestly, kinda hurts. I love Mako, don’t get me wrong! But just being “Mako’s brother” isn’t good enough. That’s why I went to Pro-Bending, to win the tournament and make a name for myself, and show Republic City I’m something more... and a little training from Avatar Korra doesn’t hurt.”

Bolin’s match is exciting, but nerve-racking. His opponent is tough, being a fellow Earth-Bender, but also rather vicious with his moves. Bolin tries his best to dodge and attack, but ends up losing Round 1, and doesn’t last long in Round 2. It’s in Round 3, where his opponent deliberately sends an Earth disk to his right arm, possibly breaking it. Bolin’s obviously in pain, and the Water-healers try their best, but it doesn’t look like he’s capable of continuing. This, at first, shatters Bolin, and he begs them to keep him in, saying he has to do this, even if it’s with one arm. When asked if he’s sure to compete, Bolin slowly makes his way up to his feet, broken arm and all, and says yes.

The final round is a nail-biter, but something seems different. The fans in the arena are cheering... for Bolin! With this new-found confidence, Bolin musters up a unique brand of offence, thanks to Korra, blending Earth and Fire-Bending moves that actually give him the win, and a spot in the Tournament! The fans go crazy!

Korra is elated, and goes down to the arena to celebrate. Bolin takes this time to thank everybody who cheered for him, but most of all, he wants to thank Korra, the Avatar, for her patience and training. The crowd cheers for both of them.

When they get back to the locker room, Korra starts healing Bolin’s arm, thanking Master Katara. Bolin than takes the time to properly thank Korra for showing him the Fire-Bending techniques, saying they really came in handy in the last round. Korra’s grateful, saying he did great out there, but Bolin still feels like he can’t live up to Mako. “Ever since we lost our parents, Mako’s been the one trying to find justice, to find the Fire-Bender that killed them and put him in prison. I admire that part of my brother, but the more I hear and read about Mako cracking down cases, putting away bad guys, and seeing him in the spotlight, I can’t help but feel left behind. I mean, I’m a Pro-Bending rookie. I know I can’t make it as a detective, but I believe I can at least bring a smile to the people of Republic City.” Korra tells him, “You shouldn’t compare your success to Mako’s. You has to make your own, and you can do that by winning the Championship Tournament, and no matter what, your parents would’ve been proud of you.” They have a bonding moment, and Korra leaves.

Later that night, Korra returns to Air Temple Island, where the spinning fans are being rebuilt. Tenzin is there, and Korra takes this time to apologize. She realizes she was impatient, and frustrated at herself, and took it out on him. Tenzin also apologizes, in trying to teach her patience, he lost his. No hard feelings between them, and if she’d like, they can go and see a Pro-Bending match together soon, maybe see her new student? Korra asks what he means, and Tenzin tells her he heard Bolin’s speech on the radio.

Finally, the spinning fans are complete, and Korra offers to give it one more shot.

She succeeds, ending Episode 2.

(It might not be much, but I hope it’s, at least, interesting. I was going to add episode 3 on here, but that part ended up being pretty long XD So that’s for another time)

#legend of korra

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araeph · 7 years

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Araeph’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Vol. 1 here.

It’s Araeph’s 1000th post! Thank you so much to all my followers, people who’ve messaged me for discussion, and fans who’ve filled my inbox with such thought-provoking asks. Below is the latest master list of my essays and fiction that I’ve compiled over the past year or so, as well as a few choice reblogs from other tumblr users that are mentioned by name. Have a fantastic 4th of July, everyone!

Fic Recs

A:TLA Friendship Recs Favorite Zutara writers

Araeph’s fics

Hatchling, Part 1 Spitting Image, Part 1 Breath of Fire Confidants Sunrise Moonrise Love Is a Marathon Defiance, Part 1 Defiance, Part 2 Defiance, Part 3 Defiance, Part 4 Defiance, Part 5 Defiance, Part 6 Defiance, Part 7 Defiance, Part 8

Other Meta

Araeph’s fandoms Mulan: contrasting messages in pop song vs. theatrical song The arranged marriage plot in Mulan 2 Mulan and Shang: military dynamics vs. a relationship What did you think of the Red John arc in The Mentalist? Was the Jane/Lisbon pairing in The Mentalist treated well? Did Lizzy marry Darcy for his money? What advice do you have for up-and-coming authors? What do you think makes a good romance? Are there particular directors you gravitate towards?

Steven Universe Criticism

What are your favorite critiques of Steven Universe? Who did Pearl belong to before she joined the Crystal Gems? How Pearl responds to toughness vs. niceness Can autism explain Pearl’s behavior toward Greg? What do you think of Pearl’s character and her treatment of Steven? Are there similarities between Aang and Pearl’s clinginess to their partners? The Diamonds: taking “compassion for one’s adversaries” too far What do you think of the "Rose is Pink Diamond" theory? Rainbow Quartz: requited love I miss the way they used to draw Peridot The decline of Steven Universe

A:TLA Gen Criticism

I just don’t know how to feel about Bryke! How do you keep A:TLA’s flaws from ruining the show for you? Should Teo, Haru, and The Duke have had bigger roles in Book 3? Should there have been a scene where Aang mourns the dead at the end of Book 3? The structure of the first half of Book 3 Is energybending Ozai enough to delegitimize his rule? Could Aang lying to the tribes in “The Great Divide” have been handled better? Was the Fire Nation secretly looking for the Avatar in the Southern Water Tribe? Parallels between the Fire Nation Royal Family and the SWT chief family Does the GAang idealize their parents and mentors too much? The significance of Momo How did the characters age visually throughout A:TLA? Was Ozai an abusive spouse as well as father? Do you think the Avatar universe has a legitimate afterlife? Detachment and unlocking the chakras Avatar cosmology @peacockarehot What happens before each Avatar is old enough to master the elements? How well was the challenge of being the Avatar told in A:TLA and LOK?

A:TLA’s Four Nations

Four Nations and childhood education Four Nations’ view of sex and gender roles Four Nations: a food contest analysis Four Nations eye color What is the best way for the SWT to develop? What is your opinion on Water Tribe betrothal necklaces? Why an earthbender shouldn’t be able to lavabend alone Is the Earth Kingdom united under a cohesive value? What is your opinion on the Air Nomad council of elders? Did the Air Nomads get shortchanged in development? Is Ty Lee an untrained airbender? Stormbending What kind of benders would mixed heritage kids be? Could firebenders draw power from the Earth’s core? Can waterbenders heat water to create steam? Part 1 Can waterbenders heat water to create steam? Part 2 What is your favorite nation and what type of bender would you be? Who are your favorite minor characters from all four nations?

Alternative A:TLA Finale and Book 4 Speculation

Zutara would have been a better bookend, even with only 3 books How would the Book 3 Zutara moments change with Book 4? What should have been the theme of the A:TLA finale? What do you find disappointing about the A:TLA finale? Aaron Ehaz’s plan for A:TLA and beyond @kataraaandzuko @terminaschosenone Anything you would like to see from an A:TLA sequel? How do you see the relationships of the Gaang progressing through adulthood? How would hidden airbenders have been revealed? Koh in Book 4

A:TLA Comics Criticism

Rosy colonialism in “The Promise” “North and South” : a settler’s fantasy @fireladykatara “North and South” and the issue of progress The A:TLA comics do not follow A:TLA’s visual style Bryke’s interference in the comics What do you think of the role the Air Acolytes played in the comics?

Legend of Korra criticism

A:TLA vs. LOK: simple vs. complex beginnings LOK and inconsistent bending origins Which element is the hardest for an Avatar to learn? How would you write Korra’s development in Books 1-4? Mary Suyin How would you write Suyin Beifong? Suyin: complex vs. annoying characterization Zaheer and compelling belief systems Is Zaheer Korra’s foil? Thoughts on the Red Lotus What do you think of the concept of Raava and Vaatu? What do you think are the most well developed secondary characters in LOK? Varrick, Zhu Li, and abuse Could Makorra have become compatible? Bolin and Lavabending What do you think about the Dai Li surviving into the era of LOK? Bumi and Air Nomad colors Bryke’s extreme responses to fan theories How would a sequel to Legend of Korra play out?

Zutara Meta

A:TLA non-canon shippers keep A:TLA fandom afloat Zuko and Katara: Color symbolism in “Cave of Two Lovers” @marsreds Zuko and Katara: character parallels “Zutara is toxic and unhealthy!” (again) Zuko and Katara, twin flames @peacockarehot Zutara parallels with Darcy and Elizabeth Zutara parallels with Beauty and the Beast Blue Spirit/Painted Lady parallels The Blue Spirit vs. the Painted Lady Were the Blue Spirit and Painted Lady connected? How Zuko shows respect when saving Katara from falling rocks @theadamantdaughter Zuko and Katara’s parenting styles Zuko jumping in front of lightning was sacrificial What would young viewers learn from Zutara? On Zuko interacting more with the GAang Thoughts on School Time Shipping

“What Would [X] Gain from Zutara?” Katara Zuko Sokka Toph Suki Aang Mai Hakoda Iroh Azula Ozai Ursa and Kiyi The Fire Nation and Water Tribes The cabbage merchant

Kataang Criticism

Irrefutable proof that Kataang was NOT always going to be canon @peacockarehot Do you think Katara felt some pressure to date Aang? Kataang and unwanted advances (with @theadamantdaughter) Aang’s possessive behavior toward Katara @theadamantdaughter Why Aang’s behavior in “Love Is a Battlefield” is dangerous Love vs. attachment Does Aang respect Katara? Why “The Fortuneteller” is anti-Kataang Fanon Kataang vs. canon Kataang Could Katara and Aang still be happy together? Katara is aged down in scenes with Aang Kataang and the magic aging (with @jasubb-8) Does Aang’s age excuse his unwanted advances? What if Katara couldn’t give Aang an airbender? Will-they-won’t-they and Kataang Aang’s romances vs. Sokka’s romances @peacockarehot Kataang’s lack of substance in “The Headband” Kataang’s lack of substance in “The Cave of Two Lovers”

Maiko Criticism

Would Ty Mai be more compatible than Maiko? Ty Mai and understanding each other Were Zuko and Mai’s relations consensual? with @theadamantdaughter Why Maiko is prime for failure @peacockarehot Maiko, Zutara, and Conflict @theadamantdaughter The pitfalls of Maiko @peacockarehot Is Maiko or Kataang worse? Is Maiko or Kataang worse? – part 2 Why do Maiko shippers ignore the problems in their ship? Mai never dated the real Zuko Pros and Cons of Maiko

Character Analysis

Aang How would you have written Aang’s character development from Books 1-3? Aang exalting Air Nomad culture above everyone else’s Should Aang’s introspection have followed Buddhist tenets more closely? Rewriting energybending to improve Aang’s character @terminaschosenone Should Aang have had a more prominent teacher or guide? Do you think Aang’s grief at the loss of the Air Nomads was properly presented? Why was Aang not worried about killing Ozai on the Day of Black Sun? Aang vs. the vulture wasp Aang’s reaction to the other Avatars’ advice Aang’s reaction to Yangchen’s advice Aang’s response to Jetara Aang’s anger vs. Katara’s Did Aang truly exhibit contrition for the EIP kiss? How Aang idealizes Katara Did Aang really know how Katara felt because of his own loss? Who would be a good match for Aang?

Azula Could the dragons heal Azula? Do you think any little part of Azula ever loved Zuko? Azula’s motivations for the lightning strike Azula’s motivations for the lightning strike, Part 2 Would Katara feel a moral obligation to help Azula post-A:TLA? How would Azula have compelled Mai to go with her initially if Mai had refused?

Iroh Iroh’s character journey Do Iroh’s values align better with Mai’s or Katara’s? Maiko shipper bashes Iroh and Zuko Zuko and Iroh’s relationship parallels with Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver

Katara Katara and her emotional iceberg Katara would have been more independent if she’d married Zuko Katara puts her emotional needs in front of Aang’s Katara is abandoned at the South Pole Katara crying over Aang vs. Zuko Did Katara’s character development stall? Should Katara have been at the Boiling Rock? Should Katara have forgiven Zuko earlier? Katara lashing out at Sokka during Southern Raiders How do you think Kya would feel about the Southern Raiders? Would it have been in character for Katara to murder Yon Rha? Why does Katara’s character become so irrelevant? @zuzusexytiems Why Katara is not a Mary Sue @daughter-of-water @theadamantdaughter Why do people continually try to make excuses for Katara not fighting in LOK?

Mai What would Mai’s ideal character arc be? Mai doesn’t understand Zuko’s values @honxrable What personality would be best for Mai’s partner? Was Mai originally going to be a villain? Is there any evidence that Mai was scared of Azula? Debunking Mai’s affection for Tom-Tom

Sokka Sokka’s quest to be a man On Sokka seeing Katara’s face instead of his mother’s Sokka’s protective nature

Toph Could Toph and her parents reconcile? Toph and law enforcement

Zuko Is Zuko emotionally unstable? How would Zuko handle the issue of bloodbending? Was Zuko more open in Book 2 or Book 3? Hair cutting symbolism in A:TLA Do you think Zuko has PTSD? Zuko and Aang’s relationship Locations of Zuko’s Agni Kais and their significance The symbolism of Zuko’s scar Zuko is not stoic (@honxrable) Why I Feel Zuko’s Betrayal Was to End Zutara @peacockarehot Piandao as Zuko’s mentor

#a:tla #zutara #anti-kataang #anti-maiko #avatar: the last airbender

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zutaraverse · 7 years

Text

Chapter 10: Seeing Without Eyes

Zuko jolted awake from a disturbing dream just before dawn, the last dregs of which were quickly dissipating into the lightening room. He replayed the scene from last night and considered how to approach the new day. Since they were earth bending he didn’t think he should wake Katara for meditation. Besides, Toph being in charge meant there was no chance of starting early.

However, as the grey light of early dawn infiltrated the room, Zuko started to worry. Katara had hardly moved the whole night. He had to place a hand on her stomach just to feel her breathing, otherwise she may as well have been dead. She must have been in a very deep sleep and he was torn as to whether to wake her or not. Finally he decided that she would probably be mad if he didn’t give her the choice - she was not one to look sympathetically at anybody who made decisions for her.

He kissed her gently on the cheek and called her name, drawing her out of her comatose sleep. Katara’s eyes opened slowly - differently to her usual confused fluttering. This was weary, tired, and her gaze was still distant.

“Hey, its dawn, and we’re meant to earth bend today,” he explained softly. Katara’s eyes closed with the same slow, deliberate movement she had used before. They stayed closed a few seconds before opening again to consider him. She reached up a hand and caressed his cheek, before letting it drop back onto the sheets.

“I’m… not… leaving… this… bed,” she breathed. Zuko nodded. He didn’t think he should argue with her - she seemed to be exhausted. There was only one problem though…

“Then we’ll leave Toph to sleep - I bet she will be happy,” he said, trying to conceal his disappointment. He had been looking forward to learning earth bending - he loved the strength it gave those who wielded it. Katara closed her eyes.

“You should learn,” she said from somewhere very distant.

“You’re the only one who can blood bend,” he reminded her. She sighed and reached for his hand.

From her fuzzy state she didn’t need to try to block out anything; it was already gone. She found his blood easily and followed a very bright chi flow in the darkness of her incomprehensibility. Katara had studied Toph’s chi flow the day before, memorising the points where it differed from hers. She wasn’t surprised to find earth bending focussed in the legs and feet. It made sense. In the back of her mind it reminded her of something, but she couldn’t quite place it.

When she had altered Zuko’s chi, she did her own.

“There, now we’re both earth benders,” she said. She hadn’t moved or opened her eyes - Zuko had thought she had fallen asleep again. He kissed her again and quietly left to wake an undoubtedly grumpy Toph.

The sun rose just before six o’clock. Nothing official happened before nine o’clock, which meant that meditation, training, washing and eating took place in those three hours. Katara woke from her stupor at about eight, and decided to find her friends. She didn’t bother hiding the black under her eyes, and she tied her hair up so it wouldn’t look dirty. Going into her bathroom, she sighed in relief at her ability to blood bend. For all of the uses blood bending had, the most mundane was also the most useful. No longer did she have to soak her cycle cloths in boiling water for hours; she could soak them for five minutes or so and bend the blood off. It was amazing. If she ever lost the ability to blood bend this would probably be one of her main regrets.

Having washed herself and thrown on some clothes, Katara hurried to the indoor arena so see if Toph and Zuko were still in there. She opened the door quietly and slipped in, almost laughing at what she saw; Toph had riddled the stone floor with holes and dips, sharp spikes, inclines, and steps of all kinds. Zuko stood, looking somewhat weary, blindfolded in the middle of the maze.

“Hey Katara,” called Toph from the other side of the arena.

“What? Katara’s here?” asked Zuko, jerking his head about and trying to work out where the damned door was.

“What is wrong with you Zuko!” cried Toph, “You are a fire bender, that means you can feel heat! You should be able to sense her in the room with your own element!” She threw up her hands in frustration.

“Yeah well I’m too damned concentrated on trying to sense the fucking death traps you’ve set out for me!” he cried back, a glimmer of his old-Zuko anger in his voice. However, he didn’t remove the blind fold. Toph growled.

“I do not understand why it is so hard to teach earth bending! With Aang what he needed was a forceful push, and I think you need the same. We are going to duel,” she said definitively.

“Duel!” exclaimed Katara. “Isn’t it a bit early for that?” She did not like the idea of a blind Zuko going up against Toph. With his eyesight they may have been equally matched, but he was at a distinct disadvantage here.

“Stay out of this Sugar Queen. This is between me and Sparky. Actually, you can play doctor when he gets his butt kicked. Right, Sparky, you can use any element you like - I will only use earth bending. But we are both blind. And you better start paying attention to the earth pretty soon because it will, quite literally, slap you in the face if you don’t. Ready?”

“Toph I think this is a really bad idea,” started Katara pleadingly. However, Zuko interrupted her.

“Please Katara! If this is what it takes I’ll do it. But you shouldn’t get hurt - wait outside till this is over.”

“Absolutely not,” she said forcefully, crossing her arms and not a little irritated that he was trying to tell her what to do, “I can defend myself, Fire Prince Zuko, and if I have to beat your arse again to prove it, believe me, I will!” And with that she leaned against the door, staring at the back of Zuko’s head angrily.

He gulped. An angry Katara was far worse than a playful Toph. He would have to deal with that later.

“Wahey! Sweetness is getting Spicy!” laughed Toph. This is more like it, she thought to herself.

“Don’t you dare make light of this Toph - I’m furious with you for doing this. You two are going to seriously hurt each other and I’m the one who is going to have to pick up the fucking pieces as usual!” she snarled, switching her cold stare from one blind person to another.

“Shesh! Calm down Spicy! Hey… Spicy and Sparky… I like it… although Sweetness and Sparky is like sweetness and light which is a lovely saying. Except I don’t know what light is,” mused Toph, completely unperturbed by Katara’s outburst. She was more than used to it, but sensed that it had put Zuko on edge… maybe she should go easy on him after all. “Well, lets get to it!” she announced, stomping her foot on the ground and changing the landscape to something completely unfamiliar. Zuko didn’t know it but it was actually easier to navigate than the previous one.

Zuko froze at the sound of grinding rock.

“You fucking changed everything again didn’t you?” he growled.

“Yup!” replied Toph lightly.

He spun around in the direction of her voice and shot a fireball at her. However, he heard the usual creaking of the expanding metal as it collided with the wall.

“Yeah, how are you supposed to get me if you don’t know in which direction I’m going? You are aiming for the past Sparky, get with it!” she instructed, leaping around and changing direction. Zuko tried to aim a few more fireballs but without success. “Not even close!” mocked Toph from yet another position.

Zuko could feel his frustration growing into anger. Anger at himself, at his damned inability to pick this up. He felt like a scolded child again, the worst one at fire bending, with his sister showing off to his father and grandfather moves that he still hadn’t mastered. The familiar rage that he had harboured for three long years on his ship returned full force, contorting his body into well rehearsed moves. He growled through his teeth as he drew on as much power as he could and shot a sheet of fire, spinning as he did so, in order to make it reach every corner of the room.

He was left panting from his sudden outburst. After a few deep breaths things started clearing in his mind as he realised what he had done.

“Katara? Toph? Are you ok? I’m so sorry…” he reached behind his head to undo the blindfold and rush to the aid of his friends. He was resisting breaking down into sobs of self loathing.

“Don’t you dare Sparky!” called Toph from a long way away, “This isn’t over!”

“We’re fine Zuko,” said Katara from somewhere closer to his side of the arena, a softness in her voice that indicated that she at least partially understood what had prompted his rash gesture.

Zuko suddenly felt something hit him square in the forehead. Then something else. They were hard. Stones! Toph was throwing stones at him - he had just whipped out enough fire to destroy a palace and she retaliated by throwing stones. It almost made him laugh.

Because she defended herself from his attack and he was incapable of defending himself from hers.

Right. He needed to find cover. Getting low to the ground, he moved along with his hands spread wide until he found a large rock jutting out. He moved so that it was between him and the rock-throwing Toph. It wouldn’t take long for her to adjust her position to come at him again, but she had been the other side of the arena, so she would have to move quite a bit. At the very least it bought him some time.

A memory presented itself to him; a memory of himself as the blue spirit, living in the shadows and being impossibly quiet - breaking into the highest security prisons and freeing the highest security prisoners. Sneaking around wasn’t going to fool Toph, and there was no wood to dampen his steps. He silently cursed himself for not having brought water in this morning - at the very least it might create some confusion!

But along with these memories came the less pleasant ones; being locked in cupboards, waiting in vents, sneaking through barracks, finding his way down the tunnels of Lake Laogai. In none of those situations did he have any light. He had done it by not searching for light - by instead focussing on what he did know and translating that into images. He remembered sitting very still, hardly even breathing, and listening with all his might to what was happening around him.

Marching boots: soldiers. The paces even: bored. Two, in practiced time: regular partners. No hesitations: knew the land to perfection - they were lookouts on duty.

Now he had more than his ears, though. He had heat. He had water. He had earth.

He relaxed and opened his mind to the arena. There. He could feel Toph not too far from him. She wasn’t moving. So she must have been waiting for him to emerge.

Katara stood somewhere behind him. She was much warmer than Toph.

This didn’t help though. As soon as Toph picks up a rock, and the rock leaves her hand, he would have no idea where it was. He might hope that the contact with her skin would make it slightly warmer than the surroundings, but hat was a vain hope. Besides, was she even picking them up? Wouldn’t she just bend them towards him?

He needed to go deeper than heat and water. He needed to focus on where he was in relation to the room. He needed to feel, through his skin, what was going on. Everything is connected he told himself. I am on the earth, I am touching it, I am part of it. He repeated this mantra in his head over and over as he ran his fingers and toes along the surroundings, paying attention to every nook and cranny he passed over. There was no movement in the room, nor was there any noise; it seemed the girls had decided to leave him to his own explorations.

He felt a dip under his feet as he inched forward. A dip meant a rise though. Where was the rise?

There. The rise was very close - the dip was not wide. But the rise seemed to be higher than where he was standing. That would mean another dip perhaps. It would be annoying to have to climb it though. But moving to the right should give him some space. Instinctively, with the speed yet caution of the blue spirit, he headed towards the easier path. There was something blocking his way though and he ducked just in time, feeling an overhang graze the top of his head. Toph would be standing to the left - stationary - a heartbeat - a more intense vibration. Carefully positioning himself, he shot a simple fireball directly at the direction of the more intense vibrations. The vibrations faded for a split second - she had stepped out of the way - and he felt a presence moving closer - too fast to be Toph - no Toph had not moved from her spot.

Something small and hard hit him on the chest. Oh. Another rock. So that’s what a rock feels like he thought to himself, too fascinated to be irritated.

“Nice one Sparky, you are finally feeling. Now quit with the fire, do it with rock,” instructed Toph.

“Hmmm thanks for the details Sifu,” grumbled Zuko, momentarily distracted from his study of the ground.

“You’ll work it out,” she replied. Zuko imagined a smirk playing on her lips underneath her black bangs.

He returned to the state he had been in while observing the stone beneath his feet. Right. Stone MOVE he mentally shouted. Unsurprisingly, nothing happened. He returned to the overhang and, standing in front of it, he placed one hand on the lip, concentrating on how the stone was shaped - not so much on the surface, but underneath it. There he exerted a force, and to his immense pleasure it shifted. Not much, just an inch. But he could do it again - and with more power. The overhang lifted so that he could pass under it without ducking.

Now he needed a stone to throw. He reached up and touched the overhang once more. Instead of pushing inside, he pulled, and a part came away easily in his hand.

Now where was Toph? Ah! There. He threw the stone but it fell short - he felt it hit the ground a few metres in front of her. He took another part of the overhang, and this time, he pushed it from inside. Not enough to separate it, but enough to control its direction. There!

The vibrations coming from Toph changed and the stone stopped. Ah. She must have lifted her hand and caught it.

“I like it Sparky! But I’m afraid we are going to have to continue this another time - your advisors are hesitating outside the arena - I think you might be late for something…” said Toph.

Zuko gasped and tore off the blindfold, ignoring the tears that sprang to his eyes from the suddenly very intense light. He ran to the door and ripped it open.

“What time is it?” he asked urgently to the advisors who stood nervously outside.

“Ten o’clock, my prince,” answered one of them.

“Shit. Prepare the meeting room, I will be there shortly,” he ordered, watching them scurry away towards the palace. Zuko turned to the two girls in the room.

He took in the terrain Toph had created. It had seemed so much more threatening without his eyes - in the daylight he could have manoeuvred it with hardly a thought! Toph had created a seat of stone and was picking at her feet, just as she used to when she was younger. Katara had also seated herself on a boulder, her legs dangling down. She seemed much calmer than before.

“We’ve only got half an hour to prepare but I reckon we can do it,” she said serenely. Zuko regarded her gratefully. He was worried she wouldn’t be there at the meeting today - but she knew so much about what was going on that she would grasp anything he happened to miss. And besides, her insights into how the normal people lived were exactly what he needed. The memories of his life as a refugee in the lower rings of Ba Sing Se were forever fresh in his mind.

Katara slid off her boulder.

“What, Sugar Queen is wussing out of her lesson?” mocked Toph, seemingly unbothered by their disappearance.

“Sorry Toph, if you like I can come back this afternoon after lunch? I had an idea I would like to try with you,” she said, still the image of composure. Toph yawned.

“Yeah alright. I’m going to go and take a mid-morning nap now. Wake me when you want to learn?” the tone in her voice was almost too hopeful, betraying how much she needed this distraction - this reminder that she could be in control of something. Katara smiled.

“Of course,” she promised, before taking Zuko’s hand and heading back to the palace with him.

The meeting had been surprisingly simple. People seemed to be on more or less the same page - which was an event in itself. Zuko had some letters to write, but Katara hurried to wake Toph and they headed to the arena. She was determined not to be put through the same thing as Zuko - that had taken hours, and to be honest, she did not have the patience to deal with it today. She had another idea though.

“What’s this plan of yours then?” asked Toph once the door had clanged shut definitively.

“Well you know how you play with metal? Its kind of like how I water bend - as in it is almost liquid - or it behaves like a liquid. So I wanted to try that,” she explained confidently.

“You want to start with metal?” asked Toph incredulously.

“Well, yes. It might not work, but if it did I think it would be easier for me to attack it that way around,” explained Katara, suddenly not so sure of herself. Toph raised an eyebrow and flicked the hair out of her face with a familiar jerk of the head.

“We might as well try,” conceded Toph. She wouldn’t admit it, but angry Katara was not something she wanted to run into twice in the course of a day. She reached out and summoned a chuck of metal from high up on one of the walls, bringing it down between her hands. She couldn’t resist playing with it for just a bit, letting it circle her hands and splay out in different patterns.

“I don’t really know how to teach you this because I learned it from earth bending. And with that you need to find the earth within the metal. It is there, it just feels slightly different, you know?”

“Like blood feels to a water bender,” compared Katara.

“I guess,” reasoned Toph, “if you can start to place it in space first you would get a feel for what it is?” She was guessing. She actually had no idea how to approach this. She solidified the metal again and handed it to Katara, who sat on the ground holding it between her hands contemplatively.

Treat it like ice, she thought.

“I think,” she spoke out loud, “that solid metal is kind of like ice, liquid metal like water. I don’t know what vapour would be… but anyway, so if this is like ice, then what I would need to do is sort of… break it apart from the inside, but all over at the same time. Does that sound right to you?” she asked Toph.

“Yeah, sort of. But you need to keep the whole together so it doesn’t splatter… the edges kind of feel different.” Toph sat down opposite Katara and waited. Katara didn’t move. She didn’t move for a long time.

Toph focussed on sensing the metal in her hands, and was surprised at how easily she fell into it. She could feel how there was a growing pressure inside, a tentative movement. But it was going in the wrong direction - or rather it was going in all directions at once. That is not how metal is structured, she registered, there needed to be more of a sliding and jostling to it. She murmured this instruction to Katara, careful not to break the concentration of either.

Slowly but surely, she felt Katara’s hold on the metal increase and the right action take place. The metal was more malleable, and then eventually liquid. She imagined Katara would be smiling.

“Fuck. Yes,” breathed Katara, playing with the liquid metal. She was right. She could treat it like water in a way, although it was less similar than she had expected.

Toph grinned.

“Nice one sugar-cake. Now can we get on with real Earth Bending?” quipped Toph, not quite managing to hide her awe for what Katara had just achieved. She wondered if she would be able to use the same technique in reverse when Katara kept up her side of the bargain.

A couple of days had passed and Katara had managed some earth bending - Zuko some metal bending. Both realised that the more they learned about any element made picking up the next one ever easier. So many things were similar that sometimes in the depth of their meditations they stated fusing the boundaries.

Toph liked fire too - she used it to sense what she could not feel through her feet. And carefully, with much caution, she learned to manipulate it. Since it was not solid it took many hours of concentration to keep hold of the shapes she created - they were not bounded by everything, but she saw it as her job to bind it to a shape.

When it came to her turn to learn water, she could hardly wait. Katara had also decided that she would attempt to teach Zuko blood bending at the same time; full moons only came around once a month and she wasn’t sure what the future would hold.

The three met by the little lake, much to the annoyance of the turtle ducks, just before sunset. Katara talked Toph through everything she had done with Zuko, and decided it would be a good idea if she kept her feet in the water. Although Toph had eventually learned to swim, she still feared the power of water, and so keeping the most sensitive part of her body connected with it might help bridge that distrust.

Katara and Zuko left her in meditation as the sun set, knowing that, at this point, it was highly unlikely she wouldn’t experience the surge of power that came with the moon. It seemed strange yet oddly logical that they were all picking up one another’s elements so quickly.

“Blood,” started Katara, “feels slightly different to water. It is harder to move, since it pulls everything else that is in the blood with it. It is heavy in that sense. And besides, there is something blocking your direct access to it. The way I like to look at it is as a reaching past a barrier rather than a going inside.”

Zuko looked around, distracted from her words by a thought that had just occurred to him. He was feeling uneasy.

“Katara, don’t you have some animal I can practice on?”

Katara stared at him hard.

“No. Blood bending takes away the freedom of whatever you are practicing on. Therefore you will only blood bend practice on willing subjects.”

Zuko sucked in a breath. He had a really bad feeling this might happen.

“Katara there is no way I am blood bending on you!” he seethed.

“Yes, you are,” she replied calmly.

“I won’t learn then,” he matched, folding his arms across his chest in defiance.

“Yes, you will. What happens if I go crazy with all this power? What happens if I need to be stopped and Aang can’t do it? What happens if people find out about this and torture me until I make them as powerful as we are?” Katara had tears in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. This was why she had to teach him. How could she trust herself with something so destructive without any way out. “You need to learn Zuko, you need to be able to control me and my chi like I can control you and yours. That way you can take away from me what might one day harm so many people…”

Zuko’s arms had fallen to his sides as her arguments computed in his mind. Out of all of them, she was the only one who could not be stopped. If he or Toph abused their power, Katara would be there to take it away. Aang had still not managed to return to the Avatar state since they had split up two years earlier and so would be incapable of doing so. But if she lost her mind, if she was used and tortured, nobody would be able to help her.

“Katara, don’t think like that,” he whispered unconvincingly. He pulled her into his arms, well aware that she was right. He was both moved by her trust in him and terrified of misusing it. An image of his father flashed in his head. What atrocities could he have achieved if he had known how to blood bend? Zuko didn’t want to imagine.

“Look, Zuko, this is important. I know you are as strong as I am, and you feel the water in the same way I do. Blood is not hard, its just as shift in how you see the element - like lightening is for you and metal is for Toph…” she pushed him away gently and collected herself before starting her instruction.

Zuko was used to observing the mass of water that was Katara. But now he needed to concentrate on overcoming the resistance provided by her skin and moving behind it. He could understand how somebody who struggled with water would find this near impossible, but by this point shifting his perspective was becoming a way of life. The constant re-analysis was opening his eyes - metaphorically - to a way of feeling that was completely foreign to him.

It took a while, but the power of the moon was coursing through his body, and all the water in the world seemed to be at his fingertips. He reached forward with his hands and his mind, and concentrated on what was behind the skin. His fingers curled in order to take control of her body - a rigid, awkward movement, like a puppeteer. He had the distinct feeling that if he softened his stance control over her would slip. Slowly, he moved her arms around, getting a feel for how it felt.

Zuko had expected to be repulsed by the sensation of blood bending another person - especially Katara, but actually he felt very calm, just like when he was water bending. In retrospect, he didn’t really know why he had anticipated repulsion - he hardly felt repulsed by the creation of lightening, and he doubted Toph disliked metal bending.

“Alright Zuko, now I’m going to start resisting,” said Katara. She, too, looked relatively calm.

“What do you mean resist?” he asked, dropping his hold and letting her arms flop to her sides.

“Well, I’ve been letting you do what you want, but that is hardly ever going to happen. I will try to resist and you will need to use more force to control my body. Are you ready?”

Zuko gritted his teeth but nodded, retaking his stance. He hoped that he didn’t hurt her.

This time was more difficult, he needed to focus all his attention on maintaining his hold and bending her to his will. In the back of his mind he could understand how people could become addicted to such power, but he pushed that thought away.

Eventually Katara’s face contorted in pain and she gave over control. Zuko dropped his stance.

They both stood staring at one another, breathing heavily. Katara nodded and forced a smile.

“I think thats enough for tonight,” she murmured, turning towards where Toph sat in the distance.

Zuko caught her arm.

“Katara, wait. There is something I’ve been meaning to tell you. Uncle made me promise not to but I think you have a right to know,” he started hesitantly.

“Spit it out Zuko!”

“Your family is coming here. To the palace. They are arriving with Iroh.” He was looking away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Katara exhaled audibly.

“Thank you for telling me,” she said cordially, controlling her rising panic. “How long to I have to prepare for this?”

“Erm… they arrive tomorrow.”

#zutara #zutaraverse #blood chi and full moons #fanfiction #worldcrawler #atla #avatar the last airbender #avatar

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