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azurlily · 1 year

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Day 9 of 31 of the yandere month May challenge. This yandere is more than intense so DARK DUCKING THEMES.

So my mental health hasn't been the best lately. I'm sorry I didn't post day 8, I'll be getting it out whenever I can. This one ain't all that long, I apologize.

Azula has been your "friend" for a good couple years. When you start pulling away, you see just how fucked up she is.

Yandere!Azula ANGST

"It's not a big deal."

Over and over again. You hear those words leave Azulas mouth. She always has a reason, you hate it. You hate that you cant just say no to her. To her no, means "willing to just don't want to."

You've told her time and time again. She refuses to listen, Azula thinks that it's fine. She's not getting hurt, she's not getting in trouble. She thinks it's okay and that you enjoy it. She thinks you enjoy being her punching bag, her scapegoat, her guard. Her everything.

All of the truly important people have been replaced, by you no less. You hate it, hate the idea and hate the jobs. It isn't fun and more times than not it's just Azula saying or doing bad things. You thought she'd grow out of that.

Azula always called you a friend, and you did too. You didn't notice her relying on you, you didn't know what it ment. To Azula, giving up so much power, to her ot means she trusts you. She trusts you more than any other friend.

You're not though, not her friend. No, to her, to Azula you are a suitor. And a good one at that. She wants to marry you, and she assumed it was obvious from how she acted around you. You chalked it up to her using you.

One day, oh that day. Azula had wanted to test one of her new tricks on you. In reality, she wanted to hurt you so you'd need to rely on her for once. It was a smart plan in her mind, except you hate the power she holds over you. So why would you give her more?

You didn't. When she attacked you, you fought back. You didn't(couldn't) win, but that's okay. You just showed Azula you aren't her puppet. You aren't her toy for when she's bored.

You had fallen to the ground. You were shaking, you're not used to trying to hard in fights. Azula really is on another level. Speaking of Azula, she was standing over you. Pissed. Why would you fight back? She knows(thinks) she isn't subtle, she assume you figure out her plan.

Did you not want to be coddled? Well too bad. Seeing how hard she hurt you, the chance of you getting out of bed for the next few days. They're utterly slim.

You had found your way up, trying to walk away. Azula tried helping, but you flinched and pushed her away. You told her to stay away, and this time as well as every other time. No means no. She needed to understand that before coming near you again.

"What? What the hell are you talking about? I know that no means no, I've never forced you to do anything. You always changed your mind!"

Lies. They're lies and she knows it. You can see it on her face. You walk into the palace, into your room. You refused food, water, and most importantly Azula. Anytime she tried coming in, it was like you just knew. Like you had a sixth sense for her(for danger).

Finally Azula decided that this whole "giving you space" thing. It wasn't going to work, neither would apologizing, mainly because she wouldn't. Instead she broke into your room, it was late, so late you'd fallen asleep. She stood above your bed, her cheeks glowing red.

"You look so cute when you're sleeping. If only your actions were as cute during the day."

She puts a hand on your cheek. A few stray flames warming your cheek. You feel it, feel the warmth. You shoot up, slamming your hand against Azulas chest. It didn't do anything but surprise her. She stood there, she looked like a kid getting caught stealing a cookie.

Your eyes finally met, you were afraid of what you had seen in hers. Frenzy. Pure fucked up, frenzy. She looked at you the way you'd look at prey, but at the same time. The way you'd stare at your partner of 10 years. With unmoving, and unwavering adoration.

Finally you move your hand away from her chest. You scooch further into the bed. Away from her. You ask her why she's here, what she wants. You see the frenzy die down, slowly calming down. A dark smile, Azulas face finds it way to her face.

"I'm here because you refused to let me in. What do I want? In terms you'll understand. . .you. I want you in every sense of the word, and I've almost convinced my father. Just a little more and you'll be my wife."

You were appalled by her words. You tell her to get out, you yell that she's a monster. She smile is still there, it's different now though. Before it was smug, cocky, scary, mean. Now it's dark, cold but at the same time hot, psychotic, and down right fucked up. It looks like someone you'd see from her father, that monster of a man.

"You will be my wife. Cry all you want, I'll be here to catch you when you fall. I intend to make you perfect, all I have to do is help force you to love me."

Her grip tightens, the smile fading, but the darkness not leaving her eyes. She leans closer, her forehead pressed against yours.

"I'll make you see. I'm better, better than anyone. I don't need to hurt you for that."

"I'm sorry for hurting you, but please love me."

Those are the words that refuse to leave her mouth. The words she could have said, if not for her pride.

"Hate me if you want. Giving in though, that would make me nicer. You know it too, just-"

You slapped her across the face. You yelled at her and probably woke a few servants. Your glare is hard and unwavering.

"Fine then. Violence wasn't my first choice, but you refuse to listen."

That night all you felt was the excruciating pain of Azulas fire. The morning after she was different. Not colder, nor did she have those crazy eyes. She was just herself, if not a bit touchier. She acted like she'd done nothing wrong, and even bragged to Mai about you accepting her proposal.

You just sat and listened, trying to hold the tears back. You didn't notice it, but Mai did. You didn't notice how no matter how long she talked to Mai, her eyes never left you. When they did, it was to blink, or to looked away when you looked at her.

Azula knows, she knows what's she's done. She knows she'll end up living with it, that in reality this is just a step to changing her relationship with you. Azula knows she's a monster in your eyes, and that not fine. It's never going to be fine. Sadly she brought this upon herself.

All Azula can do it hope the gifts, the attention, the love. She hopes it's enough, because if not, if not. . . She might do something to herself she's going to regret later.

#atla #avatar the last airbender #azula x reader #azula #yandere azula #yandere azula x reader #yandere month challenge #wlw #lesbian #angst

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zvtara-was-never-canon · 7 months

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I made it better

I'm assuming this is because of me getting annoyed at Azutara shippers in my other blog and calling them and Tyzula fans the "Azula fandom's equivalent of Zutara and Zukka" XD

Anyways *grabs a megaphone and gets on a soap-box*

As a bisexual woman that would go crazy with joy if Azula was gay/bi, and that ships her with Ty Lee and Mai, and even Toph and Suki every now and then, let me make one thing very clear here: Azula DOES have a confirmed canon sexuality, and it's straight. Heterosexual. Likes guys and only guys. The idea that ANY gay ship was CANON in ATLA, a show made in 2005 by a kid's Network, is ridiculous.

Azula explicitly stated that she has tried to flirt with boys before and it never worked out because they are scared of her. She was jealous that boys were paying attention to Ty Lee - and while fanfic writers, and even I, like to say stuff like "Oh, you don't like them getting too close to your gilfriend, Azula?" it's VERY CLEAR that the show was going for the classic "Why do they like her and not ME?" aka she wanted attention from GUYS. She wanted to hook up with Chan, and immediately went for "Let's conquer the world together!" after one kiss. Even the up-coming Azula comic has her dreaming of a guy trying to flirt with her and calling her pretty.

For fuck's sake, Grey Delisle already admiting to voicing the scene between Azula and Zuko as if Azula was trying to seduce her own brother. Meanwhile, even though she likes Tyzula now, when asked about the ship her first reaction was the same as the one every actor, writer and/or showrunner had to hearing about popular gay ships: "I did not see that coming."

It might seem surreal nowadays that the Network let the show get away with incest bait but gay characters were out of question, but that's what happened because, surprise surprise, homophobia was still going strong. Hell, it's still going strong TODAY.

Lots of Nickelodeon shows from the 90's and early/mid 2000's tried to get away with implying or flat out saying "This character is gay" and it ALWAYS resulted in banned episodes, some of which became lost media because the Network was just that desperate to bury any evidence of it to avoid controversy. Even characters that never had any love interests ever were assumed to be straight - not as in "treat them as being straight unless we say otherwise" but in "They are straight because that's the only thing allowed to exist in kid's media." There was no "otherwise" to be heard of. Fitting for years that followed the policy literally called "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL."

THAT was the general sentiment around homosexuality at the time, especially on TV (KIDS TV, I remind you): pretend you don't know that's a thing.

Even The Legend Of Korra, that parts of the fandom still pretends did anything for gay representation, had the creators (the same who made ATLA) that they never even bothered to ask Nickelodeon if they could Korrasami happen, and thus kept the whole love triangle, with the girls fighting over a GUY, going. It wasn't until the very end that they had the guts to ask "Can we make them hold hands in the finale?" and Nick said "Sure, the final season will basically not be aired on TV anyways." Bryke even had to state ONLINE that "Yes, they are a couple." Only THEN, with the positive response from audiences, that neither the writers nor the Network had thought could ever gain any sympathy for the show, did they make Korra and Assami have an actual relationship in the Korra comics.

Do these guys sound like the type that would leave a character's sexuality up for debate or even try to write a gay couple into the show IN 2005, years before Korra was allowed to get away with a slight hint of gayness that to be explained on Twitter?

They didn't make Azula's attempts to win guys over fail to show she was a gay teen trying too hard to be something she was not, her envy that Ty Lee was getting a ton of attention from boys while she wasn't was meant to be taken as EXACTLY that, and no cutesy moment between her and her friends was meant to be taken as anything other just gals being pals.

We can, and should, point out that it is unfair that gay relationships were treated as "too adult" while straight romances weren't. We can change any character's sexuality in fanfics. We can ship whatever the hell we like. But claiming Azula was EVER meant to be seen as anything other than a 100% straight girl that just sucked at flirting and thus was struggling to get a boyfriend is just a flat out lie.

She's not bisexual. She's not a lesbian. Her sexuality was not "left up to debate" because THERE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE A DEBATE!

Again, I would love a bisexual Azula (provided that wasn't handled by people like Yang and Bryke, who see her as nothing more than an ableist stereotype), but let's not kid ourselves here.

Nickelodeon is not our "ally", they're a company that wants your money. Bryke, by their own admission, were not revolutionaries who pushed for gay representation and were ready to give up on the idea of same-sex relationship with no resistence if the Network told them "no, only straight romances allowed". Korra was no Steven Universe or even Adventure Time, it was basically Disney with it's 50th "first" gay character that gets five seconds of screentime. Azula's sexuality absolutely WAS confirmed and it is (sadly for me) heterosexual.

And to the people that claim to love headcanons for bisexual Azula, but still insist I should only ship her with women, or make her strongly prefer women, or only have had bad experiences with men and positive ones with women, otherwise she'll be "basically straight": your biphobia is showing, stop hating on bi women everytime they shatter your ilusion that we're just confused/in denial and will eventually realize we're actually lesbians.

#azula #azula is straight #*cries in bisexual annoyance*/frustration #homophobia #biphobia

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atla-recluse · 2 months

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Throne-Stealing Where?

It's always hilarious to me when I see/hear someone calling Azula anything along the lines of "power-hungry despot".

Hungry for power? More like hungry for family/relationship harmony and rules. If anything, she gives power away to others! She helped Zuko get back the throne and (conditional) fatherly appreciation that he so desired, with her only request being that he side with her and their nation (that's not asking for very much, from her POV, mind you)! She gave Mai a higher position than even her noble parents had and a chance to become a Fire Royal Consort through marriage to her long-time crush, Azula's brother, Prince Zuko! She (albeit after first forcefully taking her away from her preferred surroundings) gave Ty Lee another, more exciting way (based on how much fun we see Ty Lee having) to feel different/special and like "her own person"! She never used more force than was necessary when fighting her adversaries and only went "too far" when the situation seemed to call for it due to the risk to her person if she did nothing! (Which may have been a soul-destroying choice for everyone that was there [except Zuko]. Even Azula is implied to have felt like a monster for killing Aang, during that conversation they had on Ember Island!) A 14 year old felt forced to kill, people! That affects the one doing it, too! Why does next to no one ever ask what Aang was even planning on doing once in the avatar state while they were in the catacombs? Especially from the POV if one of his enemies? Play hopscotch and do super gymnastics? Doubt it!

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong but, wouldn't a despot be preoccupied with looking for ways to change the surrounding cultures that they come into contact with? Instead, after she leaves Ba Sing Se, for example, she keeps it exactly as she found it; with the only change being the new Earth Kingdom-originated ruler she places in charge. The people of the EK didn't have anything change for them for better or worse, as far as I can recall. Yes, we do see her trying to break through the wall of Ba Sing Se with that more advanced technology and she is imperialistic (which is something wrong in itself and which can be very brutal). But that's not automatically the same as being a dictator or snatching up bits of power from others in any way she can. And in the end she conquered it by instead using the true, least offensive (in multiple ways) means possible.

As for that period just before the final agni kai we see in show, where she was going to be crowned? She was granted that title by the current Fire Lord aka her father, after her back-on-the-clock brother defected (so willingly left).

u·surp

/yo͞oˈsərp/

verb

take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force. "Richard usurped the throne"

Based on that dictionary definition, how can she be usurping Zuko's position if, again, the FL himself is giving it to her and if Zuko gave it up? She's literally getting it "legally" (the FL is the law) and without using any force!

Now of course there's a rabbit hole argument that some may try and use by saying that because Ozai himself took his brother's throne without Iroh's consent (was it without his consent? Iroh seems to never be in a rush to be FL), that Azula getting the throne is therefore usurpation. Ummm, I hate to nip that point in the bud so soon but, Zuko is Ozai's son, not Iroh's. That means that (assuming the child of the by-birth king/queen is the only one that should gain the throne next if the king/queen is unable or unwilling) based on that logic, neither teenager should be allowed to sit on the throne.

Kinda hard to usurp a title from someone who "legally" shouldn't have it either, right? Oh Iroh, if only you'd just done your damn job.

All that being said, literally all this girl was doing is finding ways to handle her job and fulfill the tasks of it that she's been given at such an inappropriate age, while amassing the least amount of damage possible. And along the way she tried to extend a hand to her family and friends too, almost as a sort of "sorry for the inconveniences/thank you for your cooperation and loyalty". (She may have even learned some things about herself and others along the way—or could have, if she had been allowed just one more minute of screen time and the writing choice of change that the other Fire Nation kids got.)

Yet somehow many people come away from this show with the idea that she's trying to purposely take control of or harm as many people as possible in every way possible without any care at all for others' wants. I know at least two characters that that partly or fully applies to, and neither of them are Azula.

#Azula #Zuko #Iroh #Ozai #debunking fandom #common misconceptions #momentarily Tumblr-subtweeted two of these characters #Guess which ones #ATLA

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zukaangweirdo · 5 months

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Private Intermission

It’s not that the play is bad – okay, well, it is. But that’s completely besides the point – or even that it goes out of its way to make Aang and his friends seem like a ridiculous bunch of kids – which they are, but again: besides the point!

It’s the Ba Sing Se bit.

Aang watches his developing friendship with Zuko be reduced to absurd flirting, then watches the blue spirit save Appa, and then he watches as Zuko betrays him and… he can’t watch anymore.

He stands.

“Hey, where are you going?” whispers Katara, but Aang doesn’t just now feel like answering her. She’s always worried like a mother hen, but this is one thing she can’t help him with.

The air outside is cool. It really is the end of summer, and nights are getting colder while daytime still hangs on to the last of the heat. Aang pulls his hat down over his ears a bit more and leans against the railing to look out over the water.

“Pretty night, huh?”

Aang jumps about three feet in the air.

“Don’t do that!” he tells Zuko, who has managed to sneak up behind him as quietly as an airbender. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Sorry,” Zuko says.

He doesn’t look sorry. He looks rather amused, leaning there against the railing in all of his fire nation prince bad boy glory. Not that there’s anything really bad about him. That’s kind of the whole point of him. He’s the sweetest guy ever wrapped in a gloomy disguise.

“Why’d you follow me out here?” Aang asks, turning to look at the water again.

“Well, fake you has just woken up from a coma and is holding an entire speech about how fake me broke his heart and Katara was looking at me all weird, so I figured a break wouldn’t be that bad.”

“Oh.”

“Did you ever tell the others we were friends in Ba Sing Se?”

“No,” Aang says. “It didn’t seem like any of their business at the time, and then you kinda went and helped Azula and it didn’t matter anymore.”

“So you didn’t tell Katara I broke your heart?” Zuko teases.

Normally, Aang would laugh. Probably. Maybe.

He shrugs.

Neither of them speaks for a moment. Then, there’s cheering inside – who knows what’s happening on stage now – and Aang clears his throat.

“Are you really the one who found Appa?”

“Oh. Uh… yeah,” Zuko says.

He looks away from Aang, but Aang doesn’t need to see Zuko’s face to know that he’s blushing.

“I didn’t know that,” Aang says simply.

He thinks back to the weeks before he found Appa – or rather, as he now knows, before Appa was returned to him.

He and Zuko had been getting closer and closer. Zuko was working at the best teahouse in Ba Sing Se, which was being run by his uncle, and Aang had been coming there at least once a week. It’s how they’d come upon each other in the first place.

How many times had Aang told Zuko how much he’d missed Appa? How many times had Zuko listened silently, without a single word of comfort other than the occasional ‘that’s rough’ or ‘that sucks’?

Zuko clears his throat.

“Well,” he says. “We should get back inside, before the others start wondering where we are.”

He begins to turn away.

“Zuko.”

Aang doesn’t think. He doesn’t even stop to breathe after saying Zuko’s name. He just grabs Zuko’s hand, pulls the older boy towards him and smacks their mouths together.

The kiss is uncoordinated and messy, as unexpected to Aang as it is to Zuko. Their teeth clack against each other’s, their lips are sort of smushing together and Zuko’s eyes open wide before they close.

And it’s the most perfect kiss ever.

When they pull apart for air – which Zuko needs a lot more of than Aang because hello? Airbender? Controlled breathing? But okay, Aang is also kind of breathless – Zuko seems to be momentarily speechless.

“What was that for?” he asks.

Aang shakes his head, unsure of what to say, and walks back inside to watch the end of this horrible play.

#zukaang #atla #avatar the last airbender #fanfiction

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seetangus · 11 months

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Flowers - Azula x reader - Part VI

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VII, [main masterlist]

Azula x reader, requested by 🌹-anon, warnings: arranged marriage, drama¿

983 words, although I'm not too happy with it, please have fun :)

Azula's eyes flared with rage. "Y/N, for your own sake, step away from that person. Now." You wanted to. Every sane emotion inside of you wanted to let go of your suitors hand, run to Azula and never turn back, but you couldn't. Instead, unable to think clearly, all the anger and desperation you had gathered in the last weeks you unleashed at her - was she not the one who put the weight of this situation on your shoulders?

If she had not rejected and disgraced you? If she had accepted your flower instead of burning it you wouldn't have had to endure the yoke of this arranged marriage in the first place.

You now put your thoughts that were flaming with anger into words: "Why should I listen to you, Azula?", you said, trying to sound calm, "You couldn't have made it clearer that my personal feelings and affairs mean nothing to you, so tell me, what makes you think that I would be so foolish to fall for your lies just like everyone else does? If you truly cared for me, if you wanted me to step away only 'for my own sake', you wouldn't have rejected me, you wouldn't have ignored and avoided me for months and you wouldn't have let shame come over my family and me."

It was clear, that Azula was on the verge of freaking out. If it had been anyone other than you saying this, she would have ended them with a wave of blue fire, but only for you she stood calm and collected, at least on the outside. "Y/N, I understand why you might feel upset, but we will talk about that later, in the palace." Azula said. "But for the time being, I consider it necessary for you to end that engagement of yours. You see, this… person", she said, gesturing towards your suitor, "is worth neither my nor your presence. I can simply not tolerate that you put them in one place with me by planning on starting a relationship with them, just like you wanted to do with me - it's disgraceful, both for you to lower yourself so much that you really considered this horrendous idea of marrying them and for me to be put in one category with them. You are going to immediately cancel your marriage plans and come back to the palace with me. I will not accept anything but pure obedience regarding this matter."

The seriousness in her tone made you begin questioning your picture of Azula, as more and more clear thoughts and emotions made their way back into your head - had Azula really changed her mind? At least she had sounded very serious when saying she wanted you back. Did she really want you to come with her to save you from this? Maybe you weren't meaningless to her at all? Could it be that she wasn't even to blame for these happenings? Just now it occurred to you, that saying the things you had said to Azula might have been a mistake. You also realised, that this might be your chance to get away from your suitor - having realised that, you were suddenly very happy that Azula was here! The mass of all of these thoughts unfortunately made you unable to answer, you first had to calm down.

Your soon-to-be spouse was, contrary to you, not speechless, though. Instead, they dared speaking up to Azula, telling her that it was ridiculous and unhonorable to demand things such as simply canceling a lawful marriage. "What do you propose is going to happen instead of this?", they continued, mocking Azula "Are y o u going to marry y/n?" They laughed at the thought for a moment. "You couldn't take proper care of y/n even if your life depended on it. Look at what you did to y/n - if I hadn't s a v e d them from you, who knows what the unbearable pain you inflicted on them could have led to? If you truly care for y/n, leave us alone." While saying this, they put an arm around your shoulder, making you cringe away and showing you just how much you wanted this to end - now would be a good time for Azula to step in, as you still were unable to think properly.

Luckily, Azula seemed to feel the same way, as she descended from her mount and began walking towards you, or rather towards your suitor. "You seem to underestimate my ability to receive everything I desire", she said, making it clear that she was getting annoyed by this senseless talking, "let them go." But your suitor was not intending to do that: "I do not think so. If you truly want to have y/n, you will have to prove yourself worthy. I hereby challenge you to an Agni Kai." Azula's eyes lit with a newfound shine when hearing these words. "So be it. May the better bender win." They went to the nearest field to carry out their duel, leaving you to follow them.

While it was a bit strange seeing them argue about you as if you were a trinket or some other object, you didn't mind it in the slightest; rather, you felt flattered. If Azula was willing to fight for you in an Agni Kai, didn't that mean that you were important to her?

Even though you had seen Azula take part in many fights before and couldn't imagine her losing this Agni Kai, you still were worried for her… you smiled at this feeling as it reminded you about how often you had been worried for her on your missions, only to be once again overwhelmed by her astonishing firebending skills.

However that did not stop you from becoming nervous when your suitor and Azula positioned themselves for the duel.

#🌹 anon #azula x reader #azula #azula x y/n #atla #atla azula #atla x reader #azula avatar #princess azula #avatar #character x reader #x reader #x y/n #x you #azula x gn reader #x gn reader #gn reader

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stanlunter · 3 months

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So, just like people say "don't compare my uwu catgirl to Bojack 🤬", I will say it about Azula and Catra. Uhh stop comparing them!!!

Azula and Catra are far far far not the same. Just bc they're smart female villains with mommy issues doesn't make the comparable. There are many reasons, but I'll point out the main ones:

1. Simply their ages. Catra is an adult. She was in her 20's and she's fully responsible for her actions. She's not like a child who doesn't understand how the world works or what is good or what is bad. While Azula is 14, a CHILD. At this age she can't be even responsible for her own actions in most of the world. Children are not sapose to have critical thinking and their actions at this age are responsility of their parents.

2. Catra was fully awared of how bad her actions are and it was the whole point and reason why she did them. She wanted to take a revenge to everyone, especially Adora and actually WANTED to hurt people. She admits it herself that she knows how bad the Horde was and she's completely fine with it. She stayed at it bc she didn't want to come with Adora to the good side. And what about Azula? Everything she did was for the best of her own country. Her goal was never to hurt people, it was to do the best for her country and her own people. Azula was under propaganda and literally everyone in her country (even Iroh and Zuko before) supported their war crimes. No one even thought that their actions can be bad. So, obviously, neither Azula, nor anyone who supported her, Intented anything bad. They were completely sure what they were doing was right. All this time Azula was just a weapon to use, not even a person. Azula's own wishes never played role in anything. She was doing what she was ordered to and what Ozai wanted her to do. No one gave a shit about what she wanted to do

3. Catra had like 6446745 chances to change and to become a good person. Adora suggested it to Catra MULTIPE times. Everyone felt bad and sorry for her, udnerstood her and knew she was abused and they really tried to help her. Adora offered her left the Horde and become a good person so many times, but Catra just wasn't interested. She knew she can live better in a better place while doing good things, but she just didn't want to. She was focused on her own trauma and choce to keep suffering. But what about Azula? No one ever showed her that she can live different. The only life she ever knew was being a weapon for Ozai and her own country. No one ever suggested her a help or tried to give her a chance to become a better person. No one even felt bad for her (not even Zuko, Iroh, Ursa or even her friends). They even refused to see her as another abuse victim of Ozai, bc "she was the Golden child so she couldn't be abused" (hey, Adora). Everyone left her and no one ever tried to understand her. She was left on her own with no one else around. No one sympathised her and no one cared about her. That's so cruel.

And comparing Azula to Catra is just so unfair

#Atla #avatar the last airbender #Azula #azula deserved better #Catra #Anti catra #she ra and the princesses of power #Shera #spop #Stop comparing them

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timur-pannonicus · 1 year

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Zuko and Azula had no reference for what a normal or healthy sibling relationship is like

To address the always present argument about whether their relationship was abusive and who abused who. People point out that being mean and competitive, sometimes to the point of being hurtful, is not unusual for siblings.

I agree. But my point here is that Zuko and Azula don't know that.

Neither is either of them in their early to mid adulthood where the majority of people who had siblings they never got along with start understanding and forgiving.

Azula and Zuko most likely think that their rivalry is NOT a common thing. They lack examples from others in their lives.

I know bringing up the comics is justifiably frowned upon but in the Search, Zuko is absolutely bewildered by Sokka's and Katara's behavior towards each other, which was nothing more than fun bickering. But let's look what can be concluded or assumed from the show.

Iroh and Ozai were both well into adulthood when Zuko and Azula were born and they sadly did not reconcile their differences. They most likely behaved very icy to one another but the demands of court probably required them to act in a very civil and respectful seeming way. In Zuko Alone we can conclude Ozai didn't say anything nice, warm or funny about Iroh to Azula as seen by her attitude to her uncle and Iroh likely didn't tell any fun anecdotes either due to either being away at war or because he didn't want to risk a fight with his brother.

Ursa might have had siblings and cousins but nothing in the show confirms that and the comics clearly say she did not.

Mai didn't get a brother until she was 14.

Ty Lee has six sisters but it's quite possible that each of them had a "pair" in their matched set and Ty Lee was the only one left out, made worse by the fact that her parents seemed to barely acknowledge her. It's possible that only her friendship with Azula made her stand out at all, which likely contributed to her desire for uniqueness and independence too. In any case she likely didn't have much interaction with her biological sisters.

There seems to have been no other kids in the palace with whom Azula and Zuko could interact, limiting their scope of experience and insight.

Zuko not realizing that little siblings tend to be annoying and mean and do pranks has been discussed in detail by others and I don't think I have to add anything.

But, AZULA did not realize some things about older siblings either. They can be entitled, patronizing, attention hogging, dismissive, rude and even cold. Countless older siblings have told the younger ones that they were adopted or found in the trash or said and done even worse things.

One way to simplify the rivalry between Zuko and Azula is to say each was jealous of the attention the other was receiving from a parent.

However, sadly for them their parent's relationship was strained either from the start or after a while, to put it lightly.

Add the fact that they were sheltered and secluded royalty and what they learned about what siblings should be like most likely comes from official ceremonies and rituals, state approved stories and plays, idealized versions that don't correspond with reality.

Plus due to the Fire Nation being a blend of East Asian cultures it's likely they have some form of Confucian ethics. According to those the younger sibling owes obedience to the older and the older is bound to protect the younger. I think it's not too much of a stretch to believe both Zuko and Azula felt wronged in that regard by the other but both were too stubborn to give.

I can't blame Zuko too much for not realizing Azula was trying to help him a few times. Boy was brought up to believe that little sisters SHOULD be very kind, nice and demure. Even if he had acknowledged her efforts he'd still be inwardly pushed to believe she was doing it wrong.

So yeah, both could use a very long life changing field trip with Katara and Sokka, who were both allowed to develop their relationship naturally.

I think I've said enough for now. This is how I see things AT THE TIME OF WRITING.

I tried, really tried to be as fair to Zuko as possible and not harp the poor Azula harp. But if anyone wants to scream at me and be rude over my obviously wrong opinion on either fire sibling, don't expect a response from me.

#azula #avatar the last airbender #zuko #atla #fire siblings meta #zuko meta #azula meta

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darkprince1110 · 4 months

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Survivor

You did not have A good start to life

you were abandoned by your parents who were dirt poor you had nothing

you had to live off the streets and had to fight to stay alive stealing food Was part of your routine however, everything would change

As you were trying to flee from the cabbage merchant that you had stolen from you, ended up bumping into a stage coach two Noble women exited the coach They were older women. Identical, twins.

They took pity on you they paid the merchant and took you home with them

you were suspicious of these two at first but overtime came to accept their quirkiness their names were Lo and lee

They spoiled you With the finest clothes in the nation expensive luxurious food anything you wanted they would get you

later, they expressed their desire to adopt you as neither of them had never had any children of course you accepted For this new life, they had graciously given you

A little time had rolled by, and it was discovered that you were in fact, a fire bender however due to this discovery, being so late in your youth. Your bending skills were not very developed.

Your new mothers. Spared no expense. Providing the finest bending masters in the nation.

However none of them were able to help you progress in your bending skill many of them gave up and believed that you would never going to progress further than the basics

However lo and lee refuse to accept that you couldn’t be taught if their child wanted to be the best fire bender in the nation then they were going to make that a reality.

And they knew exactly what they needed to do you needed a master, who was a true prodigy Didn’t give up so easily someone who is on another level than any other in the fire nation princess Azula

your mothers served as her advisors so they knew they could get you acquainted with the princess easily

the opportunity came and they had gotten permission to bring you to work alongside them as an advisor in training at the palace

you accompanied them the next day to the palace your mother introduced you to the princess herself, the two of you were very close in age Azula was polite to you at least as polite as her character allowed.

She respected her advisors so that respect extended to you

when your mothers Told her the situation how many of the top instructors had failed to teach you the art of fire Bending they tried to persuade the princess to consider taking you on as her first student

for the princess, the idea of her a 14-year-old prodigy, a fire bending master with her own student was enough for Azula ego to accept

She took you on her student

she warned you that almost wasn’t good enough and that you would succeed under her but everything would have to go perfectly and that any mistakes well there would be consequences for failure

Although the princesses status was intimidating, you had dealt with trials all your life, you knew for certain you could handle whatever the princess threw at you.

you are a survivors

#azula #atla #azula x reader #azula fic #avatar the last airbender #azula imagine #fire nation #avatar #atla x reader

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soopersara · 5 months

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Flow

Zutara Week 2023: Day 7

Read it on AO3 | @zutaraweek

The Fire Nation royal guards capture a spy near the palace, and with all his other family gone, Zuko is left to determine the consequences.

A spy was found at the western gates.

Father is gone right now, off meeting with some general or other at one of the outposts on the southern end of the Fire Nation. And with Azula out for a few days with her friends, it’s only natural that Zuko would be the next highest authority. That he is the only person the guards can turn to for orders at the moment.

Still, he feels small. He feels stupid.

As he hurries down the hall, he finds himself glancing sideways. The guard who first brought the news is one of the oldest in Father’s service, and one of very few who occasionally makes allowances for Zuko’s youth and ignorance. Not trustworthy, exactly, but at least not desperate enough for Father’s approval to make an immediate report if Zuko stumbles or asks questions.

“What exactly am I supposed to do?” Zuko asks, half hoping that his voice will be too quiet for the man to hear.

He isn’t so lucky. The guard looks at him like it’s strange that he doesn’t somehow find this both obvious and easy. “You’ll authorize the sentence. We all know the law when it comes to spies. Me and the other men just need someone to sign off on the execution.”

It may not be a complicated process, but the simplicity doesn’t make it easier. Zuko has never had this kind of authority before. He shouldn’t even have it now. Even if there is a spy here, even if his life is in danger because of that, he doesn’t think he can stomach an execution. Not at his hands. Maybe not at anyone else’s either.

His doubts only intensify when the doors open to a prisoner crouched on the floor and flanked on either side by guards. The spy—if she is a spy at all—is just a girl.

“Well, Your Highness? All we need is your order.”

Zuko thinks he might be sick. The girl is engulfed by long, dark robes, and her face is hidden beneath a broad hat and veil, but all the many layers of fabric don’t hide the fact that she is young. Smaller than him, and probably terrified.

He can’t do this. He won’t.

“Prince Zuko?”

He swallows hard. He will not hurt this girl. And neither will anyone else, if he can help it.

“We don’t know why she’s here,” Zuko says a little harshly. Though he is the highest authority left in the palace today, he still has to tread lightly. “Spies don’t work alone. Don’t you know that? I’m not giving any orders until we have a better idea of what’s going on here. Understood?”

The guards seem briefly taken aback. They’ve undoubtedly heard the same tone before, but always from Azula or Father, not Zuko. But he steels himself against their shock and presses on.

“Did any of you even bother to ask her any questions?”

One of the men shrugs. “Of course we tried. She wouldn’t say anything.” He fixes Zuko with a stern look. “The Fire Lord doesn’t like us to waste our time on uncooperative prisoners.”

He could have guessed as much. Thankfully, Father isn’t here to give his opinion.

“Then don’t waste your time. If you’re so busy that you can’t question a prisoner properly, then leave. I can’t think of anything more important to do, so I’ll do it myself.”

The guards exchange glances, clearly uncertain. Even with Father and Azula gone, Zuko isn’t meant to have this type of authority. He isn’t meant to overrule the guards, but now that they’ve asked him to involve himself, it may be too late to push him out.

At least that’s what he hopes.

“Go on,” he presses. “Clearly your time is too valuable for this.”

The guards exchange looks again, and it’s all that Zuko can do to hold his gaze steady. He doesn’t have the ruthlessness to back up his bluster the way that Father and Azula do, and the guards all know that. They have to. He just has to hope that they aren’t willing to take any risks arguing with royalty.

It takes longer than he likes, but one by one, the guards retreat out the door, leaving him alone with the girl still crouched in the middle of the floor.

Zuko exhales and rubs his forehead. Unless he’s badly mistaken, they won’t have gone far—probably no farther than the corridor—but that should be all the space he needs to think. To figure out how exactly he can hope to get away with letting her live.

She can’t stay here, he knows that much already. If the girl is still here when Father returns, she’ll be executed anyway. Which means that he’ll have to get her out of the palace one way or another. That should be fine. With the guards presumably watching the door, he won’t be able to lead her out through the usual corridors, but he knows the tunnels and passages under the palace well enough to make up for that.

The real trouble, he suspects, will be in convincing her to follow him in the first place.

The girl moves her head over so slightly, apparently looking toward the door. Probably calculating her chances of escape now that there’s only one person left to watch her. Not good, he knows. With her hands still bound behind her back, she can’t possibly overpower him, much less the men still waiting outside.

Taking a step back, he crouches, trying to catch a glimpse of her face beneath her hat. Then, when she jerks her head downward as though anticipating his curiosity, he speaks as soft and gentle as he can. “What’s your name?”

She gives a short, bitter laugh. “Just how stupid do you think I am?”

Though he knows she won’t see it, Zuko shrugs. “You were careless enough to get caught. I don’t know if that makes you stupid.”

With a sharp exhalation, she shakes her head.

Fine. That was a long shot to begin with. “Are you the same Painted Lady who helped all those people in Jang Hui?”

Though she doesn’t answer, she seems to stiffen ever so slightly. For him, that is confirmation enough.

“My father was furious when we got the news. Not that that’s anything new. He’s always furious about something.”

“If that’s supposed to be a threat, give it up. I’m not scared of you or of him.”

There is something familiar about her voice, but Zuko can’t immediately place it. Hastily, he shakes his head.

“No. That’s not—I’m not trying to threaten you.” He exhales, steadying himself. “What I’m saying is—Father isn’t here right now. And no matter what he says, I’m glad someone was there to make a difference. I’d like to do more myself, but there’s only so much I can get away with when the guards are looking over my shoulder every minute of the day.”

The girl neither speaks nor moves, but Zuko senses a shift in her all the same. It’s almost like she’s listening more intently now.

“The truth is—I don’t really care why you’re here. The law says that spies are supposed to be executed, and right now, I’m the only one who can approve that. But I won’t do it. I don’t care if you came here specifically to kill me. No one is ever going to die because of me if I can help it.” His shoulders feel lighter now that he’s said it, and in the wash of relief that follows, a burst of clarity breaks through as well.

He can’t kill for Father. He can’t hurt people for Father. And although he’s been fighting against the natural conclusion for a long time, he finally has to admit it. If he can’t do what Father wants from him, then there just isn’t a place here for him. One way or another, Zuko has to leave the palace.

It surprises him just how comfortable that realization feels.

The girl looks up, and for the briefest moment, Zuko catches a glimpse of her face. “So what are you going to do to me, then?”

For a few seconds, Zuko can’t speak. He knows her. Her hair is covered, and her face is streaked with crimson paint, but he would recognize her anywhere.

Katara.

He swallows hard, grateful beyond words when she looks away again. If he had to meet her eyes, he doesn’t think he would be able to speak at all.

“Nothing. I’m not planning to do anything to you.”

He can’t. The fact that it’s her doesn’t change that. If anything, it pushes him into action faster.

Mind made up, Zuko circles around behind her to begin loosening the bindings on her wrists. Though she tries to jerk away from him, Zuko doesn’t stop. “There are passages out of the palace. Secret ones. If I show you the way, no one will know you’re gone for hours.” And that, hopefully, will be enough time for him to decide where he needs to go too.

Unsurprisingly, she ignores his hand when he offers to help her up. There is enough hesitance in her movement that he suspects her legs have probably fallen asleep, but she stands as tall as she can, somehow an imposing presence, despite the fact that she only reaches the level of his nose. “Why should I trust you?”

Though the answer comes automatically, it still surprises him. “You shouldn’t.” Then, before she can take that as an excuse to flee straight into the waiting arms of the palace guards, he adds, “But everyone else here is willing to kill you. There’s nothing worse that I could do.” Again, he extends a tentative hand in her direction. “You don’t have to trust me. I probably wouldn’t if I were you. But since you are already here, it doesn’t seem like you have very many choices.”

For a few seconds, Katara doesn’t respond. Clearly she isn’t happy with the suggestion, but after a brief pause, she sighs. “Fine. Where am I supposed to go from here?”

⁂

The tunnels and passages beneath the palace seem smaller, narrower than he remembers. Zuko can’t be certain whether that’s because he’s grown since he last explored them or because Katara is there beside him. In any case, she stays closer by his side than he expects, probably hoping that the proximity will keep him from catching a clear glimpse of her face.

“Does the royal family spend a lot of time sulking around underground?” she asks after a few minutes of near silence.

Surprised, he glances her way, but all he can see in the darkness is the dim silhouette of her hat. Just as she probably hopes.

She’s bold, he has to give her that much. In her position, most people probably wouldn’t be prying for information. But Katara isn’t most people, and he can’t help but respect her boldness.

“We don’t make a habit of eating or sleeping down here, if that’s what you mean,” he says. “I haven’t been down here for a long time.”

“Then how do you expect me to believe that you know where you’re going? All these tunnels look the same, and the last thing I need is to end up stuck down here with you.”

The venom in her tone is unmistakable, and Zuko briefly wonders whether that would change if she knew that he recognized her. If caring enough to pull a former enemy out of harm’s way might be enough to earn him a scrap of trust.

Probably not, he decides. Katara doesn’t trust him, doesn’t have any reason to think his intentions might be good. Not after Ba Sing Se. No, right now, she probably thinks that his ignorance is the only thing keeping her safe. If he admits to knowing her, she will probably assume that he’s leading her into peril worse than what she faced at the palace.

“I have a good memory and a decent sense of direction,” he answers. “I was down here enough times as a kid to find my way out again.”

So long as Father hasn’t locked off the more obscure sections of the tunnels in the past three years, that should still be true. Even this far below ground, he can still feel the direction of the sun, and it isn’t difficult to keep himself pointed toward the exit in the western forest.

Sure enough, he finds his way to the long, narrow passage that stretches out beneath the entire city, and though Katara hesitates, she follows him around the corner.

“Where exactly are you taking me?” she asks, her tone more uncertain than before.

He can’t blame her for that. While the rest of the tunnels are more or less smooth and deliberate in their construction, this section is entirely rough-hewn, looking more like a natural cave than anything else.

“Out of the city.” He doesn’t know if she’s familiar enough with its layout for a more detailed explanation to mean anything to her, but he studies the contours of the blackened stone around them all the same. “We should be coming close to the rim of the caldera by now. The tunnel feels a lot longer than it is, but it's pretty much a straight shot from here.”

By the flickering light of the flame hovering over his hand, it’s difficult to judge her reaction, but it seems reasonable enough to guess that she is neither pleased nor entirely convinced by that answer. Still, she hasn’t tried to flee from him yet.

“Why are you doing this?” she presses after a pause. “Those guards know that I was here. When they find out that I’m missing, they’ll know it was because of you.”

Her voice positively burns, and Zuko wonders whether it’s anger or fear or something else entirely. Whether she thinks that he means to harm her or not.

Since there is nothing he can say to convince her otherwise, he doesn’t try. Instead, he focuses on her last sentence.

“I know that. And I’m sure those three will spread the word to everyone else.”

“So what happens to a member of the royal family who—loses a prisoner?”

This time when he glances her way, he finds her face tilted upward, and her blue eyes pierce straight through to his core. His breath catches briefly in his throat. Can she really believe that he doesn’t remember her?

“Execution, probably,” he says, forcing his eyes forward again. “I don’t think it’s ever happened before, but aiding a spy is definitely considered treason.”

“And—wherever you’re taking me is somehow worth that?”

“I don’t plan on getting myself killed, if that’s what you’re saying.” He has to duck ever so slightly to pass beneath a low-hanging rock. “The guards can’t do anything to me on their own. Only a higher royal can punish the crown prince, and Father isn’t supposed to be back for three more days.”

From the corner of his eye, he watches for a reaction. Sure enough, Katara stiffens slightly, apparently recognizing the significance of the date.

“They don’t tell me much if they can help it,” he continues. “But it sounds like there’s a solar eclipse coming, and Father wants to be here in time to face the Avatar if he shows up.”

She stiffens again, but this time, it isn’t just a slight change in her posture. This time, she stops walking entirely. She probably thinks that the Avatar’s plan to take advantage of the eclipse is a secret. She’s probably been hoping that a combination of surprise and the lack of firebending on that day will be enough to bring the city to its knees. He has probably just broken her hopes for a quick end to the war.

If that keeps her and her friends from running blind into battle, though, he sees nothing wrong with puncturing that particular hope. It’s better if she and her friends don’t run headfirst into a fight they can’t win.

After a considerable pause, Katara composes herself enough to press on, apparently hoping that he won’t notice her distress. “So what are you planning to do, then?”

“Then—it doesn’t really matter.” He angles his shoulders just enough to hint that he’s ready to keep walking as soon as she joins him. “I’m not planning to be here on the day of the eclipse.”

“What?” Her composure cracks again, and she jogs a few steps to catch up. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He hasn’t thought about it long enough to have a real plan yet, and still somehow, the words come of their own accord.

“I shouldn’t have come back here in the first place,” he begins, trying his best not to look her way. “Being home is nothing like I hoped, and I really should have seen that coming. But I didn’t, so—” He exhales, long and slow, to steady himself before he can continue, and the flame hovering over his hand swells. “I guess it's lucky that Father isn’t in the city right now. Even if the guards are sending him a message about how I’m up to no good as we speak, he couldn’t get back to the palace before this time tomorrow. At least that gives me a little time to pack and get out.”

Katara doesn’t respond immediately, and emboldened, he goes on.

“I’ve been thinking about the Avatar recently. About how if he’s planning to face my father on the day of the eclipse, he probably hasn’t learned any firebending yet. And—maybe if I could find a way to warn him and his friends, he might change his mind. Maybe he’ll decide not to take on a fight he can’t win.”

“And then what?” Bitterness has taken root in her voice again, and her footsteps grow more forceful. “The only alternative he would have is learning firebending. Who’s going to teach him that? You?”

“I could. If he and his friends would let me.” He chances a glimpse in her direction. “I’ve made my share of mistakes, but maybe I could try to make things right that way.”

Katara scoffs quietly, and for a second, he almost believes that she’s put the pieces together. That she knows he recognizes her and is trying his best to make amends in the only way he can. But then she squares her shoulders and keeps her eyes fixed straight ahead. “I’d think of a backup plan if I were you. Most people with sense aren’t going to want anything to do with a Fire Nation prince.”

“I know that. But I’m sure most of my own people will want me dead by this time tomorrow, so I might have to take my chances anyway.”

It’s difficult to tell whether some part of her believes him, or if she’s simply done talking, but in either case, Katara goes quiet. And although the tunnel stretches on longer than he remembers, though the tension in the air grows almost unbearable at times, Zuko has little choice but to do the same. He's said his piece for now. If she doesn’t believe him, no amount of words is likely to change her mind.

When at last they reach the door to the outside world, he allows the flame to blink out and throws all his weight, all his strength into opening the latch, then sliding the immensely heavy door aside. Though the sun has dipped below the horizon, the light that spills into the tunnel feels almost blinding. It takes a few seconds of blinking before his eyes adjust, and he finds Katara still beside him, blinking against the brightness.

When her eyes seem to adjust, Katara shoots a wary look his way before venturing out into the balmy evening air. Zuko, meanwhile, doesn’t dare to go much farther.

“What are you playing at?” she demands, whirling back to face him once she’s well out of his reach. “I know who you are. Don’t pretend that you’ve secretly been on the right side all along.”

She still doesn’t think he knows her, that much is clear. Zuko sighs. “I haven’t been on your side before. Not deliberately. But now—people change their minds sometimes.”

A scoff. “Well, then good luck convincing the Avatar and his friends that you’re not faking this change of heart. If you’ve changed your mind once, you can do it again.”

As she begins to turn away, to make her retreat into the forest, an odd sense of calm and certainty comes over him. Even in the face of her anger and mistrust, his decision solidifies. He’s leaving the palace soon. Before the end of the night, if he moves quickly enough. And when he does, beside her is precisely where he wants to be.

“Katara.”

She freezes in her tracks.

There are a million things he could say, a million that he wants to. But every question, every apology dies on his lips when she turns back far enough for him to see the blank space at the hollow of her throat.

“I don’t know if you were wearing your necklace when you got captured this time,” he says. “I need to go back long enough to pack up some supplies, so if you’ve lost it, I can try to bring it back to you.”

Her hand flies up to her neck, and even under the veil, he sees her eyes widen.

“I am leaving home,” he adds, his voice both softer and firmer than before. “And I do want to help. I’d like that to mean working with you and the Avatar to end all the fighting, but if you won’t have me, I’ll find another way.”

She is quiet long enough for him to step back into the dark of the tunnel, long enough for him to take hold of the latch and start hauling the door closed again.

Long enough for him to nearly miss it when she says his name.

“Zuko—don’t waste your time.”

He freezes, heart sinking clear down to his stomach.

But Katara isn’t finished. “I left my necklace back at camp. Don’t put yourself in danger looking for it.” And with that, she turns away.

#zutara #zutara fanfiction #zutara week #zutaraweek #zutara week 2023 #zutaraweek2023 #Flow #soopersara's scribbles

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invested-in-your-future · 7 months

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Can you share your thoughts on Mercury Black and why you think he was mishandled

Honestly I think the entire original villain trio suffered heavily from addition of, like, ten different kind of pointless council of evil Salem flunkies, some of them overlapping "purpose" with Cinder's group.

Redemption or Villainy, they get to do neither of these character arcs.

The issue lies in multiple aspects of how the story is built:

It feels like MilesWBY people genuinely have no idea what they want to do with them beyond, for some awkward reason, trying to turn Cinder into Azula (but instead unwittingly turning her into a Team Rocket member). In MilesWBY writers' minds Cinder, Mercury and Emerald are "package deal".

They don't want to "overshadow" the "new guys" in Salem's Evil Council of Evil, but at the same time they NEED Cinder's group front and center because that's where majority of actual "stakes" for Team RWBY lie. Thus instead nobody gets proper development (seriously, who even cares about Hazel at this point or whatever his weird nonsensical motivations are?).

I am beginning to suspect writers might not quite get the "whole morality thing" and instead are treating it as a game between two , almost biblical, teams. You are either against Salem and thus "good" or you are "morally compromised" and thus are insta-aligned with Salem. They are clearly not interested in the idea of "good" people furthering Salem(or "bad" people working against her for that matter) nor are they interested in the idea of there being more than "two teams, one good, one evil" (case in point the absolute narrative pointlessness of Lionheart or how abrupt and weird the flip to evil was for Ironwood the moment he was on the opposite side of the "heroes that want to stop Salem"). It's why most Salem's flunkies( yes even Cinder's, whose whole character motivation got resolved within that needless flashback and it seems like she joined Salem "just because evil") motivations of working with her don't hold up under scrutiny even for a second within the idea of what Salem is said to want to do in the show. Evil is Salem and thus being Evil makes you on her side. And once you erase the concept of morality, you erase everything that's interesting about those three characters. What's interesting about them? The fact that they are not Salem and have been set up and implied to have their own goals and thoughts and reasons to do this.

The showrunners have a tendency to believe that the actual interesting things that people MIGHT want to see are actually boring and can be done offscreen. Who cares about actually showing Emerald's struggle or adding actual depth and complexity to either of the three? Who cares about doing anything when you can just say it happened already?

Really, I don't think Emerald or Mercury are the situation where one was done worse than the other. Narrative screwed over both, just in different ways. Emerald lost any semblance of interesting arc about her doubts and allegiance (and consequences for her actions whatever they may be) and Mercury had no chance to have any sort of depth or complexity.

Remember when people were theorizing on why Cinder might be doing this or the dynamics within the team? Remember when people were excited at how freaked Emerald looked during Fall of Beacon and were wondering where that will lead? Remember when "Just what did Cinder show to convince Emerald" was a mystery? Remember about all the ideas people had about Mercury's original flashback in V3? Or the weird backstab-y dynamic between the three and where that could lead? Penny situation and Ruby's trauma and the role Emerald played in that? Yang's situation and the implications of what happened in that fight with Mercury? In the eyes of the show all those things ended up being "irrelevant".

Sadly, at this point of MilesWBY, where everything is about gods, talking animals and other nonsense, Cinder's group is kind of pointless. Just another missed opportunity.

#rwby #rwde #emerald sustrai #mercury black

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balanceoflightanddark · 2 years

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Alright, something I noticed about the comics that kinda...well everything disgusts me, but this shows how much the writers failed at making the heroes likable.

Azula here is protesting at being treated like an animal and being humiliated. Ty Lee humiliates her further by assaulting her for no damn reason, but neither she nor Suki get anything worse than a stern talking while Azula is portrayed as evil and deserving it.

Remember the greatest redemption arc ever when Patrick used the Tickle Belt (AS SEEN IN EPISODE #17!) on Man-Ray the one time despite not having done anything to deserve it?

He at the very least had the excuse that Man-Ray did beat the crap out of him earlier, the punishment was not as harsh as chi-blocking, but most importantly-

SpongeBob called him out on it and tried to forcibly take the remote away from him.

You know, for a comic series that's supposed to be smart and have a good message, an unabashed kids' show managed to outdo them in terms of morality! HOW DO YOU SCREW UP THAT MUCH?!?!

#azula #princess azula #azula deserved better #atla critical #anti atla comics #atla comics critical #when a kids show is more mature than the smart story

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zukkaart · 11 months

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okay so what if Zuko never left the fire nation after being welcomed home. Zuko is crowned fire lord instead of azula because of birth order, when ozai becomes Phoenix king. the avatar movement has to go underground and things get worse. Azula never had her breakdown because she was never defeated but there's clearly something wrong. ozai gets annoyed with her paranoia eventually and decides to marry her off to the southern water tribe chief, against his (and her) will, mostly as a way to get rid of her. she arrives in a foreign land, expecting to be hated and kept as prisoner until she dies. instead the first thing hakoda says to her is "I'm sorry". sure they're all wary of her, but she's still a teenager, Katara's age. the second the fire nation embasarries leave he tells her he's built her an igloo of her own. Azula figures its a prison cell, but its really hakoda's way of saying 'i dont want anything to do with you wifely'. and suddenly azula is in less danger than she's ever been in before. basically just recovering domestic azula with dadkoda. and eventually azula and zuko reconcile and decide to take the fire nation down from the Inside and story plot blah blah. but mostly hakoda adopting azula and giving her the parental love she never got 😭

I absolutely can NOT even begin to tell you the brain worms this gives me.

I think it makes a lot of sense for the time period in which avatar takes place too because I think it’s supposed to be circa 1700? (Correct me if I’m wrong) and obviously in most places at that time arranged marriages were very common, and many rulers did not shy away from marrying their children (daughters especially) off to much older men as long as they gained significant advantages from it- I wouldn’t be surprised if Ozai did the same. (Sorry for the info dump I’m a history nerd)

If you read “the art of burning” by hella1975 on Ao3 it is basically all dadkoda content but with Zuko and it’s absolutely beautifully written- probably one of the best fics I’ve ever read.

Circling back on topic- I could see Azula resigning herself to what she’s been taught her “wifely duties” are and constantly telling herself “just one son, just an heir, then hopefully he’ll never touch me again” (Yes Sokka but let’s just say for political purposes her father wants her to provide a SWT/FN heir) and then she realizes that Hakoda would NEVER do that to her or anyone else - and her cold facade begins to drop revealing the scared little girl she really is beneath the conditioning.

Bonus: Zuko absolutely despises the marriage because that’s still his little sister and just because he accepted his role doesn’t change where his morals fall. So he plans a whole months trip to some remote place for “training” but instead steals his old ship and goes to the SWT to get Azula back and maime anyone who laid a finger on her regardless of the political consequences, but he shows up and Azula explains how Hakoda basically adopted her instead. Zuko actually finds himself jealous of Azulas situation outside of his fathers influence and finally having the childhood that neither of them ever were offered but is ultimately so grateful to Hakoda for it.

And then he meets the water tribe heir one night while he’s grappling with these feelings of jealousy vs grief vs gratitude and having dealt with his father leaving and losing Yue and seeing Katara and Aang being happy and traveling together while he stays in the south he completely understands and helps him work though it.

#avatar the last airbender #zuko #sokka #adult zukka #sokka avatar the last airbender #zukka nation #zukka au #zuko x sokka #Azula #arranged marriage #fanfic ideas #asks

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domxmarvel · 2 years

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Loyalty Part 4

Masterlist

Pairing: Zuko x male!Reader

Weeks later you were on a ship on your way to Ba sing se,part of it felt too good to be true. It felt too easy,like a dream. You were lost in thought when you noticed someone walk upto Zuko,on instinct you stood next to him. The man introduced himself as Jet and the two other people with him as Smellerbee and Longshot,claiming to be a part of some group called the freedom fighters.

***

You had finally reached Ba sing se,the three of you started working at some tea shop. After one sip Iroh threw it out and took over making the tea. Soon after the teashop was filled with customers,and countless praises. Iroh was chatting with the owner,when the same man from the boat walked in.

"I'm tired of waiting! These three men are firebenders!" He shouted,pointing to the three of you. He drew his swords "I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!" He kept shouting.

"He works in a tea shop" One of the customers spoke

"He's a firebender! I'm telling you!"

"Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy" Jet moved closer.

"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do" The customer who spoke,stood up and was about to draw his swords when Zuko grabbed them.

"You want a show? I'll give you a show!"

***

After the fight Jet was dragged away by some elite guards called the Dai li,and you never saw him again. Everything was going well,the three of you kept living under fake identities and no one suspected anything. It was like any other day in the teashop when Zuko pulled you to the side.

“We have a problem.”Iroh moved closer to hear “One of the customers is onto us. Don't look now but there is a girl over there at the corner table.She knows we're Fire Nation.”You glanced up “Didn't I say don't look?!”

“You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot. Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you.” Iroh spoke,you stepped away not wanting to hear. Neither of you had said anything since your encounter with Azula.

“What?”

“Thank you for the tea.” The girl said,handing Zuko money “What's your name?”

“My name's Lee.”

“My name's Jin. Thank you and ... well, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime.” She asked, leaving both you and Zuko shocked but before he could respond Iroh did.

“He'd love to!”

“Great. I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown.” You were bewildered by that girl,the fact that she was the one who asked was incredible.

“Something’s bothering you”Iroh said,not as a question but a statement.Your mind was spiraling what were you supposed to say,you couldn’t tell him that you wished Zuko was with you instead.

“I don’t wanna talk about it”

“That’s alright,i’ll always be here if you do.”He gave you a smile

***

A few days later Iroh was offered to open his own tea shop and move to the upper ring. He immediately accepted,you couldn’t remember the last time you saw him this happy. He was already planning and he had already suggested 40 different names. Zuko suddenly walked in

“How about the Jasmine Dragon? It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it.” Zuko held up a piece of paper

“The Avatar is here in Ba Sing Se and he's lost his bison.”

“We have a chance for a new life here.” You stood up “If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us.”

“Good things that are happening for you! Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea?” Zuko raised his voice

“There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life and why.”The last part made Zuko glance up and your eyes meet but he quickly looked away.

“I want my destiny.”

“What that means is up to you.”Zuko walked into another room

“I’m gonna talk to him” You walked into the room closing the door behind you. “Zuko, can I talk to you?” He sighed heavily and turned to face you. “Do you really want to go back?”You asked,moving closer.

“Y/N i need to capture him,that’s the only way i could regain my honor”

“Zuko you have a decision to make,you don’t have to go back to chasing the avatar.”He avoided your eyes,but you put your hand on his cheek forcing him to look at you. “What do you want?”You felt his arm around you,pulling you closer.

“I want you”You pressed your lips against his.

When you woke up the next day both Iroh and Zuko were gone,just as you were about to head out to look for them when they walked in.

“Where did you go?”

“It’s a long story,I'll explain later,”Iroh said,Zuko was standing next to him. He looked almost pale.

“Zuko are you alright?”He looked dizzy and was stumbling a bit

“No,i don’t feel so good”You quickly caught him before he could fall.

***

“He is still burning up”

“I know something that’ll help but i’m missing some ingredients”

“Go,I'll stay with him”Iroh nodded and was quickly on his way,leaving you alone with Zuko.

“Y/N”He said,his voice barely over a whisper “Are you angry at me?”

“No,you made the right decision in the end”

#zuko x male reader #zuko x reader #zuko x male!reader #avatar zuko #zuko imagine #atla zuko #prince zuko #fire lord zuko #zuko fanfic #atla #atla imagine #atla x male!reader #atla x male reader #atla x reader #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender x reader

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gladerwolfstarkimagines · 1 year

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Azula x Kai Series: Part 7

Click here for Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five and Part Six

When they returned to the Fire Nation the first thing Kai did was ask Azula if he could be moved to the servant section of the palace. He was still ambivalent towards Mai and Ty lee but he couldn't stand the idea of going back to their house alone. Azula agreed and went one better, giving him a spacious guest room in the palace and having guards move his belongings in for him. She also said he deserved a better title than guard and he was now promoted to palace advisor which meant he was able to attend some of the larger war meetings and followed Azula around like a personal bodyguard. His parents wrote to him congratulating him on his promotion and everything he'd achieved. They didn't even mention Mai and it was crystal clear there were allied with the people on the throne over anything else. Kai didn't know how to feel about that. The Fire Nation were moving fast and the warships were growing in number every day. Ozai announced when the invasion would be and of course it was on Sozin's comet, the day when fire-bending power was enhanced. Kai saw Azula every day but in some ways, it didn't feel like it. She was so busy now attending meeting after meeting after meeting while also getting in time to train. Kai tried to tell her to slow down but she'd shot him a look like he'd grown another head and reminded him "we're at war" which Kai supposed was fair but he noticed the toll it was having on her. Azula acted, as always, like nothing bothered her and didn't speak of Mai or Ty lee since their return. Kai hadn't dared bring them up but he could see their betrayal had weakened her and made her feel more vulnerable. She was snapping more at the servant and behaving more erratically than usual. Kai figured it might be better once they actually left for war but Ozai scrapped that plan. Kai was there when Ozai told Azula she wouldn't be coming with him to face the Avatar and was shocked by her reaction. "You can't treat me like this, you can't treat me like Zuko!" she cried and although Ozai scolded her she continued. "But it was my idea to burn everything down to the ground, I deserve to be by your side!" when Ozai just shouted her name and Azula looked down stricken. Kai had never seen Azula ever speak back to her father and she'd never so much as uttered a word against him to Kai's knowledge. Kai thought this showed how much stress Azula was under and began to panic about what Ozai might do to her. Sure she'd been Ozai's favourite all her life but there was no love there and Ozai could take this act of defiance aggressively. Kai watched, a hand on his sword ready to do god knows what when Ozai revealed he wasn't taking Azula because she was to stay here and rule as Fire Lord. "Fire Lord Azula?" she asked and Kai stared at her, aware of how much this meant to her...but something didn't feel right. This wasn't how Azula's coronation was supposed to be. Her getting the throne just because Zuko and Iroh were traitors and Ozai was taking over the world? Kai had pictured it as Ozai training Azula for many years and then at an old age stepping down and allowing Azula to take full reign. This just seemed off and to have a coronation in the middle of a war? That was hasty and desperate, neither of which was Azula's style.

However Azula was thrilled with the idea and began preparing for her upcoming coronation. Or at least she said she was thrilled but Azula was way smarter than Kai and he knew if he'd managed to think of the oddities with this coronation so would she. He overheard her whispering to herself more and more and she got less sleep and food each day. The bags under her eyes were growing despite the treatments she was undergoing for her coronation and Kai was almost nervous to mention it to her. She'd been prickly and hot-headed a lot lately and servants were going out of their way to avoid her. One day a servant saw Kai coming and tried to run so fast that she tripped over and dropped the bowl she was holding. She immediately began to cry and Kai helped her telling her it was okay. "No it's not, the princess will kill me" she said and Kai assured her Azula was a kind ruler...and that she wasn't with him, the latter of which definitely made the girl stop crying. Kai tried his best to shield them from Azula, figuring it would get better any day now but it just got worse. Azula started banishing people first just servants who got in her way or inconvenienced her and then trusted teachers like Li and Lo and finally the Dai Li. Kai was busy putting out other metaphorical fires around the palace when he heard and rushed to Azula in her throne room. "The Dai Li..." he asked "what happened?". "They took 5 minutes to arrive after my summon" Azula said matter-of-factly and Kai froze waiting for more but that was it. "5 minutes?" he asked and Azula exploded "yes 5 minutes! Isn't there anyone competent here? Must I always do everything myself? They took too long to get here so I banished them". Kai paused "but I...they were the palace's last defence". "And?" Azula asked "I can handle Zuzu on my own with one arm tied behind my back". "But Zuko won't be alone, he might bring the water bender or the earth bender, maybe both". "And?" Azula snapped "then you can finally do something useful for once and handle them, if it's not too much for you". Kai knew Azula was under a lot of stress but her words chilled him and they were too much. Kai shook his head "Azula I won't go back to being spoken to like that. You're my Firelord and I will do as you say but I deserve a little respect". The flames behind Azula rose and Kai thought she was genuinely going to attack him before they suddenly simmered and went calm. She nodded her head. That was it, no apology or words left her mouth but it was an acknowledgement. "We need to re-assess the battle plan now with the Dai Li...". "Gone?" Kai offered and Azula nodded. Kai nodded "I'll do it, why don't you go get something to eat or rest. Your coronation is soon and you deserve some pampering". Azula nodded her head "yes...I do need to look my best" and Kai smiled "that won't be hard". A hint of a smile passed Azula's tired face but then it disappeared. Kai bowed to her "let me know if you need anything at all princess" and he left feeling like he'd just got out of a burning building somehow unscathed. Kai noticed he had a calming effect on Azula and so tried to be around her as much as possible but that couldn't always work. For instance when he left her to prepare for the coronation he returned to find the mirror smashed and her hair chopped off in places. When he asked her what happened she just said she got angry but she was very jumpy and Kai wasn't feeling good about this. The coronation was scheduled to happen just before Sozin's comet as that was when Zuko would likely arrive. So Kai led her to the large courtyard praying Zuko wouldn't show but of course he did. Zuko arrived with the waterbender and Kai was ready to attack her when an Agni Kai was arranged. Zuko and Azula launched into an epic battle and Kai decided to stay while the few remaining fire nation staff ran for cover. He had to move back when the fighting started because the flames reaches so far but he refused to move further because Azula wasn't herself. She was off, unhinged and he could see she wasn't doing her best. She was still giving Zuko a fight but this wasn't going as planned. When Azula fell Kai rushed forwards and Zuko's eyes shot to him. "Back!" he yelled "this is between me and my sister". "Like hell it is!" Kai replied going to grab his bow when the sky thundered and he realised Azula wasn't done yet. She was generating lightning and Zuko prepared for the bolt when at the last moment Azula changed direction and sent it right at the water bender. Zuko jumped in front of it and went down to the floor. He didn't get back up. There was silence as the smoke cleared and Kai cheered. "Azula! Azula you've done it!" when a bolt narrowly missed him. Azula was not celebrating and Kai wasn’t sure if she was even aware of him anymore. The water bender was still up and Azula was perusing her but destroying everything in her way. Kai had to leap out of the way as another bolt came near him and he could hear Azula laughing maniacally. He ran for cover and watched from the side as she attacked the water tribe girl clearly aiming to kill her. She wasn't acting like herself and she looked unwell. She was attacking in a frenzy and Kai knew this wasn’t right. She was going to hurt herself or everyone around them. He stood in a daze unsure what to do when the water tribe girl in the blink of an eye had Azula in chains. She formed a bubble around Azula trapping her and then tied her up. There was a brief silence as everything stopped and then Azula collapsed to the floor and began squirming to get out. The water bender must've forgotten Kai was there because she ran over to Zuko who was literally smoking. While she was healing him Kai stumbled out to where Azula was screaming and fighting with more than just the chains. She finally saw him and gasped "Kai! Kai come and undo these, we can take them down together!". "Azula I...". "What are you hesitating for?" she cried "am I your Firelord or not? Untie me this instant or I will burn you down with the rest of them". Before Kai could do anything he sensed movement behind him and rushed to Azula, turning in time to see Zuko and the waterbender watching him. "Give up! You can't win" Zuko yelled "we'll take you down right away" but the waterbender tried another approach. "You can see she needs help, she's in no fit state to rule. Let us help her". "Why should I trust you?" he asked "you're the enemy". "We don't have to be" the girl said and Kai softened. The girl could've killed Azula but she didn't, she just restrained her, plus she was a healer. Maybe she could help Azula. Azula needed a healer more than anyone, he just wanted to see her better. So with a small nod Kai lowered his weapon and stepped away from Azula. "Azula I'm sorry" he said but she just began cursing him until finally the waterbender restricted her oxygen and put her to sleep. Katara inspected Azula, gently touching her temples before running water across them with her bending. "There, she'll sleep more soundly" she said "but she could wake up at any moment. We have to get her somewhere secure". Kai nodded and the girl seemed surprised he was so agreeable so he clarified "for Azula's sake too". Katara undid the restraints on Azula and Kai picked the unconscious Azula up, leading Katara inside. On the way Zuko touched her arm "Katara you don't have to do this, to help her". "She's your sister!" Kai spat "not that you ever cared". "Not that I ever cared? She had everything in the world!". "She has an abusive cold father while you had a doting mother, uncle and girlfriend. Ty lee and Mai were the only friends she had and they left her for you! I was the only person who still stood by her and at the end and even i betrayed her! She has nothing Zuko and she never did. When are you going to get that through your thick skull? You weren't the only abused child, you had a little sister there too". Kai's words only seemed to anger Zuko and sensing this Katara intervened "I want to help Zuko, Kai willingly surrendered and I want to re-pay him...and Azula". Zuko just shrugged and the two continued on their way. Kai was following the path to Azula's room before he realised the dungeons was probably where they would be staying now. Katara paused as he gestured to some keys in a guard's office and he got her to unlock the biggest cell. He laid Azula down on the small cot and Katara pretended not to look awkward. She healed Azula's wounds the best she could but told Kai there was nothing she could do for Azula's mental state. Kai thanked her for trying and told her she could lock the cell with them both in.

That situation did not last long, when Azula woke up she was volatile and violent, attacking anyone and anything in her path. She was furious to see Kai there and got him a few times before they could get him out of the cell. Azula wouldn't listen to him she'd only scream insults at him. Over and over again about how worthless and pathetic he was. How she never liked him and hated being around him. His parents must be so ashamed of him and other hateful stuff like that. They finally managed to tranquilise Azula and Katara quickly healed Kai's fresh wounds but she could do nothing about how he was feeling internally. The decision was made to move Azula from prison to a mental health facility on the outskirts of the city which was basically still a prison. Kai went with her and visited her every day although he experienced the same onslaught of abuse, when she wasn’t tranquilised and semi-conscious. He felt it was his duty to try and repair things with Azula but not everyone agreed. One day his sister came to find him. He knew Mai and Ty lee were back in the capital but hadn't tried to see either of them. He blamed them for Azula's breakdown as it was their betrayal that started it all. Azula was asleep and Kai was sat outside her room when his sister entered. They engaged in some small talk, or well Mai asked questions and Kai gave vague blunt answers not wanting to speak to her. Finally Mai said what she'd come here to say".

"Why do you come every day Kai?" Mai asked "you don't owe her anything". Kai glared at Mai but she carried on "she just shouts abuse at you all day and didn't treat you that better when she wasn't like this!". "Stop talking" Kai said but Mai didn't listen. "You need to move on, it's not good you spending all this time here! Mum and dad are worried about you and so am I. She's not going to get better and even if she does...". "Shut up!" Kai yelled "don't you dare even finish that sentence. She's in this cell because of you!" he said pointing at his sister "do you have any idea what your betrayal did to her? She used to mumble your names over and over again even in her sleep. Your line about how you loved Zuko more than you feared her started hallucinations about her mother because that's the last person who felt that way about her. You broke her Mai and now you're telling me to leave her here and what go worship that idiot on the throne? Fuck you Mai and if you ask me to do it one more time I will stick an arrow through you". Mai didn't really react much to Kai's outburst but she did leave the room silently allowing Kai to sink back into his chair and put his head in his hands. A few days later he got another visitor but this time it was Ty lee. She brought flowers for Azula and had a sad nervous look on her face "hi" she said but Kai didn't reply. He was less angry at Ty lee as he was Mai but she still left them... left him. "I wanted to come sooner but didn't know if you'd want visitors. I spoke to your parents and they said you never come home so I figured it would have to be here". "What do you want Ty lee?" Kai asked and she paused "to see you and to say...I'm sorry". "You're sorry?" Kai asked and she nodded "not for saving Mai or standing up to Azula but for leaving you and hurting her. I had no idea Azula...or that she'd...it's really sad to see her like this and I'm sorry for causing this". Kai nodded but didn't speak so Ty lee glanced towards the door. "I also just wanted to say if you need any help with Azula or anything just ask. I know I left you but you're not alone Kai". Kai froze as she put a hand on his arm and began to shake. "Kai?" Ty lee asked worried and he burst into tears. "It was horrible! I hate you and Mai and I missed you and you have no idea what it was like! I was so scared for Azula and I still am! I know she did wrong but there was good in her too and everyone's just acting like there wasn't! She doesn't deserve to be locked up like this forever!". Ty lee nodded and hugged him, patting his back as he cried. Kai got out all the things he'd been holding in and it felt so nice to finally have someone to share them with. Ty lee assured him she'd help him and Azula and once he'd exhausted himself she told him to get some sleep. She'd watch over Azula. He agreed and curled up into a ball "I'm glad you're back" he told his best friend and Ty lee smiled "me too Kai". After that things got a little better, at least for Kai. Ty lee was true to her word and she and Kai took shifts visiting Azula. That meant the burden didn't fall wholly all on Kai and he got to go home to eat, sleep and wash regularly. He saw his family and they told him none of it was his fault. He cried again when his mother hugged him and spent time with Tomtom for solace. His father soon disappeared but Mai said that wasn't unexpected and Kai agreed. He and Mai were speaking again. They didn't discuss Azula or Zuko but lived civilly with each other. Azula herself went mute the second Ty lee appeared. She refused to look at either of them and would be a limp puppet when they were in the room. Kai figured it was better than a violent banshee so took it as progress. Kai discussed getting Azula a therapist with Ty lee and she agreed it would be a good idea but few people were allowed near the princess these days. She was always handcuffed no matter what and the muzzle was only removed a few hours a day but was put back on with any show of bad behaviour. The treatment was inhumane and the clear cause was Azula's erratic behaviour and poor mental health. So Kai was determined to do something about it and set off to meet the one man who could arrange it, the Fire Lord. Kai didn't want to ask Mai but he knew it'd be hard to speak to Zuko without her so he swallowed his pride and explained he needed to speak to Zuko about Azula's care. Mai was quiet but agreed to ask Zuko for a time and came to him with one the next evening. So Kai came to the palace and was shown to the Zuko by some Kyoshi Warriors. They knocked on the door and a voice called "come in" which Kai assumed was Zuko and stepped through the door. Both boys were stunned at the other's appearance. Zuko looked a lot finer and richer with the Firelord adornment but Kai also thought he looked tired and paler. Zuko thought Kai looked older and was surprised at what a few months had done to him. Mai had told him how Kai was caring for Azula dedicatedly but he never supposed it would have this big a toll on him. He immediately felt a little bad for leaving all of this up to Kai and gestured to a seat in front of him "please sit, Mai told me you want to discuss a treatment for Azula?". Kai nodded and began to explain the current conditions Azula was being kept in and how in order for her to recover things had to change. "According to Ty lee all the Kyoshi Warriors attend therapy before joining and she thinks it will be a really worthwhile experience for Azula. At the moment, she's just alive in a cell but that's no way to live. I believe this can make Azula happy again so please, can I find her a therapist?". Zuko was quiet for a while before he finally met Kai's eyes. "Look I know we don't always see eye to eye and Azula's not my favourite person but I trust she's yours and that you'll do anything to help her get better. So I'll agree to it". Kai nodded "thank you Zuko...Firelord Zuko". Zuko nodded "you'll probably need someone very experienced and considering my father hated therapy that rules the Fire Nation out. I know the Kyoshi Warriors clearly have a system but would you permit me to speak to the Avatar?”. "Why?" Kai asked and ZUko elaborated "Air nomads are known for being the most at peace of any of the four nations, I feel he might have some suggestions of who can help Azula". Kai nodded "yes that makes sense...but are you sure he'll help me and Azula?". Zuko snorted "Aang? He'll help anyone, I think he'd even forgive my father if he asked him to. I'm seeing him next week and will mention it to him". Kai nodded and bowed "thank you" and went to leave when Zuko called "and Kai? Thanks for looking after my sister for me". Kai felt a mix of emotions but in the end he just nodded. "It's like you said, I'll always take care of her" and he left.

The Avatar did come through with a Guru named Pathik. Apparently he was good at taming wild beats so Kai thought the might have a shot with Azula. "Now I need to warn you, she can turn violent very quickly. If that happens you must get yourself out of the room right away. She's also very manipulative and lies a lot..." Kai explained on the morning of the first session however the Guru chuckled. "Yes yes I am aware of human beings, now leave us alone". "But don't you want me to introduce you to her?" Kai asked stopping outside the door. Pathik shook his head "in my experience, the patient needs to be alone for them to trust a therapist. You will not come to any of our sessions unless I ask". Kai nodded "okay" and stepped back so the Guru could enter. He waited a few seconds to make sure there were no immediate crashing sounds and told the guards to keep an eye out. They nodded and so Kai went down the hall and waited. An hour later Guru Pathik appeared. "So how did it go?" Kai asked and Pathik nodded "not bad for a first session". "You mean she actually spoke to you?" Kai asked and Pathik nodded. "What did she say?" he cried before realising "you can't tell me that right?". Pathik shook his head "nothing she says will leave my lips unless I think she or someone else is in danger". "Okay...and she didn't scare you off?". Pathik laughed "I've learned nothing scares me anyone" and he showed himself out of the prison.

Azula's session with Guru Pathik continued but Kai was disheartened at the speed of the progress. "You can't expect her just to be all happy within a month" Ty lee told him "it's going to take time and we've just got to be here for her when it does". Kai sighed looking to where Azula was sitting looking out of a window. "She has made some improvements and I guess I should be happy about that" and Ty lee nodded. Azula hadn't attacked anyone in weeks and was talking again. It was only small words in response to direct questions but it was something. Kai just wanted her to get better asap so he could stop feeling the ever-lingering guilt for siding with Zuko but you can't get everything you wish for. It finally felt like it was working 3 months later. Kai entered Azula's room as he always did every morning and began opening the windows and watering the flowers as usual. Azula was sat in a chair eating her breakfast and responded with a nod to Kai's greeting. She was no longer restrained anymore, sure her window didn't open more than 2 inches and the whole building was heavily guarded but in her room, she could now move about freely. That definitely helped her mood and gave her more dignity. "It's a nice day" Kai said and Azula nodded "it is". "So do you have anything you'd like for us to do?" he asked "we could read or play pai sho or draw...". Usually Azula would just do something solitary but today she said "pai sho sounds good". Kai was so startled he almost dropped the vase he was holding and he smiled "really?". Azula nodded "yes, I've missed beating you at the game". Kai burst into laughter and let out a sigh of relief to hear Azula make a joke. He rushed to get the board and returned to find her getting the table ready. They sat across from one another and played 3 whole games, interacting with one another the whole time. When Ty lee showed up in the afternoon she found them talking softly and paused. Azula tensed and Kai worried she'd close up again now Ty lee was here but she didn't. "This looks nice" Ty lee commented "did you have a crafts day?". Kai went to speak when Azula beat him to it "we had a pai sho day and I beat Kai 2-1". Ty lee smiled and if she found Azula initiating conversations surprising she didn't show it. "Well that's hardly shocking he sucks at board games" Ty lee said and Azula smiled "yeah he does". Kai hadn't seen Azula smile in god knows how long and it hit him like a tonne of bricks. "I'll go get us some water" he said and rushed from the room. He cried in the corridor quietly because he finally felt like the girl he cared for more than anything in the world was getting better. Azula's behaviour continued in this way every day. There were some days when she slipped and anger would come out or she'd go quiet again but that was part of the process. Guru Pathik said she was doing well when Kai asked him explaining the differences he’s seen in her. Pathik nodded "she is now functioning in her everyday life but we have yet to confront the trauma". Kai paused "do we have to? Isn't it best to just leave that...if not forever then until she's a little strong?". Pathik shook his head "enough time has passed for us to start unearthing it and the sooner we start the sooner we can begin healing". Kai sighed but agreed to let him handle it as the expert. There were a few hurdles again with unearthing the trauma. A few sessions were cancelled early because Pathik said Azula had gone as far as she could and she was a lot quieter after those sessions but she made slow incremental steps and got there in the end. One day she passed Kai and piece of paper and he paused "what is this?". "A letter to my mother and father". Kai froze wondering if she wanted him to sneak it into her father's prison but that wasn't the case. "I want you to burn it" Azula clarified and Kai paused, relieved but confused "burn it?". She nodded "Pathik had me write a letter I would never send to them and I did but now I need to burn it and I can't firebend in here so can you take it home and burn it for me? Tonight if you can?". Kai nodded "of course! I'll do it as soon as I get in" and he put it securely in his inside shirt pocket. "Thank you" Azula said and she went back to her book. Kai was momentarily stunned again because he couldn't recall when she last said thank you to him. Of course as things with Azula began stabilising things with Kai's home life took a turn for the worst. His father had vanished with all their money and no explanation. He later turned up in a distant fire nation city known for being conservative and rumoured for being loyal to Ozai. Kai and Mai managed to support their family with the help of Zuko and Ty lee but it was scary, made worse when their father tried to take more from them. Kai came to visit Azula bang on his usual time but something about his demeanour was clearly different. "What's wrong?" Azula asked almost immediately and Kai paused "what? How do you know something's wrong?". "Your walk is different, your hello sounded off and you're looking down a lot more than you usually do". Kai was surprised Azula would notice any of these things. Of course before her breakdown she always noticed small details but that was more so she could use them against you. This felt different and she was patiently waiting for Kai to explain. With a sigh, he launched into it "it's my father, he's trying to take Tomtom off my mom". Azula frowned "why? He forfeited any rights to you guys when he walked out on you". "Yes but he's powerful and knows people, my mother's scared and looking to me and Mai for help but I'm not sure what I can do! Even Zuko says he can't get involved!". Kai then realised that was the first time he'd said that name in front of Azula and he half expected her to crumble but she didn't even blink. "There are many things your mother can do but the first is to hire a lawyer, talk to Zuko and see which ones are available then tell me their names. I will be able to tell you which ones will be loyal to your father". Kai was surprised at Azula's knowledge but he'd learned long ago she was the smartest person in the Fire Nation. So Kai did exactly as Azula said and before he knew it, he was coming to Azula for help with the case against his father. Everything she said was right, so much so the lawyer asked if he was a law student. "No I just...have a really smart friend" he admitted and the lawyer nodded impressed. Thanks to Azula's advice they managed to veto the custody talks before they even properly started. The judge told Kai's father he could not take Tomtom away from their mother and until tomtom was 10 he could only see him on weekends in their home. It was a huge win and Kai rushed to tell Azula but he wasn't the only one. Kai had just finished his speech, thanking Azula for all her help when she paused looking behind him. He turned to see his sister had followed him there. "Mai" Kai said and she looked at them both, her eyes avoiding Azula's but she took a few breaths and looked up. "I just wanted to thank you" she told Azula "if it wasn't for your advice we never would've hired representation so quickly or might've gone to the wrong person and could've lost Tomtom so thank you". Both girls stared at one another, probably assessing all the pain between them before Azula nodded her head. "You're welcome, I didn't want your father to take Tomtom from your mother, a loving mother is something no child should be without". Kai worried Mai might see that as a dig at Ursa or Zuko and might argue back but she didn't. She nodded "I agree" and with a small bow she left. Kai and Ty lee were thrilled as now Mai and Azula were if not friendly then at least neutral to one another which was more than good enough. Word must've gotten back to Zuko because a few weeks later he came to visit Azula for the first time in a year. Mai told Kai in advance and he asked Azula if it was okay and she agreed. "Well hello Zuzu" she called spotting him at the door and Zuko immediately paused but there was no malice in her words. Then he looked at her and was surprised. The last he saw her she was in chains spitting fire but the girl before him was nothing like that. "Hello..." he said a little unsure "I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner I...". "Was busy running a country?" Azula asked and again Zuko froze to see if she'd explode but she smiled "I understand". She gestured for Zuko to come and take a seat and he did sitting beside Kai. "So how are you?" he asked "I know that might sound stupid...". Azula paused before replying "I'm healthy, healthier than I think I've been in a long time". Zuko smiled "that's good, really good". Azula nodded and then Kai interjected to try and help some of the awkward energy go. Zuko didn't stay too long but the meeting was still a huge success. For once Kai could see Zuko caring for his sister and viewing her as a survivor as well as a bully. Azula was also kinder than Kai had ever seen her behave towards Zuko and he was excited to see them tentatively establishing a relationship. Kai was in a good mood when Zuko left, wondering where this could lead and feeling hopeful for the future. Azula noticed and laughed "what are you humming about? I'm the princess, aren't I meant to be the one who sings and birds appear?". Kai smiled "I've never heard you sing but I doubt birds would appear!". Azula threw a cushion at him playfully and Kai fixed on her face. "I'm just happy" he shrugged "Tomtom is safe, Mai is happy, Ty lee is doing great...and you, well I don't know how you feel but you look like you might be happy-ish. I know it's hard being in here but I hope you are in at least some way happy". Kai looked down unsure what Azula's response would be but looked back up when she called his name. "Kai". "Yeah?" he asked "I am happy" she told him "happier than I've probably been in a while" and she kissed him.

Kai was taller than her but Azula solved this by pressing down on his shoulders and Kai got the message to crouch. They'd kissed before but it had been awkward and Kai had always been unsure but this? This felt right.

"I'm happy" Azula repeated when she pulled away and Kai smiled "then I am too".

The End

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