#which also speaks to the way firebenders wield their fire

[ljesaw]

can’t stop thinking about somebody saying that zuko is constantly going against his very nature in order to be evil and i will be crying about it forever frankly

#do you ever think about little baby zuko loving and adoring his mother #like that mama’s boy is gentle…..underneath…….All That #the complex relationship between zuko and literally every member of his family makes me actually lose my shit #zuko and ozai make me foam at the mouth ozai should rot but i also just love complex crunchy family dynamics #but i also think about at the end of book 1 #and jeong jeong talking about how fire is dangerous because it’s so unpredictable #which also speaks to the way firebenders wield their fire #the typical form that’s used in that they exert a lot of force and power on their opponent #probably largely because there’s truly only so much they can control with their own element #and only really gifted firebenders can master such a fickle element well enough to exert that kind of effort and focus #do you ever think about zuko learning and understanding all 4 elements to better his own mastery and form(s) #this post was supposed to be about zuko’s complexity and the fact that i went on an entirely unrelated tangent #that’s actually somewhat related too #just speaks for itself. one day ill make sense i swear #anyway if this doesn’t make sense. i’ll fix it later. maybe

[imnotusedtobeingloved]

DESTINY IS A FUNNY THING

Warnings: Blood/Gore. Wounds.

Pairing: Zuko x firebender!fem!Reader

Characters: Zuko, Uncle Iroh, Jet, Avatar Aang (mentioned)

Requested: No.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor the gif. Credit to the owners.

Summary: You’re trying to find some food for the Team, when you encounter a furious Freedom Fighter.

It was a quiet evening as you strolled through the streets of Ba Sing Se.

You'd joined Team Avatar only a few weeks ago, doing your best to integrate yourself into their group. Which, other than helping the Avatar, also meant cooking, cleaning and finding food. You were tasked with the latter. The gaang hadn't been able to visit the market earlier, due to searching for someone who could produce posters, hoping to get any tips on the whereabouts of Appa. So now, with the money Toph had collected on her hunts, you were searching for something to fill your stomachs. You hadn't eaten all day.

Most shops were already closed by this time The only house that still had the lights on in this part of town, seemed to be a small restaurant. You tried to read the menu that was hung up next to the entrance, but the paper was so crinkled and the letters so washed out that you couldn't quite decipher what it said. You sighed. Some light would be really useful right now. There was only one solution.

You looked around warily, checking the streets five times, before you produced a tiny flame in your palm, reading over every offer as quick as possible. The fire disappeared when you were through. Unsure you counted the money in your pocket, biting your bottom lip. The prices were pretty high. Almost too high. You'd have nearly nothing left if you purchased your food here. You mulled over it for a few minutes, not realizing that someone had stepped up behind you.

"What do we have here?" You jumped, turning around quickly and coming face to face with a broad chest. Looking up, black eyes stared back at you. The boys face was narrow, framed by a mop of brown hair, and a blade of wheat grass hanged out of his mouth. "What do you want from me?" You asked, stepping back, until your back was pressed into the wall behind you. "You're one of them," he said, wielding a hooked sword in both of his hands. "You're one of those fire benders!" He lashed out, the hook grazing your skin as you tried to roll out of their range. "Ugh!" You groaned at the sight of a nasty slash in your shoulder. Yes, you were from the Fire Nation, and yes, you were able to bend fire, but you had never experienced that much training in combat. You knew how to defend yourself properly, yet you didn't succumb to the illusion that you were an exceptionally good fighter. You really just tried not to get your face cut off. And to your despair, this young man seemed to be especially good at what he was doing.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" You said, trying to talk your way out of it. He chuckled. "Nice try. But I saw you use your powers," he answered with a growl, hunting you mercilessly. So you did the only thing you could to survive. Run. You had no weapons, but yourself. And you couldn't use your fire once again. Your heart pumped wildly in your chest as your lungs started to burn. He didn't slow down even when you made it to a more crowded part of town, pushing people out of his way to get to you, and screaming at them to hold you off. You tried to get as many obstacles as possible between you and him. But his legs were longer than yours, making it easy to catch up with you. A small tea shop ahead of you caught your eye, seeming lively inside.

You'd almost reached the door.

Almost made it.

Then you felt the tips of two sharp hooks slash trough your back, ripping the skin. A toe curling scream left your mouth. Dizzy, you stumbled out of reach again as best as you could. All eyes were on you, when you tumbled trough the door of the shop. "I'm sorry," you mumbled, dots clouding your sight. "I didn't know where else to go," Your knees gave out, blood slowly trickling out of your wounds. "They're fire benders!" Was the last thing that distantly reached your ears, together with the picture of an old man, leaning over you with a worried expression on his face. Then you were gone.

The next time you came anywhere near to conciousness again, you felt sick. You were lying on your stomach. Soft blankets and pillows were tucked under your body. And when you tried to move, you registered the texture of bandages on your shoulder and back. "Careful now," a soothing voice scolded softly. "Wouldn't want those wounds to open up again," A groan left your mouth when you finally managed to open your eyes. Once again, the face of an old man greeted you. The same old man. "Who are you?" you mumbled. "And where am I?" The man smiled, his friendly eyes glimmering in the sunlight. "My name is Mushi," he placed a small cup of tea next to you. "You're in our home. We brought you here after you collapsed in the tea shop, remember?" You nodded. Right. You remembered bits and pieces briefly, but you couldn't piece them all together. And then he came to mind. "Wha- what's with that guy, who-" "Don't worry about it," Mushi interrupted. "My nephew, Lee, took care of him. He's behind bars for now," You hummed, settling down a bit. It didn't take long before the others popped up in your mind.

You wondered if they were worried. If they cared. But you had to get back to them either way. "I have to get back to my..." you searched for the right word. "Family. I bet they're worried because I didn't come back last night," Mushi nodded, running a hand through his beard. "I understand," he stood up from your bedside, preparing another teapot as you sipped on your cup. It had just the right temperature and the rich jasmine flavor invaded your mouth. You smiled. "My favorite...," It was true. It really was your favorite. It reminded you of your home. Of quiet mornings spend with your grown ups, laughing at each others jokes. But those days were over. The war had claimed it all.

Mushi's light chuckle disturbed your thoughts. "It's my nephew's favorite as well," You hummed, staring down at the cup. “You know, you never told me your name,” He said, looking at you over his shoulder. “It’s (Y/N),” you stated, taking another sip and moving to sit up. “Thank you for taking care of me, Mushi. But i need to leave no- aargh!” You groaned loudly falling back onto your stomach. “Careful!” The door to your right opened. “What’s going on here?” A young man entered the room. He wore the simple clothes of a commoner, an apron loosely hanging from his arm. This must be Lee, you thought trying to stay still as the pain subsided. When you looked up at him, the first thing you were greeted by was the large burn around his eye, like flames woven into his skin. You flinched under his gaze. You couldn’t help but wonder if the scar had been from an encounter with a fire bender. Your Nation truly left it’s marks everywhere. “She’s still to weak to get up,” Mushi answered him, walking over to you. “I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here a little longer,” You sighed. This was a disaster.

You had to admit, this was definetely not how you had imagined your life to go, after joining the Avatar. You weren’t even around him for the next two weeks. The slash on your shoulder healed just fine and it didn’t bother you as much. Though your back was an entirely different story. You had to heavily rely on Mushi and Lee when it came to the wound. Bandaging or applying lotion to it was impossible without having someone to help. In the beginning Mushi was the one who primarily cared for you. Lee, on the other hand, didn’t bother to come near you. And why would he? You were just some strange girl that tumbled into a tea shop, covered in blood. The few times he did come in to get himself some tea, were spend in uncomfortable silence. At least on your behalf. Maybe he didn’t even care. Days went by without him even glancing at you, but one time he did. He directly stared at you to be more specific. “So, was he right?” he said, leaning against the counter behind him. “What?” you blurted out, confused that he bothered to speak with you. “The boy. Was he right? Are you a fire bender?” You swallowed heavily, lowering your gaze to his chest. “Don’t be ridiculous,” the lie didn’t leave your lips as smoothly as you hoped it would. “Of course not,” He narrowed his eyes. They're fire benders!, you faintly remembered the boy’s scream before you passed out. “What about you?” you retorted in the same demeanor. “Are you a fire bender?” Lee scoffed, reaching for two cups and filling them to the brim. “Of course not,” he imitated you, before handing you one of them. “Thank you,” you grinned, getting less tense around him. It earned you a short nod. That was the first time you two shared a real interaction.

The second time was more out of nessisity. Mushi was out at work for days, often taking no breaks, too caught up in his newest business. The Jasmine Dragon. Which left you at Lee’s mercy in the bandaging department. Luckily you were fit enough to sit up by now, crossing your legs, almost pain-free. Where silence was first unpleasant, it now had become a peaceful ritual for the both of you. Lee applied the lotion to your back, before you both worked to secure the bandage. You weren’t sure if he would talk to you, but you had a question burning in the back of your throat. “Lee?” He was clearly concentrated on the bandage, but you got some kind of acknowledgement. “Hm?” You nibbled on your bottom lip, unsure of how to phrase the words. “Have you ever felt... alone?” You’d joined Team Avatar, and yet you never felt more alone than before. “Like... not lonely but just-” “Yes,” he interfered and a few moments of silence passed. “I have. Sometimes i still do,” You played with your fingers in your lap, feeling him making a knot into the material to keep it together. “You know, i thought things would change,” you confessed. “I thought i’d found the right place. The right people. But now i realize that maybe i was wrong. Maybe it was all just a big mistake and i made the wrong choice once again,” you trailed off. “Does that make sense?” The question must’ve been written all over your face when you turned around. To your surprise he didn’t show the indifferent expression he wore around you all day. Now there was something more. Something softer. Sweeter. “It does, believe me. I know that feeling better than anyone,” His amber eyes seemed far away, lost somewhere between memories and dreams. Despite the nasty scar on his face, he was striking in his own way. Maybe particularily because of this scar. It showed his true spirit. Perhaps he was more of a fighter than he led on.

Over the following days, your healing made a promising progress. And so did your relationship with Lee. You’d never thought you’d feel affection for the boy, but here you were, sitting next to each other and sharing a platter of food. He hid an amazing sense of humor behind his shell and a gentle heart was buried under his armour. Another thing that had caught your attention was that Mushi seemed to leave for urgend business at the strangest of times, continuously leaving you by yourselves. But you choose not to think to much about it.

“You’ll get a stomach ache if you continue stuffing your mouth like that,” Right. What was it you found attractive about him again? “Shut up,” you laughed, pointing to his side of the plate. He had gobbled that dish up just as much as you did. ‘Guilty’ was written all over his forehead.

You focused your attention on the food, but looked back up when he was staring at you. You were surprised that he didn’t have a comeback. That was rare.

“Is everything okay? I’m sorry if that was-”

“Can i kiss you?” your eyes widened. “What?” your mouth was, once again, faster than your brain. Unfazed, Lee leaned in, waiting for you to do the same. Your lips met in the middle. Gently. Only brushing each other slightly, like a summer-breeze. He tasted bittersweet.

A few seconds passed until he placed his hands on your cheeks, carefully guiding the movements. He felt warm and safe. Like the pleasure of a close flame in the bitter cold. After a while, you reluctantly pulled apart, needing a few seconds to open your eyes. And when you did, you were filled with joy. Joy and regret. Your smile died on your lips as you remembered who you really where. “What’s wrong?” he said, pulling you into his side.

“I have to tell you something,” you started, furrowing your brows. You had to. Even at the risk that he would hate you afterwards. In time he had confided in you with some of his past, making you aware about his mark. He’d gotten it from a fire bender, just like you’d suspected. And it made you feel like a horrible person. So you took a deep breath. “I lied to you, Lee. I am a fire bender. I fled the Fire Nation because i wanted to start a new life,” You searched his face for a reaction, but it was empty. Just like it had been in the beginning. You held your breath when he finally opened his mouth to say something.

“I guess... i should tell you that i’m-” His Uncle burst into the room. “I have amazing news, everyone!” he exclaimed, a big smile gracing his face. “ We’ve been invited to serve tea to the Earth King!” Lee and you pulled apart, the atmosphere tense, but you both put on a grin for Mushi. “That’s amazing news, Uncle,”

And it was. You accompanied them the next day, knowing it would probably be the last you’d spend together. Your wounds were healed enough to walk again and didn’t affect your movements anymore. Which meant you would leave to go back to your family. Or... more like your companions. But honestly, you didn’t even know if you could call them that. You hadn’t been part of their group for long before you disappeared and you hadn’t heard from each other since.

Not to mention that, deep in your heart you knew, you didn’t really want to leave. The burden hung heavy over your head, but you choose to make this last day worth it. And if it was just to see a smile on Mushi’s face. “Many times i imagined myself here. At the threshold of the palace,” the man stated, as you climbed out of your carriage. “We are the Earth King’s personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing,” he rambled on, but you and Lee gladly listened. “It sure is, Uncle,” The atmosphere between the two of you remained awkward after you’d revealed your secret, but he didn’t seem to be averse. He still talked to you. The problem was that he wanted to talk about anything but your confession. Any time you came close to bringing it up, he bailed. And you wanted to know why.

It took a while until you reached the room where the Earth King would welcome you. Or rather, welcome them. You choose to stay outside. “Don’t be ridiculous, (Y/N),” Mushi had said. “Of course you’re coming with us,” But you had declined with a shake of your head. “It’s your tea shop. You and Lee did all the work. You deserve to share this moment together,” He seemed to want to argue against your choice, but eventually he accepted it. “Very well,” You watched as he disappeared into the room, behind his nephew.

The guards led you through the empty halls, supposed to bring you to a waiting room. But you’d never reach it. You grunted, as you got hid on the back of your head, the impact sending you to the ground, as your vision blurred... and faded.

thanks for reading! find part 2 here!

#zuko x reader #avatar zuko #zuko x you #prince zuko

[firelxdykatara]

Katara hated Zuko. It was a plot point. Sokka never did--and their "friendship" in the show was close to becoming something more--so they were on equal footing and had hinted romance. Zutara is misogynistic--why are you forcing Katara into a relationship with someone she hates? Choose Toph or Suki if you really believe Zuko isn't gay.

there’s so much to unpack here, and i know i should really throw out the whole suitcase, but i just can’t help myself

and please, i beg of you, picture someone laughing so hard that tears are streaming down their face because that’s me right now, reading this ask. i about choked on my eggnog, so thanks for that!

point the first: sokka hated zuko every bit as much as katara did in the first two books. it was a plot point. sokka wanted to leave zuko to die because saving him wouldn’t have been worth the trouble--he was pragmatic and deeply distrustful of anyone who wasn’t in his immediate circle, and that went especially hard for anyone from the fire nation. including the birds!

point the first part two: sokka’s easy acceptance of zuko into the gaang had less to do with any budding friendship or caring for him (since there was none to speak of until the boiling rock episodes), and more to do with a lack of any personal grudge. aka: there was no tension there. nothing to really dig into--no true development of feelings. because aang needed a firebending teacher, zuko was around and willing to take on that role, and also he was a prime roasting target, so sokka was happy enough to let bygones be after he helped them take down combustion man.

which, of course, isn’t to say shipping them isn’t valid. there are plenty of ships that have little to no canon basis but a lot of fandom support, and that’s usually fine....until the fans start getting uppity about it and insisting that there Is Canon Basis Really, and then insisting that the ‘rival’ ship is misogynistic when their alleged ‘canon basis’ requires stripping everything meaningful from the girl’s relationship to the boy and giving it to her brother instead. which is exactly what you’re doing here, but i digress.

point the second: how on earth was sokka and zuko’s ‘friendship’ in the show (and why the scare quotes? were they not actually friends? are you really sitting in my inbox right now devaluing their platonic relationship because you don’t think it exists outside of your belief that they really wanted to fuck the whole time, despite sokka being in a happy relationship with someone else?) ‘close to becoming something more’? when did they ever have a single, solitary conversation that hinted at any ‘deeper’ feelings? sokka spent most of their buddy cop adventure to boiling rock mooning over his girlfriend (heh, get it? mooning? because he- oh, you get the point), to the point where he had literal hearteyes the instant he saw her--and zuko’s purpose there wasn’t to deepen his relationship with sokka so much as it was to reunite sokka and katara with their father, and to see an example of what a healthy paternal relationship actually looks like.

(one of my favorite shots in the show is zuko’s soft smile when sokka and katara are hugging hakoda)

so already your claim that they ‘had hinted romance’ falls incredibly flat, because there was absolutely nothing in the show that was ‘hinting’ they had romantic feelings for one another--in universe or out of it. sokka was happily in love with suki, and even the one scene that i can imagine might make shippers scream--when zuko popped into sokka’s tent late at night--sokka was about to have sex with his girlfriend, and when he asked zuko ‘what’s on your mind’, the first words out of his mouth were your sister.

(and then, as soon as zuko left, sokka was calling for suki again. the next morning, he was making a flower necklace--or a lei. because he got lei’d. it’s amazing the things you pick up when you rewatch the show as an adult lmfao.)

point the third (and this one is really where your argument blows up in your face): your insistence that zutara requires ‘forcing katara into a relationship with someone she hates’ reveals your own ignorance, because it’s demonstrably not true--unless you’re trying to argue that katara hated zuko all the way through to the end of the show, which??? i suppose makes it make more sense that you think zuko and sokka had a hinted romance in the text, because viewing comprehension clearly isn’t your strongsuit.

why are yall so quick to dismiss katara’s own feelings in the name of calling a fictional, noncanon ship ‘misogynistic’? because katara said, in the text, ‘but I am ready to forgive you’--and then she hugged zuko, called him into a group hug with the gaang later, joked (and even flirted) with him on ember island, helped talk him through his anxiety about facing his uncle, and happily agreed to go with him to face his sister, where she saved his life after watching him take a literal bolt of lightning to save hers.

if any of that had happened with sokka, yall would be calling it demonstrable evidence that zuko and sokka are in love. and yet when we use that canonical buildup and the deep bond of friendship and trust zuko and katara have by the end of the series to imagine them getting into a romantic relationship because of feelings developed during these events......you call us misogynistic? really? because we’re ‘forcing’ her into a relationship with someone she ‘hates’....except she didn’t hate him by the end of the series, they were very close friends and had gotten over and had closure from their personal baggage, and that’s the kind of stuff that provides excellent fuel for envisioning a romantic relationship developing!

so what was your argument again?

ETA: i was so busy deconstructing the bulk of your argument that i forgot to address that laughable last line--toph or suki? who had much, MUCH less relationship development with zuko than katara did?? ‘if you really believe zuko isn’t gay’???? im sorry that you can’t recognize a whole bisexual when you see one, but as a bi myself, i know that zuko’s dual-wielding ass couldn’t ‘pick a side’ if his life depended on it. and he had more romantic coding with both jet and katara than he ever had with sokka--that’s just a fact. sorry if the truth hurts, anon!

#atla #zutara #zuko #katara #zukka salt #zukka fandom salt #just covering my bases #sokka #salt for ts #asked #Anonymous

[bellatrixobsessed1]

A Spark In The Snow

Was gonna go for straight comedy but this wrote itself into fluff. Also it was gonna be a one shot but I decided to leave it open to possibly becoming a multi-parter if I have the time. But I tried to leave in the Azula/Daniela chaotic duo aspect I mentioned. 

Summary: Azula is a fire in Alcina’s otherwise cold and desolate world. She brings a certain spark to the castle that is as vexing as it is endearing. Anyways, her daughters are fond of the girl so how bad can it be?

A simmering summer, Alcina decides, is more chaotic than a merciless winter. Fire is wild, uncontrollable, unpredictable. It leaps from one thing to the next, searing away all that which it touches. Winter leaves a frosty kiss but it can be dispelled and warded off. Winter is predictable, summer is strange, feral.

Winters is predictable. Azula is anything but. Winters has a knack for smashing windows--breaking anything with a glass surface, really. Azula sets fire to everything that will burn. Winters does it out of spite and malice. Alcina is convinced that Azula does it for the thrill or attention. She knows that attention is Daniela does it for chaos and companionship.

Alcina pinches the bridge of her nose as another thunderous boom resounds down the expansive hallway. She takes a hard and generous swallow of wine, this particular boom had sounded rather expensive. The shatter of porcelain, perhaps her favorite bathtub.

“What are you guys doing!?” Bela screeches. It is a noble thing that the girl is trying to do. Noble but pointless. Alcina has come to find that Azula and Daniela have become quite an unstoppable duo. A duo with such ferocity that even Winters has stopped coming by.

She isn’t sure where the girl had come from nor what sort of mutation has granted her the ability to wield fire in her hands but she is here and Alcina can’t help but feel a fondness for her. She is a small thing, absolutely teeny--even by comparison to someone who isn’t as tall as she. And mostly she is a charming and poised girl. Elegant and well-mannered. Even tempered, a break from the chaos. A refreshing break.

But with Daniela there comes to the surface something wilder. The girl’s laugh is far less than refined when Daniela points to a large crate and yells, “oh, what about that! Set that on fire!” There comes another loud bang and Alcina flinches. She is almost certain that, that had been a crate of clothing that she has been meaning to look through. She grits her teeth and grips the armrests of her chair. She loves her daughters, loves them more than anything else. But if she hears one more explosion…

.oOo.

Azula chuckles to herself as the flames lap at the wood. Her own mother would never let her get away with such a feat. She scrambles her way up a chair. Castle Dimitrescu is somewhat intimidating in its impressive size. There isn’t a single thing that she doesn’t have to ask one of the Dimitrescu sisters to help her reach.

When they aren’t around she has to quite literally scale counters and furniture. And the bed...she had thought her bed at the palace was large. The one she sleeps in now has room for several of her as well as a mongoose-lizard or two.

And it is no wonder, she hears the thunder of Lady Dimitrescu’s footsteps.

“OhHHh fUcK!” Daniela shouts. Before Azula’s reflexes have a chance to kick in, she snatches her off of the chair she had worked so hard to ascend. “She’ll never catch us.”

“And what if she does?” Azula asks.

“Then we’ll just burst into a cloud of flies and...oh wait you can’t do that.” She slows her pace to tap her chin. “Then we’ll just have to...set MORE things on fire!” She throws her hands up. Azula gives a yelp of surprise as her body is tossed into the air.

She catches herself on a chandelier and pulls herself onto its fixture. It bobs precariously though she can’t imagine that she weighs anywhere near enough to bring it down.  

“Whoops.” Daniela winces from below.

Having successfully launched her partner in crime to oblivion, she is left to fend for herself.

“Where is your sister?”

“Which one, mother?”

“The fiery one.”

“Cassandra’s is in her room.”

Alcina inhales deeply.  “Azula. Where is Azula.”

“Oh, right, yes. Well you see, she’s really small and so I may or may not have thrown her clear across the castle.” Perhaps her lie would have had more success if she hadn’t offered the chandelier a wink. Alcina reaches up in an attempt to pluck her down. Azula ducks under the woman’s hand but one misplacement of her hand has her tumbling to the ground.

With a most devious grin, Daniela lets out a screech and catapults herself into the air. She practically bodyslams Azula as she catches her and takes off into a full sprint.  “Daniela, you get back here!” She hears Alcina groan. “Bela, catch your sister!”

Daniela takes Azula’s arm and positions it out in front of her. “Make fire!”

“Do you think that your mother will finally replace this hideous wallpaper if I just…” she holds the smallest candle wick of a flame to the wall and lets Daniela’s sprint do the rest.

“Our mother won’t have a choice. Oh! Maybe if we set all of...everything on fire we can finally redecorate the house. I was thinking of something more daring like…” she trails off. “Like we can take a whole bunch of man bones and string them up on the balcony like wind chimes. Oh and I saw this neat thing at Karl’s factory. I heard minimalist is in...which is exactly why we need to clutter this place up. I was thinking sofas in the middle of the hallway and lamps hanging form the chandeliers.

“Daniela, that sounds awful.  Let’s do it!” Though she is nearly certain that it will end up driving her just as mad as it will drive Lady Dimitrescu.

Daniela comes to an abrupt halt and bursts into a cloud of flies as she collides with Bela who erupts into her own separate cloud. Azula lands with an oof. The fire, a testament to her success and thrill, crackles behind her. Bela reassembles with her hands on either side of her head, “what have you guys done!?”

“We don’t like the decore and wallpaper so we’re remodeling!” Azula declares more boldly than someone who has landed flat on the floor ought to.

Daniela lifts her off of the floor and turns her around to face the fire. “It’s…” she wipes a tear from her eye “...glorious.”

“You guys are the worst.” Cassandra grumbles. “I think that my favorite seat cushion was down this hallway.”

Daniela rolls her eyes. “Who actually bothers to pick out a favorite seat cushion anyways?”

“I do, Dani!”

Azula shrugs. “If it was in this particular hallway that it was an abomination to upholstery.”

“It’s not about the aesthetic! It’s about the feeling it gives your buttcheeks when they sink into it’s plush fabric.” Cassandra explains. “Haven’t you ever sat your ass down on something so fluffy it transported you to a new dimension?”

Azula shakes her head.

“Then how’d you get here?” Daniela asks.

Bela rolls her eyes, “because obviously comfortable seating is how you move from one universe to another.”

“The right level of booty comfort can go a long way.” Daniela insists.

“I hate to say it, but I think Daniela is right, Bela.”

With a fire blazing wildly behind her, Azula sits back and watches the siblings bicker. Such is the pattern that she has fallen into. It is thrilling, fun, and exhilarating.  This world, wherever it is, is bizarre and uncanny. Messy and wild, and there is a sense of freedom in the chaos. In becoming part of the chaos. Something liberating that she can’t find in the Fire Nation. Something that compels her to shake away what remains of her overwhelming need for perfection.

.oOo.

Alcina finds that the fire child is much easier to manage when she is sitting upon her shoulder chattering away about the politics of her own realm and how she rather enjoys having three sisters instead of one aggravating brother.

And upon her shoulder, away from Cassandra and Daniela, Azula retains her more soothing, soft spoken demeanor. The one she takes up when looking over books with Bela. This is the topic of discussion today, “I’ve never read anything like this. The history of your world is quite intriguing.”

“I am glad to hear that you are getting comfortable here.” Alcina takes a seat, picks up her kiseru, and has a drag. The smoke trails up and Azula fans it away.

“It would be wonderful if you could get some smaller chairs, climbing these is just about as tiresome as some of my firebending katas are.” She absently kicks her legs at the air, offering Alcina’s chest something of a massage.  

“I suppose that I can do that for you.”

“Perfect.” Azula claps her hands together.

For some time they sit in silence and then the girl speaks. “I’m glad that I found you. I don’t...I don’t feel like a monster here.”

Alcina furrows her brows. She has been around many a monster. By all means, she thinks it fair to call herself one. But the girl, this small, delicate thing… “why would you think that?”

“Everyone else does. My own mother…”

Alcina’s heart pangs again. Suddenly she doesn’t feel quite so much like a monster, “a mother who can’t love her child is no mother.” And for a moment she isn’t sure if she is speaking of Azula’s mother or of Mother Miranda. “A mother who makes her child feel  insignificant is a monster.” She reaches up to stroke Azula’s hair.

“You don’t think that I’m a monster?”

This girl, this beautiful girl has been made to feel unloved and unlovable.

“Why would I think that, dear?”

She shrugs. “Daniel and I have set everything you love on fire.”

She pinches the bridge of her nose. “You haven’t set yourselves or each other on fire.”  She sighs. “I suppose that this castle was due for some renovations anyhow.” This seems to delight the girl.

“My mother had a fit when I set a single, withered rose on fire.”

“Things work differently here, as you are finding.” She rises to her feet. “It has been a while since I’ve had company on my strolls through the courtyard; my girls are unable to tolerate the cold. Would you join me?”

.oOo.

“Firebenders don’t much like the cold...mother.” It sounds strange to say on her tongue, but it feels perfectly correct. The woman’s face seems to fall. “But I’m sure you have something warm for me to wear while we’re out.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll fix you a cup of wine--if I remember correctly you prefer it without blood--and we’ll head out.”

“No blood, that’s correct.”

“Strange girl.” The woman chuckles.

She isn’t sure that she is the strange one here but she keeps it to herself while Alcina sets her back on her shoulder and makes her way into the dining room. Minutes later she finds that Alcina hasn’t any winter clothing that is even remotely her size. Instead, the woman bundles her up in a nest of blankets that very well may be Alcina’s own winter coat.

The outside world is cold on her cheeks. She finds herself pressing her hands against them as Alcina points out her favorite places in the courtyard, her favorite flowers and her favorite statues. Much like all else in this world, Azula has never seen anything quite like it. It is grand and elegant place as cold and grey on the outside as it is warm on the inside. It has many twisting, sharp spires and stone gargoyles to top them. In places it is broken, ancient. Gloomy and depressive in a haunting way that Mai would appreciate. “Your castle is beautiful, mother.”

“Thank you.” She smiles. “I am pleased to know that you don’t find it off putting.”

.oOo.

Azula burrows further into the blankets.

“Are you getting cold?”

“I’ve been cold.” She replies.

“I suppose that I’ve had my fill of nightair.” She cups her hand over the girl’s head, hoping to provide her with  even just a little more heat. “I ought to check up on Daniela.”

Azula nods and leans into her chest, pulling the blankets tighter around herself as she does so. “Thank you.” She mumbles. “For letting me stay here.”

Alcina ought to thank her for staying. She can’t remember the last time that she has had company, human company that she found pleasant. Human company that didn’t find her terrifying and monstrous. She just hopes that the girl will never have to see her in her second form. She shouldn’t like Azula to look upon her with fear and disgust. She thinks that it is an inevitability. Everyone leaves her eventually. Everyone save for her daughters. This girl, she reminds herself, is her daughter. She likes to think that she wouldn’t leave.

“It is no trouble at all. I do hope that you will stay with me for a long time, dear.”

#Avatar The Last Airbender #Resident Evil #Azula #Alcina Dimitrescu #Lady Dimitrescu #Daniela Dimitrescu #Bela Dimitrescu #Cassandra Dimitrescu #Fanfiction

[milkywinnie]

"𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧" || PRINCE ZUKO

𝟎𝟎. 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 (2,579 Words)

"You know, I live with many regrets, but the biggest things I regret at this moment was not bringing a jacket..."

You huffed, shivering from the cool breeze that swept past in your direction. Shakily, you rubbed your hands together, and lifted them next to each other to ignite a small flame from within your palms.

'It's so cold that I have to spare my breaths.' You sighed, spreading out the map down on the wooden surface. "I need to find a village soon. My food supply is running low." Ever since you had escaped from the Fire Nation and its kingdom, times have never been harder, especially knowing that you're constantly on the run.

The water currents shifted and swayed in a variety of directions, signaling the upcoming of a dangerous storm. "Oh no...! This can't be any good." You clenched your fists, discarding of the flames rising upon your palms, and rushed to find a secure shore to rest upon.

The tides raised chaotically as you let out a muffled scream as the waves crashed against the frail boat. With haste, you tucked the letter securely into your bag, before you felt your body being submerged into the icy waters below you. 'I can't go out like this...! I have to find the Avatar!'

But the air escaping from your lungs refused your desire to call for help. Desperately, you clung onto a scrap from the broken boat. "Someone, please..." You coughed out, your consciousness slipping from your being, feeling your body become lethargic, and your mind hazy and clouded.

In the distance, figures approached you, but they were too late - you had passed out.

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When you woke up, you realized that you were in an area unfamiliar of your own. "W-Where the hell am I...?" You murmured softly, lifting yourself from upon the firm polar bear skin you were snuggling upon. All you could actually recognize was the throbbing headache that was pounding against your head.

"Hey, I think she's waking up!" A feminine voice exclaimed, causing you to rise from your dazed state. "Who's there?" You stated in a demanding tone as you scrambled from the floor to get into your fighting stance. "O-Oh, don't worry! I'm not a threat to you!"

You skeptically glanced over  at the pretty, young girl in front of you. Her long, deep brown hair that was braided into a singular braid. Her sapphire-colored eyes shined brightly - maybe out of fear or bewilderment from your actions.

Her custom tribal clothing let alone made you immediately aware of the fact she was from the Water Tribe, and knowing your directions, most likely from the southern district.

"My name is Katara, and I come in peace. My brother and I found you washed upon a glacier." She introduced herself, extending a hand out in your direction. Relaxing your posture, you shook her extended hand. "Thank you for rescuing, I'm in your gratitude." You thanked her, before pulling your hand away.

"I'm sorry, but where is my bag? I must continue my venture as quickly as possible." You wondered, looking aimlessly in multiple directions in search of you beaten and probably soaked luggage, much like your cloak.

"Oh, everything was soaked to the bone in that bag, so my tribe took the custody into warming it up." Katara explained, placing a bowl of soup down on the low tea table in front of you. "I'm sorry, but I must be on my way! I have to meet up with the Avatar!" You instantly froze at her statement.

"The Avatar?!" You yelled, rushing up to her to clutch her shoulders tightly. Katara, obviously, flinched from your sudden burst of energy, but she nodded nonetheless. "Yes... His name is Aang, and he brought us back here while we were trying to reach out to you."

You were completely stunned with the news that you had received. "T-This is amazing! I'm actually speechless!" You gasped in amazement as you giddily embraced the younger girl into a hug. "Yeah, I definitely agree!" She beamed, hugging you back. Now that you've realized that your hunt was over, you felt a little more at ease.

"Wow, Katara, real professional, and you say I couldn't snuggle up with her while trying to warm her up." A make voice whined with disbelief. "And I'm going to assume that he's the brother you speak of, right?" The both of you giggled, pulling away from the rather warm hug.

"Hey, the name's Sokka, gorgeous." "And I'm not interested, lover boy." You hummed, winking playfully at the boy in front of you. His brown hair was shaved amongst most of its perimeter, leaving him with a parting on the top of his hair, which was formed into a bun. The boy, most likely the same age as you, eyes burned in your direction, mentally plotting as to what to do next.

He wore a familiar uniform, much like Katara's, but with his own weaponry slung around him. "But now..." Sokka began, before aiming his dagger, which was constructed into the form of a boomerang, pointing directly at you.

"What are you doing within this region?" He sneered shakily, but his voice demanded answers. You chuckled at his brute approach, watching how Katara attempted to calm her elder brother down. "Me? I'm just a mere traveler who sought to travel the world..."

The lies slipped past your lips with ease as you faked a wry smile. "It was so frightening on my own, and I appreciate such kind, humble citizens like yourself saving me." Sokka and Katara exchanged glances between themselves, watching their facial expressions shift into ones that displayed guilt.

"It's no problem, miss, really." Katara comforted, patting your shoulder gently. Sokka released a stream of incoherent words muffled under his breath in defeat.

"Fine, she can stay a little while longer, but by sunrise she must go." Sokka declared, looking over at you. you could feel his distraught, suspicious demeanor still wavering from off of him, but for now, you knew that you were in the clear.

"Great! Now you can stay, and even meet the Avatar!" Katara grinned happily, pulling you along outside of the tent. You squinted from the harsh sunlight that was being emitted, and reflecting from the pale white snow. Looking further, you noticed several little children and adults in awe, watching an entity fly throughout the cool winds.

You couldn't believe it, you were in amazement to the sight you were viewing. There he was, flying his in the bright blue sky. "Amazing..." Was the only word you could muster as you watched what took sight from above. Well, it was amazing up until the point where the poor boy crashed into the watchtower.

"My watchtower!" Sokka cried out, rushing to the pile of rubbish that as left behind for him. "That was amazing!" Katara gushed before rushing to Aang's side to help him up. "Definitely, I dare say that I am impressed." You smiled, clapping your hands together. Though the Avatar was much younger than you thought, it he was intriguing.

As Sokka was digging through the broken watchtower, Aang released a powerful gust of wind, causing snow to topple down upon him. You tried to muffle your giggle by covering your hand over your mouth.

"Great. You're an airbender, Katara's a waterbender, together you can just waste time all day long." Sokka taunted, patting the snow from off from his body. 'A waterbender, huh? Duly noted.' Your [e/c] eyes glanced over at the pair of teens conversing happily about their abilities, knowing that you couldn't put your input of your firebender powers.

'People fear others from the Fire Nation, they hate them...'

Sokka noticed your discomfort, and decided to approach you. "Hey, it's okay to be uncomfortable around benders. They're overrated, anyway." Sokka blushed slightly from your little laugh, watching as you shuffled closer next to him.

The invite to converse with another was refreshing, along with Sokka's vivid personality. Despite his misogynistic conceptions, you could tell that he was genuine with his passions., and you liked that especially about him.

"Hey, I've gotta go train my men, but you're allowed to observe, if a girl like yourself is into that type of thing."

You had to scoff at Sokka's comment. "Although I'd love to show you off at your little lesson, out of gratitude, I'll watch."

Sitting on the frozen water, you watched as Sokka assembled the team together with haste. While he was getting everything together, you quickly looked around for your bag, and an escape route, if things went in the wrong direction for you.

You were astonished to see a flying bison that was sleeping on the floor across from you. Its arrow symbols that trailed up and down its body made it easy to realize that it was Aang's, but then again, only the Airbenders wielded such useful and kind creatures.

'Maybe the flying bison wouldn't mind helping me...' You pondered, also mentally noting to grab your bag as well. Hopefully, no one bothered to look through it, or else you'd be given away.

"Now men, it's important that you show no fear when you face a Firebender. In the Water Tribe, we fight to the last man standing. For without courage, how can we call ourselves men?" You quickly realized that Sokka's training has begun, and decided to pay a bit more attention to him.

Not to mention that his "men", were a group of little toddlers who clearly didn't want to be here, especially one kid, who was desperately trying to go to the restroom. "I gotta pee!" He cried out, trying to hold his bladder best that the poor boy could.

"Just let the boy go, Sokka." You intervened, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Though Sokka was ready to protest, you asked, "Actually, who else needs to go on a potty trip?" Every other kid raises their hands, and Sokka sighs at the sight.

You send them off to the bathroom, watching as Sokka slaps his forehead in embarrassment and disgust of his mini crew mates. "It's okay, Sokka. They're just little kids, after all."

After Sokka's failed lesson, Katara approached the two of you. "Have you seen Aang? Gran Gran said he disappeared over an hour ago." Katara's voice wavered, concerned for the younger boy as she looked around for him.

"No, I haven't seen him around, but I'm sure he's fine, Katara." As if on cue, Aang exits the bathroom with a childish grin. "Wow! Everything freezes in there!" The children laughed at his statement as Sokka becomes upset from the constant interruptions.

"Ugh! Katara, get him out of here. This lesson is for warriors only." Sokka grunted, making a shooing motion towards Aang. You barely managed to suppress a laugh. "I think your lesson is gonna be cut short, Sokka." You mentioned, directing your eyes over to the children playing around the bison.

"Haha, yeah!" Aang nodded, noticing your presence. "Hey, you're the girl Appa and I saved!" He grinned, making his way over to where you and Katara stood. "Appa?" You raised a brow at the unfamiliar name.

"Yeah! Appa's my flying bison, and I'm Aang!" He introduced himself, smiling proudly. A slight smile crossed your face as you waved politely.

"Nice to meet you, Aang. My name is-"

"Stop! Stop it right now!" Sokka yelled, finally done with putting up with all the chaos going on around him. "What's wrong with you? We don't have time for fun and games with a war going on." He seethed, pointing his finger directly into Aang's chest.

"What war? What are you talking about?" Aang stopped playing around at the mention of a war. He was so stunned at the fact that the world he used to know was changing all around him in an instance, and that scared him.

Though the feeling wasn't as severe as it were have been for you, knowing that your father had left for the war, and knowing that he would never return back home was always a sad thought. Knowing this, your mother was forced into careers that wasn't a pleasant lifestyle, but was something that she could provide for you.

"You're kidding, right?" Sokka's jaw dropped in surprise, unable to  believe that Aang was unaware of the constant war that was occurring for over one-hundred years. "Something's not right here..." You murmured softly to yourself, mentally connecting the dots as to why Aang didn't know everything that had transpired.

You were about to investigate deeper with Aang, but he was gone with the wind, along with Katara following after him. "Now that there's no more distractions, care to observe in peace?" Sokka flirtatiously wiggled his eyebrows as you rolled your eyes in amusement. "Sure, after I find my bag. I have a change of clothes in there." You motioned to your beaten up satchel.

"Fine, go look through your purse, I'll start again with my men."

"Sure, ponytail, but you'll be upset when I won't see what's going on."

And you wished you were out there when a sudden strike was laid upon the once peaceful village, and the heat of the attack made it all to familiar as to the enemies that were fighting.

"The Fire Nation..." You growled in disgust, quickly changing into your other outfit that covered more of your [s/t] skin, and covered your hair. You reached through your bag, grabbing your silver-trimmed fan with thin blades that structured the weapon.

You rushed out of the tent to see a large, metal ship heading in the direction of the village, already see part of the once frozen grounds melted with ease. "Oh no, they've already started attacking." You muttered, running up to where Sokka was tightly wielding his weapon, his hand shaking out of either fear or anger.

"You told them about us being here!" Sokka yelled, jabbing his pointer finger in my direction. "Maybe you just infiltrated our home, so that they could take over!" "And why the hell would I do that when I'm on the run from them!?" You shot back, aiming your weapon into his chest.

"Well, because we don't even know a lot of information about you like your name?!" Sokka defended his case, crossing his arms in protest. "Well, I tried to tell it to Aang, but you interrupted our conversation, dumba-"

"What the heck is going on here?"

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[NOTE]: Thank you all for reading my Zuko x Reader Story! The purpose of this story was not only to relive one of my first childhood crushes, but to allow everyone who is new to this community to experience a proper fanfic that follows the plot of the story, and still with a hint of romance with our best boy, since I am aware that there is not many! Please know that this story will be a slow burn, and will have some moments of smut, so be aware!

Any who, please make sure to like, comment, and share this story to others who may enjoy it as well! Much love, and I hope to see you all in the next chapter, lovelies!

#zuko x reader #zuko imagine #zuko #avatar the last airbender #atla #atba #katara #sokka #azula #atla zuko #iroh #toph #toph beifong #x reader #reader insert #fluff #angst #avatar fanfiction #avatar fandom #ty lee #mai #slow romance #nsft #fanfiction #anime #waterbender #firebender #airbender #earthbender #romance

[angelltheninth]

Avatar Korra Misconceptions

Korra is coming to Netflix and with that hopefully more new fans of the show will emerge. However there seem to be a lot of fans, old and new, who don’t understand Korra. Here I will try to explain Korra’s character as best as I can and hopefully help others understand her a bit better. Needless to say there will be spoilers here for TLOK.

Aang and Korra’s Avatar State

One big differance between these 2 Avatar’s is how they unlock and use the Avatar State. For Aang we first see him do this in episode 2 of ATLA after which he’s very exhausted. During ATLA Aang goes into Avatar State multiple times but never fully masters it. Even in the finale it was unlocked by accident, he wielded it well after that and showed that he’s a very capable Avatar. We see him break out of Yakone’s bloodbending in TLOK very easily with the use of the Avatar State. Then we have Korra. Korra held tight to her identity as the Avatar from a very early age. Being the Avatar was one of the most important things to her identity. So much so that she contemplated suicide at the end of s1 of TLOK because she felt she was an unworthy Avatar. In addition Korra at the time, wasn’t nearly as spiritual as Aang was. It was Aang guidance that led her to unlocking her Avatar State. Unlike Aang however, mostly to her physical strength. the Avatar State doesn’t take as much of a toll on her body as it did with Aang when he was younger. Where Aang had his spirituality to thank for his mastery and later endurance of the Avatar State, Korra has her strength. The spiritual side comes later in for her.

Korra bending the elements at an early age

People will often use this an an excuse to call Korra a Mary Sue. The term Mary Sue doesn’t apply to Korra in so many ways, but lets stick to bending for now. When the White Lotus found Korra she demonstrated that she’s able to bend Fire, Water and Earth. She was 5 years old at the time. However she was not a master. Knowing how to bend an element and mastering it are two completely different things and people often forget that. Aang was an Airbending master by the age of 12. Waterbending and Firebending came very easily to him but he struggled with Earthbending, which he also learned. Aang learned how to bend these elements in one year. However by the time he fought Ozai he was only a master of one element: Air. Aang wouldn’t master the other elements until later in life. For Roku it took him years to master each element. Then we have non-Avatar masters like Azula for example. She was a Firebending prodigy and master at the age of 13. For Korra it took her 12 years of constant training to master Fire, Water and Earth. After that she had a hard time even learning how to Airbend.

Korra’s Villains VS Aang’s Villains

One thing that I’ve also seen people point out is the fact that Korra loses against her villains. This is true, however her villains are very different from Aang’s. Aang had one major threat. two if you count Azula, and some minor ones. But every villain that Korra faced was a major one for her. Aang had a lot of trouble fighting Ozai and was getting beat until he unlocked the Avatar State. Aang was losing against his villains, just like Korra was but both of them win at the end, they get beat up in the process but they win. When Korra was fighting her villains she was missing her 3 elements, had the Avatar spirit ripped out of her, poisoned and dying, suffered from major PTSD. And despite all of that she still came out on top just like Aang did in his fight against Ozai.

The Past Lives

Something that is always brought up is that Korra destroyed her connection with the past Avatar lives. Wrong. The ones who did that were Vaatu and Unalaq. Raava was literally ripped out of Korra, thus severing her connection with the past lives. However Korra bonded with Raava again and made sure that the Avatar Cycle began again. People forget that the Avatar Cycle would have ended with Aang if it hadn’t been for Katara. Aang was dead when Azula struck him with lightning. The cycle would have ended there and then had Katara not healed him. Korra, apart from the first Avatar Wan, has the strongest bond with Raava. Not only did she restart the Avatar Cycle and saved the world from 10,000 years of darkness but she also left the Spirit Portals open. Which I’ll talk about a bit later.

Korra’s Avatar State After the Past Lives are Lost

A big question I see from people is how is Korra able to enter the Avatar State when her connection with the past lives is gone. People assume that what Roku said about the Avatar state being powered by the past lives is what makes the Avatar State what it is. This is wrong. The Avatar power comes from Raava. The past lives are merely guides. The best way to explain this is Wan. He was the first Avatar, no past lives to speak of. And he unlocked the Avatar State because he bonded with Raava. Roku didn’t have the kind of knowledge from Raava or connection with her like Korra did, he didn’t know what Korra knows.

Rebirth of the Air Nation

By beating Vaatu and Unalaq Korra saved the world and left the Spirit Portals open. This made the majority of Republic City hate her because of the Spirit Vines and the Spirits themselves, ultimately leading to her being exiled from there. However by leaving the Portals open and Harmonic Convergence, Korra brought back the Air Nation. Non-benders started to unlock airbending thus no longer making Tenzin’s family the only living airbenders left.Of course this also gave rise to Zaheer who is Korra’s most dangerous villain. Not only that but Zaheer demonstrated how deadly airbending truly is when he killed the Earth Queen and tried to kill Korra in the same way. Zaheer is also the cause of Korra’s PTSD and her being crippled for 3 years. But even with that the fact that Korra brought back an entire nation isn’t something that should be brushed off when looking at her achievements as the Avatar.

Korra’s Struggles

For some reason people love to contradict themselves when it comes to Korra and call her weak one moment but a Mary Sue the next. I already talked about the Mary Sue thing when it comes to bending but now lets take a look at the Korra’s many struggles over 4 years. First Amon. Amon was Korra’s first villain and at the time Korra was very overconfident because she was the Avatar and like I already explained she held onto that as a huge part of her identity. When Korra got her bending blocked it caused her to finally be able to unlock her airbending and defeat Amon, but it also made her depressed because she could no longer bend the other 3 elements. This almost made her kill herself in s1 finale, luckily Aang was there to guide her. Then we have Unalaq and Vaatu. Not only did they rip Raava out of Korra but there was also a huge conflict between the North and the South at the time. In addition to that Korra was experiencing a case of amnesia. By bonding with Raava again she was able to put an end to Vaatu and Unalaq and start the Avatar Cycle once more. After that we have Zaheer and Red Lotus. Quite possibly the most powerful of all Korra’s villains. These guys destroyed Ba Sing Se, killed the Earth Queen, almost beat the life of out Tenzin, and the Zaheer poisoned Korra and fought her in that state. However even while poisoned Korra put up quite a fight against Zaheer. Despite making it out alive Korra was crippled, unable to walk, suffered from PTSD in the form nightmares and visions that made her think she was losing her mind. She as also unable to enter the Avatar State for those 3 years and unable to connect to Raava. It was only with Toph’s help in the swamp that she was not only able to get the rest of the poison out of her sistem but also learned how to sense people trough the Spirit Vines. Lastly there’s Kuvira. Kuvira was a dictator plain and simple. She used Spirit Energy to make her way to Republic City. Korra tried to talk to her once before that which lead to a fight in which Korra had a hard time with due to her PTSD. Korra only got over her PTSD when she went to talk to Zaheer in prison. Once that was done she regained her connection with Raava and was able to connect with the Spiritual energy around her. By doing this, when it came to her final fight with Kuvira, she was able to stop the spirit blast from killing Kuvira along with everyone in Republic City and thus opening a new Spirit Portal in the heart of the City.

I hope this analysis helped you understand Korra a bit better. She’s not as one dimensional as some people love to think she is. With that I’ll and this post and I hope you enjoy the show when it airs on Netflix. If I missed anything please let me know.

#korra #legend of korra #avatar the legend of korra #avatar korra #Avatar The Last Airbender #avatar the legend of aang #avatar aang

[ourimpavidheroine]

Another royal, you say? Certainly.

Sozui

Oh, little Sozui, the prince with the wildly swinging ponytail, following Naoki like a desperate puppy, his grandmother’s heart, his uncle’s soul, his sister’s unburnished flame.

I had Izumi bring him to Opal and Bolin’s wedding because she is a canny Firelord and she's already met Wu’s oldest girl, the princess that’s already being described, at age ten, as the best firebender of her generation. She’s got her eye on Naoki as a future bride, even then. (Something that Wu understands as well; it is unspoken between the two of them.)

And Sozui is just gone, completely gone, twelve years old and watching this girl come to the furious yet controlled defense of her little brother, refusing to give in or back down. He’s drawn to her and he will never, for the rest of his life, love anyone else. He won’t even see anyone else but her. He was willing to marry another for the sake of the Fire Nation, but he made it clear to Maya Mononobe from the very beginning that he did not love her and never would. 

Sozui is an idealist, a dreamer, a philosopher, a diplomat. His sister relies on him completely when she becomes the Firelord - there is no one else she trusts like she trusts her brother and outside of the whole Naoki marriage/Agni Kai thing, he will never betray that trust. He will be loyal to her until the end. That’s who Sozui is.

He’s a very good firebender, thoroughly and extensively trained. (He’s not better than his wife, but on the other hand, no one is.) He is gifted his great-grandfather’s dual broadswords on his thirteenth birthday and learns to wield them expertly. It makes him feel closer to his great-grandfather and practicing with those swords is how he grounds himself, lets his troubles disappear for a time.

He is very, very close to his uncle, who has guided and watched over him since he was brought to court as a one year old. Izumi told Iroh that she was depending on him to keep Sozui on the straight and narrow and Iroh does exactly that. Iroh loves his nephew deeply and in his heart of hearts considers him a son, much as his own great-great-uncle did for his grandfather.

While Juziya spends her time in the palace, Sozui travels the world. This is all part of Izumi’s plan for her grandchildren. Sozui frequently visits Wu’s family; he also has made trips to both Poles to stay with the chieftains in order to learn about their culture and history. He’s familiar with the leaders of the Air Nation as well. He makes connections that way. He attends university in Republic City and will also spend a few years aboard his uncle’s battleship, learning command and traveling the world. This will eventually serve Juziya very well and he understands this. He’s a very popular figure in the Fire Nation and runs interference for his sister; it’s well known that if you want the Firelord’s ear you’ll need to go through Prince Sozui first. 

He is too young to remember living with his parents, of course. He only sees his mother a few times a year; their visits are always supervised and she oftentimes does not recognize him and this is something that devastates him. He erroneously blames himself for her condition and carries a secret fear all his life that he will become like her, or that Lozan will as well. He likes and respects his father, but does not feel particularly close to him. He does love his uncle very much and will grieve deeply when his uncle dies a very old man.

Sozui, unbeknownst to most, suffers from anxiety. He’s very good at hiding it, but it’s there anyhow. He often suffers from insomnia and gets paralyzed with indecision. Juziya will eventually take Naoki aside and rather firmly inform her that she considers it Naoki’s job to help him with this. Juziya and Iroh carried that responsibility for him for years, and Naoki will step up to that. (I should write that conversation down, it is fully existent in my head.)

He is never defiant outside of running out of his wedding to marry Naoki; however that defiance comes with a price. He pays it, however. He will do anything for her. His sister - who knows him better than anyone else - understands this and is careful, after the whole Naoki Agni Kai debacle, to never get between her brother and Naoki again. Sozui is loyal until death towards his sister but he’s made it clear he will put that aside for Naoki. Juziya is a smart woman. She won’t test her brother again, for both their sakes.

The Fire Nation is rather scandalized that he raises his son much the same as Wu raised his children; it is Not How Things Are Done. He’s very close to Lozan, however, and Lozan loves, admires and respects both of his parents. Lozan, in turn, will become not only a very good Firelord, but a very popular one and Sozui considers his son his greatest legacy.

You say the world's an eventful place You give me news I don't want to know You say that I should care That I should speak my mind Oh, but how can I speak of the world Rushing by With a lump in my throat And tears in my eyes Oh, have we come to the point of no turning back Or is it still time to get into The swing of things Let us walk through this windless city I'll go on till the winter gets me Oh, "sleep..." you wrote "sleep, my dear" In a letter somewhere Oh, but how can I sleep with your voice in my head With an ocean between us And room in my bed Oh, have I come to the point where I'm losing the grip Or is it still time to get into The swing of things Oh, when she glows in the dark And I'm weak by the sight Of this breathtaking beauty In which I can hide Oh, there's a worldful out there Of people I fear But given time I'll get into The swing of things Yes, when she glows in the dark and I'm struck by the sight I know that I'll need this for the rest of my life What have I done What lies I have told I've played games with the ones that rescued my soul Oh, have I come to the point where I'm losing the grip Or is it still time to get into The swing of things

#character soundtrack #Sozui

[comradekatara]

Long-winded AU about Azula and Zuko living the lives they were meant to have

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t take much to get Azula to lose faith in Ozai early on. Or at least, it’s not hard to get her to see that he doesn’t have anything to offer her that she can’t get for herself more easily, and in a more fun way. Because Ozai’s failings as a military leader are clear to Azula from a young age. His violent moods distract from the work and lead him to make bad calls. And he never actually fights in any battles, which sets a poor example and prevents him from enforcing any kind of standards. He sits on the throne and sends young troops into battle to get killed, and has no idea what it’s actually like out there. Azula can’t respect that. Especially after Lu Ten. 

But the final straw ends up being something pretty minor by their family’s standards. She’s eleven and sparring with Ozai. She does a move perfectly, snapping a flame-whip around him from side to side. Her fire moves quickly, and Ozai gets disoriented and leans in the wrong direction to dodge. Azula sucks in air through her teeth as it burns him because she knows what’s coming. Ozai lashes out, insisting that she botched the move. The consequences are severe. 

Azula is able to swallow a lot of anger and frustration, but she’s too proud to have her abilities misrepresented. She realizes, too, that these punishments are going to come more and more often now that Ozai knows she’s becoming a threat. She’s better than him. She’s too young to challenge him in a formal agni kai right now and live, but if she lets him continue to run the show, he’ll find a way to dispose of her soon. 

After she lets a medic tend to the nasty burn on her knee from her punishment, Azula visits the library. If she’s going to manage the move she’s planning to make, she’ll need some maps, and some information about places she could go that might be safe. 

She’ll also need something else she doesn’t particularly want, and that’s an ally. All three nations use child soldiers, but eleven is a bit young to be traveling alone, even by Fire Nation standards. And while she could recruit one of her loyal little friends, she knows she’ll be safer if she’s accompanied by someone a little older, preferrably male. 

Plus, though she won’t admit this to herself, she’d feel guilty about leaving Zuko behind. Being Ozai’s scapegoat was never easy on him, but being the only child in the house would be much worse. 

She gets him on her side pretty easily. She says she’s leaving, and if he comes along, maybe they’ll find the time to track down their mother. 

Azula isn’t stupid. She knows their mother is definitely dead. But when she plays that card, Zuko agrees immediately. They wait a week for the next big war meeting and slip out while Ozai is meeting with his generals. 

Their first destination is the Earth Kingdom. Azula read about an island there with an all-female militia and she’s willing to bet that they’ll be quite welcoming to two young refugees. 

After some stops and starts on the journey, they make it to Kyoshi Island, where the Kyoshi Warriors are indeed very inviting. Their newest recruit is a 13-year-old runaway named Suki. Azula asks her a few questions and Suki promptly spills her whole life story--her middle-class parents wanted her to become an academic, she thinks they’re crazy for ignoring the war, et cetera et cetera. Azula can’t help but like her; she’s pretty and articulate and she can do amazing things with a bladed fan. 

All told, Zuko and Azula follow the Warriors for a little over a year. The two of them help with cooking and chores (a tough adjustment for a prince and a princess, though they try not to let on), and in exchange, the Warriors teach them basic survival skills, including hand-to-hand martial arts and throwing knives. After a year and a half have passed, Azula is solidly infatuated with Suki, although anyone can tell it’s pretty one-sided.

The other thing that happens in that year is that Azula becomes reluctantly aware of the many things Zuko can do better than she can. He turns out to have a natural talent for the fan as well as other bladed weapons, which the Kyoshi Warriors put to the test when they learn that he still carries the dagger their uncle gave him a year ago. Upon seeing what he can do, Suki gets him a pair of dao swords as a present. Zuko wields them like a master swordsman.

Outside of combat, he’s pretty good at other useful things. Sewing and patching up wounds come naturally to him. He has decent intuition too, and when they’re traveling, he’s usually the one who points out that everyone seems to be getting sleepy or thirsty and they need a break. Annoyingly, he’s usually right. 

They develop a rapport with each other that is... decent. When someone gives them tasks, if Zuko’s task is better suited for Azula or vice versa, they’ll switch without a word. They share a tent, and for the first few months, whenever Zuko has a nightmare, Azula does him the favor of pretending to sleep through it. Around four months in, she stops doing that, and she starts heating up tea for him to get him through the painful moments of waking up.

And they talk to each other, too. Though they grew up thinking they couldn’t be more different, here they have more in common with each other than they do with anyone else. They share long glances and sometimes they laugh right at the same moment. Azula didn’t know it was possible to feel camaraderie with her ridiculous brother, but she feels it sometimes. Often, even.

But then their whole party arrives in a town and they promptly see there’s been recent damage. They hear that some Fire Nation officials just passed through, looking for two kidnapped children. The Warriors always knew that there were details missing from Zuko and Azula’s story--they barely told them anything at all--but this is the first time the truth has come out. Knowing that Ozai’s men are after them, Azula knows know it’s not fair or smart to keep the Kyoshi Warriors involved in this mess. They say their goodbyes. Suki kisses Azula on the cheek before they leave, and Azula blushes for the next half-mile. 

If Ozai’s men are coming after them now, Azula figures they should go somewhere further underground. They go north from Kyoshi Island and Zuko’s attention is captured by a dingy little swamp, of all places. It’s one of his worst decisions ever. They never talk about the strange, scary visions they confront in there.

After losing most of their belongings in the swamp, they badly need supplies and they have to choose between two cities: the densely populated city of Omashu or the larger, but more sparsely populated Gaoling. They go with Omashu, figuring they’ll have an easier time blending in, and it’s a huge mistake. Ozai’s men spot them, and the conflict that ensues is a nasty one. Two firebenders grab Azula’s arms, preventing her from bending, and Zuko just barely manages to ward them off with his twin swords. 

Then it’s a race to get as far off the map as possible. The one good thing about Omashu is that it’s located on the water. Azula intimidates a dock worker into helping her and Zuko stow away on one of the whaling vessels bound for the South Pole. They’re both pretty scared to head down there, but as Azula points out, at least with their firebending, they won’t freeze to death. 

On the boat, they celebrate Zuko’s fifteenth birthday. They’re in a tiny room with no windows that’s full of things made out of wood, but Azula can’t resist an old joke: she makes a little flame for him and lets him blow it out. When they fall asleep sitting up (for there’s no room to lay down), she thinks her head drops onto his shoulder in the middle of the night, but when she wakes up, she’s sitting up straight again.

They land at the South Pole and are almost immediately attacked by a wild polar bear dog--one of the worst welcoming committees they’ve met thus far. Zuko reacts more slowly than Azula does, which means Azula puts herself in the front. The polar bear dog doesn’t get close enough to bite, but it does swipe its paw at her leg, leaving a deep scratch with its claws. Azula creates a fire that slows it down, but in the end, it’s actually the arrival of another boy, carrying what looks like a sack of meat, that saves her. The boy flings the meat in the opposite direction and the polar bear dog runs off after it. 

Sokka helps Azula up and takes them both to meet his tribe. His younger sister Katara seems a little angry or maybe just possessive, but after a few hours, she’s all over Zuko, asking him about his life story and what brought him to the village. It’s deeply annoying.

They won’t be able to avoid firebending here, so Azula realizes they have to come clean about being Fire Nation right away. The tribe barely bats an eye. Everyone’s suffered losses from the Fire Lord, they say. 

They spend about half a year as part of the tribe. Zuko and Katara are fast friends and spend long days together washing clothes and sewing. Meanwhile, Azula spends time with Sokka, hunting or just hanging out, though it irritates her to no end that once she teaches him pai sho, she can’t win a single game against him. 

Azula and Katara’s relationship is more challenging, because every time Azula offers a thoughtfully calculated suggestion, Katara gets emotional and shuts it down. They have some huge blow-out arguments that sometimes even escalate to the level of sparring. Katara’s waterbending, while skillful, is still hopelessly untrained, and Azula wins often. Out of pity, she winds up teaching Katara a couple of katas, thinking maybe they’ll work for waterbenders too. Katara gets some results, but nothing hugely impressive. Azula supposes it’s like listening to someone speak the wrong language and happening to hear a cognate. 

And as for Zuko and Sokka, there’s something there that Azula doesn’t fully understand. But they spend a lot of evenings together hauling firewood, and she knows they take too long. On nights after a long day spent with Sokka, Zuko doesn’t have nightmares, which Azula’s sure isn’t a coincidence. She sees Katara clock it, too. 

One day, Katara takes Zuko on a fishing trip and a lot of things happen all at once. Sokka and Azula revisit their long-running debate about how they would resolve the war in a timely manner if they were in charge. Sokka mentions that in order to gain an edge, they would need some kind of super-weapon that would somehow only pose a threat to the Fire Lord and not the Fire Nation citizens. Something that could stop him from advancing any further. And it would have to come from the Water Tribe or residents of some unclaimed territory, because the Earth Kingdom’s militarism is the next lurking threat on the horizon after this war is over. (Azula is inclined to agree.) Just as she starts to speculate about what kind of super-weapon might do the job, Azula sees a huge shape coming in on the water back toward shore, with three tiny little shapes on top of it. 

Minutes later, Zuko, Katara, and a little bald boy hop off of a giant bison. 

He’s an air nomad--the tattoos are just like the ones Azula has seen in old books. She supposes she always assumed some air nomads must have survived Sozin’s attacks, but she never expected to see a child.

An abandoned Fire Nation ship near the South Pole helps fill Aang in on his people’s tragic history. Azula feels crushing shame and dishonor as she sees Aang cope with the loss of his people and a hundred years of time all at once. He wants to travel around the world to see if any of his people somehow escaped and survived. 

When he confesses that he’s the Avatar, Azula feels terrible when the thought occurs to her. But the Avatar is supposed to restore balance. And Sokka did just float the need for some kind of super-weapon.

She doesn’t bring up the war yet. It’s too soon. But she’s starting to see a way to painlessly take the throne from Ozai and happen to benefit the entire world as a side benefit. So she resolves to play this one carefully and slowly. She offers to travel with him. Maybe, she suggests, they could go to the North Pole and get Katara a waterbending instructor, too. (Katara looks surprised and grateful for the suggestion.)

The others agree to come along, and they head to the Southern Air Temple. (Azula quickly learns that she despises air travel, which Katara appears to find funny, especially when Zuko has to hold her hair back while she dry-heaves over the side of the bison.) After the Southern Temple, they go to the Eastern one, and then swerve sharply west toward the center of the Earth Kingdom to avoid flying directly over Ba Sing Se on their journey north. Along the way they stop in little cities and villages. They stop in a forest where a ratty little boy named Jet tries to rope Azula and Katara into some kind of terrorism and Azula has to kick him in the face to shut him up. And Katara and Aang try to drag everyone to get their fortunes read in a town called Makapu, but Sokka and Azula flatly refuse to be persuaded. 

The Northern Air Temple doesn’t reveal any survivors either, making it the third of the four to yield no results. But at least they’re able to temper Aang’s grief when they stop at the North Pole for new friends and waterbending lessons. 

The waterbending master is an absolute ass, and Azula develops newfound respect for Katara as she watches Katara almost destroy him. Aang watches the battle alongside her, and remarks that he thinks Katara is the strongest person he’s ever met. Although Azula herself has done plenty of impressive firebending in his company, she actually agrees with him. 

Katara eventually wins permission to study waterbending, and Aang joins her. Their lessons progress quickly and they seem to cover a lot of ground. In the meantime, Sokka strikes up something with the local princess, which is predictable enough, she supposes. Yue is awfully beautiful, though she reminds Azula a bit too much of Zuko in demeanor to spark her own interest. (And in fact, Yue and Zuko hit it off, spending what feels like hours discussing insipid poetry.) 

Katara very annoyingly finds the time to corner Azula and asks if she’s “okay” after Sokka and Yue start talking. Azula has absolutely no idea what she’s talking about, and says as much, which seems to offend Katara. If there’s a rumor circulating about herself and Sokka, Azula certainly wasn’t aware of it and would like to shut it down promptly.

And she resists the urge to ask if Zuko’s okay given this new development, thank you very much.

For her part, Azula spends a bit of time with the local soldiers. She casually shares some basic firebending combat techniques so that the soldiers know what to defend themselves against. She's surprised to find that she can’t let these people go in blind when she knows she has the skills and knowledge to help them. 

It turns out that her advice was more necessary than she realized, because she and her friends are still there when the Fire Nation troops show up and lay siege to the place, commanded by Admiral Zhao. 

That night, during a lull in the fighting, Zuko and Azula come clean about the one thing they haven’t shared with their friends yet: that they are the prince and princess of the Fire Nation. Sokka seems puzzled but not angry, whereas Katara is indignant that they waited so long to share this information. But they certainly all still trust each other--of that, there’s no question. Zuko and Sokka take a long walk that night, while Azula spends a sleepless few hours laying in the bed next to Zuko’s, wondering where he is. 

The siege is quick and brutal, and the five of them do all they can. Zhao’s gambit to remove the moon nearly works, but Zuko dives forward and stops him just before he can pluck the koi fish out of the pond. Just then, Aang achieves the Avatar State and stops Zhao from doing any more damage. There are no casualties, and the injuries are minor. They’re lucky.

After the battle, they know it’s time to go. Aang and Katara can now waterbend proficiently, which is what they came for. Sokka says his goodbyes to Yue and her father, and the waterbending master gives Katara a vial of spirit water to keep for emergencies. 

Then it’s back to the Earth Kingdom, where they quite accidentally reunite with Suki and her friends. To Azula’s surprise, Suki decides to leave the Warriors and join them this time; she says she needs a change, and helping the Avatar restore balance to the world is really important. She even seems to geek out a little over meeting a real-life Avatar. (A year on from Suki’s awkward, pitying kiss on her cheek, Azula just tries not to blush when Suki speaks to her.)

Then it’s on to Gaoling--definitely not Omashu this time--where they meet a spunky and hilarious earthbender who spends two minutes chatting with Suki and immediately volunteers to teach Aang earthbending. Azula sighs, recognizing a kindred spirit when she sees one. 

Now they’re a group of seven, and it makes it tougher for them to blend in, which means they have to start making some tough choices about what they want to do. Suki joined up under the assumption that it was Aang’s goal to confront the Fire Lord; Sokka and Azula have been gently steering in that direction since the beginning; and both Zuko and Katara want to give Aang a lot more leeway to make his own decisions. Toph doesn’t seem to care, but she does proclaim with certainty that the Fire Lord is a little bitch. (This is one of the many reasons Azula adores Toph.)

In the end, it doesn’t take anywhere near the degree of persuading that Azula worried it might. Aang is ready to fight the Fire Lord. He considers it his destiny. 

It’s Sokka who delicately raises the question of what would come next for the Fire Nation. Zuko says he imagines that Azula would end up on the throne. Unlike him, she is actually interested in ruling, and she has the skills for it. Azula knows this is true, but she’s touched that he would suggest it, and she’s quite candid when she says that she’d hope all six of her companions would advise her and help her make the right decisions. 

In the end, that’s exactly what happens. 

They wrap up a few loose ends before they take the fight to the Fire Nation. Toph and Zuko teach Aang to bend earth and fire, respectively. Azula trains the whole group on redirecting lightning, just in case. Sokka and Zuko make a detour to touch up their swordsmanship under a master swordsman, Piandao. Toph invents metalbending while out for a daily jog. They all meet up with Sokka’s father and his men and put together a battle strategy for the fight. 

In the end, they take the fight to the Fire Nation a full year before Sozin’s comet was scheduled to reappear. Azula and Zuko help their group access the inner palace before anyone can spot them. While Hakoda’s men fight the palace guards, the group of seven goes right to the Fire Lord. 

Zuko and Azula let the fight get well underway before they reveal themselves. 

When Ozai shoots lightning at them, they redirect it while holding hands, and they’re perfectly in sync. 

Aang takes care of the rest. He’s really scarily powerful to watch in action, and part of Azula is awed that she got to help him along his journey. 

When she is coronated after the battle, she’s proud to say that her two closest friends, the Avatar and her own brother, will stay close and advise her through the transition. Zuko stays close and advises her for years and years before he decides he wants to travel, and their friendship endures even after he leaves the palace. Katara leaves the Fire Nation right after the coronation ceremony and doesn’t plan to come back, but she and Azula keep in touch through slightly snarky letters all their lives. Suki sticks around as a kind of palace guard for a while, and she never hesitates to tell Azula how far she came from the potential Suki saw in her on Kyoshi Island years ago. Toph sticks around too--where Suki goes, she goes--and she’s surprisingly helpful in mediating disputes and keeping Azula’s ego in check. Sokka seems to genuinely want to help Azula govern this mess of a nation, and she’s not turning away free help from the smartest person she knows. And Aang keeps busy--Azula certainly doesn’t blame him--but every time he pops in to ask for her help with something or other, he gives her a sappy little spiel about how grateful he is that she was his friend, back when she was looking for a battle plan. 

Azula’s lucky. She loves her friends. She’s a good Fire Lord. She never visits her father in prison (why would she?). She has, against all odds, a pretty fantastic life.

#WOOOOO BOY I CAN'T BELIEVE I WROTE THIS MUCH!!! #azula #zuko #aus

[twilightofthe]

Star Wars Characters in an Avatar: The Last Airbender AU

So I’ve been thinking of this for a while. The way I’m doing it, only Force-Sensitives will be benders cuz that feels right

PREQUELS

Anakin Skywalker: Earthbender. Well, actually he’d be the Avatar and his best skill would be firebending, but Anakin grows up in the Earth Kingdom in this AU in that desert where he races sandships and wins by sandbending. He also figures out metalbending cuz he’s a nerd and still good with metals and mechanics.

Obi Wan Kenobi: Firebender. NO WAIT LISTEN. Firebender!Obi is a hill I will die on because ik he might SEEM more like water or air or even earth, the guy in ATLA who Obi Wan mirrors the closest is Uncle Iroh. They both are distinguished war generals former war generals who ended up outcasts because the government they served was no longer what they stood for and their loved ones got hurt/killed. Both are the Wise Old Mentor who guide the troubled young men whose fathers brutally maimed them. Both are fucking deadly when they want to be and only grow stronger with age. The only difference is that Obi Wan gets along with Mark Hamill while Iroh.... Does Not. Obes is a firebender because he knows how to control it. Also, if Anakin goes evil in this AU, y’all KNOW the Mustafar fight in this would have to be an Agni Kai. Speaking of, another firebender story Obi Wan matches is Roku (yes he’s the avatar but again, was born Fire) whose friendship fallout with Firelord Sozin is VERY similar to Obi Wan and Anakin’s mess, right down to someone’s wife dying because of their BS.

Padmé Amidala: Earth Kingdom. She also leads the Kyoshi Warriors cuz c’mon Pads and her royal handmaidens are basically MADE for that right down to the facepaint. She serves the Earth King, and is a diplomat between nations

Ahsoka Tano: Waterbender. Ooooooh I debated this for a while whether she should be water, air, or fire, but ultimately chose water cuz Ahsoka gives off big Korra vibes. She’s from the Southern Water Tribe, probably figured out bloodbending but flat out refuses, more of a fighter than a healer, WILL freeze your ass Elsa-style.

Qui Gon Jinn: Airbender. Yeah so no one wiped out the airbenders in this AU, he’s the go-with-the-flow type and has the same tendency to pick up weird animals. It was between air earth and water for him but I figured he was too stubborn for water and too idealistic for earth. Definitely uses his height to wield a big airending staff around and can knock like twenty ppl over at once. Figures out energybending but only to really make his plants grow xD

Satine Kryze: Water Tribe. Ooooooh y’all Satine was the one I had the most difficulty with because ugh basically ALL freaking Mandalorians are fiery hotheads and Satine the most fiery of them all so putting her as the nonbending pacifist leader of a bunch of firebenders is VERY tempting because that would make an interesting story. However, I ultimately chose Water Tribe, the Northern Water Tribe in particular because Satine feels a lot like Princess Yue. Very put-upon leader who’s facing enemies from the outside as well as arguments within her own advisors, just wants the best for her people, ultimately willing to die for her beliefs and her people when some asshole outsider comes in and attacks, traumatizes her boyfriend when she does die and the fandom tends to poke gentle fun at her boyfriend for it afterwards. Also, Bo Katan and her Nite Owls feel a lot like the water tribe wolf warriors to me.

Palpatine: Firebender/Earth King. Yes this makes sense because although Sidious HAS to be a firebender because lightningbending, he also has to be able to screw over Padmé and Anakin. So, he’s a firebender who manages to manipulate his way into the Earth Kingdom and take control of the throne and Ba Sing Se. May or may not still hold power in Fire Nation and talk them into invading everyone anyway or not, but he’s def evil.

Yoda: SWAMPBENDER. Bahaha ok so I know that the swampbenders all kinda fell under waterbender status, right? But yea waterbender would work really well for Yoda, but you KNOW he lives in the swamp as a cretin alllll the time in this AU and trolls everyone else and likes splashing them in the face. Yoda could also def be an airbender

Count Dooku: Earthbender. Dooku is solid, tall, works with the earth, and I think Form 2 kinda looks the most “grounded”, shall I say, of all the forms. Just the way he moves and his stubbornness definitely say earthbender to me, though he could also def be fire

Mace Windu: Firebender. The way in canon he’s all about self-control and knowing how to work with the darker side of you and the rage that’s there, yea, Mace would be a smokin’ (haha) firebender

Maul: Firebender (dammit there’s too many Fire Nation in this AU see this is another reason why I put Satine in water). Maul’s all about the fiery anger, again would really work well for a faceoff against fire!Obi Wan in this AU, Maul to me really looks like a tragic, worst-case scenario never-redeemed!Zuko. So basically Azula lol which ALSO works very well for the S7 Maul vs. water!Ahsoka fight echoing the final Azula and Katara fight

Ventress: Airbender. No, not just because she’s bald and has tats xD. Ventress would make very good use of the air glider AND the airbender ability to create a bubble around someone and suffocate them. (Airbenders can’t be pacifists in this AU otherwise the only people who could go there would be Satine and the Organas lol). She fights in almost a dancer, flying around sort a way that’s similar to what Aang does, and I could also see her whapping someone with an airstaff.

Jango Fett/Boba Fett/The clones: Earth/Fire. Ok so idk how clones would exist in this universe so I’m just gonna say Jango gets around and has a LOT of kids. Jango seems a lot like a down to earth get ‘er done kind of guy, he’s got the heavy hitting kind of play the Earth Kingdom likes. Boba would be much more of a Fire Nation emigrant. The clones I’d say are mostly Earth Kingdom in personality if I had to pick with a smidge of water and some fire of their own.

Bail Organa: Fire Nation. Bail is the one who lives in the Fire Nation and refuses to really play any way besides fairly. Also good for if he and Breha raise Leia because Reasons

Bonus! Hondo Ohnaka: Air Nomad. Hondo has no bending abilities, but he flies around on a flying bison named Melch and Causes Problems. He harasses Fire Nation blimps and Earth Kingdom trading routes and dive bombs the Water Tribe and is just the Horrible Goose of the ATLA!SW world.

ORIGINAL TRILOGY REBELS AND ROGUE ONE COMING UP NEXT

#tell me if y’all agree or disagree i have fun with these!!! #i’m gonna make a hogwarts houses one of these too just you wait #morai musings #sw stuff #star wars #sw #sw prequels #one (1) hot mess #our only ho #queen of my heart #snip snap #space hippie #peace out #ultimate steaming shitbag #2 angry 2 die #dicku #big stabby goth gf #little green man from outer space #needs a damn raise #anakin skywalker #ahsoka tano #obi wan kenobi #padmé amidala

[witchoflegends]

Here's few questions for all of them!

• Were you deaf from birth?

• Was learning a sign language and/or other forms of communication difficult for you?

• Has being deaf affected your ability to learn or perform your bending?

Thank you anon! You have made me so happy!

For those that don’t know, this is referring to this post informing people about my deaf ATLA/LOK characters. If you would like to interact with them, let me know. My IM is always open. Or if you just have general questions about them, deafness in the ATLA universe, or deafness in generally, let me know. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

As per your questions kind anon: It got long, so it’s all under the cut.

1) All four of them were born deaf. Keokuk is the only one with a deaf parent (his mother. She became deaf in her teens. It progressed slowly until she lost her hearing completely. Not that anyone asked, but whatever). Everyone else has hearing parents.

2) Children that learn sign language, actually learn it earlier than speech. Kids that are exposed to sign language from birth just as they would hearing, learn to communicate sooner. This is because they can pick up the motions of signing and what they mean faster than they can speech. Deaf children need exposure to sign language just like a hearing child needs exposure to people talking. If you remove sign language from a deaf child’s life, they’re not going to develop normally, because they’re missing the communication aspect of life. They’ll develop slower than other kids that did get exposure to communication right off the bat. Deaf children learn to read and write just as hearing children do. The big difference between what deaf children and hearing children can do, is that one can hear, and the other can’t. There’s not really other ways for deaf people to communicate outside of sign language and writing.

Keokuk, because his mother is deaf, was surrounded by sign language from birth. Not only from his mother, but also his father and the other deaf people in their tribe. Deaf people are like tribes in and of themselves. They like to stick with their own kind. So he was surrounded by deafness and deaf culture. He’s absolutely the most in tune with that part of himself.

Choden is the second most in tune. She wasn’t exposed to sign language right at birth, but it was pretty soon after. Once the Air Nomads realized she was deaf, they made sure to send her to the air temple that had the most deaf in it. Again, deaf people stick together. So she was surrounded by adults and children who were deaf and signing.

Then there is Emiko. Her parents didn’t initially want to accept the fact that their daughter was deaf. But after a lot of consulting with healers and physicians, they gave up trying to make her hear. So they learned sign language for her. That doesn’t mean they liked that she was deaf. They just worked with what they had been given. So while she doesn’t necessarily struggle to communicate or sign, she’s not the most in tune with her deafness or deaf culture.

The one that is least in tune with his deafness and sign language is Haoran. His parents didn’t want him learning sign language. They wanted him speaking. Which is unfortunately actually pretty common for children with hearing parents. This, as I mentioned above, stunted his social development. It wasn’t until he ran into other deaf children that he started slowly learning sign language when he was around 14. It was hard for him, because it was like trying to work a muscle you didn’t know you had, and his parents didn’t help. They wanted him to speak, and act hearing. So he struggles with communication in all aspects.

3) Deafness doesn’t really affect ones ability to bend. What it does affect is their ability to defend when fighting. They take a much more cautious approach in fighting. Though, most would rather use their bending for things other than fighting.

A lot of waterbenders that are deaf focus more on healing than fighting. Water is also the hardest element for them to defend against. They can’t hear it coming, or really feel it coming until it’s too late.

Earthbending tends to be the easiest element for Deaf benders to be able to fight against. Or at least defend against. It’s the vibrations of the ground moving that allow them to best defend against it.

Those that can firebend end up with the most scars. Especially throughout their childhood as they are learning how to firebend and defend against attacks. It’s surprisingly an easy element to detect when fighting (fire is hot), but takes some skill and practice to get that detection right.

Airbending is arguably the best element for a deaf person to be able to bend. There is just something about being able to feel the air and movements around them that makes airbending come easy to the Deaf that wield it.

#deaf atla #headcanon: keokuk #headcanon: haoran #headcanon: emiko #headcanon: choden #Anonymous

[vietbluefic]

Avatar AU fics are always awesome, too! I'd love to see your take on what kinds of benders BTS would be [though if you want to make it multifandom, I would Not Complain]. :>

!!!!!!! I!!!! LOVE!!!! AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER!!!! That show was my actual childhood and I have entertained the idea of writing an Avatar AU for BTS for some time. The only thing that worries me about trying to do so would be 1) the story, and 2) the feeling. The Avatar universe is just so diverse and nuanced that just thinking about tackling something as big as that (not to mention as close to my heart) already has me in a sweat! But I would absolutely be down to the challenge, and I’d l o v e to make it multifandom too, heheheh. > V >

But anyways, my opinion on the boys as benders:

Kim Namjoon: a non-bender, which means he’s often underestimated by foes but quickly proves that he more than makes up for it with quick intelligence, strong leadership, and an uncanny knack for getting out of situations (as well as getting into them in the first place…). I also see Namjoon as a highly-trained – and efficient – chi blocker, too, since that sort of knowledge extends easily into both the fields of medicine and martial arts, something I think Namjoon would certainly be fascinated by! If he were able to bend the elements, though, I think he’d certainly be an earthbender.

Kim Seokjin: a waterbender, a versatile fighter with a cheerful go-with-the-flow personality during peacetime, but then a raging powerhouse and literal force of nature when provoked to action. I’m torn between whether Seokjin would hail from the Northern Water Tribe, what with his “princely” air; or the South, where he’d be the adored “big brother” of his tiny village, and is wholly fascinated by the rare power he wields and determined to bring it back to his people.

Min Yoongi: an earthbender through-and-through. Grounded, level-headed, a little (or a lot) stubborn, and even tougher than he looks, Yoongi is fiercely protective of his loved ones and is always seeking a way to better himself and become stronger. He likes to take naps in the grass and has a soft spot for the kids….even if he does like to bend tiny pebbles at their heads and then sprint away laughing.

Jung Hoseok: either an airbender (evasive tactics, quick, witty and unpredictable) or a waterbender (fluid, hidden strength, can be unexpectedly brutal). He’s a bright, beaming young man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to those he cares about. If I do end up making him an airbender, he’ll be Yoongi’s polar opposite who somehow manages to also complement him…just like in real life! XD However, technically speaking, Hoseok is extremely fluid in what role he can be, with certain parts of his personality also suiting earthbender and firebender…..so could he also be the Avatar….?

Park Jimin: a firebender, 100%, no doubt about it. Friendly yet fierce, warm-hearted yet hot-tempered, and just a tiiiiniest bit petty, he hates to be bested in a fight and switches with ease between brute force and sly deception. He is a bit of a perfectionist and aims to be able to master lightning one day, the highest of all firebending techniques. But like fire, he can also be gentle and illuminating, spreading laughter wherever he goes.

Kim Taehyung: either a non-bender like Namjoon, an airbender, or a waterbender – Taehyung is extremely flexible with what he can do, you see. Brave, loyal, and highly learned, he could be a genius inventor who outwits those who can bend the elements, leading them into traps and inescapable snares; at the same time, this fluidity would lend itself well in air- or waterbending, and Taehyung’s unique way of looking at the world IRL would suit the quasi-spirituality of both these elements. With his versatility, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up being the Avatar as well.

Jeon Jungkook: either a non-bender, an earthbender, or a firebender. Talented in his own right and then skilled to improve upon that innate talent, Jungkook is stubborn, curious, and rooted in his own abilities, confident and determined. These seem to be traits that lend themselves to earth, fire, and even no elements at all. Even if he has no bending, he’s already quite the martial artist on his own, trained to fight with a variety of weapons as well as his own body, though honestly he’d be envious of the other boys’ powers at times for sure. As an earth- or firebender, though, Jungkook would use these elements as an extension of himself. Earth is direct, hard-hitting, and no-nonsense. Fire is fast, ferocious, and a tiny bit flashy too.

#bts #bts au #avatar au #ask #x-i-l-verify #bts ot7 #ot7 #man now i'm getting pumped up to write this HAHAHA

[araeph]

Defiance, Part 4

[Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]

Summary: Katara never thought she’d take shelter from the Water Tribe in the Fire Nation. Zuko never thought he’d build a life with someone he is only supposed to be seeing for fun. And neither one knows just how close their countries are to self-destruction.

[For Zutara month, Day 4, “Fireplace”]

FWOOSH!

A cheer went up as an enormous cloudbank that had hugged the ocean waves exploded into seafoam and whirlpools at the Gates of Azulon. The Water Tribe fleet had arrived exactly on time, and the docks were groaning under the pressure of the crowds that had come to watch the performance. Some of the citizens had waited years to see a waterbender in the Caldera, and Master Pakku and his students did not disappoint. Scarcely had the clouds vanished when a platform of ice skated across to the docks, handrails forming on either side and eventually forming a staircase. Pakku and the other waterbenders glided forward on the walkway, then pivoted as one and enclosed the whole affair in a glistening wet dome as they proceeded to greet the Firelord.

Zuko was impressed. He remembered his father closeting him with his tutors long after the sun went down, making sure to instill the continuous dogma of Sozin. Firebenders are superior. Firebenders can create their own element. The others can only take from what is around them.  And while he still considered his nation the greatest of the four, he was beginning to give more and more weight to the idea of a balanced world. He felt that the spectacle before him was a bit much, but he understood. The Water Tribes, after facing a challenge to their very existence, needed to prove that they were still mighty and united.

Standing at his uncle’s side (Iroh had refused to wait in the throne room like a traditional Firelord would), Zuko could see a tall, severe-looking man of eighty years or so approaching, not a single droplet marking his clothing after the display. The sun was rising and it was promising to be a brutally hot day, but Master Pakku refused to discard his traditional fur and leather clothing for the Fire Nation silks that had been offered him. Whether it was out of suspicion or sheer stubbornness, Zuko couldn’t tell.

Iroh turned his head toward Zuko and gave the slightest of nods. They, too, would be sending a message to their people. With both hands extended out to either side, they pivoted low and then swept their hands upward in unison. A great red-gold dragon blazed from their fists, roaring overhead and circling the ships before returning to its masters to be extinguished.

It was a move Uncle had only recently begun to teach Zuko, and at times it felt uncomfortable, as if it were stretching something inside the prince that he wasn’t ready to bring out. But today, he was hopeful about the future, and it showed in his bending. Father might even have been proud of—but Zuko squashed that thought as the Firelord greeted Master Pakku and his retinue.

When it came time to bow, Zuko executed it flawlessly and then forced himself to wait a breath before wishing health and good fortune on the Ambassador of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. So far, so good ...

“Speaking of which,” frowned Iroh. “I do not see any representatives here with Southern insignia.”

Pakku gave him a curt nod. “We thought it best to keep the fleet as small as possible. I assure you, I bring with me the goodwill of Chief Hakoda as well as Chief Arnook.” He motioned to a servant, who presented the Firelord with two scrolls made from tiger-seal parchment. “We desire nothing more or less than to ratify the treaty as it has existed in the past, down to the letter.”

Uncle nodded. “I thought you might say that, my friend. However, while we will be happy to renew the alliance with the Tribes, the council has made a few … suggestions … which you may find serve your own interests as well as our own.”

The waterbending master actually harrumphed, and Zuko privately took offense on Uncle’s behalf. “We shall see, but I don’t hold out hope for more than the usual niceties. At this stage, that’s the most that can be expected.”

“A discussion that I am sure we can continue,” said Iroh loudly, “when we are properly seated. Gentlemen?”

Zuko nodded again to the waterbender and followed behind the Firelord to his own palanquin. It was all going so smoothly that Zuko was suspicious, a feeling that was unfortunately rewarded when entered the throne room.

Uncle had lowered the wall of fire around the throne!

Ever since Zuko was a boy, he’d thought of the flames that licked along the edge of the Firelord’s dais as a representation of the Firelord himself. When his father and grandfather were angry, they blazed nearly to the ceiling, leaving smoke stains that had to be scrubbed clean by the servants once their tempers had cooled. Even his uncle had never lowered the blazing divider while convening his council or entertaining foreign dignitaries. Now, while there were flames that flickered along the columns to provide light, the central fire was reduced to a soft glow, and nothing more.

Zuko stopped short, looking at his uncle with widened eyes. What are you doing? Have you gone mad?

Iroh regarded him with an even gaze, and in that moment Zuko knew he’d been deliberately kept in the dark about this. He also knew why. The Fire Prince would have publicly argued against such a thing, and it would have been a poor time to display a divided Fire Nation family.

Still, the fact that he hadn’t been trusted with such an important part of the welcome raked at Zuko’s insides. He knew he’d need an extra-long training session the next morning, if it was possible to sneak away from the endless tide of meetings that threatened to drown him. And then there were his nighttime excursions to clean up the streets of the Caldera; those would have to be put on hold.

At least, after tomorrow. There was one more errand he needed to—

As they approached the final column, Zuko and Iroh split up to ascend the dais from opposite sides. Zuko, flustered from the unexpected surprise, almost didn’t notice the small strip of fabric that lay on the highest stair facing him.

Glancing quickly around to make sure that no one marked his movements, Zuko gathered his formal robes around him, blocking the piece of fabric from view, as he gathered it up in his hand. As he turned around to face the Water Tribe ambassador, he surreptitiously tucked it into his robes.

It was good that he’d had years to perfect the impervious mask of his station. Even in the diminished golden glow around the throne, he had seen the color: bright blue cloth, and he wished with all his heart it was some backwards tribute of Uncle’s. But no. This was silk, the kind that the Water Tribe master had refused to wear. To Zuko’s knowledge, silk of that color had only ever been made in the Fire Nation, and for one person.

“Uncle,” he said, barely moving his lips as they seated themselves simultaneously. “I need to go to the hospital wing after this meeting.”

***

In the darkest days, when the sun goes out, we keep its light alive, said Gran-Gran. Look, the little flame swimming in the tallow. As long as the light is burning, there is warmth. There is life.

But Gran-Gran, isn’t fire evil?

No natural force is evil, my child, said Gran-Gran. The people who wield the fire can bring darkness to our shores, but they carry that darkness in their hearts, not their hands. Still, there may be a light in them, too. But it is for others to find, not you. She raised a bony finger. Never approach them. Never speak to them. If you see a firebender, run.

And little Katara had run. She had run as fast as she could to find her father, when her mother was nowhere to be found. She had run behind him, her little legs not able to keep up but trying as best they could. Hakoda had been too slow to stop her when she ran past the doorway of their house …

Katara touched her fingertips to her mother’s necklace. I’m sorry, Mom, she said to the spirit of Kya. I know you won’t like what I’m doing. But everyone else in our tribe thinks they know my destiny, and I—I’m not sure yet. I just know it isn’t in the North, where they’ll frown if I so much as sail a boat myself. I hope your spirit can forgive me. One day.

“Hey, hurry up in there! We’ve got wind snappin’ in the sails—best get a move on, we can make port early with all hands on deck!”

Katara sighed and stretched her arms, easing the tension out of her shoulders and lower back. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” she called, grabbing her water flask just in case.

Once she ascended the stairway to the cramped hammock space, the stark contrast to the sunless dank below made her wince. Even her brown skin had gotten mildly sunburned the first time she had pulled a complete shift at the ship’s stern, guiding the vessel.

It wasn’t easy; the job would have been better suited for two waterbenders, one on each side of the boat. But Katara gave it her best effort, and windmilled her arms the way Pakku had taught her, boosting the speed of the small wooden schooner until it was practically skipping along the waves.

The captain adjusted his hat and grinned at her. “Perfect day to make port!” he called. “Third to last stop before we’re in Fire Nation waters. Appreciate the help, girlie!”

Katara pulled her lips back to form the same fake smile she used on Hahn. She didn’t trust these men, but she was useful to them, and consoled herself with a reminder that without her, they wouldn’t have been able to escape that last Earth Kingdom patrol. They needed her.

But she kept the flask close, day or night.

***

“She’s still here, isn’t she?” Zuko demanded as he skidded to a stop in front of the triple-barred door made of metal. Two guards the size of boulders stood watch over the single-room cell and looked up at his approach. “Tell me we have her in custody.”

The guards instantly bowed to him and unlocked the door.

“Your Highness,” ventured the guard on the left, “I assure you, she has not moved from her chambers.”

“It’s true, sir,” said the guard on the right. “Her temper has been quite … even. Well, that is, for the princess.”

The two men on duty were earthbenders, a concession to Ba Sing Se’s paranoia about the princess’s possible escape—as well as a recognition that earthbenders could restrain a patient more safely than your average firebender could. The guards that dotted the corridor leading from the main hospital to the prison cell were still Fire Nation: a last line of defense in case the princess managed to escape. Idly, Zuko wondered which set Azula thought would be easiest to turn to her advantage.

“Right. My sister, even-tempered,” Zuko replied with a healthy dose of skepticism. “That probably means she’s up to something, and we just haven’t figure out what. Are you sure? There have been no disturbances?”

The guards shook their heads mutely, and Zuko had no choice but to see for himself.

The door to the cell swung open on well-oiled hinges, leaving an eerie quiet in its wake. Dividing the cell in half was a thick grid of iron, too sturdy to weaken or break with firebending—even bending as powerful as Azula’s. These particular quarters were designed for prodigiously strong benders, especially those of the royal line. Although the state-mandated history textbooks didn’t mention it, Zuko knew he not only came from a line of iron-willed rulers: mixed in were usurpers, assassins, and political prisoners of whatever branch of the family lost out on a feud for the royal succession.

Unlike Pakku’s tribe, where lineage was a straightforward line from father to son (or next capable male heir), Fire Nation eldest siblings only succeeded their parents if they were strong enough to hold onto their claim. It was believed that Agni himself chose the next Firelord based on the power he wielded even over those closest to him. Zuko’s sister, her wiry limbs wrapped up in restraints, was a stronger bender than he. It was Azula who could make blue fire blossom from her fingers; it was Azula who commanded the lightning. Her only mistake had been siding with her father against Iroh. And she’d been so young at the time that at first it didn’t matter. But then ...

Azula’s eyes, which were shut like a sleeping dragon’s, flared open at his approach. “It’s the traitor,” she said. “The weakling. Hello, Brother.”

The manacles that kept her hands behind her back clinked together as she moved to stand.

“Azula.” Zuko couldn’t help that his voice softened with pity at seeing her. When he’d known her before, not a hair had been out of place, not a single imprecise step had been taken. Now her hair was cropped short from the time she had tried to pull at it until her scalp bled. He could almost hear the echo of her distraught screams when Ozai had been driven out of the palace.

Of course, she picked up on it immediately. “I don’t need your sympathy, Zuko,” she snapped. “One day, you will understand that I should be on the throne instead of Uncle. I should be commanding respect just like Father. A shame, though. I would have kept you around for your military expertise—as long as you didn’t betray me.” Her amber eyes caught the light filtering through the grille in the ceiling, the only sunlight she had been allowed.

They had been children when the duel took place, and even though Azula had tried to kill him before he’d reached his tenth birthday, Iroh had frowned upon anyone who’d suggested death, or even lifelong imprisonment, for one so young. But then she’d escaped and tried to kill him again. And again, and again, each time getting closer to success. Somehow, she was getting training, and and no matter how many times they inspected the cell, changed the guards, or interrogated the staff, no one could figure out how she did it.

Tired of her games, Zuko folded his arms across his chest. “Then what do you want?” he snapped. “I know that this blue ribbon is from you. What does it mean? What are you planning?”

“You’re so sure I’m plotting against you.” Azula looked upward, squinting at the sun nearing its apex. “Maybe the ribbon was a token. Your new Water Tribe friends are fond of blue.”

“Is that what this is about? The ambassador?” Zuko stalked forward, but reflexively halted before he reached the bars. He’d been caught by her that way before. “Since when was Pakku a threat to—oh.” He narrowed his eyes. “This is about the whole Fire Nation superiority thing, isn’t it?”

“Our beloved nation doesn’t need ambassadors,” Azula fumed. “All it needs are vassals to carry out the business of the empire in every nation. Invite foreigners in, like those guards you’re so fond of, and it all goes wrong.”

“The Fire Nation is strong enough that they pose no threat,” Zuko answered.

“I think you’re parroting Uncle.”

“I think you just called me in here to get inside my head! Good-bye.” He started to walk away, but was arrested mid-step by her parting shot.

“The electricity in this cell block went out last month, during the storm. Did you know that, Brother? Not much more than a flicker, but I’d look into it. We wouldn’t want the prisoners escaping.”

Zuko strode toward the door and signaled the earthbenders to open it.

She always laughed when they ended their sessions, and this time was no different.

***

Exhausted and rubbing her temples from the long day’s work, Katara sank to her knees halfway down the steps and rested for a moment. Prolonged waterbending drained her energy reserves, and she’d wasted no time telling the captain that her bending had to be restricted to whenever it would be most helpful to their progress. (“I’m not a motor, I’m a waterbender--but a motor can’t heal scrapes or keep the rain out!”) She thanked the spirits that they only had a few more days to go. The crew had made good time from port to port, trading their no-doubt-ill-gotten merchandise, but as the captain had promised, there hadn’t been any raids during her stay with them. This was a strictly wheeling and dealing venture, at least until they knew which ships they would have to contend with crossing the western seas.

“Could be Fire Nation, could be Water Tribe, could be a mix of both. Could be warships, you never know!” and Katara hadn’t been able to resist a shudder of dread at that pronouncement. Despite her differences with Pakku, she desperately hoped he would meet with success and the fragile peace could be strengthened as time went on. 

Idly, she wondered what Sokka would have thought if he’d gone with her. It’s too high risk, Katara, he would tell her. They’re not “international merchants,” they’re pirates! And who knows whether they’ll keep their word to take you to the islands. For all you know, you could be the next merchandise they want to sell!

I can’t get to the Fire Nation myself in a boat, Katara argued with her imaginary brother. I have to make landfall before anyone knows I’m missing.

You could have gone to the Earth Kingdom. Or even the colonies. You’re heading straight into enemy territory!

It’s the only way to get Hahn off my back, Katara told him. And various other body parts. I have to make him mad enough to call off the engagement.

Eww, Katara! Stop talking like that!

Oh, don’t be a baby. She stood upright and brushed back a tear as she started back down the stairs. She had tried to prepare herself for the loneliness that came from being without her tribe, but it still ate away at her. With luck, all this would be over soon and she could go home.

A high-pitched squawk from above made her glance up at the star-studded sky.

A bright green bird with yellow glowing eyes circled overhead, bearing a gift for its master. It was the captain’s pet, a rare iguana-parrot that he sent out on errands and would return now and again with a trinket.

But it wasn’t the iguana-parrot that caused her to gasp and nearly tumble down the stairs. It was what rested, secure, in the bird’s talons.

A beautifully preserved, sealed scroll made from animal skin. Katara had only seen a few like them before, in the north when she’d managed to steal her way into the library. The roller was made of bone, not wood, and dyed that particular blue that made her think of home.

Her hands felt dry and itchy as her eyes follow the bird’s every move.

She should go back to her hammock.

Definitely.

#zutara #zutara month 2016 #zutara month #zk month #zk month 2016