Fanart #2 completed!
"You rise with the Moon, I rise with the sun!"
And they always meet at sunset!
I don't remember where I read that if Zuko knew about the necklace tradition, he’d probably forge one for Katara using a crystal from the Crystal Cave. But I loved that idea so much that I made the necklace the color of one of those crystals 🥹
{ATLA Rewatch ramblings.}
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! LIKE??!! HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO NOT SHIP THIS?!? LIKE WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F--?!!? LIKE?!-
HERE IS ZUKO, WHO UP UNTIL NOW HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOO PROUD TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF TO ANYONE BEFORE (to his ex, his crew, etc); HERE IS THE BANISHED PRINCE OF THE FIRE NATION WHO HAS NEVER WILLINGLY OPENED UP ABOUT HIMSELF, LET ALONE HIS PERSONAL TRAUMA, TO ANY LIVING SOUL BEFORE (ESPECIALLY TO A GIRL, AS PAST EPISODES CLEARLY MADE CLEAR); HERE IS THE MARKED, BURNED YOUNG BOY WHO HAS NEVER CONNECTED TO ANY OTHER LIVING SOUL ENOUGHT TO TRUST THEM, LET ALONE ALLOW THEM TO TOUCH HIS SCAR, AND!!!!! AND HERE HE IS, EXPLAINING HIMSELF, OPENING UP TO KATARA THE SECOND THEY ARE ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE!!!!! SECOND!!!!!!THEY!!!!ARE!!!!!ALONE!!!!!!
*clutches heart in pain from the bittersweetness of it all*
AND YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT ELSE?!??!
YOU CAN FEEL THE RAW VULNERABILITY COMING OFF HIM IN WAVES AND WHEN SHE TOUCHES HIS SCAR--AND HIS LIPS!!!--HE CLOSES HIS EYES IN SOMETHING LIKE HOPE. HE CLOSES HIS EYES IN REVERANCE, LIKE A STARVED MAN CLINGING TO A CRUMB OF BREAD!!! LIKE A CHILD WOULD CLING TO HIS MOTHER'S SKIRTS BECAUSE HE'S SCARED OF GETTING LOST AGAIN!!!!! BECAUSE THIS IS ALL SO NEW TO HIM!!!! THIS IS STILL TOO UNFAMILIAR!!! BUT HE WANTS TO TRY!! HE WANTS TO TRY SO BADLY!!!
AND HE'S SO STARVED FOR AFFECTION AND KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE AND HEALING!!!!!!!!!! AND SOMEHOW THAT'S WHAT KATARA EMBODIES FOR HIM IN THAT SINGE MOMENT AND I JUST WANT TO WEEP!!!!!!!!
WEEP FOR ALL ETERNITY BECAUSE THESE KIDS!!!!!! THESE BEAUTIFUL, TRAGIC, PERFECT KIDS BELONG TOGETHER!!!!!!
Day 1 - Royalty - The Ties of Love and Ceremony
Summary:
Zuko is readying for his coronation, the woman who saved his life by his side. Katara is his other half, and they wouldn't have gotten here without each other. Their love is strong, having brought them together to be here, in this one sweet perfect moment.
Day 2 - Eclipse - The Dragons Dawn
Summary:
The Dragons Dawn Eclipse is fast approaching, and Zuko has been feeling strange--Running a fever higher than normal, and even spotting scales, glinting in the light on his skin.
Day 3 - Rescue - An Enemies Understanding
Summary:
During the Zuko Alone days, he's starving, lost in the woods, and unsure what he's even doing here. Until he spots the Avatars Waterbender, also lost, and considerably more angry. He watches her, yelling and stomping, until he notices some Firenation soldiers watching her too, closing in....
Day 4 - Journey - The Storm of US
Summary:
After facing Yon Rah, Katara is still feeling too broken to go back to the others. Zuko offers a reprieve in the form of a short journey to small family cabin that they can stay at for another day, so she can have any extra privacy she needs. They talk out some feelings, and Zuko offers something Katara hasn't had in a long time, the space to be fully herself.
Day 5 - Vintage - Something borrowed, Something Blue
Summary:
Katara comes home after three weeks away, attending the formal ball in a Vintage dress that has Zuko unable to look away.
Day 6 - Lantern - By Lanterns light
Summary:
Katara is happy and content, cuddling with her family by the soft amber glow of the lantern.
Zutara AU: Katara can't heal Zuko after he intercepts the lightning strike meant for her, resulting in his death. Katara lives with his memory evermore. (X)
I bet some of the Fire Nation people—the nobles specifically, but let’s be real, a majority perhaps—considered Zuko as such a peculiar Fire Lord. Sure, he went against his father and sister for the throne, but who didn’t? Patricide’s normal for the royals. Banishment? Better to avoid, and one could pray for the Fire Lord to forgive you, and that’s exactly what happened. At a certain point, at least.
Shoving himself into the Avatar’s group just so he could be his teacher? Fire Lords had Avatar best friends before, that’s nothing.
Sneaking into the Boiling Rock and breaking out the Southern Water Tribe’s Chief as well as the Captain of the Kyoshi Warriors, even with the fact that they were loudly against the Fire Nation and its imperial rule, even when Zuko was its Crown Prince? Huh.
Fire Lord Zuko falling in love with Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe? Even after they tried to kill each other? Even after she made him work so hard to repent after he betrayed her, especially when she tried to bridge an alliance between them? H u h.
