Bro I agree with you so fucking much. And you reminded me of an idea I've had for an eternity but never wrote as a fanfic. It might not be an AU at first glance, but hear me out!
Before 4.8, even well before Natlan, I've always loved the theory of Bennett being from Natlan. I never wrote anything about it, but I've been thinking ...
Imagine Bennyboy going on adventures all over Natlan! Learning about Natlanese culture, befriending Saurians, encountering dangerous monsters, probably almost dying multiple times because of all the cliffs and ravines, and meeting some of the other playable characters on the way. The possible shenanigans he could get into are endless!
Plus with Genshin's wide range of lore and ruins, there's bound to be some room for originality! Create your own expansions of ancient civilisations, ancient names / heroes from back then, and have him uncover it all!
Make him build his Natlan-exclusive Adventure Team!
Make him accidentally destroy something from a Tribe Member through his luck, resulting in him offering to help restore it and gain a new member for his Natlan Adventure Team in the process!
Make him discover a strange artifact that ... I don't know, neutralizes his luck or something?
Make him reunite with his origins and discover what really happened to him when he was a baby!
Make him question his luck more than he ever has, possibly resulting in an identity crisis, making him wonder where he belongs!
Make him conflicted about his origins from Natlan and his current life in Mondstadt!
The possibilities are endless!
It doesn't have to be canon to a T. That's the fun of AU's! Let your creativity run wild, and give this boy a journey to remember!
