GLADIATOR

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation has taken over two nations and are striving to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 418

Toph and Shoji team up as they begin to develop their concepts and business plans for the new and improved Gladiator League. After making many decisions pertaining rebranding and securing funding, Shoji presents the project officially to a friendly, enthusiastic Sokka...

The reality of the League's return triggers an unforeseen reaction in the Gladiator's heart, one he discusses that night with the Fire Lord. As the project progresses, and the new Gladiatorial Battle Hall is constructed, Sokka finds greater peace and purpose with his past, as he looks towards the future...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 417

After a year of stability in the wake of the grand wedding between Azula and Sokka, Aang returns from a journey to the west with scarce leads on the Air Nomad survivors from the Hundred Year War. The Fire Lord encourages him not to lose heart, and to cling to the hope that he won't have to be the last airbender...

Upon coming home, Azula winds up roped into an unexpected game with Hotaru and Sokk. The pleasant mood between the married couple leads to consequences, however: Azula is quick to suspect the cause of her sudden sickness, a few months after that enjoyable night...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 415

Invitations to the Fire Lord's wedding are delivered to their chosen guests. The Capital city buzzes with activity, be it from those who oppose the union between Azula and Sokka, or those who support it. Detractors stir in the shadows, hoping to sabotage the preparations for the upcoming nuptials...

As the pair spin certain opportunities to their benefit, rallying public opinion in their favor, Sokka also comes up with a brilliant proposal for their wedding feast. Trouble stirs in the horizon, however, on the day their chosen cook travels to the Fire Nation's Capital...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 414

The Fire Lord's return to the Fire Nation brings about joyful reunions, albeit Lady Ursa's situation continues to concern her daughter. After an earnest conversation with Ursa and a quick address to her people, Azula prepares herself to face the Head Sage in the Capital's Temple.

Their conversation verses on many matters, but in due time a path forward is laid down for the future, be it pertaining Ursa or the eventual wedding between the Fire Lord and the Gladiator, before the eyes of the entire Fire Nation. But the question of Sokka's future title, upon marrying Azula, has yet to be resolved...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #62: Sokka and Azula's Fire Nation Wedding + Gladiator's Thirteenth Anniversary

And here we are: another Gladiator Anniversary to rejoice in. It's been thirteen years with this story, the craziest ones of my life! And this time... I can certainly say it'll be the final anniversary while the story is still being published.

The feeling is certainly bittersweet, but I must say, I'm but a few chapters away from fulfilling my promise of seeing this story to the very end... knowing that I'll make it is truly gratifying. Finishing a story is no simple matter, regardless of how much time you've spent at it... this, obviously, is the first time I'll finish something of this magnitude other than my schooling :> kinda funny to see it that way...

I really liked working on this piece, I feel like the growth of my characters (and mine!) are really clear across all the years of Gladiator's development. I've evolved so much as a writer and artist, the experience I've racked up thanks to Gladiator is nothing to scoff at. Now, all that is left is for me to tie this knot for good... and to carry these two dorks in my heart anyway, wherever I may go next!

I hope you guys enjoy this little glimpse at a scene coming up very soon, and that you rejoice with me in Gladiator's latest anniversary, the very last one before its completion. Thank you for all the years of support and enjoyment of this fic, truly. I'll always be grateful, and proud, that I can say I wrote this monumental story, and that I gave it my everything, every step of the way.

If you'd like to support me, as well as to be part of the creative process behind these artworks, a $1 Patreon pledge is enough to make you eligible for prompt suggestion and voting, as well as reading Gladiator snippets a week in advance... and soon, exclusive glimpses of 7000 Light Years Away, my upcoming original project!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 412

Sokka wakes up abnormally early, excited to set out on the wedding hunt that preceeds the ceremony. Azula sees him off, and then sleeps for a while longer, only roused by Hotaru's gentle voice when the child calls for her mother.

The Fire Lord's morning starts out in a rather relaxing way, as many of the women who intend to offer congratulations and support through the day pay her a visit. But just as she starts to prepare for the occasion, the hunting party returns unexpectedly to the Tribe...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 411

Hakoda's surprising sole demand results in the lightest of all negotiations across Sokka and Azula's journey. Afterwards, the pair set out to handle one of the remaining loose ends in the Southern Water Tribe: bringing the imprisoned Fire Nation soldiers back home.

Excitement surges all across the village over the grand occasion that will take place on the very next day: Sokka can barely sleep, excited as he is over the prospect of what's to come. Together, he and Azula ponder the future that awaits them, beginning with the first of their two lawful weddings...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 410

Kanna welcomes her grandchildren home with unrestrained delight: playful banter and teasing spats, lined with affection, lead the family's way into the Tribe's feast to celebrate their arrival, where Princess Jing's story shall take the spotlight once more.

For once, Sokka shares the telling of his popular tale with Azula, to results that impress the entire village. When the time for negotiations arrives, however, Hakoda will take the Gladiator and the Fire Lord by surprise upon making a singular request before signing the very last peace treaty to end the Hundred Year War...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 409

Aang and Katara set out to the Southern Water Tribe, on the Avatar's glider: two tribal warriors watch them as they fly overhead, but they continue their trek towards the South Pole's shores, where they will reunite with their admired leader... and where they will first meet the new Fire Lord.

The trek through the ice builds up all expectations of Sokka's homecoming even further: as prepared as they hope to be, anticipation builds up steadily as Azula finally gets to meet her brother's family, and as Sokka basks in a heartfelt reunion with his father...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 408

The Fire Lord's group travels south peacefully across the Earth Kingdom's lands: Ursa grows to embrace her new normality gradually, curious about what lies in store in the future while bolstering her reborn relationship with her daughter.

As the vessel passes by the Eastern Air Temple, Aang seeks Azula and Sokka's aid in pinpointing the possible locations where he might find stragglers and survivors from the Air Nomad's exodus from the Northern Air Temple: the first option among them is the ancient, forgotten lands that spawned Fire Nation civilization...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 406

A confused Kuei struggles to make sense of King Bumi's presence in Ba Sing Se: the other king appears to have nefarious intentions to take over another Earth Kingdom throne. Persuaded by Bumi's rhetoric, as well as his unpredictable nature, Kuei tries his best to rise up to the challenge he poses and faces the city he has never visited...

As they wait for negotiations to begin, Azula and Sokka continue to lead Hotaru through her childhood milestones: Anorak and Ursa pay them a visit, one that will take a rather shocking turn when the Fire Lord's mother arrives with a bowl full of mochi...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #58: Ozai's death

I was certainly not expecting to ever draw this scene, but my Patrons had a different plan in mind, evidently :') Here's my piece for this month, intended to be spooky but far more likely to be depressing instead. Though, of course, if you're an Ozai hater you might just think it's a wonderful concept...

I'll always consider my work with Ozai as one of my wildest feats as a fic writer. Not only did I expand on him, but I think I triggered all the reactions I hoped for but never expected to elicit from readers and even myself while developing him all across Gladiator. That ANYONE could grieve him at all after the horrors he's responsible for is still kind of wild to me, but I guess I managed to flesh him out while keeping him as a flawed disasterpiece of a human being, forcing him to own up to his fuckups and to realize that this outcome was the culmination of bad turns and mistakes that he failed to take back when he had the chance.

Anyway! Hope you guys like this piece, I don't think it's 100% what I wanted it to be, but it is what it is. If you'd like to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 Patreon pledge is enough to make you eligible for suggesting art prompts as well as voting for them every month!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #57: Kino and Yue kiss in front of Arnook and Pakku

I have the slight suspicion that my Patrons have a favorite side couple. Hmm. It's just an inkling I guess (?)

It was very funny to draw this one, due to my current IRL constraints and many responsibilities I had to turn this into a chibi artwork so I could get it done on time. But that also allows a lot of silliness, and we got plenty of it here with Kino's dorky reaction upon being kissed by his princess. I suspect this may be what his return to the Northern Water Tribe looked like, and yes, Yue is the one who initiates things. As usual xD Hope you guys like it!

If you'd like to be part of the process of creation of these pieces, a $1 pledge is enough to allow you to suggest prompts and vote in monthly polls to choose the artwork of the month! (Gladiator snippets will come back at a later date, we will likely have Sokkla Saturday snippets instead for a couple months...)

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 405

A dejected Iroh is visited by Jin in the Lower Ring's teashop he has been hiding at: news pertaining the rediscovery of the dragons leads the old General to seek them out, aware of the consequences that will befall him for doing so.

Xin Long alerts Azula of Iroh's presence at once: anguished and determined to protect the dragons at all costs, the Fire Lord rushes to seek out the old Dragon of the West, facing him for the first time in years, forced to decide whether to exact revenge or justice against the artificer of her downfall...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 404

Across their journey to the mountains, Azula and Ursa have a heart-to-heart pertaining the latter's current ordeal regarding Piandao. Their earnest conversation ends in a good note, one Azula continues to treasure as her family heals from the dreaded wounds of the past.

As they approach the dragons' hideout, Azula, Sokka, Katara and Aang set out to stage the opening of the cavern where Xin Long and his draconic family remain. It takes very little time for the excitable dark dragon to rush through the gaping hole... but will the others dare follow?

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!

[seyaryminamoto]

Fic-to-Art #56: Sokka and Azula dancing

Ehehe. I can't lie, I inceptioned this one at my Patrons and they were so very nice as to let me draw it, so here it is! Our monthly artwork has arrived! I hope you guys enjoy thsi one, it's very much from an upcoming chapter, a scene I wrote relatively recently, and a great excuse to draw my two dorks being as happy as they deserve to be!

The occasion for the dance might just be easy to recognize for certain folks who remember one particular Water Tribe tradition I wrote into my story... just sayin', this was a very feelsy chapter to write and I hope you guys will enjoy it when it releases! :D And I didn't HAVE to add the bg characters but I couldn't resist the urge to doodle a little firefly eager to join her parents and their spirited dancing, haha.

Hope you guys liked it! If you'd like to be part of the creative process behind these pieces, a $1 pledge on Patreon is enough to make you eligible for suggesting and voting for art prompts, as well as reading snippets of Gladiator's new chapters one week in advance!

[sokkathebluewolf]

Preview: Gladiator Chapter 403

Hearts settle after the needed and successful reunion between Azula and Ursa, but Ba Sing Se's political crisis remains unresolved: Ursa's proposed solution will see Piandao traveling to Omashu to seek out King Bumi, who may just provide the sufficient pressure to force Kuei and Jin into making a decision pertaining the nation's leadership.

Meanwhile, a casual conversation during breakfast brings another priority to the forefront for the Fire Lord: she invites Ursa to join her, Sokka, Aang and Katara to travel north, on hot-air balloons... on their long-awaited voyage to set the dragons free.

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

For a snippet of the new chapter, support me on Patreon!