AU where Azula has little to no real life skills out of war and stradegy because she was bred to be a weapon so after escaping the asylum with nowhere to go, she utilizes her lying capabilities to enter the magnificent and whimsical world of acting. She uses painted, wooden masks when performing, like the actors in The Search did, "to resemble tha character she portrays" and she changes her voice, so she's unrecognizable, until she becomes big enough that she's invited to play in Caldera's biggest theater, and she goes just for shit and giggles. Camera cuts to Zuko, who's losing his mind because all he wanted was to see a play but now-! Is this actress really...? Could it possibly be? Come on now! This isn't a funny joke!
Here are the raw, unfiltered, morning haze induced thoughts. Apologies if it doesn't make much sense or is underwhelming. I might refine it later. (Translation: Probably never.)
Oh yay! I wasn't sure, but I'm glad to have found you! Avatar Azula is haunting me. I keep thinking of what her relationship with Zuko would be in this timeline. I'm sure Azula would assume that he would turn on her if he found out, but I don’t think he could.
oh that's such an interesting point!! i hadn't thought about that but you're right .... oh that's so interesting... she Would think he would turn on her but i kind of feel like Zuko's busy having some kind of redemption arc off on his Avatar hunt so HE would probably also think SHE would turn on HIM ! oh i need to think about this more
Rating my list of Azula AUs by how much they appeal/are interesting to me now
It's a long list, and some of these ideas are actually quite old, so I thought it would be worth giving each AU idea a rating out of 10. Note that some of these aren't my ideas and I intend no disrespect to anyone. I just want to rate how interested I would be in a story if someone used the AU idea as a basis.
Better parenting Ursa (8/10)-Would be a banger.
Azula raises Katara AU (and continued) and more (9/10)-I've never seen anything quite like this and would be very interesting.
Azula and Katara get friendly postwar and talk about their brothers. (7/10)-Good idea for a short story?
Mai is significantly older than Azula and Ty Lee AU (Older “sister” Mai) (4/10)-Could be interesting but honestly I find canon Azula-Mai's dynamic plenty interesting on its own.
Jin works at Iroh’s teashop but finds out about his past (5/10)-Perhaps worth a shot.
Zuko tells Azula about the Spirit Water (5/10)-Too close to canon?
Ursa and Ozai get along better, and it’s not a good thing AU (4/10)-A little dark for my tastes.
Imperialist Lu Ten survives the war and tries to regain his throne afterwards (9/10)-Now that would be incredible. Lots and lots drama and lots of lighting fandom takes on fire.
Zuko finds out more about his nation AU. (5/10) Somewhat interesting.
Revolutionary Azula takes over Ba Sing Se AU. (2/10) In retrospect it feels a bit too imperialist in tone.
Three different AU ideas in one (4/10) None of them are really that great.
Favoritism in the royal family is a little different (5/10) moderately interesting.
What if Zuko had a nonbending twin sister (who he doesn’t get along with). (10/10) The Zola AU. One of the most interesting and subversive ideas I've had.
Zuko’s daughter changes how he sees Azula (7/10). Could be worth a short story.
Zuko and Ursa try to isolate Azula (“for her own good”) (9/10). Brilliant dark AU, very subversive of fandom expectations.
Ozai gets exiled and the Gaang stupidly ally with him (6/10). Could be entertaining.
Earth Kingdom ends up with custody of Azula postwar and support her bid for the Fire Nation throne when Zuko starts another war with them. (10/10). Pure, wonderful chaos and Team Avatar are really in a bind.
The Gaang tries to figure out why Zuko joined them. (3/10). Might make a good short story.
Dangerous Ladies find Ursa in Book 2. (10/10). Ursa setting canon of fire is always worth it.
Azula and Toph fake dating (1/10). Not that interested in Tophzula.
Zuko/“world leaders” try to force Aang to take away Azula’s bending and he’s very much not OK with it. (4/10). Not too interesting.
Azula is thrown away to the NWT postwar as a trinket and Chief Arnook adopts her. (9/10). Wonderful idea for how to get a fire sibling adopted by the water tribes and have it make sense.
Comics! Ursa’s letter about Zuko being a bastard gets out. (2/10). Too associated with the comics.
Zuko and Katara lie about what happened during the Agni Kai (4/10). Shrug.
An exiled Azula finds Fire Imperialist! Ursa postwar. (10/10) Absolute banger of an idea, although quite dark. Azula and Ursa unite to overthrow Zuko.
Aang has to save Azula from being executed by Zuko (5/10) OKish
Zuko’s defection during DoBS goes very badly for Mai (4/10)
Zuko joins the Gaang at Ba Sing Se, but it ends poorly (10/10) let's make the writers of all those bad Zvtara fics suffer!
Zuko killed Azula during the Agni Kai, and now he has to deal with the consequences. (6/10). Dark/
AU idea where Zuko keeps Azula permanently imprisoned in bad and torturous conditions postwar, and Izumi finds out about when she’s relatively young, and draws exactly the sort of conclusions about her parents that you would expect. Not to mention being terrified that she might be treated the same way if she missteps… (7/10). Could be interesting.
Ozai never declares Zuko and Iroh traitors (7/10). Clever idea, would destroy canon as we know it.
Iroh-Azula roleswap au (9/10). Would be absolutely incredible.
Zuko asks Azula for help with his firebending. (5/10). I really don't like the fire siblings having a good relationship very much at this point.
Zuko wants Azula to like him but doesn’t get why she doesn’t like him (postwar) (8/10). Good idea for a shorter fic.
Katara has an arranged marriage with Zuko and Azula tries to get into the good graces of her sister in law (7/10). Might be interesting.
“Katara is supposed to have an arranged marriage with Zuko, but she falls in love with Azula instead.” (10/10). No explanation needed.
Another take on Zvtara (arranged marriage) and Maizula. (6/10). Good idea but maybe a little boring.
Azula-Katara AU idea (or: Katara runs into an Azula who has changed a lot in some ways and not very much in others) (7/10). Never could quite gets this to work.
Zuko is actually Ikem’s son (2/10). Enough about the comics!
Firelord Azula ends her brother’s exile 3/10. Nothing particularly interesting.
Azula raises Izumi (it’s complicated) (8/10) Really would be worth engaging with.
“AU idea: Azula commits suicide out of despair, and just about everyone is convinced that Zuko had her murdered or at the very least “encouraged” her to do it.” (3/10). More Zuko angst.
Dangerous Ladies get banished/declared traitors and Azula basically gives up. Mai has to step up her place. (9/10), would be a very interesting look at Mai.
I have to say, “Zuko has to deal with finding out that Ursa very much isn’t who he believed she was” remains excellent fanfic fodder. (8/10). Ursa for the win!
“AU idea: Ursa is more aware of Ozai’s abuse and potential for abuse than in canon, so, right after her exile, she seeks out Iroh and charges him with protecting both of her children.” 6/10. I don't find like Iroh enough to really like an idea which had him be so central.
Firelord Iroh treats Azula in a really screwed up way. 9/10, very dark but could have great payoff.
“AU where Azula dies during the latter stages of the war or right after it, and Mai is the only person who ever morns her as a person, not as a politically convenient symbol (Ty Lee runs away from her complex feelings on Azula as much as she can).” 7/10, could be a good oneshot
Dark idea (5/10).
“Since so much of the fandom is convinced that Azula is Zuko’s older sister, I need an AU where this is true and Zuko is just as throne-obsessed as canon and spends all his time trying to usurp his older sister.” (1/10). Not really an idea which stands on its own.
“AU where Ozai has a heart attack and dies right after the fire siblings return to the Fire Nation, and Zuko and Azula have to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, the Gaang are plotting to overthrow them and bring the war to a close once and for all…” 8/10. Could be a banger.
King Kuai adopts Azula as his heir 7/10. Interesting idea
Things get complicated, darkly (Azula exiled postwar AU) 6/10. A little convoluted.
What if Zuko tried to be a good brother 5/10. Zuko is boring.
“I really need an AU where Lu Ten returns and is pissed over Ozai’s usurpation, so he kills Ozai, seizes the throne, and continues the war. Of course, Iroh ends up supporting his actual son in all of this, and the conflict in the Fire Nation ends up boiling down to Zuko and Azula vs. Lu Ten and Iroh as the situation spirals toward civil war, at the same time the 100 years war continues.” 8/10. Nice chaotic edge.
“Maizula AU where Mai married Zuko, but he died not long after Izumi was born, and Azula and Mai are secretly carrying out a relationship while raising Izumi and ruling the Fire Nation as her regents.” 8/10. Maizula for the win. Could work as a short story.
Azula joins the Gaang with a twist… 7/10.
“The chaos which would result if Lu Ten showed up alive again in Book 1 and launched a rebellion against Ozai in pursuit of “his” throne.” (5/10). Less interesting than the other Lu Ten ideas.
Ursa opposes Firelord Zuko 7/10. More good Ursa content!
Iroh tries to kill Azula during “The Chase” (5/10). OKish.
Mai and Ty Lee on trial for “war crimes”“ and Azula has to save them 9/10, would be wonder with a great Maizulee dynamic.
