#pro azulaang

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

Aang's wife deserving a quite, peaceful life after the war and learn to be a healer and peacemaker, that almost sounds like a fitting arc for Azula than it does Katara.

Now, there's no shame of wanting to retire and raise a family but how they went about that with Katara doesn't feel right.

The first and most infamous example is how there's not one statue to her name. Others include not doing anything to fight off the invading north and showing up to her granddaughter's tattoo ceremony thing.

The writer's excuse for this is "back problems." Back problems or not, no way would she let history repeat itself, not after learning to grow more powerful since the last time we saw her. Zuko is two years older and yet is still flying around kicking cans.

Katara always had a desire to fight. For her whole life, she felt powerless and prayed that the avatar would return. Sometime after doing so, she learned to rely on herself more.

She detested the thought of just being a healer and wanted to fight and protect others. Once she gets into fights, you can tell she excels at it and enjoys doing so. It empowers her.

At the same time though, she understands the importance of healing and wants that to be a unisex concept as well as combat.

...

Then there's Azula. Like Katara, she too excels at fighting but we see how it extracts a heavy toll.

She's almost had all the power in the world but was raised to be a struggling perfectionist trying to live up to impossible expectations.

Contrary to popular belief. She's not bloodthirsty by choice. She just finds being so to be necessary. She NEEDS to be a fighter and she NEEDS to take pleasure in it.

It's clear to see that she secretly hates the expectations put on her, she hates being nothing but a weapon and hates being considered a monster, despite her hardest to convince herself that it is what it is. Her latest solo comic shows more detail about it.

It's also evident in how she willingly disobeys Ozai's orders to bring Zuko in as a prisoner and instead gives him his old life back. She tries to put the bad blood between her and Zuko behind them.

In the beach, she tries to act normally and take dating advice. She explains the thought of being a monster in a somber tone before forcing herself to act indifferent. Peaceful adjustments and social norms are foreign to Azula but she has considered getting into them from time to time.

A recent theory suggests that the spiritually attuned Fire Sage woman Korra met up with who tends to heards of sky bison is Azula herself. If it's true then she's successfully got the peaceful life she deserves and secretly wanted and is doing her part in undoing all that she has wrought.

Would I like her to also have statues, fight when necessary even at an old age, and be ambitious enough to want to be a Phoenix Queen before and after marrying Aang? Yes, definitely.

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

Kataang and Bryke: “Face it. You’re never gonna be in our show.”

Zutara, Azulaang and Netflix: “Do we look like we need to be in YOUR show?”

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Azulaang - simple

Azula: “I gotta say, your taste in tea is as almost as good as your taste in women.”

Aang: “Why thank you, and here’s a token of my gratitude for you being here.”

Aang hands out a set of fire nation beads.

Azula: “Well, unless a special holiday came around, that had better not have my name on it.”

Aang: “Well, I figured someone like me shouldn’t take your for granted.”

Azula: “Who said you were?”

Aang: “Well...nobody...so far.”

Azula: “Which one got to you? Katara or Zuzu.”

Aang: “No one!”

Azula raises an eye brow.

Aang: “Both...kinda.”

Azula: (scoffs)

Aang: “Zula, it’s just a gift.”

Azula: “No. It's a slippery slope. ‘Just because’ gifts are never just because. There's always some unspoken part, like ‘I'm sorry’ or ‘I feel very strongly about you,’ both of which are complicated and personal phases I’ve gone through. When you got me to cleanse my chakras, you offered me this avatar slash nomadic lifestyle, I’d live up to my new title, Ronin. I signed up because I wanted to keep things simple, no strings attached or a fancy set of beads with my insignia on them. That simple being; crazy adventures, freelance heroism and us boning.”

Aang: “So, do you want the beads or not?”

Azula: “Hmph.” (takes the beads)

Azula: “I’ll let you have this one just once, because I get the sentiments and because your taste in gifts is the one thing that’s very pathetic.”

Aang: “Even the avatar has his strengths and weakness.”

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

Azulaang - parallels

You know something I’ve noticed? Not only does Azulaang give a batman and catwoman vibe but also the dynamic between batman and superman. 

Aang was raised in humble monk temples, and had everything he needed in the monks, Gyatso in particular, who raised him with the values that would later shape his heroism. Azula was born into incredible wealth, yet was manipulated by her father into being a weapon of mass destruction, upon discovering the truth, it broke her to the point she swore to seek vengeance with her own two hands. Aang inspires people to do good. Azula strikes fear into those who would do evil. Aang has unlimited power over the elements and is the vessel of a powerful spirit, yet never uses it to impose his law on the world. Azula is a mere mortal girl with only firebending, but does everything to bend her allies and the world to her will. Finally, the avatar is the costume, while Aang is the real identity, but the prodigy is the actual person, while Azula is merely a disguise for the world.

Despite this, the two of them live the nomadic/freelance/avatar lifestyle. They travel together, ride together, spar together, heal together, help the world together, have fun together, be free together, build each other up, be vulnerable to each other and what have you. Just the two of them. Their love proved indomitable, seeing the other as inspirations for each other.

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

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Team avatar’s new uneasy ally

Here’s my take on how Azula joining team avatar might look like.

Aang and Azula stand in front of the rest of the Gaang. Sokka jumped, and threw a boomerang at Azula but she dodged so it hit the ground. Katara then bent the water from her bottle and used it to knock her down.

Aang: “Guys! Wait!”

Katara: “What’s the matter Azula? Giving up already?”

Azula: “Sorry to disappoint all of you. But I’m not here to fight. I’m here to help.”

Toph: “We don’t need your help, nor do we want it!”

Azula: “Yes, you seem to have everything under control don’t you? My father and the red lotus need to be stopped.”

Sokka: “Whatever your selling, we’re not buying!”

Azula: “Think of me what you will. But what Ozai, Xai Bau and Zirin are doing, even I wouldn’t wish on this world.”

Katara: “What do you care! Your the one who gave the idea to destroy the whole earth kingdom! You shot Aang with lightning, nearly destroying the avatar cycle! You kidnapped dozens of kids! When has anything ever been ‘too far’ for you!?”

Azula: “You mistake my actions for sadism Ms. Peasant. I wasn’t going to hurt the children. I truly believed that the 100 year war was justified. We thought we were the perfect civilization and we intended to unite the world. I used to think if the nations had just pledged their loyalty to us then there'd be a lot less bloodshed and the world would have the same pleasure of perfection as we did.”

Suki: “What about the air nomads?! Did you give them that chance?!”

Azula: “I used to believe it was a necessary cruelty just like the death of the earth kingdom. The death of the avatar meant nothing would stop our nation from gaining our ‘right to rule.’ Our arrogance has obviously made us the flawed being we were afraid of. Ozai, however, cares not of such ideals. He attends to inflict chaos for the sake of chaos because he knows just how far the fire nation has gone but doesn’t believe it can be better, since the air nomads has bitten the ashes, he thinks that balance is truly lost and there’s nothing we can do to reverse it, not even the avatar. He’s a psychotic pessimist.”

Sokka: “It’s a little late for you to be dishing out apologies.”

Suki: “Why are you really here? What’s in it for you?”

Azula: “Perhaps you should ask the avatar.”

Everyone turns to Aang confused.

Aang: “(sigh) When urgently Zuko summoned us from Cranefish town. He asked for my help in tracking down Azula and wondered if I in any way knew how. Remember in the swamp when I used energybending to track Appa down? I did the same for Azula but I accidently gained more then I bargained for. Our spirits and energies briefly combined and I entered her mind. I was able to learn all of Azula’s memories, wisdom, skills, knowledge and point of view. It was an intense experience but I never the less told Zuko where she was, Azula then learned about Sozin’s real past and how she relates to Roku.”

Azula: “My original intention was to mold Zuzu into the fire lord my father intended for me to be should I fail to get the throne myself. The kidnapping of children was a testament to that. But then Zuzu reminded me of how the fire lord is nothing compared to the avatar. I know about the promise he made the avatar make, I know about the avatar’s ‘outbursts’ during his loss of control of this avatar state, I know some of you feared his power. This information had yet given me another epiphany of sorts. I decided if Zuzu will not rise and rule with fear, then perhaps the avatar will. I let the red lotus know about these change of plans and I think that’s when they’ve grown suspicious of me and I’ve began questioning their intentions.”

Toph: “So what made you change your mind about that?”

Azula: “When they had officially betrayed me. They said non of you cared of I live or die because of all the bad that I’ve done. But when they locked me away and left me to die alone. You all came and saved me, brought me here and made me as comfortable as possible. I shouldn’t be here. Unless it was for a reason. Mai was right. I’ve miscalculated.”

Toph: “How do you expect us to trust you if even I can’t tell if your lying?”

Aang: “Because me going into Azula’s mind and combining our energies has created a side-effect. Azula and I have a close and strong spiritual bond. She has become predictable to me. Anything she says or does, I’ll see it coming, I’d also know when she lies. The same is true for Azula in my case.”

Azula: “And I know you all trust the avatar. I know what your thinking. If I take one step backward, one slip up, I give any reason that I still might be on the wrong side. All of you would do your worst to me. Like Avatar said, anything I do, he’ll know it but better safe then sorry right? I don’t expect you to welcome me with open arms and I know you’ll think of me too dangerous to roam free. So, to save you all the migraine, I shall surrender as your prisoner. I’ll do as I’m told without question and I won’t even speak unless given permission to. So long as I’m on my way into earning your forgiveness.”

Katara: “We won’t be letting you out of our sight.”

Azula: “Of course, but what’s your say in this Zuzu? Do we have an allegiance? After all, you did rescue me despite my stubbornness. My gratitude by the way.”

Zuko: “I did rescue you because I promised you that no matter how bad or messed up our family is, I’ll never turn my back on you. And I KEEP my promises. But that does not mean I’ve automatically given you my trust, you still have to earn it. And your right, you will occupy as a prisoner. For now.”

Azula: “You got yourself a deal. I’ll do whatever it takes to gain atonement, even if it takes a life time, for it is all I have left.”

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

I’ve noticed another Azulaang parallel. One that involves Dansen (Alex Danvers x Kelly Olsen)

Alex is a courageous and independent person, who faces danger head on. She is caring, confident, and headstrong, with the same passion for bio-engineering like her parents. Alex had dedicated her life to protecting her sister, Kara,  and rarely found time for herself since teenhood. Despite her good traits, sometimes Alex can be impulsive and prone to make difficult decisions crossing the line between right and wrong (some might even classify her as morally grey);

Kelly is a caring girlfriend to Alex and a loving sister to James Olsen. She appreciates the other people and she cares about the ones she loves. However, she can be a little spiteful, for example, she never forgot that her brother wasn’t at their father’s funeral. Everyone believed he was trapped in a cafeteria bathroom, but this wasn’t actually true. Kelly is a brilliant psychologist specializing in trauma and a former soldier of the U.S Army.

It is said that Azulaang exists in regards of Aang giving Azula the psychological care she needs. With the Azulaang endgame being a bonus. I repeatedly discussed this mechanic; Y’all remember the scene where Aang used energybending to track down Appa in the swamp? I imagine Aang doing that to Azula under Zuko’s request but ended up getting more then he bargained for. Due to Azula being a descendant of Aang’s past life Roku. Aang enters Azula’s mind and sees all her  memories, experience, wisdom, skills, knowledge and perspective. This leaves a side effect. Aang and Azula end up with a strong and close link within their spirits and energies which allows them both to get to understand and know each other on a spiritual level.

Azula’s psyche slowly rubs off on Aang. He begins understanding what makes her tick and has the psychological equipment to keep ahead of her. I’ve also jotted down about Zuko shows Azula that she’s also in relation to avatar Roku.

Azula began to think about what he said, she remembered that the avatar masters all elements, has knowledge and experience of all nations, Aang managed to defeat Ozai, the man more powerful then herself, Zuko and possibly even Iroh and siphoned his bending with an unknown but unique and powerful type of bending. Azula was always taught to alley with the most powerful but who could be more powerful then the avatar? Azula then decides if Zuko cannot rise and rule with fear, perhaps Aang will. So she uses her smoke and shadow tactics to draw Aang out. Aang and Azula then start a psychological war. Azula tries to bring out the bad in Aang while Aang tries to bring out the good in Azula.

Kelly and Alex were never enemies but in one episode, Kelly and Alex have a fight in regards of Alex’s father, Jeramiah’s death. But Kelly was being respectful, is patient with her and never gives up on Alex, much to Alex’s gratefulness.

I imagine that Azula would be handful to Aang but he saw her at her worst and after learning so much about her. He’d be very fixated on giving her the compassion he says she deserves, much to everyone else’s shock and uneasiness except for Zuko, who’s puts everything he learned from Iroh to the test and passes them down to Azula. Plus, due to Aang’s spiritual link to Azula, he’d be able to know when Azula lies and vice versa, something not even Toph could do.